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 London for many years and absolutely hated it. There wasn't the friendliness of living in a village. Everyone seemed to be rushing about all the time. The commute to central London was awful on public transport, you'd arrive at work feeling stressed and grubby. Eating out was a small fortune. Driving in London- absolute nightmare. Give me my house in North Wales anytime, with friendly neighbours, clean air and peace and quiet.

I enjoyed London in my 20s but never loved it like some do. I always felt on edge and a bit stressed as I’m a country girl through and through. I also thought that most of the ‘up and coming’ areas my friends lived in were shit holes despite having seen them named as ‘nappy valley’ places now. I won’t say where because I don’t want to offend. I spent far too much on living somewhere tiny in the nicer areas as I needed to do that to feel comfortable. My hair is also nicer when I’ve not spent the day in London.

I’m so happy I live semi rurally and commute in. I feel like I’ve got the best of both worlds. On the one hand, the access to London for jobs, theatre, museums, history etc and on the other a nice house with a large garden, outstanding school, relaxed way of life. I only took my baby in once when I was on mat leave and I had a really strong reaction to the air pollution. After 7-8 months of not visiting London, it was so noticeable and it really shocked me how quickly you must get used to it when you’re there all the time. I hated exposing my baby to the noise, the smoking etc.

People are all different though and some people are city people through and through and would hate living where I live. But, I reckon you could have a higher quality of life in cities like Manchester or Bristol. If I had millions, I’d definitely buy a lovely flat somewhere posh though. If you’re rich enough, London would give an amazing lifestyle. For most of us though,living there requires some major compromises.

I and others have said multiple times that it's the sense of discovery and the fact there are so many different communities joined together, and the fact that it is the capital and that in itself draws in people and investment and ambition. Equivalent jobs to mine do exist in Sheffield, for example, but only in one rather niche bit. If I took one i would be closing down options rather than opening them up. That's replicated across the board across many, many sectors and makes it different. Stressful, expensive, crowded, noisy, dirty I will take and agree with. Exactly the same as anywhere else I will not. And I have close family in Sheffield and have even wondered about moving there so it's not meant to be a diss.

These threads are ultimately a bit futile as individual priorities are so different - even for the same people at different life stages. For me the decision to leave London (as a born and bred Londoner who has lived all over the city and has both hated and loved living there) was mostly pragmatic.

We listed the things we most needed every single day : excellent primary/secondary schools with lots of green space/playing fields, without tiny catchments, no grammars or academies, cheap and spacious housing, work opportunities, close enough to go to beach/countryside after school, lots of activities for kids/outdoor sports, independence for children, but still in a city.

Then we listed the things we liked but which for us weren't every day/week but maybe every couple of months or so: theatre, galleries, concerts, restaurants.

Where we are now gives us everything we need every day, and is well within reach of the next tier of priorities, but not as accessible as they were when living in London (not that we had the cash to do them more often in London anyway).

I can imagine a time in the future when our priorities change and we may want to go back, won't be while kids are small though. I have retired friends who live in London and relish their lives there (large disposable incomes though which we will not have)!

still reading thread but agree with the poster that gentrification has changed London. My area is certainly very white compared to my youth & the state school catchments are so small that you tend to mix with a very similar demographic.

yes to the poster who mentioned dress/style. The other cities I’ve visited tend to have more of a uniform amongst the youth whereas individually was a good thing when I was younger although social media has probably changed that

It makes me laugh when some posters seem to think it’s London or the countryside and no other options. I grew up in London and probably used to think a bit like that. But then I moved out of town and never went back. I love London but can’t bear the bloody tube.

For us, London is the most practical place for us to live, mainly because we can both work in our respective careers here. It would be more difficult to do this elsewhere so cheaper living costs would be offset by reduced income. We have a 3 bed house with garden so enough space. A similar house in a nice commuter town would cost similar and transport costs would be a lot more. Most people we know who have moved out either have only one partner working so able to relocate or one commutes to London and other works locally or doesn’t work.

We have found London to be fine for bringing up a family so far. Pluses are being able to get around without car, plenty of parks with nice playgrounds, lots of activities nearby. Primary school is v good and very close, secondaries more mixed but better than they were. Downsides for me are pollution, time it takes to get out of London and distance to family. We don’t use the amazing cultural facilities as often as we could, but nice to have them for when we do! So for us, London is the best compromise and I expect that is the case for lots of others.

DH & I lived in London in our 20s-30s and had DC1 there. Loved it, Miss it

Couldn’t afford a decent sized house with garden near decent secondary school so moved out

DH still works there

We visit regularly

I’d love to move back once DC are grown

I miss most

the ethnic diversity
the buzz
the youthfulness
the anonymity
the cutting edge culture

Loving the buses atm vs the tube - no tourists!

Yes there is the rather more prosaic fact that it happens to be where we call home. The DC are happy in school and we are happy at work. We have good friends. Not wanting to turn all that upside down to try living somewhere else is different from saying everyone should move to London.

