Is quality of life in West London and the South-East UK really better than East London and the North UK?

[lndonist]

Considering the high cost of living in West London and South London, with the relative sparse infrastructure investment of the UK government (though we're better off financially and have more personal freedom than in other countries), is quality-of-life in these areas generally better than the ones those have who live in places like East London?

I guess a similar question could be asked of the North-South divide. The Great Recession brought down living standards for a lot of the middle class (with surveys showing that the lower class never saw a huge change in lifestyle, probably due to there being a bottom floor at which point government handouts kick in) and I sometimes think that the cost-of-living in West London means that quality-of-life is about the same.

Don't think I would like to live in London, there is a lot of grubbiness like the sticky escalator rails for instance in the tube and the black snot...

OTOH I went to York last week and it was lovely

What about Wales?! I love the way people refer to everything outside the South East as `The North' like something out of bloody Game of Thrones.

I grew up in the proper 'North' ie Scotland. Now I live in Wales. There's crap places everywhere, there's nice places everywhere.

I live in the north in an area that was recently surveyed as the best place in the U.K. to grow up in - I was quite surprised at that although my DC have had great education and good career opportunities and are both aiming to buy houses before they are 30 which should be possible
I’ve also lived in the south and south east - there are things I miss, but when I go back the traffic drives me insane, the prices even in charity shops are so much higher
I’m staying up north unless I have a lottery win

Fatted I agree, I love Wales. I’m lucky enough to live close to the border so feel I have the best of both. Live close to a big city for shopping and nights out (but not too close) and close to Wales for beautiful walks and picnics with the children.
I could take the kids for a walk in the beautiful Snowdonia and then a meal out in a top city restaurant in the same day.

Jace I think we live in the same place . It really is a lovely place to live.

Parts of East London are gentrified and cost £££ and parts or West London rough as f*ck. Just saying.

Have you ever been to Shoreditch?! Dalston? Or Wanstead?! Walthamstow? Can't buy a two bed in any of those places for less than £500k. You can buy a lot of flat whites though!

Also I don't really understand why you have lumped E London and 'the North' together.

@jamoncrumpets to be fair, Dalaton is a hole ;-)

Furano - no, apparently it's just like 'the North'

I don't understand this thread. I've worked and lived in different parts of England.

Some parts are wealthy even though they are in the North, other parts aren't even though they are in London.

There are part of all areas including in West and South London that you wouldn't want to live in. However the way statistics are collected because there are a couple of wealthy areas and ok areas next to them, you don't know they exist unless you live nearby.

East London is one of my favourite places in the world. I used to live there and would choose it over SW and W London any day. It is beautiful, vibrant, convenient, unusual, creative, dynamic

High Five, Mina

I think it really depends on wha'ts important to individuals.

DH grew up in E London and I would hate to live there because I find commuting on the tube stressful, the air quality can make me ill (I have some nose/throat problems), everyone seems to be always rushing, and there is a lack of space (I grew up with the South Downs and beach a walk away)

OTOH other friends of ours have chosen to stay in E London with DC because they like the multiculturalness, the busyness, and the short journeys to lots of exciting things.

Different strokes I think.

Also there's culture in Not London too!

You could hardly call somewhere like Edinburgh lacking in culture. And most normal people, especially families, can’t afford to live anywhere near the big museums and theatres in London anyway. That’s what we’ve found anyway. We see zero culture as we have to live so far from the centre of London. If we lived in the new town or Haymarket in Edinburgh for example (which we could actually manage to afford - just), we’d see a lot more of the cultural stuff.

Yeah the north is shite. I'm up north, 10 minute walk into countryside, 15 drive to the beach, 20 mins on the train to an amazing city with restaurants, galleries, museums, theatres. House prices reasonable so mortgage free by 40.

I couldn't live in London the noise and pollution make it very uncomfortable for me, but I know other people love it. Different strokes for different folks.

I live in the South East and am fine for now but want to move in a few years. Parts are pretty and it's relatively safe, however it's a bit of a culture vacuum as everything is in London so no one feels they have to bother with it here. Expensive land means there is few leisure centres and swimming pools etc and facilities for children, buses are underfunded and infrequent. There's a massive population but it feels like everyone is just working to pay off expensive mortgages. I grew up here poor and it's quite isolated, you don't have the same services and support networks available as you would in an area where there is high density poverty. My ILs live in the borough with the highest life expectancy in the country because its full of very rich people. When I go from here i'I impressed by the facilities available to people in towns and green spaces don't require an annual membership to visit.

@Sarahconnor . Sounds perfect , can I ask where ? Thanks

@Sarah. Where do you live may I ask?

comfortandjoy without outing myself, I will just say Merseyside. It is really nice, some areas are still deprived but there are some great areas too. As well as being very close to Liverpool, Manchester and Chester are also not far away. 3 cities 3 really different vibes.

I live in S London now but I grew up in Bradford and a lot of my family and friends are still based there, and I miss so many things about it! It as a city has an unjustified bad reputation when actually there’s a lot going on (WOW, Literature Festival, lights festival, the great media museum and the Alhambra theatre, the park in the city centre is lovely as are many of the buildings). It’s a diverse place to live with a lot of caring and friendly people,

Oops posted too soon - is my experience.

I love London too, but it’s different. For the sense of community I’ve has to build my own communities and get really involved in things - I found that in Yorkshire that more just happened, everyone wants to be your friend. I love both cities, but I don’t think any of their features are related to being “north” and “south” and I think the standards of living vary in a similar way - in both some are struggling, and some are thriving.

Also funny little difference - no one in London says thank you when they get off the bus!!

@TabbyTiger because the bus is normally packed and drivers are frequently rude.

Incidentally when I went running in Northern parks/open spaces in the morning I would say "Hello" to the people I passed but in London I wouldn't bother doing that after about 6.30am.

wishtheground that wasn't my intention, of course. I just meant that many 'Londoners' have lived elsewhere and know what they're choosing. I've lived all over but, yes, grew up in a very particular spot in the North. I don't have a purely South-centric viewpoint as a result, but of course wouldn't claim to understand the whole 'North' (not even attempt to define it actually!).

I'm from the south and now live in Scotland. On a personal level this is the nicest place I've ever lived and we won't be moving back south. There's fewer cars, less people, beautiful countryside, places you can go with the kids and not queue for 2 hours. Employment is fine, houses cheaper (I live in a 4000sq ft home with 7 bedrooms that I bought after selling my 2 bed terrace). I really have no downside to living north/Scotland.

because the bus is normally packed and drivers are frequently rude.

Only in central parts - we’re zone 2 and the buses are just as busy as ones in Bradford/Leeds (seats full, a few prams and a few standing) and I’ve not noticed a difference in bus drivers. I always say thank you and friends who my grew up in London joke it’s a surefire sign that I’m not a “real Londoner”.