To wonder how people cope living in London?!

[WinterIsHereJon]

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!

I'm thinking about Richmond Park once I've got my washing out .

We live in zone 1. It's lovely.

We can walk or cycle to work and school so use tube and buses rarely. We don't need to use a car day to day ( have one to use every few months to drive to middle of nowhere to family).

We have Hyde park on our doorstep, free museums a short walk away. We can walk to the Thames, see meerkats in battersea park, fantastic restraints, theatre shows. Loads for kids this summer ( many free).

I'm currently sitting out on our small roof terrace garden. It's very green and snug ( not as green and wild as 'crunchy' lovely garden above I admit). The sun is out, we will all have breakfast outside, then probably head out for a walk and to have a picnic later

Love,
Having had a bit of a think about where friends have bought recently, I would think other areas on the up which are currently still good value are Hanwell, Southall, Cricklewood and Neasden?

OP, I've just reread your op and have to wonder what possessed you to get on the tube at rush hour if you don't like crowds or pushing?
The rush hour tube serves one purpose and that is to move as many people as possible from one place to another. You can't have been expecting anything else, surely

It's a bit like me going to a rural area and then complaining about how shitty the roads are and wondering how anyone can ever get anything done because I get stuck behind cows on their way to be milked. It's obviously not like that all the time.

To those wondering how people get to work avoiding the tube...
I walk, which takes me about an hour vs 35 mins on the tube
I used to cycle (35 mins) but bought a Fitbit and wanted to contribute to my step count
DH takes the overground (Orange line) which is air conditioned and less crowded than the tube. It takes me about 10 mins longer than the tube would but he doesn't have to change and gets a seat

And for those saying everything is too expensive to actually use it, in the last few months, we have been to:
Natural history museum (free)
Battersea park adventure playground (free)
Battersea park food and music festival (£2 for adults, free for children)
Lambeth country show (free)
Edinburgh fringe rehearsal shows (pay what you can afford)
Royal Opera House performance in trafalger Squre (free)
Somerset house concert by Laura Mvala (£25 each inc a free drink)
Formula E racing (£10 for adults, free for kids as local residents)

If you read Time Out or TravelZoo, there are constant offers for all sorts of events. We aren't all watching the Lion King twice a week..!

I love how people think we live on the tube

London is all things, you can live the life you want here. Yes it's expensive but it's a culturally rich life.

You cope because you don't actually live in Oxford St or Leicester Square.

I love how people think we live on the tube.

To be fair, that's what tourists see though, isn't it? The crowded bits and the tube network. Locals know different.

Yeah, I miss all the free stuff going on in London.

I walk if possible rather than take the tube when very hot and avoid tourist traps.

I love living in here and if I had to leave it would have to be to another big city.

Like others have said: cycle or walk to work (avoiding tube at rush hour) and just don't go to the crowded tourist bits, like Picadilly Circus, almost ever!

My London job afforded me a large house here, plus a second rural home for the fresh air, and acres of land. I don't mind a squash on the tube for that!

London's fine for a visit but I couldn't live there either. I suppose you would get used to the crowds and crushes on the Underground but I find my blood pressure rising any time we're inside the M25 and then gradually decreasing when I step on the train home at Euston.

I remember my first experience off the tube on my own at sweet 16. I let everyone get on first and yes I was probably there all day. But a few years later I was working their full time and you just get used t it. You have to grow a bit of a thicker skin. Later when I became pregnant I decided to take buses. Now that is an eye opener. Those drivers used to get some serious abuse ! I miss London it's a fantastic city but like all cities you have to keep your wits about you. It's the same everywhere

Summer in London is great. So many amazing parks and markets and things to do outside. However, NEVER take the tube at rush hour. I avoid it all year round, it's truly miserable. And in the summer?! Nobody likes that.

Rush hour on the tube can be a bit soul-destroying, no doubt about it.

London is a brilliant place to live, though.

Most people don't actually live in the hustle and bustle of central London, to be fair - they may travel in for work and/or leisure. And I wouldn't go to Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Street, Leicester Square if you paid me .

I live in a leafy suburb 25 mins on the tube from the centre and feel bloody privileged, to be honest. i feel like I have the best of all worlds - a quieter local life, excellent transport links, access to all the hustle and bustle whenever I want it. Its great for kids, too. You can never be bored.

Also, I know someone who lives by the river and takes the clipper to work. How amazing is that?!!!

Most parts of touristy London are very accessible on foot, no need to squish onto crowded tubes.

I live in south London, and work in central London, get a train then walk.
Absolutely love it, always a buzz. My teens think it's a fabulous place to live and have been travelling round London without an adult since the age of about 12/13, without any problems. I feel it is very safe.

I didn't have family help to buy but I'm heading towards 50 and bought in the early 90s. Appreciate its very different now and do wonder how my DCs will be able to buy a property if they stay round here.

To be fair to the OP, tourists use the tube because you can't go wrong on it. It seems more difficult to use buses or to walk when you're not sure of distances or direction.

I always tell tourists to stay above ground if they can because you easily get your bearings and sightsee on the way for nothing. And you can always ask for help - but people hear such dreadful tales about us rotters, they're probably scared to.

I probably couldn't cope living in London either but same could be said for numerous other places that aren't my own home.

Lol at London being villages though

I cycle- it's amazing, I see so much of the city and I'm never late for work.

My part of (SW) London is a great place to live- minutes from the Thames, access to a huge tract of green space and common land for walks and picnics (Putney Heath, Wimbledon Common, Richmond Park), thriving local businesses, food from all over the world, and we're only 10-15 minutes by train to Waterloo.

I've also got an amazing diversity of career opportunities, which I don't think I could find in other parts of the UK, + the rise in shared ownership properties to buy will make it easier to get on the housing ladder (really hoping this continues....).

Wouldn't leave if you paid me!

I wouldn't go to Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Street, Leicester Square if you paid me

I live in London and go to these places a lot. There's a nice basement wine bar called The Cork & Bottle that I've been going to since 1989.

Of course, it was much better then

I adore living in (fairly central) London. There's a dozen things to do with DD within a five minute walk, rain or shine. Yeah the commute can be a bit draining but even at 6 months pregnant I don't mind squeezing on a busy tube because I'll be there in 12 minutes.

OP I'm totally with you about the flappy newspaper thing though - you could fit at least one more person in the space a paper takes

London (outside the centre) is definitely villages! All with their own high streets etc.

Transport for London have a map now that shows the walking distance between tube stations.

I am 25 min drive from Oxford street and I live on a single track country lane. I can awake to horses walking past my bedroom window. I drop dd and ds at the tube stn 5 minute drive away and they go into London to meet up with friends. 75p each way travel expenses then they usually meet if the weather is good in one of the parks or Westfield or a museum or just generally find something to do that is free. They are never bored.

Villages?
Really? Hmmm, I've Lived in Vauxhall, Clapham, Streatham, can't say I've ever felt like I was in a village.