To hate what's happening to London?

[AWholeLottaNosy]

I moved to London in 1989, it was a great place, full of interesting, arty people, lots of cheap things to do, festivals, clubs, shops, museums. I loved the quirky nature of so many different areas, Camden market, Soho, Notting Hill market at the weekend, the urban grittiness of places like Brixton, Hackney etc. however I can't afford to live in London anymore and feel so sad that all these great places are slowly and surely just becoming one homogenised mass of chain stores, 'luxury flats', unaffordable to most Londoners and the things that made London a great place to live in, shops, markets, clubs, music venues, diversity etc are just vanishing. Boris Johnson obviously not only doesn't give a shit but is actively encouraging this, especially the building of flats just to be bought ( and not even lived in) by foreign investors.

I guess this can't be stopped but I do feel sad about it and wondered how other Londoners felt about it..?

That's not true Mintyy. I remember one terrible fog when I was a teenager, must have been late 80's. You could only see about a foot in front of you. We were supposed to stay indoors bit we went to the park!

My parents were born and lived in east london for 60 years. They moved out to the home counties nearly two years ago. They don't miss it, having seen it change beyond recognition from the London they grew up in. They find it hilarious that people pay half a million for a tiny flat in Hackney - HACKNEY FGS! a place that people didn't want to touch with a barge pole when I was growing up 30 years ago!

I like to travel in occasionally but wouldn't (and certainly couldn't afford to) live there or bring my children up there. I like space and green too much.

Most real Londoners left the city in its derelict state, so in the 80s yuppies could buy cheap and slowly bring dumps up. I grew up in London and it was a hellhole in the 80s back in the days when taxis wouldn't cross the river. It's now a halfway decent looking place at least. I enjoy visiting London.

"Hellhole" - what a ridiculous exaggeration.

I have lived in London since 1985. My first flat was in Brixton. Sure, it wasn't gentrified but hellhole is just a silly way to describe the whole of London.

what rot tomandizzy

cabs STILL don't cross the river

arseholes

plenty of 'real' Londoners down our way still

we are the suburb time forgot- for now

Are you in Croydon Muddha?

most Londoners did not leave London plenty still around

they may not live in the area they grew up but many have certainly stayed in London

I can never remember Camden as being nice. it was always a bit grotty, far more so in the 80's and 90's. It is more commercial , more shops, cafes, bars and restaurants but it was never a nice area

I have never known a no go area, some a little edgy but we do not have no go areas in London

There's a quiet bit between Catford and Lewisham?

Ladywell?

I thought it was becoming popular with young families

see?

it's THAT QUIET noone knows it actually exists

xposts

yes it is, slipper

it's not gone mad, though

Hither Green

have lived there myself

Oh Ladywell

Isn't that lower lower brockley?

I thought you might be in downham

heartisaspade

sorry I was not looking at it in that way, more gangs control the area can not go there for fear of being shot

Ladywell is nicer than Hither Green MuddhaOfSuburbia I went to a nice café there recently its is changing

yes Hackney Downs and Stoke Newington were grim.

heartisaspade sorry you feel like that or are in a position to have to think about where you feel safe

I like Honor Oak Park too :) its a nice little area

Ubic
you can still buy bagels in Finsbury Park, the 24hrs bagel shop is still there:-).

The other day i drove in Stamford Hill. That is one area that time hasn't
change. There are still the same family own shops i.e. the Hat Shop etc. No chains.
Then i drove down to Seven Sisters. An ex lived there so i was spending lots time there 20yr ago. It is still the same! Only one Costa by the station. The rest is the same, the kebab shops, the Carribean cafes etc. No artisan bread there yet. Properties must be still cheap i imagine.

Laquitar. Property off the seven sisters is pricey. Stroud green has become fancy (patisseries, restaurants etc) and 1 bed flats switch hands around the £330k mark. Considering the area, that is not cheap. South of the seven sisters road is ££ as basically marketed as Highbury.

Really? If Seven Sisters is pricey then there is no hope.!

yes it is all 'pricey' now, no such thing as a cheap London area. Or anywhre within 100 miles.