Am I the only person who has never been to London?

[MamaCrazy]

I live in central England. I have never been to London. I have also never been to Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh or Glasgow.

Am I the only person to have never been to any of these big cities? By going to them, I mean actually parking and going into the city centres. I have been to Birmingham New Street Station to switch trains.

This is really about being being so insular that not only do they turn their nose up at a place, but they do so on the basis of never having been there.

Funnily enough, the OP hasn't even bothered to return to the thread.

Margueritapink- you keep contradicting yourself. You claim you like certain cities as they have galleries, museums, music venues, restaurants etc but then you don’t like other cities (such as Manchester, Glasgow, Liverpool) even though they have all of these things. What’s the real reason you don’t like Northern cities? From reading through your posts I suspect it is because you think the locals aren’t middle class enough for you.

Also entertaining i called her out and shs just seems to slip past that post as well, hmm....

I don't find not visiting London that weird but I think living in Central England and not having been to Birmingham is. No school trip, shopping expedition, theatre trip etc? I also do find the 'London is crap' attitude really boring and rude. You don't have to love it but you don't have to slag it off either. I live in London. I have been to Birmingham ( jewellery quarter, museums, shopping), Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Leeds, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Bristol, Bath, York, Harrogate, Portsmouth, Sunderland, Lancaster, St Andrew's, Cambridge, Oxford. Had a nice time in all of them. They are all different. Exploring new places is fun and makes life more interesting.

*Kenny33k
Margueritapink- you keep contradicting yourself. You claim you like certain cities as they have galleries, museums, music venues, restaurants etc but then you don’t like other cities (such as Manchester, Glasgow, Liverpool) even though they have all of these things. What’s the real reason you don’t like Northern cities? From reading through your posts I suspect it is because you think the locals aren’t middle class enough for you

Why do you think that someone must find that all cities equally as appealing as every other city just because all cities to a greater or lesser degree have art venues etc etc?

On Glasgow I don't find the heavy red Victorian sandstone an attractive style of architecture compared to the stone of Edinburgh or the granite of Aberdeen. (Do tell- is Aberdeen a "Northern city"?)

You are scraping the barrel. I also like opera - I suppose I'm contradicting myself if I however say that despite that I find Wagner unlistenable? .(but you said like opera- you must like all opera- how can you not like all opera)

Even if your reasoning is correct - so what of It? Personal preferences on how one spends one's leisure time are entirely up to the person concerned. I understand there is rugby going on this weekend in Edinburgh and other places- hardly gets more middle class than that yet I can think of few events I less want to attend.

There's pigeons, muck and crowds in Huddersfield and I had a great time there last week.

Thinks it's a bit weird though that people would comment on somewhere they've never been

I can't wait to go to Glasgow. I want to do an art trip and then cycle from Glasgow to Inverness.

I did an art trip to Glasgow a couple of years ago. I really hope you have a great time, as I did. (I didn't cycle anywhere, though. I lost my nerve for cycling on public roads - round about the time I lived in London, actually.)

I live in London and I’ve been to other cities, as well as lots of smaller areas. Cornwall is the only area I think I haven’t been to. We often book random cheap newspaper £40 caravan deals just for the fun of exploring. I k know a lot of the midlands/ Norfolk/ Suffolk/ and Kent to drive around without sat nav.

So I guess I’m a bit bemused by this post! Just not at least have the curiosity of trying new places

I'd find that really bizarre, tbh - to me it would imply either a complete lack of interest in a wider world, or a lack of funds. Have you ever left the country op? Also, how old are you (roughly)?

Rugby is middle class? Have you been to New Zealand or Australia? Ever heard of Rugby League? You really do sound quite insular.

My point is that you have dismissed Manchester and Liverpool without ever having been.

I’ve been round the world three times and have found something to like in every city I’ve been to.

Sibling- you HAVE to visit Cornwall 😁😁😁

Not previewing again - bloody phone. That’s in response to Margueritapink.

