Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

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:
loveyours · 09/04/2022 14:34

I never used to notice the pollution, dirt, litter, miserable people etc. (Always been in built up areas) Til I moved to a slightly quieter, and leafier part. For me, a big part of not liking central London is it's not family friendly. I'd feel different if I was single or whatever.

It's nice for a day trip, a train ride up. Wouldn't want to live in central can't afford it anyway.

nervydote · 09/04/2022 14:37

As pp said London is so big & Z1 in very different to Z6. Outer zones are no different from the suburbs of other cities surely

CornishGem1975 · 09/04/2022 14:38

I live in a small town. I absolutely love London. It's my favourite city in the entire world and I've visited quite a lot. So much to see and do, so many free activities, great history. I can walk for hours in London, just passing the time.

dottydodah · 09/04/2022 14:38

I was born and brought up in London ,so it holds a very special place in my heart. Like to go up a couple of times a year ,and my Cousin lives in Surrey so stay with her sometimes as well. I love the fast pace and the history (Went to the Tower with my friend ,blown away!) Also really love Richmond (Not London obv but close enough) Never tire of Museums either esp BM .Nowhere in the world could you see as many artefacts for free!

Obelisk · 09/04/2022 14:41

And yeah, people do have the right to slag off places they don't like: why shouldn't they?

Funny how it's always London though. I wouldn't dream of slagging off someone else's home. There's a certain contingent who seem to really relish it and I can't understand why.

DarkShade · 09/04/2022 14:41

I don't think about it at all, it's just another city.

LargeglassofRosePlease · 09/04/2022 14:41

Not for me

TheDaydreamBelievers · 09/04/2022 14:42

I like London for a visit - great vintage/thrifting, so many amazing places to eat, big cultural melting pot (impacts on the food positively). Nice parks
Great shows/events.

Buuuut, I want to leave after a few days. It's all go go go which is fun but then stressful. It feels very crowded everywhere to me. And yes, understandably people are less friendly initially to strangers in busy cities.

It also winds me up that the BBC seem to think London is the only place in the UK, but that isn't Londoners/London's fault!

SpiderVersed · 09/04/2022 14:43

Love it!

I couldn’t live there at this point in my life because I enjoy my large garden too much, but I could imagine retiring there.

I love the museums, galleries, exhibitions. I love wandering around Islington, or Borough Market, or the Turkish delis in Stoke Newington. I love Daunt’s and Hatchard’s and the London Zoo, and taking a picnic with kids to the Diana Memorial Playground. I love Kew, and rugby at Twickenham, and eating lunch outside in Coal Drops Yard.

I always meet interesting people and find lots to appreciate and enjoy. I’m grateful to Londoners for their generosity in sharing the best of their city with me. (And I’m happy to share the best of Yorkshire with them)

DarkShade · 09/04/2022 14:43

@Obelisk

And yeah, people do have the right to slag off places they don't like: why shouldn't they?

Funny how it's always London though. I wouldn't dream of slagging off someone else's home. There's a certain contingent who seem to really relish it and I can't understand why.

I don't think this is true, if someone started a thread saying "what do you think of Manchester/ Birmingham/ Beijing" there would be loads of people who don't like it. People have different tastes and express them anonymously when asked. Why would you not dream of saying you don't like somewhere and saying why when asked, just because people live there?
fairylightsandwaxmelts · 09/04/2022 14:43

@Obelisk

And yeah, people do have the right to slag off places they don't like: why shouldn't they?

Funny how it's always London though. I wouldn't dream of slagging off someone else's home. There's a certain contingent who seem to really relish it and I can't understand why.

Have you not read the thousands of threads on here slagging off villages and village life?

It's really not exclusive to London!

clary · 09/04/2022 14:43

I think it has a great cultural offer which I sometimes access (concerts, theatre) but those things are expensive.

It’s busy and dirty and I wouldn’t want to live there again (worked there in the 1999s).

Xpologog · 09/04/2022 14:43

Dirty. Sorry, but that was all the impression I got when I used to visit London. The dirt that came out of my hair when I got home ( and it had been washed that morning) made me wonder what I’d breathed in. The visits to the ballet, galleries, theatre didn’t seem worth it. I cannot imagine living surrounded by so much pollution day after day. I shall forever remain a country bumpkin. 😊

Climbingthelaundrymountain · 09/04/2022 14:44

I love visiting London. I live in a small village which I love but I really like going to London and spending a few days there. Not sure I would want to live there.

