to get really terratorial when my friend puts down London

[whatwhatinthewhatnow]

I know the streets arent paved with gold. I know some area's are the total pits.

But I LOVE :

• Being able to buy anything at any time of night
• Being able to find a cinema that is showing anything I want to see
• Exhibitions
• West End Shows
• Going into the flagship stores and buying things you cant get elsewhere
• The landmarks
• The history
• Being able to get to the O2 just by driving!
• Having loads of restaurants to choose from
• Being able to go to burlesque shows/clubs/etc and then just getting the night bus home
• Festivals in Hyde Park
• The music venues
• Camden Market
• Having coffee at Covent Garden piazza
• Walking around Soho and feeling like you are on holiday

theres so much more, I could go on forever.

She moved when we were teenagers to an area in the north. And what I hate the most is when she says 'Your town doesnt even have a Primark' (we live in a cheaper suburb now and commute in)

No but we have the flagship London store. Opposite Selfridges. Her response, 'Yeah but ours has two floors' How can you rate a place based on whether it has a Primark?!?!!?

If she goes out for dinner, she has a choice of Pizza Hut or a takeaway curry! You cant even BUY a house worth more than £250k! They dont HAVE ANY in her town!

AIBU? I just love my hometown!

Mine does!

I lived in London and I love it for all those things. I also hate it for all those things. I moved out of the city and have never been happier. I have a very very close friend who lives in London and has done for 15 years, Its lovely visiting her, but horrible visiting London. For all it's plus points (and there are millions!!!) there are just as many depressing aspects.

Sorry, I don't mean to be mean or insulting, I just don't like the place anymore (I used to love it)

Jareth, thats fine. You havent insulted me or the way I live. This friend is not so gracious

Ps. You remind me of the babe.

what babe?

Oh, I take all that 'best place to live' nonsense with a gigantic shovel-full of salt.

They had that stupid 'Best and Worst place in Britain' programme on TV a while back. Phil and Kirstie announced that Hackney was the worst place in Britain to live, Winchester the best.

Yeah, whatever.

I would gouge out my eyeballs with rusty nails before I'd live somewhere as twee and utterly dull as Winchester. Hackney was painted as an utter shithole. Fuck me, most people in Britain couldn't afford to live in London Fields or Vicky Park or Stoke newington, which are superb areas in my opinion.

It's all subjective.

p.s. my London borough appears in that (stupid!) list

agreed PYT, but you ruined the labyrinth bit..
[pout]

Used to live and work in London and love the buzz about the place, but now I just get depressed every time I have to go back.
On a more serious note the OP should cut off all contact with a friend who thinks having a Primark is a good thing.

Babe with the power!

Regardless of the list, which was just a bit of fun anyway, I cant see why shes hates London so much. I mean I can understand her having a quiet dislike. But to bring it up everytime we talk... my god.

Ive said to her, come! We'll have a proper weekend of it, shopping, tea, dinner, a show, followed by a club etc! She just wont come. I think she knows she'd love it and doesnt want to admit it

PMSL!@baitedbreath

There were rumours that the old Woolies on my local (suburban London) high street was going to become a Primark. I was frighteningly excited. Seriously. I worried myself.

It became a Poundland. Woopy fucking doo.

what power!?

Obviously it's really crap to bring it up every time you speak to each other! A one off rant would be acceptable I think? Feelings about London are a very personal thing, it's such a different thing/city to everybody.

Maybe suggest that she comes to see you, rather than London. I know that when I go back I don't wnat to go anywhere within the circle line and just get the bus to my friends house in Hampstead. A show/shopping (to me) would be a bit much and maybe she just want to spend time with you?

I might call friend and say, our new Poundland has TWO floors.

Heh heh. I lived in Winchester for 18 years. I lived in Hackney for 9 years. Give me Hackney ANY DAY .

Did someone summon me?

Thanks Jareth, I have said just come to see me but she has two boys, I dont think she has the time tbh! And when she does come its just to see family so she only sees the same tired area's over and over.

Shes a bit like that with everything I do really! My uni course : 'oh Id do that but I just DONT have the time!'

Do what?

remind me of the babe!

(thanks, i needed that!)

Are we decided then? London rules? I can sleep soundly now.

Well I wouldn't say it rules. It's ok.I'll give you that.

I love London but the non-specific parts of that list can be found in most cities nowadays to be honest.

Geographic chauvanism's booooorrrrrinnnnngggg...

Yes, London rules. Nighty night.

I actually agree Hercules about the non specifics, except that Manchester, New York, Paris, Dublin etc, they just dont feel the same.

York is fucking ace though.

Where is her tongue when she comments ?

Odd thread. Why does it bother you if somebody doesn't like where you live?? It's hardly an insult to have dfferent preferences of where to live surely?

It always makes me smile when people refer to it being 'grim up North'. They have obviously never been up here as there are loads of beautiful places. Personally, I would rather not live in such a densely populated place as London but appreciate all of the positives it has. I've only spent about 24 hours there mind so couldn't really comment! Each to their own.

I miss London sooo much, for all those reasons and more, OP. I'm only an hour away by train, but it's just not the same.