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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:
BasiliskStare · 10/04/2022 15:30

@RinklyRomaine - I agree that London is a series of villages. You live in your own part - I don't think most people who choose to live in london - whether that be inner or outer - think of it as one homogenous mass.

MySecretHistory · 10/04/2022 15:35

@timestheyarechanging

Oh and my partner is selling in Camden for £800k and me £300k in London (both flats) We are then able to buy a house and two flats for that by the coast! London prices are ridiculous. I'm trying to convince my daughter to move out of London to buy but she won't.
Good luck There is a reason coastal town are cheap !
Westfacing · 10/04/2022 15:45

Black snot was a feature some 40 years ago - don't know why people are claiming this now!

I live centrally and am out and about in the street, on public transport, parks, shops etc and my nose is fine. I think people are repeating an urban myth, or something along those lines.

As for those who claim dirty fingernails after a day in London - just what are you getting up to?

Waxonwaxoff0 · 10/04/2022 15:51

I love London. Could not justify the expense of living there though.

colosmbo · 10/04/2022 16:00

Also what is everyone talking about pollution and smog and black snot and feeling grimey??

I don't recall ever having black snot but air pollution is definitely an issue. It defo a concern for my dc.

100problems · 10/04/2022 16:29

Nope. Never had black snot. Some posters are making it sound like London of Mary Poppins time Hmm

suckingonchillidogs · 10/04/2022 16:45

I love London but black snot is most definitely a thing! Maybe you become immune if you live there.

mydogisthebest · 10/04/2022 17:22

@suckingonchillidogs

I love London but black snot is most definitely a thing! Maybe you become immune if you live there.
I don't live there any more (never had black snot in the 40 years I did live there). I do go back regularly for weekends or even longer and never get black snot.

I also don't understand all the posters saying how dirty they feel and having to wash their hair etc. I shower and wash my hair every day anyway as I think it is needed wherever you live

dollydimple123 · 10/04/2022 17:49

It wouldn't be for me, I live up north in a fairly rural area but can be in a city centre with a 30 min drive. On the occasions I have visited London I've not enjoyed it, just don't get a warm friendly feeling like you do in northern cities such as Liverpool and Manchester.

MrsDThomas · 10/04/2022 17:51

Nice place to see. It ends there for me.

Living rurally (not in a village with a shop pub school, i mean rural on a mountain side with no neighbours) i love where i am. Find London overcrowded, expensive, noisy, people dont look at you, no please, thank you.

Took the kids a few years ago, and neither if us have the desire visit again.

lakeswimmer · 10/04/2022 18:01

I like visiting and know central London fairly well as a result of living in Herts for a time.

There's lots to do and different areas have a different feel which I appreciate. I'm having a weekend there with a friend in a couple of weeks and staying in Kensington. Last time I was there with the same friend we stayed in Greenwich.

I like architecture and love seeing the iconic buildings but then I feel that way about Edinburgh and Liverpool too.

I wouldn't want to live in London but then I wouldn't want to live in any city. I live in the Lakes and have great quality of life and breath taking views from my windows.

chisanunian · 10/04/2022 18:03

@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?

What do I think about London when I get there? The same as I always have done on the many hundreds of times I've been before.
valerianaofficiana · 10/04/2022 18:03

Compared to Rome, Paris, Florence, Venice etc. ad nauseam... a bit ' meh'.

LynetteScavo · 10/04/2022 18:10

I've lived in London - visiting and living there are two different things. When I lived in London I stayed in one small area in unless I was going out to dinner or shopping etc. I now live back in suburbia and only really notice the difference when I come back home- that I have a nice house and large garden for an affordable price and many good state schools. I feel like a mother dock every time I arrive back in my home town, thinking it's a good place to raise my ducklings. As a tourist London is very busy, but that's because of the other tourists Grin Mostly I see London as somewhere I can't afford to live.

blacksax · 10/04/2022 18:16

@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?

Those tourists probably take a look around and think to themselves: "Christ, what a dump."
BigSandyBalls2015 · 10/04/2022 18:16

I’m a Londoner and love it, one of the best cities in the world IME. New York isn’t a patch on it and my teens thought the same. Perhaps if they had grown up in the countryside and rarely visited London they may have thought differently.

I’m very pleased to see it bursting with life again.

RollerGirl7 · 10/04/2022 18:31

Love a visit to London. Love the shops, museums, bars, experiences, theatres. Think id love to live there too but not enough to justify the cost.

I actually find Londoners very friendly and love the tube purely for the convenience.

Some things are a tad over priced and overrated but that's true of any big city

maddy68 · 10/04/2022 18:35

I think it's lovely love the bar/music scene etc but wouldn't want to live there it's all a bit dirty tbh.

SickAndTiredAgain · 10/04/2022 18:38

We live about 30 mins away by train, I don’t think anything when I get off the train really. I certainly don’t think “urgh London is so dirty” or “ooh London is so exciting”. I don’t think I have an opinion on London as a whole because it has such different areas within it.
I wouldn’t want to live there, but that is because of the cost. If you took that out, then there are parts I’d like to live in, and parts I wouldn’t.

DelilahBucket · 10/04/2022 18:40

Too busy for me. Nice for a short visit, which we've done a lot as we have family down there, but I like my peace and quiet too much and I love living a few minutes walk from rolling hills and wildlife, and I love doing said walk and feeling like I've had lungfuls of fresh air.

TurningUpMyStereotype · 10/04/2022 18:58

I lived in London for a few years and didn’t like it. When I go back now I get a really horrible feeling in my stomach. Even when we just took the kids to do the usual sightseeing stuff or have been to a concert of a show, I can’t wait to go home. We’ve got friends there and they wouldn’t consider moving anywhere else.

ListeningButNotHearing · 10/04/2022 19:16

I live very rurally so it's great to get into the 'real' world for a few days, but I always love coming back home.

It can make me feel very claustrophobic.

tintodeverano2 · 11/04/2022 05:19

@Whattodoniw

Ex born n bred Londoner here... generations before me born there too...

So not actually a ' non Londoner'...

Absolute shit hole.

Over crowded , dirty , smelly and an absolute hell hole these days.

It certainly wasn't like that when I grew up..

Same.

I hate having to go back to London. Still have family there and occasionally go back. It's changed beyond all recognition for me, it's not the place I grew up in.

I can't believe how dirty it is. It's always been like that I suppose, but I just never noticed it. Until I moved away I didn't know that bogeys were anything other than black or grey.

Most "Londoners" don't actually live in London anymore, they've all moved away.

desiringonlychild2022 · 11/04/2022 09:25

@tintodeverano2 i find that white londoners tend to move away (along with their parents who retire outside london). My DH is white but Jewish, he is a 4th generation Londoner. He would not consider moving outside london except maybe for a short term job for a few years. And he would want to keep out flat.

Happylittlethoughts · 11/04/2022 10:37

Scottish . I absolutely love London. Visit many times at various ages and the thrill of being there never goes away. Always been treated well and had great experiences.
(I love it way mOre than NY)

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