What do non-Londoners think of London?

[savedbyanalien]

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?

Gave me asthma. No asthma before I worked in London, cleared up completely when I left.
Particulates.

@D0lphine thank goodness London isn't full of people like you. The people that love living in London largely do so as they like and embrace the diversity and acceptance of others.

I think it is one of the few places where you can buy a mug that has 'I ❤️ London' on it and where there are legions of dolls dressed as one of the Queen's Guards or as a Beefeater.
Other than that it is like many other big cities. Although it does have London Zoo and I can't think of anywhere else that has that.

Fabulous city. I love London and my life's wish is to explore every last nook and cranny of it.

I still find London as exciting as I did as a child! It's a good 4 hour drive so only manage every year or 2, but really love it. Love the tube, the vastness of it all, the ridiculous choice of things to do

One big over-rated, consumer driven crowd.

@downbythewoods

One big over-rated, consumer driven crowd.

The you do not ‘know’ London.

*Then.

I loved there for a couple of years in my 20’s and quite enjoyed it as I could do what I wanted and had plenty of money. As an average earning mother of two though it would now be my idea of hell to live there.

I do visit 3-4 times a year for a weekend and enjoy it but unless I was absolutely rolling in money I could never live there. I certainly wouldn’t want my kids to go to any of the private schools there. I used to see so many of them pile out after school and even before I’d considered having kids I knew that I couldn’t bear for my child to be like that.

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles there’s shops that sell London tat like that in Bath, Canterbury, Oxford, Cambridge and anywhere else that tourists go on their coach tours without realising they are no longer in London.

@YellowAndGreenToBeSeen
Good point. I suppose that the original post was going to attract more 'what do you think of central London when you visit for the day / weekend'. If someone asked me for my views on say New York or Paris I would give my view on those places only as I have seen them (ie for long weekends). Which would probably be a very different opinion than if I actually 'knew' them.

Absolutely love it.

I come from a provincial town in a provincial country (no offence to my country - I’m living back in it now and wouldn’t be anywhere else), but I love London. Lived in and around it for 13 years.

I don’t understand all the people saying it’s built up and grimy.

Central London is FULL of parks and green spaces, and Hyde Park alone is vast.

When I was 60 I got my local bus pass but I can use it in London. As an earlier poster has said, I like the bus because I see more than on the tube.
I enjoyed seeing the British Library being built, now several years ago. It's so easy to kill time there while waiting for a train time. When I was in that area last November, first time since 2020 Big Lockdown, I was delighted to find that it didn't close at 6, but at 8.

I love spending a few days there. Really enjoy visiting the galleries and museums. Don’t enjoy the Tube. Love walking everywhere. I think it’s a beautiful city and have always found Londoners pleasant, if overconfident! Couldn’t live there - love my countryside, clean air and wide open spaces too much.

I think it is expensive, cramped, and busy.

Hate it. Honestly I felt I couldn't breathe the air was awful. We took the children for four nights about five years back and they were so miserable. But we live in a tiny village in rural west wales so I think we just aren't used to such a busy place.

@smellywellywoo " 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."

I live in london & I find this patronising. My bother lives in the north of England - as do my parents - both live in lovely places with a plethora of things to do . It horses for courses , surely.

I like some bits of it, I think some of it is shite.

I am just back from a couple of days trip in London and can't wait to go back! I love the diversity and just magic of it, I am from a big city but it doesn't compare to London at all. The transport is fantastic and there is just so much to see and do. If I had the money and job opportunities I would love to live there but do have kids to consider aswell!

We live in suburbia about half an hour from London and on each visit I feel like it’s a breath of fresh air (not literally) Our town is boring and London is definitely not. If we could afford to move back we would.

I lived in London for 4 years.I couldn’t wait to leave.The thing I hated most was how dirty I always felt,as if I was suffocating.

I go now once a year for the day only.The best bit is getting on the train home.I am going next week,the first time in over 3 years,I am prepared for the pushing and shoving on the tube,how people do it day after day I don’t know,I could think of nothing worse.

Yes there are some nice parks,Hyde Park is by no means vast! as a PP said,It is 350 acres in total,my local park covers 2,400 acres.

No London is not a place I could live again.

Fun and exciting to visit, could not pay me to live there!

Once went to evening classes which taught me a little about St. Pancras Station - Butterly Foundry 1867(?). Beer barrels came down to that station and were stored underneath. Before it was done up there were businesses in there and you could see the pillars. I was told that the pillars were an exact number of beer barrels apart, for efficient storing. The ticket office had ( I hope they're still there) the most lovely models/statues of men associated with different kinds of technical work. It has been taken into the pub now and isn't the ticket office any more. This has nothing to do with OP's first post so forgive me, but it's about a little delight of London.
I love buskers and this new fashion for having pianos standing around for anyone to have a play on - lovely. Ooh, I want a daytrip SOON.

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Ah but there are people who choose different things are there not. I love living in London - My brother would not do it if you paid him folding money. But it is convenient for jobs - there are nice places to Iive.

I just think this is one of those things where people will be one side of a divide or another . & great that people have different opinions - otherwise we would be scrambling for the same accommodation.

All best to everyone happy where they live