Citykat - some good names on that list. Lancaster is a really nice place to spend a day or two. The tour of the castle is great. As is Atkinson’s coffee.

Oh yes sibling you have to visit Cornwall

I’ve been round the world three times and have found something to like in every city I’ve been to

But apparently failed to discover the insight that other people have different interests and tastes and don't owe you an explanation why.

As for rugby- I don't enjoy any sport. I hated sport at school , whether watching it or playing. How terribly, terribly insular of me.

You seem a little obsessed by Manchester and Liverpool. Tbh beyond this thread I doubt I've given them much thought.Why my not having them on a bucket list causes you so much concern is a puzzle.

Ah again magaurita being arrogant and closed minded. Ignoring someone that proved she was

Again I don't understand how you can judge a place you have never been.

I've been to Manchester many times. It has a football museum and a cricket ground and two great football stadiums.

Gorgeous places to eat, a great uni. Been to concerts there, visited the Lowry many times, been to watch plays. There's a museum that might educated you on industry in Northern Cities.

It's a fabulous place for shopping. Liverpool is better for culture and shopping and nightlife but Manchester is worth a visit.

I live in London, love it but know it's not for everyone. My Cornish relatives hate it. Really really isn't just pigeons and dirt honestly! Go to Hampstead Heath or Richmond park and tell me that.

Now Glasgow is my favourite city outside of London and I would put serious thought into living there if I could, why the hate for Glasgow on this thread?!

I love Manchester and Liverpool!!!

We live in Scotland. Obviously know Edinburgh and Glasgow well and have explored a lot of the country including Islay, Orkney, Mull, Skye, Harris, west Highlands.

We also travel extensively to the rest of the UK and have had breaks/holidays in London, Belfast, Antrim Coast, Liverpool, Chester, York, Peak District, Devon, Cornwall.

We're fairly familiar with our country. The only places I don't know are Manchester (I don't think an afternoon in the Trafford centre counts), Nottingham and the far east of England like Lincolnshire/Norfolk/Suffolk.

Your tag team mate has proved nothing of the sort. And as for ignoring him/ her I have replied to every post.

As for being closed minded your patronising arrogance towards your neighbours is breath taking.

All that travelling you apparently have done yet the simple concept that other people have, and are entitled to have , different tastes and interests is beyond your comprehension. Then there was the utter nonsense about them being able to afford to travel but choosing not to which you also deemed as wrong. It is none of your business.

Ha, I’d like to visit Cornwall. It just feels such a mission! It looks great and when the kids grow a bit I will

I live in Ayrshire and only finally visited London for the first time in late 2018. Was only there for less than 48 hours lol.

However I've been to all the others. Glasgow is my nearest city so I don't have much option considering everything is there

London is my favourite city very worth a visit. If you don't like tubes (tbh it can be quicker sometimes just to walk. Or, albeit slower than the tube the bus for ease of use jus pavement to bus no tube escalators)

'When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life' - Dr Samuel Johnson

Recommend:

Covent Garden The opera singer in the centre of the market if you can't afford The Royal Opera House. Also theatreland - stand in the 'Returns' queue and await tickets that have been refunded because a booking couldn't arrive - you must pay cash but I saw The Producers for £12 in a £60 Dress Circle seat at The Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
www.coventgarden.london/

The London Dungeons on The Southbank but then I'm a bit gory and always was as a child
www.thedungeons.com/london/en/

The Meridian Line at The Royal Observatory in Greenwich* so pleased my dad took us when he could when we were little and we got our certificate to say we had crossed the Meridian Line! It was a cheap day out and a moment in history for us.
www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/greenwich-park/things-to-see-and-do/the-meridian-line

The Troubador Club - best in the evening one of my mum's old haunts from the 60s when she first left Scotland and lived in London. She took me a little while ago. Very small but great vibe and food. Best in the evening. Live Music! www.troubadourlondon.com/ I think you get off at Earl's Court.

