North London/South London divide

[LuckyAmy1986]

I have always lived South of the river and love it, although it's true you do have to cross for a lot of the good stuff! However, colleagues who live North of the river are quite down on the South and how dull it is, how far away from everything etc etc. Do other people have a clear favourite? Is there actually a real divide? Btw, I know this is totally mindless chat, it was just on my mind!

I'm from West London [misses point of thread] but I live in NW3 and have done for nearly 30 years. Great area

@WildRosie

I've heard that some Hackney cab drivers are reluctant to go south of the River Thames or even refuse outright. I don't know if this is a licensing thing or just an old urban myth.

The old joke is that they're vampires. They come out at night and can't cross running water

Saaf Laandon and proud. North London is full of ponces. Music producers and TV executives. The real culture is South of the river.

p.s. moved years ago so I don't actually care any more.

I do (all joking aside) think south London is generally a little cheaper, although still ludicrously expensive, and therefore now feels like a more average place where more average people live. Which I like. We have a good income (peanuts to some Mumsnetters of course ) and a lot of equity in our house but couldn't afford to live in the desirable parts of North London - not just the ultra desirable parts like Hampstead or Highgate or Muswell Hill, but even Stokey or Crouch End or Dalston. All of those are more expensive than the equivalent south London areas.

All of those are more expensive than the equivalent south London areas.

The pricing doesn’t make sense. It’s quite weird.

@Davros

I'm from West London [misses point of thread] but I live in NW3 and have done for nearly 30 years. Great area

NW3 is great! Wish I could afford to buy though

Aw thanks it's the centre of the universe, never mind London!

It depends on the area. I grew up in Pallets Green, North London. I now live in Blackheath, South East London. I prefer Blackheath 500 times over: much greener, more of a village feel, closer to the river, more genteel, more history and faster to get into central London. But of course N London does have lovely areas too (Islington, Highgate, Hampstead etc) and in general the tube goes to more places in N London but there are places in N London (PG being a place in point) where in doesn't go.

@BlackLambAndGreyFalcoln
Where's Palletts Green? I've lived in North London all my life and not heard of it. Do you mean Palmers Green?

I am, and always will be, a SE girl. Although I’m now just outside London, my heart (and youth) belongs to SE London. The best!!

I lived in the North (Fulham) until I moved out of London when I retired. All the things I enjoyed about London are in the North and there's nowhere in the South I would want to live.

North London all the way! I used to joke with my mates that I got a nosebleed any time I went any further south than the South Bank

I'm moving to a nice place in the North of London in less than a month and apart from location x3 I didn't really know there was a north/south issue I actually wanted south but settled for north because of location and cost,although visiting a few times I did notice south is better for buses and north is better for tubes but apart from that I'm kinda clueless apart from a few senior family members living there ( both North one now in Essex)

And just to clarify I only considered southbank or going right to the other end and moving to Brighton, not in between

DH is North London boy, he has always told me that South London doesn't really count as London.
It is obviously just banter though.

My dsis and family are north London. I'm south.

She goes on about all the history in north London and points out where all the celebrities live. I have to pretend to be impressed. 😑 Her Dh says he couldn't possibly live in south London because it's so flat apparently 🙄🙄🙄

I lived in the North (Fulham) until I moved out of London when I retired.

Am I bad in recongnising tongue in cheek?

Or is SW6 meant to be North?

North London (outside of Zone 1 central!) has the tube going for it I suppose but that’s about it? Can you tell I’ve always been South London? I never had any desire to move North. South seems more open, green and relaxed, I can’t explain it!

@JoJoSM2

I lived in the North (Fulham) until I moved out of London when I retired.

Am I bad in recongnising tongue in cheek?

Or is SW6 meant to be North?

It’s north of the river (as is Chelsea etc) yet still has an SW post code!

North here always. Loved zones 3 and 2 and currently central zone 1.
Just feel more comfortable here !
There’s a big part of unfamiliarity when I go south.
It also feels more open and green both of which should be a good thing - both are good things - but I just don’t fully feel anchored in London when I’m down there. Seems to get very suburban very quickly and remote from a lot of the fun stuff quickly (lots of which is of course now shut/closed/closed down).

Property progs often open my eyes to the obvious benefits of various parts of SL but my heart isnt touched.
Reminds me I have an episode of location location location to watch set in SL ! Let’s see . . .

I’ve only ever lived North of the river and I would say that not only is there a divide between north and south but between different districts.

@Marnie56 I know Fulham is just north of the river but it’s SW of central London. I would think it’s SW London and places such as SW1/SW3 are central London IMO.

I would only say ‘North London’ about areas north of the centre, ie Islington or Hampstead and further out.

Fulham and Chelsea Kensington Knightsbridge etc are indeed ‘problematic’ for this whole quandary.

Further problems caused by east London. As for Canary Wharf well I just don’t know What to say !!

I consider eg Bermondsey to be more north London than CW. Which is some kind of madness really.

It’s all gone Pete Tong !

The divide used to be much bigger because of the lack of public transport south of the river. I think that's changed though due to tube extension, much improved bus service and the Ginger line is brilliant both north and south. It depends what you're used to and where you grew up

@Davros

I'm from West London [misses point of thread] but I live in NW3 and have done for nearly 30 years. Great area

DH and I lived in NW3 for years, we loved it there.

I always thought of Fulham and Chelsea as West London.

Love reading pepys diary with all the river ferries and the slightly different north south feelings (Westminster kind of isolated out in countryside largely). But yes a lot stems from that pesky river. Just too wide and strong to stop our psyche also feeling it as a barrier.

Reaching out hand of friendship to all in south (slightly hesitantly obviously)