London Bridge and Borough, the targets for the latest appalling attack on the capital, symbolise revival and unity.
With Borough Market and Southwark Cathedral at its heart, the area has long been a densely populated residential area.
It embraces a wide range of cultures, as shown by the diversity among the children attending Cathedral School.
In the past two decades, London SE1 has transformed from a relatively obscure corner of the South Bank to a vibrant neighbourhood packed with bars, restaurants and tourist attractions.
The riverside walkway has a constant flow of locals and visitors, with Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and the Shard key attractions.
Since the start of the century many hotels have been built in the area to take advantage of the proximity to the City and tourist sights.
Borough Market, which now straggles beneath the railway arches, has been a trading centre for a millennium. Today it draws thousands of shoppers and tourists at weekends, and in the evening transforms an entertainment hub.
People congregate in London SE1 to enjoy themselves at the heart of a liberal, tolerant and welcoming city.
As with Westminster Bridge and Manchester, this 21st century celebration of life is a soft target for murderers united only by their hatred of humanity.
