Ella , LOL, I don't live in a Muslim area, more Jewish like lol... no but my area is mostly English people, no Muslims around...if there are Muslims they are too westernised to be recognised.
Same here now, but where I grew up in London, there were many many muslims. Also when i went to Morocco. I hated saying salam because I had to.
OH, also I haven't been living in London for a long time, so used to living outside London where people are normally are a lot friendlier, the reason I chose the area to live in when I moved to London is because its suburbia and it felt like the old town I live in, its still less friendly, but loads friendlier than the city.
Not a lot of people are friendly where I am. Sometimes some cheerful older person will say good morning, and I have to smile back and speak.............to a stranger.
but mostly (and I live in the suburbs just outside of London), people are not overly friendly.
On the other hand my friend goes out and comes back talking about random people she met. She says I am more hostile looking than her though, so maybe that is why it doesn't happen as often to me.