AllFreeOwls · 09/04/2022 14:45

@Obelisk

And yeah, people do have the right to slag off places they don't like: why shouldn't they?

Funny how it's always London though. I wouldn't dream of slagging off someone else's home. There's a certain contingent who seem to really relish it and I can't understand why.

But people outside of London don't tend to come on here and ask wide-eyed questions about how non-Londeners fill their time. A recent highlight was the poster questioning how she would fill her weekend with her children if she moved away from London, seeming surprised that the rest of the UK isn't a barren wasteland and there are things to do.
Itsbackagain · 09/04/2022 14:45

Been a few times from Scotland. Not overly impressed, just another city really. Probably wouldn't go back again tbh

breakdown19 · 09/04/2022 14:47

I loved living in London Pre kids
But the money needed to have a life compatible with children is so far out of reach

Blueelephantsw · 09/04/2022 14:48

Growing up, London fascinated me. It was the big city, loads of opportunities and the place to be I suppose if you wanted to be successful. I lived in zone 3 and zone 1 after uni for a few years, I'm glad I did it but it wasn't all it seemed and I wouldn't want to live there now. I go to London every couple of years now and it's nice to visit for the weekend, lots to do and lots going on but I'm always happy to go home afterwards.

Obelisk · 09/04/2022 14:49

Have you not read the thousands of threads on here slagging off villages and village life?

No, I've never seen one. I suppose I might notice London threads more because it's my city.

Obelisk · 09/04/2022 14:53

But people outside of London don't tend to come on here and ask wide-eyed questions about how non-Londeners fill their time. A recent highlight was the poster questioning how she would fill her weekend with her children if she moved away from London, seeming surprised that the rest of the UK isn't a barren wasteland and there are things to do.

Fair. I suppose in a city of 9m people, you're bound to get a few wallies.

mewkins · 09/04/2022 14:55

@Favourodds

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).

I identify with this Grin. I lived for the first 20 odd years of my life in London. My parents and their parents were all born there. London was the place that was quite poor with bad schools when I was a kid.

I don't want to live there now because I ha e a family and I want my kids to grow up in a quieter and safer place. But I love living close enough to visit for the day or the evening. Visiting is like remembering the places from my childhood. I love lots of cities in the UK and like the liveliness and people. But in London more than anywhere you can wander and have nothing planned but there is still so much to see.

Neverreturntoathread · 09/04/2022 14:57

I’m from London and left as soon as I reached adulthood, now live semi-rural. What do I think about London…

  • I love its diversity and the fact that anyone can be invisible.
  • I hate how filthy the air and transport and everything is. Now on the rare occasions that I visit London, I shower and wash my hair as soon as I get home.
  • I hate the crime and fact that no one says hello or meets your eye (in a good way)
  • I like the shops and the historic buildings
  • I hate the constant noise
  • I hate the traffic jams
  • I like the art galleries and museums

I would never choose to live in a city again and think it’s horrible to grow up in one. Shudder. But I can see how, if you aren’t from a city, it’s fun to live there for the first half of your twenties.

loveyours · 09/04/2022 14:57

I wouldn't dream of slagging off someone else's home.

It's not their home, it's their city. Plus most people are honest and will tell you what they think of their area (unless they're used to it and don't notice it). It's not some great offence to say it's not that great.

If there's anyone who's upset... I'd ask why that is. Maybe because there's an element of truth to it e.g. pollution, too many people.

I'm didn't build the city with my own bare hands, so slag away🤷🏻‍♀️

Amybelle88 · 09/04/2022 14:59

Like anywhere, some nice people, some bellends.

Beautiful parts, vile parts.

FAR too expensive for what it is.

Nice to visit but couldn't live there.

Obelisk · 09/04/2022 15:02

TBH I like most places I visit so the urge doesn't arise. But the vitriol on the London threads is something else, and not just directed at the city but at the people who live here. It's not "some great offence" - it just seems very odd to me, @loveyours