To ask if London living is all that?

[nellyolsenscurl]

Inspired by a thread where posters are saying things like 'unless you live in London you couldn't possibly understand the benefits' and 'London living is one of the best things a child could have' (paraphrased, but you get the poi t). One poster said that her dd's friend didn't have a bedroom, she had a bed in the hallway but this is worth it for London life etc.

I've visited and yes it does seem amazing, but I was surprised at how busy the underground was at rush hour, I didn't think public transport was that cheap and in some parts the signs about knife crime/murder was daunting. Obviously as well extortionate house prices/rents mean more likelihood of living in a smaller place.

So London Livers (TM) please tell me about the great things (and any negatives) In my dreams when my dc leave the nest I will buy a lift conversion in Neal's Yard with those lovely coloured facades 😬

I lived in Westbourne Grove for a few years when rent was a lot more reasonable. Portabello Market was five minutes walk away and Nothing Hill ten minutes. It was amazing my friends would come to visit often and we had amazing bars and restaurants on the doorstep. Hyde Park and Holland Park were in walking distance. I loved it if I had the money to afford somewhere nice I would move back in a heartbeat, probably to Battersea.

Notting Hill.....

It’s not for me but I can understand why some like it.

I don’t like busy crowded places, not fussed about shopping etc so I’m not sure what else it would have to offer me.

Is lift conversion the new thing in London if you can't afford a loft conversion? I guess you could just about fit a bed in...

It’s just about taste and preference. I live in SE and I love the vibrancy, the atmosphere, the fact there’s always something to do or see - I love that you can go to the galleries and museums whenever you like, or try a new restaurant or bar with friends.

I love the mix of cultures and ways of life blended together.

I love that you can always get a cab, a takeaway or a pint of milk when you need one. I used to regularly stay in my friend’s small village and everything would close at 8-9pm (if that).

But it’s not for everyone. It can be busy and noisy and there can be crime. I don’t think I’ll live here forever, but I’m glad to have the opportunity now.

Having public transport that runs 7 days a week and the convenience of the Oyster travel cards is good.
That's about it for good things really...

I grew up abroad although I am English and as soon as I was independent from my parents, I moved to London. And it gave me a total feeling of joy and belonging. It is hard to explain but I know I could never live anywhere else. I like the diversity and the mix of people from everywhere and anywhere. I like the different mini villages that are close together but so different. I like the anonymity and the lack of small town narrow mindedness. I love the electrically charged atmosphere on Summer nights when people are celebrating life on the streets. I love all the millions of shops and restaurants and bars - just the enormity of choice is amazing. I like the unique events like secret immersive theatre experiences, pop up restaurants, child friendly club nights, gay bingo, concerts and open air theatre in the park.... I could go on and on to be honest. I am a City person so that helps, but even comparing it to other cities l have spent time in, London just has a soul that I have never felt anywhere else.

I lived in Fulham for most of my adult life before moving out of London when I retired but regret it. Can't afford to move back unless I win the lottery. It's the best.

One poster said that her dd's friend didn't have a bedroom, she had a bed in the hallway but this is worth it for London life etc.

That is extreme London-phillia.

Think I saw a similar "tiny living" vid on Youtube featuring a family living in a New York shoe box with one kid confined to sleeping on the floor by the front door.

It’s not for me. I hate cities, London especially. To me there is no benefit to living in London. It’s expensive, dirty, polluted and noisy. There is a lot of crime, no green space and it’s overpopulated.

It’s my idea of helll on earth.

I started writing a long post and gave up. Instead, let me offer this (shorter) insight: we don't pay the same prices as you and we know about all the best parts of town. With many things, locals simply have access to better deals and local knowledge.

We also have a tremendous sense of community spirit.

London never stops. It's fantastic.

Public transport in London is a bargain.
For £5 I can get a one day 'green oyster' which can be used on the buses and trams, across London for the whole day.
I can go out to the Turkish shops and get great coffee and lovely fresh bread anytime.
The parks are great, full of all kinds of people. You can have amusing conversations with strangers.
In comparison where I live now, people look at you as though you're shit because you've not been there for 30 years, and it's over £6 return just to the nearest crappy town.

I love that you can always get a cab, a takeaway or a pint of milk when you need one

We can do that up here in the north, too

I agree hell on earth.

London is not particularly bad, but I can't stand the noise, filth, bad air of any city for any time.

I live 20 minutes from the heart of the city,
Surrounded by ancient woodland, deer, owls and wildlife in my garden.
No traffic noise at all.

tell you what I appreciate when I get back to Wales, that is fresh air and water that doesn't taste like shite.

Personally I can deal with the taste of the water in London as I was raised on it, but my kids just spit it out and refuse to drink it...

I love never having to drive, something exciting (and normally cheap/free) to do every day, wonderful schools, good cheap food, community spirit, parks, the river, the fashion, people watching, museums, libraries open 7 days a week, markets and the lack of racism/being stared at for your skin colour.

downsides are rats, foxes, pigeons, parakeets and tourists who don't stand in the correct place on the escalators

The huge variety of opportunities.
Theatre, shows, events, talks, exhibitions...
Fabulous choice of restaurants, cafes, shops,
Historic inspiring architecture and vistas
The sheer life of the city.. Being part of that buzz.
Cheap easy transport.

But I am very very lucky, I live in a two bed flat in zone 1 with a garden square. And sometimes we have had four teens packed into second bedroom.. We had two sets of bunks once!!!
But this is not our onky home. We have a family sized home in Cornwall.
We can escape the city... Not sure I could live here full time

frogsoup by the time the dc have bankrupted left me a lift conversion would be aiming high 😬

Sparklesocks when you say that you can get milk/cab/takeaway at anytime do you mean that every shop is open 24/7?

Re Oyster card, we used the visitor one and was ok price wise for a family for a few days but for living there I can imagines g public transport on a daily basis gets very expensive? My friend who moved there said no one drives as the tube/bus is so cheap?!

I love living in London for the huge variety of entertainment, restaurants, events, beautiful parks (amazed anyone can say London has "no green space") and the fact that I'm part of a free running club with hundreds of members from all different backgrounds/nationalities that meets up regularly and goes for runs along the Thames. It gives me even more of a sense of belonging and I've met so many great people. I work in an amazing building with a fab roof terrace overlooking the City and my travel costs are very low as I cycle or run to work (over Tower Bridge, which is stunning) most days.

I was born there and grew up there, but I could not wait to leave. Best thing I ever did. I'm so much happier now

What about schools? Are the good? Oversubscribed? We are a grammar county and d's has quite a few Londoners in his class who moved here in order to save money on school fees.

nellyolsenscurl - not every single shop no, but there are quite a lot 24 hr mini markets if you need them. And some takeaways near me deliver at 3-4am if you need them.

City living is one of those things there’s no definitive answers.

For some it really is “all that”.

For others the very idea is hell on Earth.

Neither camp is unreasonable, until they start to tell the other why they’re wrong!

@stevie69 But we can get milk delivered for less than a pound within an hour at any time of day or night in London. Can you do that up north?

@nellyolsenscurl Many people use an annual season ticket. If you can't afford the cost up front, it's common for a tube loan to be available with your job - interest-free and not taxable either. The tube is fast, cheap and we now have night tube too.

Depends what part of london I guess. I live in SE london which isnt so nice..