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AIBU?

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Original poster

To wonder how people cope living in London?!

493 replies

WinterIsHereJon · 05/08/2016 22:53

I'm visiting for the weekend. It's hot, sweaty, incredibly busy. We had the misfortune of travelling on the tube during rush hour earlier, people pushed and pushed onto an already full train, to the point where I became rather intimately acquainted with a chap behind me. Despite the complete lack of room people were still attempting to read newspapers! I think I'd snap if that was part of my daily routine, I don't know how people do it!

OP posts:
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PinguForPresident · 05/08/2016 23:24

London is brilliant: vibrant, beautiful, exciting.

Londoners cope by not taking the tube very much in rush hour: overground, walk, cycle, even the occasional bus! And by really not giving a shit about the few minutes of your day you spend cooped up in a train or whatever. Read the Standard, play on your phone, whatever - it's just a means to an end.

I love london!

Kalopsia77 · 05/08/2016 23:27

I live in the arse end of nowhere in a rural shire and would move to London in a second if I could afford it! I spend loads of time there socially and for work and I would love to be there all the time. Tourist bits in Summer are a bit hellish (I took my kids round last weekend) but travel is so easy compared to countryside. Shops/pubs/restaurants everywhere is bliss, it's 4 miles to the nearest shop where I live, meh the countryside is overrated. I've been three times in the last ten days and can't wait to get back Grin

camelfinger · 05/08/2016 23:29

Avoid the rush hour by having a few drinks at the pub. Then have random drunken conversations on the way home.

RainIsAGoodThing · 05/08/2016 23:33

I couldn't bear to live anywhere else Smile

Kalopsia77 · 05/08/2016 23:36

Rain I'm so jealous Smile

andintothefire · 05/08/2016 23:36

You just don't know where to go in London or how to get around! If you want genuine tips, let us know.. but they won't involve the tube at rush hour!

Mumble29 · 05/08/2016 23:37

Lived there all my life (40 years) till last December, we had to move out to Kent as it was the only way we could afford our own house. I will always be a London girl at heart though, best city in the world Smile

WorraLiberty · 05/08/2016 23:37

I love London, it's a wonderful place and I feel very fortunate to live and raise my kids here. There's always so much to do and so much of it is free.

I would avoid rush hour in any city to be honest, especially in the Summer.

Dowser · 05/08/2016 23:38

I drove from town to the lovely marina two minutes.
Had a quick scout to see which independent restaurant I'm going to visit tomorrow night. No need to book. Probably get two nice home cooked courses for about a tenner.

Then drove to beach. Max 4 mins.. Nice warm clean air.
I'm with you op. you couldn't pay me enough to live in london

Dowser · 05/08/2016 23:41

Rush hour inmy town is from 5 till 5-30 when you probably get a dozen cars on the carriageway as you leave the town centre,meaning you probably have to wait a minute before the road is clear

Hate rush ( half ) hour

MargaretCavendish · 05/08/2016 23:42

I used to get a crammed commuter train then the tube every day. Then I changed jobs, and now I drive for about an hour each way. I'd switch back to the train and tube in a heartbeat. You just learn to block out the people around you, and get into your own little zone. On a good day, or if you pick your time right, you can even read or catch up on a bit of work. Driving is hours of dead time where I can't do anything and I'm bored but have to concentrate.

smileyhappypeople · 05/08/2016 23:42

I love London! If I had pre kids time again I would defo give it a go living there butttt how on earth do you afford it?? We are in the north east so our 4 bed detached house was £200k. How do you get mortgages etc? All the banks talk about 4.5 times you wage or whatever but surely everyone in London doesn't earn 200k+ a year? Genuinely intrigued as to how people afford to pay to commute/save a huge deposit to buy on top of ridiculous rent and bills??

ladymarymoo · 05/08/2016 23:43

I love london, leave her alone.

YoJesse · 05/08/2016 23:47

I don't miss it yet but come Autumn I will. It's a special time to go wandering around the park or along the south bank in the wind and leaves.

DailyMailPenisPieces · 05/08/2016 23:51

I love London.

How would you feel if someone was so negative about your home OP?

DramaAlpaca · 05/08/2016 23:51

I loved living & working in London when I was younger.

Most of the time I don't regret leaving for a rural lifestyle, but sometimes I really, really miss the buzz of London.

I don't get back much, but I love it when I do.

So glad I don't have to suffer the commute any more though, it was one of the reasons I moved away.

MargaretCavendish · 05/08/2016 23:52

Genuinely intrigued as to how people afford to pay to commute/save a huge deposit to buy on top of ridiculous rent and bills??

In my experience the answer is they (/we) don't save for deposits while paying rent - or at least, not the whole deposit required. I don't know a single person who has bought in London or the SE in general without significant family help. This includes me and my husband. I'm sure this says a lot about our friends, etc. but this is my experience.

EssentialHummus · 05/08/2016 23:52

Another one here to say don't take the Tube during rush hour unless you you're in a, er, rush to get somewhere. Find a little park. Visit an ethnic shop. Look for the nearest blue plaque. Hunt for Pokémon. Listen to a busker. There's loads to do!

WorraLiberty · 05/08/2016 23:52

Dowser your post did make me smile.

Driving a 2 minute drive to a restaurant and then driving a 4 minute drive to the beach.

Followed by the 'lovely clean air' comment Grin

ladydepp · 05/08/2016 23:54

If agree with augustwashout, how do people NOT live in London? I can't imagine living anywhere else, but luckily I don't need the Tube at rush hour Wink.

I can't imagine not being able to go to the theatre at least once a month, eat any kind of food I want, go to art exhibitions on a whim, loads of different parks, museums etc... Amazing city, I hope I live here forever!

EssentialHummus · 05/08/2016 23:55

I don't know a single person who has bought in London or the SE in general without significant family help.

No family help here - I took a second job and rented a room in a grotty house share. Three years on my flat is in an "up and coming area" and you can't move for artisanal pizza joints. If my family were supposed to help they missed the memo Grin

Chippednailvarnishing · 05/08/2016 23:56

Took the kids to a world class museum today, they travel free on the tube and the museum was free.
I can't think of many places in the world where you can do this.

And no one in their right mind goes on the tube in rush hour.

WorraLiberty · 05/08/2016 23:57

I had no help from my family to buy my house either.

Mind you, I bought it 21 years ago and the deposit was only £4k.

conkerpods · 05/08/2016 23:58

I live in SE London,I work next to Trafalgar SQ but take an overground train that takes 20mins. If I had to take the tube as well and worked normal hours it would piss me off.
We have an abundance of parks around here,many in walking distance. Today I got home from work at 3 and took the kids to a free adventure playground 10 mins walk away. I agree that it's great for kids. So much free stuff on. They love going into town using their own oyster (zip) cards although they only end up going a few times a year as there is a lot on locally.

blueshoes · 05/08/2016 23:59

London rocks!

You learn to walk in heels (or trainers to work), text, hold an umbrella at the same time and never once touch anyone.