Fortnum and Masons - The Queen's Grocers I lovvvve this shop and you can have afternoon tea at St James Restaurant with piano or string quartet accompaniment. www.fortnumandmason.com/?channel=ppc&gclid=Cj0KCQiAkfriBRD1ARIsAASKsQL9JlZotPZQj2nPt7YgvzZ60eYfMzf4jNFEFuJnCjeji5J3h4RPUZsaArcxEALw_wcB

The Natural History Museum and The Science Museum dear departed dad used to take ius there when he had no money and it was our weekend but we always found something interesting.

Leicester Square: Browns restaurant central but also reasonable price and variety for all tastes and budgets.

China Town - especially this time of year, Wonderful decorations on a big scale and fab atmosphere.

Southbank Second Hand Book Fair great buzz here and it's free as is The Tate Modern unless you want to see an Exhibition then you must pay.

Vidal Sassoon Hair Academy at Buckingham Gate (book in advance but Cut and Blow for £13 if you give up 3hours of life to a supervised trainee). We go every 3months love it and the building. It's number 58.
www.sassoon-academy.com/en/academy/uk/Models-Wanted

The Serpentine: Where my little brother thought he'd have a swim and risk Weil's disease (although Mum think's he probably infected The Serpentine

The Courtald Gallery at Somerset House - even if you're not big on art they have a lovely outside area with fountains to have a quiet coffee and it's still central (I think Aldwych is the tube)
ttnotes.com/the-courtauld-gallery.html#gal_post_30216_the-courtauld-gallery-london-5.jpg

Hamleys www.hamleys.com/ I recall being told by mum as a child 'please don't touch the toys' but then mum being corrected by the shop assistant 'no, we actually encourage the children to play with the toys'. It's a cheery charming treat even as an adult.

We also loved seeing The Poppies at The Tower of London in 2014 but they have been moved since but keep an eye out for things like this. It was absolutely breathtaking. We couldn't afford the tickets but we made a good donation and stood outside and still saw all of the poppies and the Weeping Window.

Ronnie Scotts's Jazz Club www.ronniescotts.co.uk/#

Smithfield market: get in whilst it's still there! The best meat is at 2-3am and you don't have the Congestion Charge

The Royal Academy of Art opposite Fortnum and Masons in Piccadilly.

The Ritz - Tea in The Palm Court. You need to book but it's nice o say you have been. We went for a very special birthday and it was a treat just to say we'd done it.

Get yourself a copy of Time Out and make some plans. You won't know until you go

Have also loved York, Truro, Edinburgh, Cheltenham, Stirling, Exeter, Barcelona and Paris

Wishlist - Madrid, Seville, New York, New Orleans, Athens, Rome and Milan

I thknk this applies again so I'm just gonna post it again. Love someone who is apparently patronising to neighbours even though the accuser hasn't ever seen me talk to them, good one 👌👏

Well you're arrogant and close mjnded as you assumed I'm a female for a start.

Did i say they've to like the cities and fall in love?nope. But it's sad that people don't even bother trying places out. If you don't like glasgow then that's fine, but declaring it a rubbish place beforehand would be insular.

I don't sneer at people either, i think that they're insular though if they don't travel anywhere. Which is a fact. If you stay in your own bubble and don't leave it then you're insular. Which i then find sad.

I wouldn't call myself obsessed either, more i am capable of having conversations with them... and actually learning about them. I'll explain the concept, neighbour sees my packing suitcase in car, asks of I'm off anywhere nice, i answer. I ask them have you got any trips planned this year? They say no we don't like travelling, i say oh had a bad experience? And they go no, just never been away really.

Tada, I've found out neighbours dont like travelling and have never been away, by having a conversation. Now i wouldn't call that obsessed, but hey your definition may be different to mine, but as I've travelled and experienced other peoples cultures etc I'm used to hearing different sayings, so will accept that maybe your version of obsessed is different to mine and you obviously weren't meant to be sneary and closed minded by presuming something again?