Reminded today why I love London and the UK

[Thkuuu]

I’ve had a real day, and you can tell - I haven’t showered, my hair is a greasy mess, huge coffee stain down my shirt, terrible acne, and drenched in sweat. I’ve just navigated rush hour Waterloo station with three huge bags feeling like I might burst out crying any moment.

From the moment I entered the station until I got on the train, three random people - two men in M&S and one woman at the ticket gates - gave me a smile and called me “love” or “darling.” And when I got on the train, one man helped me with my bag and another lady and I had a nice chat.

All of this made me feel so emotional and so happy to live here. I’m foreign but have lived in the UK my entire adult life - and London over a decade, although I’m now in the country - and it might sound silly, but I really felt like Londoners were there for me today when I needed them, even in such a small way. Even more so because it was in a small way, actually.

I moved around a lot as a child and have travelled a fair bit as an adult, but I’ve always been convinced that it’s impossible to find a city that is both as cosmopolitan and as friendly as London. And I love that people here treat me with as much respect and dignity when I look disheveled in my baggy jeans and tank top as they do when I’m all suited and booted.

i have to admit that lately, I’ve been grumbling about leaving the UK for reasons I probably don’t need to go into here - there have been plenty of threads about it. But moments like today remind me that I belong here, and how grateful I am that the UK has made me feel welcome and at home from the moment I stepped off the plane at 18 years old to start my uni degree. In my heart of hearts, it’s always been my final destination. I was recently chatting to a scandi friend who asked why I didn’t want to move to her city/country (one of those that are insufferable about their high quality of life 😉) and I couldn’t quite articulate why - all I could come up with was “I guess I like the UK” - and it’s true, I really, really do. Which is just as well because I don’t think my English husband would be up for moving anyway 😂

Anyway, just wanted to share some positivity about the UK and London, because I sometimes wonder if you know how much us transplants love and appreciate being here, even when it all seems to be going to shit. And also because I would love to share this with my English friends, they are far too cynical and self deprecating to appreciate it right now 😂 (until they’ve had a few pints, then I can get emotional)

So nice to have a positive post. Have been feeling depressed today about the state of the country and personal things. Thank you. 💐

Ahh that is lovely to hear and I agree that although a lot feels rubbish right now most people in the UK are good 'uns.

Im just leaving Waterloo right now on a busy train. About 4 of us just almost fell over ourselves to be the one to help a woman onto our train with her pram. Lovely helpful friendly moment. And I’m a northerner who usually finds London unfriendly!

I’m from the NE and we are known to be friendly, so many people say that Londoners are unfriendly but I’ve never found this to be true. Yes, some don’t immediately smile or indulge in a bit of banter but I’ve always found that if I smile they always smile back and I’ve had some lovely chats on the tube. I have also been helped with heavy luggage. Londoners are lovely people, I did marry one, lol.

I'm so glad you had a really positive experience OP.

I don't know London as I've only been on a rare visit there, although will spending time there next month , but I can identify with the great feeling when people are kind and pleasant when you least expect it.

Great to have a feel good thread.

The Arsenal parade on Sunday in London was brilliant. So much happiness, banter, helping people out. London’s still got it.

Love this post. I’m always baffled when people talk down London. I find it just as friendly as anywhere else. There are good people everywhere if you give out positive vibes.

As a Londoner by birth, although I no longer live there (but I visit lots), this makes me very happy. I think London is a wonderful place and I'm happy for you that it was your home and is still so welcoming to you. 💞
Aren't we lucky?

Born and raised Londoner here.

I've always found Londoners friendly. You couldn't beat them for friendliness and kindness in the 80s to 2000s. I think as more and more people have moved to the city, some people are just fatigued and don't bother anymore. So it's good to hear your story.

I cannot agree with "northerners friendly, Londoners awful and horrible". I've lived in the NE of England for around 7 years and there are plenty of rotten people here too! Includong people on my new build estate who never say hello back, even when I smile and say hi! In London I always helped whoever I could, and always say hello, bye to bus drivers and shop security guards.

@Babymamamama 100%! What I found so touching today was that I was obviously giving out distressed vibes, but people still came through 💪 and I can’t count the number of times I’ve had happy random chats on the tube, in pubs, on the street, even if it’s just two sentences, it’s always felt like there’s lots of positivity there

Sounds fab @Thkuuu

Your post really resonated with me. I’m also married to an English husband I love very much, and I’ve been in the UK a long time. Lately I’ve been feeling quite low about how things are going here and in the world, especially with the rise of the far right.

I’m not exactly white, and I’ve experienced racism all my life, mostly in my country of origin. London was the first place where I genuinely felt welcomed. We’ve moved away now and I really miss it.

Where I live now, people often talk about London as somewhere to avoid, a place where no one talks to each other, but that wasn’t my experience at all. I found it warm, open, and full of people who just let you be.

People in my home country can be very self‑deprecating too, just like people here. And just like here, there are people who are fed up with their quality of life and end up blaming immigrants for it. On the surface the cultures feel different, but underneath it all people are more similar than they realise.

I think that’s why London felt like home to me. I remember the random chats :) All those differences and similarities could sit side by side without anyone making a fuss about it. I miss that feeling!