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 think the issue here is that often there is an insinuation that outside of London there is a dearth of culture/restaurants/public transport/amenities etc.

The diffference is that there are all these things outside of London, but not in the same concentration. I visit just as many museums living in rural South Yorkshire as I did when I lived in Greater London, go to the theatre as often and have been to more classical concerts and operas since I left London. They are further away, but take less time to get to because I can just hop in my car and be in 2 major cities within half an hour.

I grew up in Greater London then worked in the City and then the West End before I moved North. I discovered that country life suits me better than city life.

I love visiting cities but just wouldn't like to live in one.

I would love to see far less sneering at other people's lifestyles.

I see what you mean about buying houses... I guess where we are there are no up and coming areas... There isn't a shortage of housing and areas that are 'rough' stay that way forever!
Actually saying there isn't a shortage of housing is probably not true but the solution here is just to build new houses and offer all the government schemes to help people buy them. The only way 'rough' areas turn into nice ones is by knocking them down and rebuilding nice houses which are again bought by young people because they offer part ownership and 5% deposits, which here can be as little 3-7k!
Those houses that someone posted above could literally be bought here starting from 30k up to a max of 100k depending on area.
I guess there is no need for people to buy in worse areas here as most professionals can afford to buy in the best areas (infact most people with a full time job could afford to buy in a fairly nice area here)
However, I find it fascinating that I usually see people in London have way better lifestyles than us up north and often seem to have more disposable income and that's what i would love to be part of... The culture, the buzz, the opportunities etc.
In fact, I might book a one way train ticket right now! Ha

Cherry you should have gone to Specsavers.

I have lived in London and lived in villages. I like both, but London is not a series of villages!

Maybe a series of medium-large towns.

Because it's an amazing city! If you don't like it go home?

people keep mentioning Richmond Park all the time - it's not London as such is it - it's a very prestigeous suburb with a good but very narrow 9and horrendous traffic) High street. Yes the park is great and so are the river walks, but OP was talking about central London and hte tube - it takes a good 50 min to get to Richmond from there. I suppose if you start in Richmond it 's ok for seats as it's the end of the line.
I'm just saying that the OP was about zone 1 London, so comparing with zone 4-6 is not exactly right. Richmond is partly Middlesex, partly London in postcodes, so it's not that long that it's been considered London at all.
Also is an extremely expensive suburb.

London scares me, not ashamed to admit it I stand out like a country bumpkin we are going to the Royal Albert hall soon I am already panicking about where to eat afterwards with the children, how to get around etc.

What scares you, blueberry?
We can give you some suggestions if that would help?

LovePG: its only border of zone 3-4: takes 20 mins to waterloo. However I agree its not within zone 1-2 city central. In fact, I dont know any of my husband or my work colleagues who have family and live within zone1-2. We used to live in Greenwich and its Zone 2 and its equally expensive even more. There are more flats than terraces(houses)

As someone with a visual impairment, I LOVE the transport available in London.

Great city

what I hate about london are the urban foxes.

Blueberry, there is a Strada about 5-10min walk from Albert Hall along the main road or via the park the otherside of the road, if it's daytime. There's also a cheap-ish Dutch pancakes (savoury and sweet) restaurant not much further, let me know if you need more advice! Pizza Hut too.

if you walk towards south kensington, around the french embassy are lots of french cafes and restaurants.

Green, yes Greenwich now more expensive for flats, btu the big houses are in Richmond (and hugely exp). Agree that Waterllo is convenient on overground, but if you need to get to say, South Ken, it's a good 50 min by tube. Or theatres - takes a while with changes. I'm not criticising Richmond, I'm just saying that OP's experience of crowded London wasn't that far out (by car it's quite a hike). Though as I mentioned, Richmond High st and riverside in good weather is extremely crowded too - but it's nice/peaceful once you away from there. I love the walk to Ham House.
I do know people who live in zone 1-2 - esp Hampstead and surrounds, lots of American families there too. Lots of financiers from France in South Ken with families. And the English families with inherited money - fulham and surrounds.
I do think London is all about how much money you have - this dictates whether you can afford a garden or choose to live by a nice park. If you have sod al or if you are in retail/teaching/young GP, it's really not great! you can't afford expensive taxis or parking charges or to live centrally so you WILL have to use crowded tube,, and you are going to live in a tiny flat or somewhere in a dull far out suburb with a dirty high street. Outside of London you don't need to be wealthy to choose a decent place.
But if you ar on a good middle income or wealthy - great! you can also afford a place outside for escapes.

I live in Zone 2 (admittedly renting & single) & there are plenty of beautiful green areas within walking distance. Normally reasonably quiet too.

BluePitch - yes re French cafes, but they do tend to be small - depends how many kids Blueberry has! I wouldn't really advise South Ken in daytime as it's very very busy with museum tourists!
There is a Bella Italia there on two floors - but still a bit tight for space.

It took us total 30mins to get to here for a concert tonight, transport is excellent too(and its still utterly blue in London right now)

I was just thinking Green, it's great for Royal Festival Hall for concerts being by Waterloo! but to the trad theatres, it won't take just 30min, esp if you count time getting to the train from a house.

btw, I'm not advocating rural living, I'm just trying to paint a balanced view of London, it's not ALL roses depending on the area and on any one person's lifestyle.
Have you been to Harlesden (quite central)?

Should have added that I'm in one of the cheap bits.

I grew up in the sticks but have lived in London for 20 years and absolutely love it.

We are lucky enough to live in a green part of Zone 2 in SW London and it is calm and full of families and as central as I'd want it to be.

I agree with the OP re: the Tube at rush hour - horrific! So most Londoners who have sense or who can, avoid it.

I sorted my life out so that I live quite near work and I cycle there and back. 15 minutes each way - it costs nothing apart from my bike which I bought four years ago, and is lovely as I go down back streets and find it a good de-stresser if work/the children are doing my head in.

When I worked further away, I got up earlier and took the bus in, to avoid the Tube, and ran home, or got the bus again if I couldn't be arsed.

Where we live definitely feels like a village - since our children started at the brilliant local school we have millions of friends in practically every street and the community feel far surpasses anything I ever had growing up in the middle of nowhere.

I know the OP's motives were different, but I always reckon the threads slagging off London are from ppl who feel a bit chippy about it. I don't start threads slagging off other places as I'm happy where I am!

What's to cope with? Wouldn't want to live anywhere else, I'm constantly reminded how lucky I am to live there and what a privilege it is for my children to grow up there

I lived there for most of my 20s and would move back in a heartbeat. One of the truly great cities in the world.

I find it interesting that people like a "village" feeling in London. I live in a real village surrounded by fields. I think that a lot of people still like a feeling of community even in a large city.

I think the issue here is that often there is an insinuation that outside of London there is a dearth of culture/restaurants/public transport/amenities etc.

No Londoner on this thread has said this NicknameUsed and IMO they never do. But that never stops people coming on and saying how much they hate London.

I thought I'd seen it all but never a complaint about the colour of the sky