For London, I'd recommend "East of Acre Lane", by Alex Wheatle, which give an excellent account of the atmosphere leading up to the Brixton Riots.

For Northern France, I'd recommend 'Germinal' by Zola, and 'Pot-Bouille' for Paris.

For the account of an émigré's return to the Czech Republic, I'd recommend Kundera's 'Ignorance'.

For Dublin, naturally you have the Barrytown Trilogy by Roddy Doyle...