To think Londoners are v unfriendly

[maggieryan]

I've moved over from Ireland to London. Big move and im very happy with my decision BUT finding people so unfriendly. Walk into a.shop and try to have a bit of chit chat and nothing., I tried talking to neighbours and barely any response.. Taximen barely speak where as in Dublin you cant shut them up.im not unlikable, plenty of friends and loads of family but maybe im just used to Dublin. Im only finding my feet so I probably need to give it time??

In London, black cabs are SO much better than Uber. But we are lucky enough to have the choice so if we see some out of Towner or foreigner looking like they want to chat, we can jump in one and blast you with exhaust fumes

Have any of you tried Addison Lee or Hailo?

I use Addison Lee because it's convenient to book in the same way Uber is, but you fix the price in advance, there's none of these bleeding surge nonsense, the drivers are super professional, the cars lovely, and I haven't read any reports about their drivers being dodgy.

Where possible, I will just jump in a black cab though. Proper cabbies have an unrivalled knowledge of the city and are fab at thinking of a Plan B if there is an accident or roadworks etc - they know all the little shortcuts and alternative routes. Other drivers are totally reliant on GPS.

If you use Mytaxi it's just as convenient to book a black cab

Just googled it. Hailo is Mytaxi these days! Shows how often I use it...

I prefer Addison Lee because you fix rates in advance and I generally only get a taxi for personal use when I'm travelling home (which is far enough to not want a variable rate). I always get a black cab on business though.

I'm London born and bred. I don't think Londoners are unfriendly but on the whole we don't chat to strangers. I think it is because there are too many of them here! I smile and say please and thank you in shops but not often much more than that.

by contrast we have a holiday home in Ireland and I am constantly impressed at how chatty and friendly everyone is there (except for Dublin!). Every little interaction involves conversation and last weekend I was in Manchester where I experienced the same thing. It was all very nice but TBH I was happy to go up to London today and not have to make conversation with everyone I came into contact with. Sometimes anonymity can be very relaxing.

Weegies seem to do it to show off their patter

Aye right!!!! What a load of rubbish. So talking to folk is show-offy not friendly? Utter pish!