Great schools and public transport.
DS has just moved to a small city away from London, and is shocked by
cost and lack of decent public transport, unreliability of the service, and very curtailed hours. He has also complained that there is only one takeaway that will deliver, Amazon next day delivery isn't next day because the depot is too far away, and cabs are much harder to come by ( and more expensive). And rents are not much cheaper than London.
I think if you drive it's better, but parking in a lot of places is difficult.
There's nothing to beat the tube, even if it is crowded, it opens up huge possibilities for work and entertainment.
The other thing that is painfully obvious in a lot of smaller towns and cities is the lack of multi-culturalism and the benefits that brings.

On the other hand, we have just come back from a holiday in Yorkshire, and the beauty of the countryside, huge choice of walks and sheer friendliness of people was really impressive. Drivers were way more courteous - people don't seem to be living on their nerves the same way they are here in London.

It entirely depends on your personality. I couldn’t do it now, I studied in London and was working for a few years out of uni. At 21 it was fabulous. By 23 I was tired if it and moved out to the commuter belt and bought a house. Those of my peers that stayed are still mostly renting (I’m 40). I like to visit but I am a country girl at heart and am much happier in the middle of nowhere. I can’t stand the hum and the people any more.

I was in for a few hours on Saturday, couldn’t wait to get home! Other people couldn’t cope living rurally and I think the country life is amazing for kids. Fresh air, safe areas to play, little traffic/pollution and little village schools. Each to their own.

The only thing I enjoyed about London was the shopping-now you can buy anything online enduring the tube is no longer required!

I was born and raised in London when the population was native British, it is not now.
I now live in a fantastic part of the U.K where people are like me, it is safe, no stabings or shootings, fresh air and lots of open country.

Ha - I think @Vicky1990 has summed up a key reason why I don’t leave London for Little Britain. The racists!

Ironically enough the people most freaked out by stabbings and shootings are the people least likely to be affected by either - i.e, middle class white people.

I think the country life is amazing for kids. Fresh air, safe areas to play, little traffic/pollution and little village schools. Each to their own.

I'm curious what life is like rurally for older kids? My friends who lived more rurally missed out because they were dependent on their parents ferrying them around to get anywhere. So just meeting up for the cinema, bowling, hanging around in town etc was an effort in pre planning - and if they couldn't get mum or dad to give them a lift, they couldn't come. Each to their own - I'm just curious how older kids and teens find the countryside experience

And I have close family in Sheffield and have even wondered about moving there so it's not meant to be a diss

Wasn't taken as one at all I'm not a Sheffield lass anyway

Likewise, no slur on London. I know people find it amazing. It's just not for me, but ......

..... you know: the only guy for whom I'd walk through the fires of hell lives in London. Would it be enough for me to move there? I'm gonna say 'no' but .... never say never

You can definitely live in London on the cheap (apart from housing of course, but even then you can get a nice 2 bed Victorian in an up and coming area). My favourite trick is to buy those mini bottles of wine or decant your favourite wine into a water bottle and then go to a normal pub, get an empty glass and decant your wine! I usually buy a glass too but it cuts down on costs and you have a night out! We also decided a while ago that rather than have a fairly mediocre meal out each week for £30-£40, we'd save that and have a blow out at a good London restaurant for £100+ Lunch deals at top restaurants are good value.

Each to their own - I'm just curious how older kids and teens find the countryside experience

We are within easy walking distance (usually!) of a rail station that has us in the nearest major city in 18 minutes.

Several small market towns including the one DD will be attending secondary in, in 5-15 mins.

Each to their own - I'm just curious how older kids and teens find the countryside experience

Just like to point out that not everywhere outside of London is the countryside. There are numerous large cities and towns in the UK.

Oh and just to add into the mix the plethora of pony club

I think that's what's probably isn't sitting right with me: the 'it's London or Somewhere Else' kinda thing.

So you establish that, for whatever reason, you're not going to settle in London. Well, that's only the beginning of the dilemma. All the other places are as different from each other as they are from London: you've still got a myriad of options to sift through

We lived on London for 10 years although I didn't grow up there and we moved out to a village . I remember thinking you get real breadth of life in a city, multicultural, loads of facilities, opportunities etc. The buzz, activities, independence.

Living in a small place you get not breadth but depth, stronger relationships with fewer people and places, everyone knowing you (and your business).

Its not necessarily better, just a different slant on life.

Yes and I suppose that's where how settled you currently are comes into play. I mean I could move to Leeds for easier access to the countryside and cheaper property. I've actually considered it and haven't ruled it out. But when I take into account the balance of things that are important to me and worked out the ideal combination actually my ideal life doesn't look that different to the one I have and I'm not sure it's worth the upheaval.

Just like to point out that not everywhere outside of London is the countryside. There are numerous large cities and towns in the UK.

Yes but my post that you're citing was in response to the post which said

"I think the country life is amazing for kids. Fresh air, safe areas to play, little traffic/pollution and little village schools. Each to their own."

The poster was talking about the countryside. I was asking her about the countryside.

Can someone help this ignorant poster out?
What do you mean by living IN London? As someone who has only ever visited there twice in my life, I am a bit confused about what constitutes IN London? I think of it as the central bit.