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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think the average Londoner is better looking?

287 replies

raelech · 16/03/2025 09:11

I’m from a town near Manchester. Often go to towns nearby and into Manchester. There are all sorts of people of course.

I am currently in London and I can’t get out of my head that the average person here is much more attractive than the average person outside of London. I can’t place why. Is it that people here have more dosh for skincare?😂

OP posts:
wizzywig · 17/03/2025 10:36

Ddakji · 17/03/2025 09:43

Speaking as a lifelong Londoner - the tube varies. Rush hour, forget it. But outside of that, although people aren’t chatty they will certainly help if asked.

The big difference I’ve noticed is customer service in shops, especially supermarkets, where in London it’s dire and outside London cashiers are actually friendly and chatty.

I was amused by the reference to African churchgoers. Yes, the older men and women get very dressed up for church. But when we got DD baptised, we were the only white people at our local church, and most of the younger women were dressed as though they were about to go clubbing, but in white. Tiny little skintight white dresses. Their spike heels kept getting caught in the grilles in the floor of the nave. It was a very cheerful affair!

Maybe that's just the people you associate with darling?

PlumpAndDeliciousFatcat · 17/03/2025 10:34

People in central London certainly tend to be taller in my experience. As a 6' woman I notice people's heights simply in relation to my own eye line and it's very rare for me to be the tallest person (or even the tallest woman) in a space in central London.

Goldenbear · 17/03/2025 10:33

rainingsnoring · 17/03/2025 10:11

Of course I don't mean that all Brits are unattractive, just generally less so imo.
I think a lot of Brits take less care to look after their health and this shows, especially as they get older. There are a lot overweight and obese people here. Brits don't tend to dress well compared to many Europeans. Britain is also a poor country in some areas and there is certainly a lot of deprivation overall. This really shows too. No specific features but I would say that mixed race people tend to be more attractive. I'm pretty sure that this is borne out in studies.

I don't think it is true about fashion, in that British fashion has always led the way in trend setting and has many iconic designers, it is silly to argue otherwise but it isn't conventional and conservative which is sometimes what the Europeans admire especially southern Europeans.

Tbh what you are listing could be said about many countries so I don't think those reasons are very valid, equally, as we are an Island there has always been diversity of a gene pool and Britain is multicultural and not just in London.

Itsalljustinmyhead · 17/03/2025 10:32

wizzywig · 17/03/2025 10:27

Absolutely agree. And it makes sense why there is always a strong smell of detergent when I'm doing a food shop in an Iceland. It's Eau de Povvo

Edited

Same here, you can actually smell it wafting from people as they walk down the road. I use a small dash of Fairy so my jumpers aren’t scratchy, does that count?

Husbandrippedmeoff · 17/03/2025 10:30

raelech · 16/03/2025 09:11

I’m from a town near Manchester. Often go to towns nearby and into Manchester. There are all sorts of people of course.

I am currently in London and I can’t get out of my head that the average person here is much more attractive than the average person outside of London. I can’t place why. Is it that people here have more dosh for skincare?😂

I'm also in the North West and I've noticed this too.

Itsalljustinmyhead · 17/03/2025 10:29

Sadcafe · 17/03/2025 10:22

Kinder, more tolerant a smile makes them look more attractive I must have missed something on my occasional trips down from the collieries and smog filled north, most Londoners I see look like they’ve been sucking on a bag of lemons , especially if you dare smile and say hello, which us unwashed, uneducated, hand me down northern folk tend to do

Good grief, we have a professional Northerner!

wizzywig · 17/03/2025 10:27

PuppyMonkey · 16/03/2025 11:55

Outside of London people use too much fabric softener and it smells really strong. I think it is a class identifier to smell strongly of Lenor or Comfort.

This is gold. Grin

Absolutely agree. And it makes sense why there is always a strong smell of detergent when I'm doing a food shop in an Iceland. It's Eau de Povvo

ViciousCurrentBun · 17/03/2025 10:25

It’s all about how much money an area has and that’s the bottom line.

There are two villages within a few miles of where I live. One is an ex pit village and the other is where people that need a lot of money to buy live, rich retirees and commuters. They are perfect examples of how money changes the look of a place and people

With one it’s all Barbour jackets people tying up their horses in the pub garden with the other it’s all trackie bottoms and badly made knock off designer handbags.

Addictforanex · 17/03/2025 10:22

I remember a few years ago I found myself one day walking up Bond street in London and the next day walking up one of the shopping streets in Dundee. Was there for a family funeral. Difference was stark.

London - stylish wealthy looking slim people, polished and animated, holding coffees, bottles of water, or their designer bags. Dundee - so many people overweight, using a mobility scooter or crutches, head to toe in polyester, wearing jobby catchers - swigging lager or energy drinks, or smoking, carrying tesco carrier bags. I said something to my dad and he said - “of course it’s different, how many people wandering up Bond street will be “on the sick?”. Made me laugh and gave me a dose of reality.

Sadcafe · 17/03/2025 10:22

Lambington · 16/03/2025 09:22

Yanbu. It's the way Londoners hold themselves. Comfortable in their own skin.
They are also generally kinder and more tolerant than those in other parts of the country which comes out in their faces - a smile makes everone look more attractive than a frown.
People in the "regions" always seem to be scowling / complaining / blaming someone else. Not attractive behaviours.

Kinder, more tolerant a smile makes them look more attractive I must have missed something on my occasional trips down from the collieries and smog filled north, most Londoners I see look like they’ve been sucking on a bag of lemons , especially if you dare smile and say hello, which us unwashed, uneducated, hand me down northern folk tend to do

TakeawayAugust · 17/03/2025 10:22

Porcelainpig · 17/03/2025 10:15

Have you been to the rough parts of London?

