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?

I am so, so glad that so many people hate London, think it's a 'shit hole', "couldn't pay me enough to live there", et cetera.

Because we're full up. Sometimes it feels like every man and his dog want to live here. I wonder why...

I love London. Just thought I'd clarify in case it isn't clear that I do.

Sorry my post was too negative. I was in a bad mood. Apologies to anyone I offended.

I would not be so impolite to say that many cities / towns /areas are depressing to me . Why is it Ok to have a pop at London? London has so many areas - some I would not live in - some I would love to but can't afford it. But I would not be impolite enough to mention other areas I find uncongenial.

& If you get off the train / bus at a major terminal - well of course you aren't going to find some cute mews houses. But presumably you have come to London for a reason.

That's it. Everyone must live where they prefer.

& I do get that some nice posters have said they have pragmatically moved out to get a better house / garden etc. but still within striking distance or a w/e away. I do absolutely understand that & that they feel happy when they go home. By and large many parts of London are not a "shit hole"

I don't feel 'us and them' about Londoners, I feel like it belongs to me as it's my capital city. I think everyone should live there for a while if they can. I lived there for a few years and love going back. But I couldn't live there again permanently...for all the big city reasons of noise/dirt/ expense/crime and the bit of smugness

London is great to visit for a couple of days, whizz round, do lots of activities and then go home to clean air and peace. Personally I would only want to live there if I was wealthy and had a beautiful townhouse around a park. I suppose you would still have the travel hassle though?

Do Londoners use the facilities on their doorstep I’ve always wondered? We are surrounded by NT and English Heritage places and have only been to about half.

I like the buildings and the history/culture.

But overall I absolutely hate it. There’s hordes of people absolutely everywhere. Literally you cannot move for other people. In the street, in a shop, on the tube, cafe anywhere at all.

There is also absolutely nowhere you can go that’s a greenspaceand isn’t rammed with other people. No peace anywhere.

Not to mention the utterly extortionate costs of housing and pretty much everything else down there.

Ok for the odd visit but no more than that.

@Roundeartheratchriatmas thats only in zone 1 and very specific areas i.e. leicester square, Piccadilly circus, oxford street etc.

I am in zone 3 and often see maybe 2 people on the road when walking to the tube station. my area is very greeen, we have the heath and highgate woods within walking distance. I have been dismayed to find that in some home counties town, there is hardly any green space that you can access within walking distance! surely that defeats the purpose of living in a town! Even expensive towns like beaconsfield if you live in the Old town.

@MuchuseasaChocolateTeapot

London is great to visit for a couple of days, whizz round, do lots of activities and then go home to clean air and peace. Personally I would only want to live there if I was wealthy and had a beautiful townhouse around a park. I suppose you would still have the travel hassle though?

Do Londoners use the facilities on their doorstep I’ve always wondered? We are surrounded by NT and English Heritage places and have only been to about half.

Me and DH used to visit places all the time when we lived in London and still do when we go back.

We have been to The Tower of London 4 times, Kew Gardens about 6 times, London Zoo about 6 times. We have visited British Museum, V&A, Natural History Museum and Science Museum endless times. Also National Gallery, Tate Britain and Tate Modern.

I honestly doubt anyone could name a museum/gallery/attraction that we have not visited at least once.

BasiliskStare

You might be too polite to criticise other places, but others are not! Posters on MN write awful things about absolutely everywhere.

@Movemyshed

@Roundeartheratchriatmas

I like the buildings and the history/culture.

But overall I absolutely hate it. There’s hordes of people absolutely everywhere. Literally you cannot move for other people. In the street, in a shop, on the tube, cafe anywhere at all.

There is also absolutely nowhere you can go that’s a greenspaceand isn’t rammed with other people. No peace anywhere.

Not to mention the utterly extortionate costs of housing and pretty much everything else down there.

Ok for the odd visit but no more than that.

I live on the edge of a big zone 2 green space (Victoria Park). Currently looking out at it and can see...three people and two dogs.

Sure on sunny days Vicky P gets busy, but I don't think I'd call it 'rammed'.

Agree people think London is just zone 1/Oxford Circus etc, which honestly is the last place on Earth I, as a resident, want to go.