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Original poster

What do non-Londoners think of London?

387 replies

savedbyanalien · 09/04/2022 12:31

We live (just inside) zone 1, so very central. We're very much "big City people" and couldn't imagine living in the suburbs or the countryside, or even a provincial town.

I was at London Victoria station earlier today and saw reams and reams of day-trippers (Hen and stag do's etc) and tourists getting off the Gatwick express with their luggage.

I wonder, what do you think about london when you get here? Big, noisy, busy, pretty, exciting?

OP posts:
Pyri · 09/04/2022 12:34

Honestly this thread will end up being really horrible, for some reason people think that London and Londoners are fair game for a complete slagging off, despite being enormous and made up of really diverse people from all sorts of backgrounds

Within the first few posts you’ll have people saying Londoners are unfriendly, it’s big, smelly, crime ridden etc etc and not a patch on their perfect slice of Yorkshire / South Wales / Aberdeenshire etc etc

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 09/04/2022 12:35

Its pretty much the same as the rest of the country but more expensive and likes to think it self better.

beattieedny · 09/04/2022 12:35

I am rural and I love to visit London but I can't bear the sheer number of people, the built-up nature of everywhere etc. Having said that, my sister lived in Central London for years, and she basically lived in a small area of it. I think one would get used to it? However, I need acres of greenery and rivers and the beach on a daily basis. I always feel fitlhy after a visit to London, grimey iyswim?

Furrbabymama87 · 09/04/2022 12:35

I haven't been since I was about 12 but always found it stressful and everywhere was a lot more rushed and unfriendly to where I'm from. I couldn't cope with the public transport but I guess you just get used to that if you live in London.

beattieedny · 09/04/2022 12:35

I also think that if one lives near a park in London, it could be very nice, especially if well off.

SmellyWellyWoo · 09/04/2022 12:36

That they think everyone in the north is thick/uncivilised etc, that it's a cultural waste land. Or they just don't think about us at all and think they are the centre of the universe.

Mommabear20 · 09/04/2022 12:37

Dirty and way too busy! If I visit, I get off the train and either cross the road to board the euro star or jump straight in a taxi to the theatre! Only reasons to visit!

MrsSkylerWhite · 09/04/2022 12:37

I’m a Londoner, haven’t lived there for donkey’s years. Love to visit but always glad to get back home to our dull, sleepy NW town.

JackieCollinshasnoauthority · 09/04/2022 12:37

Ok Belle, calm down.

Original poster
savedbyanalien · 09/04/2022 12:37

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

Its pretty much the same as the rest of the country but more expensive and likes to think it self better.

Brilliant 😂

OP posts:
heathspeedwell · 09/04/2022 12:37

I used to live right next to a park in London and I got flashed at nearly every day. I wouldn't live in London again if you paid me.

Hoppinggreen · 09/04/2022 12:38

I think it’s a nice place to visit a couple of times a year but I can’t understand why people would choose to actually live there if they have other options easily available

WellNotReally · 09/04/2022 12:39

I enjoy it for a day or 2, but the noise, dirt, crowds and air pollution make it unbearable for any longer.

Sleepdeprived42long · 09/04/2022 12:40

We visited with DC from Scotland in February but I’ve visited many times over the years.

Positives-Busy, nice buzz about it, lots to see and do. People friendly. Felt safe (we were in zone 1).

Negative-rubbish and litter everywhere! Felt a bit like another world though-like not the real world. Not sure if that makes sense though lol!

SnottyLottie · 09/04/2022 12:40

I find the train station stressful!

Other than that I love it. I come from a big city in the north so am used to the crowds, noise and how busy it gets. There are some lovely areas where I’m happy to chill out and have a drink or picnic in a park. There are areas I avoid. The shopping is great and there’s loads of cool places to eat and drink. But the last few times I’ve visited I’ve noticed the homeless problem is getting worse. I wouldn’t choose to live there because it’s super expensive in every single way.

It’s marginally better than where I live but I wouldn’t choose to live there.

GeoffLynton · 09/04/2022 12:41

@beattieedny

I am rural and I love to visit London but I can't bear the sheer number of people, the built-up nature of everywhere etc. Having said that, my sister lived in Central London for years, and she basically lived in a small area of it. I think one would get used to it? However, I need acres of greenery and rivers and the beach on a daily basis. I always feel fitlhy after a visit to London, grimey iyswim?
Aye, I get the black bogeys Grin

I like visiting there personally, I love how easy it is to get around on public transport and the people are often far friendlier than the stereotype.

Favourodds · 09/04/2022 12:41

That they think everyone in the north is thick/uncivilised etc, that it's a cultural waste land. Or they just don't think about us at all and think they are the centre of the universe.

But where do you think most people in London come from? Most people in London aren't 'Londoners'...

Anyway. Whatever people think of London if they only visit will be wrong because they'll just be central and not see where people actually live (which are often leafy, green and neighbourly).

IstayedForTheFeminism · 09/04/2022 12:41

It's just London. It's big and busy, but so is my home town, not quite as big but still big.

We live about 30 minutes away on the train so go for the day fairly often (at least we did pre covid and money allowing.) Obviously I like it else we wouldn't ever go, but then we go because there's so much to do not because it's London IYSWIM. I guess if we lived near Liverpool/Newcastle/Edinburgh we'd go there for a day out.

beattieedny · 09/04/2022 12:41

Yes! The black bogies 😂

Pyri · 09/04/2022 12:42

Bingo bingo bingo!

I think that pretty much all the people on this thread can only ever have been to zone 1 London (probably an Aberdeen Angus steakhouse in Piccadilly circus) and don’t realise that London stretches all the way down to zone 5ish and includes Richmond, Wimbledon, Hampstead Heath etc, ie all beautiful lush green areas!

AtomicBlondeRose · 09/04/2022 12:42

I enjoy going to London and I think I would enjoy living there for a while if I had the money available to enjoy it and not have to always do the cheapest and meanest of everything. Seeing so much while being poor must be very draining in London I always think. But I find it exciting and vibrant. I live in a sleepy market town near the countryside and I like it here a lot, so I wouldn’t give that up to live in a dull suburb - only for a real change, which central London would be for me. I always enjoy visiting and find it a thrill to be part of the hustle and bustle. I don’t even find it all that much more expensive these days. There used to be a marked difference in food and drink prices but now anywhere provincial with pretentions prices high anyway!

LittleBearPad · 09/04/2022 12:42

Some bits are lovely, some bits are grim. Leicester Square and Oxford Street seem to be where lots of tourists end up and they’re horrible so they wouldn’t be unreasonable to think London wasn’t very nice.

I live in London so am allowed to point out its deficiencies Grin.

OvOvO · 09/04/2022 12:43

I live up North but love London. Last time DH and I visited in 2019 we stayed in Kensington and walked for miles through the streets and parks on a blistering hot weekend - it was fabulous!

ikeepseeingit · 09/04/2022 12:43

It’s busy and expensive but depending on what I’m doing there can be fun. I like to see touristy things and being anywhere with a lot of history is fun for me so that’s nice.

nellienolan · 09/04/2022 12:43

An amazing place if you can afford a decent place to live and can take advantage of the plethora of theatres, galleries and restaurants. Not such a great place if you're in a tiny, overcrowded, cold, damp flat without any outside space. Much the same as any large city.