What in your opinion are now the rough parts of London

IpsyUpsyDaisyDoos · 17/03/2025 10:21

Attractiveness is subjective. And also, "Londoners" come from everywhere, they just live there.

Itsalljustinmyhead · 17/03/2025 10:20

rainingsnoring · 17/03/2025 10:19

I'm not at all irked. As I've pointed out at least twice, your experience seems to be based on one region. I've also pointed out why people in that region may have become unfriendly, which you ignored. I would disagree with your comment in general. That's all.

Ok, so have you gone round every region of the UK and asked the locals for help?

Mielikki · 17/03/2025 10:19

People are generally fitter, healthier, and less likely to be overweight in areas with good public transport and active transport (walking and cycling) provision. If driving is the easier (or only) choice, then everyone ends up doing just that and they tend to balloon, and their children never get into the habit of using public transport and walking and cycling and the cycle continues.

rainingsnoring · 17/03/2025 10:19

Itsalljustinmyhead · 17/03/2025 10:15

You said Londoners are less friendly than other regions. They’re not less friendly than this region, is my opinion. Which you seem to be strangely irked by.

I'm not at all irked. As I've pointed out at least twice, your experience seems to be based on one region. I've also pointed out why people in that region may have become unfriendly, which you ignored. I would disagree with your comment in general. That's all.

isthismylifenow · 17/03/2025 10:19

Goldenbear · 17/03/2025 09:51

What like Elon Musk.

I did say generally.

Of course there are some exceptions.....

wizzywig · 17/03/2025 10:19

RanchRat · 16/03/2025 09:26

When I moved North from London I noticed the men's arses were twice the size of the London bum.

I'm nodding sagely at your scientific findings!!

goodovationsonly · 17/03/2025 10:19

Londoners are definitely colder and less friendly. I lost count of the amount of times I said "excuse me please" to a passer by to ask for help with bearings and the majority of people walked on without even looking at me. The ones who did stop apologized and said they weren't from London so couldn't help.

wizzywig · 17/03/2025 10:18

God yes.Have to say this is especially the case in zone 1-4 The men are generally much better looking (they wear suits to work for gods sake!). And majority of people dressed so much better. They walk and move with that nonchalant confidence.
Once you get to zone 5 onwards you become more average.

Porcelainpig · 17/03/2025 10:15

Have you been to the rough parts of London?

Itsalljustinmyhead · 17/03/2025 10:15

rainingsnoring · 17/03/2025 10:13

I meant that you are letting your experience in one region cloud your judgement, extrapolating it to every single region and area of the UK. I'm saying that I don't agree with you.

You said Londoners are less friendly than other regions. They’re not less friendly than this region, is my opinion. Which you seem to be strangely irked by.

goodovationsonly · 17/03/2025 10:14

I live in a large city and do not think the people look particularly good. The general 'well dressed' scene here is highly fake tanned, hair in massive up do, very little clothing on, kids in either very frilly dresses with matching frilly socks/hair bows or designer tracksuits. I saw one local influencer ranting on social media about how the kids in "posh parks" (ie those in more MC areas) look like "absolute tramps". I was intrigued as I hadn't noticed any young tramps, but what she meant was that they weren't wearing obvious designer clothing that coordinated with their siblings and parents. Nor did the girls (toddlers) have their hair in pigtails with accessories. It's all relative.

rainingsnoring · 17/03/2025 10:13

Itsalljustinmyhead · 17/03/2025 10:10

No, I’ve lived here for years so I have a deeper knowledge of the local area, and I’m not from very far away. So I’m not letting a ‘few bad experiences’ cloud my judgement as a newcomer myself. People here a bit dull and depressed compared to London, they’d be surprised if you tried to talk to them and they’re not overly helpful in my experience. The times I’ve been to London I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how helpful people are.

I think in reverse a lot of people like to slag London, and Londoners, off because they have a kind of political grudge against what they see as the ‘bourgeois elite’. But it’s not really rooted in reality. London is a huge melting pot and it makes sense when you think about it that it attracts ambitious people who enjoy bustle and life, rather than some sleepy village.

I meant that you are letting your experience in one region cloud your judgement, extrapolating it to every single region and area of the UK. I'm saying that I don't agree with you.

rainingsnoring · 17/03/2025 10:11

Goldenbear · 17/03/2025 09:50

What the whole of the British Isles? Interesting, what specifically compared to other countries are the features that are so unattractive?

Of course I don't mean that all Brits are unattractive, just generally less so imo.
I think a lot of Brits take less care to look after their health and this shows, especially as they get older. There are a lot overweight and obese people here. Brits don't tend to dress well compared to many Europeans. Britain is also a poor country in some areas and there is certainly a lot of deprivation overall. This really shows too. No specific features but I would say that mixed race people tend to be more attractive. I'm pretty sure that this is borne out in studies.

80smonster · 17/03/2025 10:11

Itsalljustinmyhead · 17/03/2025 09:36

I posted about the underground. People were more than happy to help, and a few stopped to chat. No less friendly than anywhere else. It’s a myth. Just because people are in a rush, doesn’t mean they’re less friendly.

3.23 million people travel by London underground each day, if they all stopped for a natter with fellow travellers there would be massive queues and delays all over the capital. Londoners are perfectly friendly in the right settings, it’s about appropriateness and remembering the personal space of others in confined spaces.