Am I alone in saying I dont like London and don't see the attraction ?

[Bertybamboozle]

I am SE based and can be in London in around 20 mins on the train. I cannot stand the place. There is no reason to visit, unless you are a tourist. I really cannot see the appeal and apart from the tourist things, there is nothing else especially special/different to do. I can do pubs/cinema/shows/shopping anywhere.

I feel like I am the only one who thinks this.

I would say that by far the majority of people don't like London (or at best can tolerate for a short time).

(And probably the same can be said for Aberdeen, Wigan and Steeple Bumstead!)

We came out of the tube and into television centre. That area was nice and the streets were clean!

Didn't even make the Westfield over the road as was there for an event!

I used to live less than hour from London on the train when I was in my twenties. I loved it! The West End with all its shows, G-A-Y, gigs at small and large venues, amazing restaurants, the Tate Modern, The Shard, iconic skyline, humongous Topshop, Harrods, the general buzz of it all.

I feel too old for that shit now but back then it was exciting. Wouldn’t have wanted to live there but fun for a visit.

Of course lots of people don't like London. People like and dislike lots of things for many reasons.

I've lived in London my whole adult life and I really appreciate everything it has. If I'd have chosen to move to Manchester instead, I may have felt the same about that city.

Even though I'm a resident I still get a thrill out of doing "touristy" things and of mooching around and seeing all the world famous buildings etc.

Each to their own.

I agree that it's expensive. And some areas are very busy. But I don't recognise dirty smelly or dangerous at all.

I see someone posted about loving living in Wimbledon, walking the dogs, chatting to a guy,born and bred was living in Wimbledon,he's had to take early retirement from his job owing to a serious injury,I would think he was 60s, he said it had changed beyond recognition over the years,he now has the close to the sea bungalow, moved in a couple of months ago. I had to move to London with my 1st h,he managed a jewellers and we had to live above. I hated it. Lived in Tottenham,Harringay,near Finsbury park and Islington. Worked different areas. My second DH lived near Dulwich college,he was born there, couldn't wait to leave. My oldest DD lived near there, beautiful gf flat but had to have bars at the windows.. she was in Banking,then tfl. moved to Kent. Have done the museums,art galleries,was born and bred rural. Much prefer the beach and countryside.

Do you really honestly feel you are the only one who doesn’t like it? What’s your sample size?

I love London.

The atmosphere, the diversity, the massive range of things to do and places to eat. The theatres - absolutely love the theatre.

I love to visit but I'd rather not live there.

I used to work there which was a fantastic experience for me at a younger age. Now I'm a bit more home counties.

Obviously you can access some of those things in other places, but only a real anti-Londoner would say it was the same. There are thousands of art exhibitions, plays, gigs and events etc which are only on in London.

@MoodEnhancer there are "1000s" of those things outside London too 😂

I love it. It’s fabulous unless you’re a black taxi driver stuck in Khan’s gridlock all day

It's your opinion which you are entitled to. I love London but I'm a born and bred Londoner. I've also lived in Paris and New York. All fabulous cities with very different things on offer. London has become far more diversified during my lifetime which has to be better than living in a non diversified part of the UK, many of which I have visited too.
Just my opinion which is worth just as much as yours OP.
Thanks (not really) for starting a 'hate London' thread.

I think its rubbish living there but I do go in every now and then.

I have 'my places' - a few galleries and cafes/restaurants that I really like, some parks, some shops that are only in London etc.. Then its back on the train home - I think its a well worn trail by those who worked in London when younger and then moved out.

I live in SE London and also commute into central London 2-3x a week.

I like it but I don't love it.

There are beautiful areas, plenty of interesting history, outstanding museums and galleries and amazing restaurants.

What I hate - the majority of shopping. Unless you can afford expensive and unique, there is nothing different compared to larger shopping outlets or malls where I don't have fuel filled air to breath and spend a fortune on travel. I prefer browsing in smaller towns with independent shops on a day out and buy quirky things from there then dragging myself into London for this.
I honestly don't know how people can say they come to London specifically for shopping.

I work near St. Pauls. From April - October it's mayhem being outside and in lots of museums, the tourists can be an issue but when I mentally complain, I tell myself that I am not that different when I visit somewhere new and famous, I am sure I was in the way when I stared at the churches in Florence and battled to see the Mona Lisa in the Louvre.

What does bring London down is the West End, it's grubby, smelly, lots of cheap chain stores. Going to a show means remortgaging my house nowadays if I want to treat myself to good tickets. I now look up regional theatres and wait for the touring shows unless it's an absolute gem or a one-in-a-million opportunity.

@Needmorelego I have lived in several towns and cities outside of London over the years. It is absolutely not the case that anywhere else is the same. It’s fine if people don’t want to live or even visit here, but it is bonkers or disingenuous to suggest that one can do exactly what can be done in London elsewhere.

The OP made the point that there is nothing especially different available in London - but that is patently not correct.

I avoid London - it is dirty, noisy and impersonal and I hate it. I always come back feeling violated - it is filthy - my fingernails are always black when I get home.

I live in a rural area and when I want culture I take myself off to places like Cardiff, Bristol, Birmingham - anywhere but London. They have warmth and are cleaner.

It's really gone to the dogs though. I used to enjoy a good day out back when Bond Street was actually something to be proud of. Even Bond street and the surrounding streets have gone down hill. The Tube is grotty, everything is too far apart and it's rather disappointing. But then, the galleries, restaurants etc are amazing, as is some of the architecture. I think though it's also my age. In my 20s and 30s shopping and going out was much more exciting. I prefer a slower way of life now.

Honestly, it's AWFUlL.

That's why no one lives here and no one ever visits.... also why the housing is soooo cheap and they haven't bothered with museums, art galleries, transport...

Yeah shit hole... your best of staying Surrey... much more interesting.

It takes me 90 minutes to get to London and I go regularly, most weeks - I love it and would live there in a heartbeat if we could afford it. It feels to me like there is something interesting/historic/cool virtually everywhere you look - plus food and theatre are not available in the same way anywhere else. I live in a nice area with a lot of history, but London is different.

I live SE 20 mins on the train from London. I adore it!
Theatre
Restaurants
Museums
Unusual shops
The parks
The diversity
History
Tradition
The buzz
I go as often as possible
Most of my friends are the same and we are all middle aged

Also, every bit of London is exactly the same! No diversity or posh / trendy bits... massive city of 9million people and it's all the same.... madness.

I haven't been for years, but I miss the public transport, and cycling. There is an element of racism still in the South West that I never heard voiced in London. I miss the fact that in London, nobody seemed to worry what your heritage might be, or where you are really from.

I judge a city by 2 things:

• whether it is possible to hold a conversation with someone walking along with you and not be drowned out by the traffic noise
• how many poor souls are sitting on the ground in the cold and being completely ignored as if they are not part of the human race.

I love visiting it. The busyness, the variety of things to do, I like the parks, the history, the tiny museums, exhibitions you don't get anywhere else, the fact that you can eat well from any cuisine in the world.

I live in a tiny dull but beautiful place and London blows my mind.

I love walking the streets, looking up, exploring new areas I didn't know.

Husband wants to move there when we retire...I'm torn. I'd miss the fact that at home I can leave work at 5 and be on a deserted beach by 5.30....

Oh come to the North - up here for many "never having been" to "filthy" London is a point of pride for many professional misery guts. I have always gone at least 5-7 nights a year so DC can see all the museums/shows etc and gain the sense of entitlement to culture and 'the capital' that I noticed southerns had when I went to Uni. We all pay enough for it - why not enjoy it?