North London/South London divide

[DedalusBloom]

I've lived in both. I currently live in South London and have for the last 15 years. Personally I prefer South to North London but the majority of friends live North of the river.

It always ends up being me that does the lion's share of travel to get to get togethers with friends and family. People pull faces and say "Oh but it's so far away!" without thinking for a second that it's the exact same amount of time for me to get to them as the other way round.

We do try and meet in the middle to make it fair but suggestions for bars and restaurants are always in North London. At the very best it's the South Bank ( which is just honorary North really).
Suggestions of anywhere in the southern outposts of the tube just get shot down.

So (lighthearted!) why do people dislike south London so much?

[DedalusBloom]

To be fair when I lived in New Cross someone did get stabbed outside my flat the day I moved in, It was a substantially different place in the early 90s.

I miss the Paradise bar. Used to live over the road from it and spent many happy evenings there.

[SomethingNastyInTheBallPool]

Someone got stabbed just round the corner from my flat in leafy northwest London and shot at the top of my road.

[ItsRainingTacos]

I think it's because of the West End. Nightlife, restaurants all centre around there.

[EmmaH2022]

@ItsRainingTacos

I think it's because of the West End. Nightlife, restaurants all centre around there.

Around where?

[MrsPelligrinoPetrichor]

@DedalusBloom

To be fair when I lived in New Cross someone did get stabbed outside my flat the day I moved in, It was a substantially different place in the early 90s.

I miss the Paradise bar. Used to live over the road from it and spent many happy evenings there.

It's not that different now to be fair

[HeronLanyon]

somethingnasty nice Gertrude stein ref there. Not ever said about Los Angeles but her Cal birth town.

I’m north Londoner. Now very central which feels even more ‘north’ as v close to the river. Waves.

Have always found south echoes of much later fields and open country than up here, means roads are odd and meander more. My sense of direction is less good. Tbh I have far fewer friends who live south so some - some - of my dislike is pure ignorance !

[SomethingNastyInTheBallPool]

Well spotted, @HeronLanyon. I’m also horribly ignorant about South London - despite my great age, I’m still discovering areas I’d never heard of.