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 😬

😂 A new plough?? What luxury!

@BBALLFUN

I lived in Teddington for 3 years so yes I have. I found the amount of concrete depressing.

Bloody metropolitan elites with their new ploughs

I think @RedneckStumpy lives in Maine now, is that right?

I don't think of London as having green space, on the outskirts yes, but a park isn't Epping Forest. It's so weird, I didn't care about green space as a kid but now can't wait to get to the South Downs or Outer Hebrides or wherever we end up!

I don't leave the office at lunchtime because the local green space is shite, so I take a 20 min lunch and go home early. Central London green spaces are not relaxing.

@LighthouseSouth

Yes I do I escaped the urbanization of the UK for the Great North woods of Maine. I am closer to proper wilderness.

Waving @RedneckStumpy from still hot flat!

I do love galleries but haven't been for ages because there's never a quiet time to go.

I miss the days we had roads outside the National Gallery instead of those stupid street performers, massive crowds and people eating, which is all such a big deal now too. Everything is a takeaway or food place. Loads of people just hanging around eating or drinking on space that used to be roads that made buses quicker. Gah.

The city gates aren't locked to non-residents. I was born in London and have lived there most of my life but am amused/ baffled by the romanticized view of living in the city and the implication that life outside London is a sterile, grey monoculture.

I absolutely hated living in London as a child but loved it as a single 20-something. Now I've got a young family and I live 200 miles away, but can easily get back for the day should I want, and I also have several other cities within easy range. We outsiders can still enjoy London, we just don't want to live there.

@FourFriedChickensDryWhiteToast wow yes I totally relate. I moved out of london to wales and yes they look at you like shit for not being a born and bred Villager .

I'm another LONDON I STILL LOVE YOU!

It depends what you value OP. I grew up in 'naice' large, rural town, but very few jobs, so I'm in London for the salary til I've retrained, then I'll go back home . I don't enjoy the manic tube/central london. I get pestered for money by men grabbing my arm. They're wearing designer gear/trainers. The genuine homeless guys I talk to don't grab people, wear same stuff all time/have sleeping bags etc. The art/culture on offer is expensive. I want leafy, quiet and laid back rural thanks very much.

So over rated. It’s a great place if you have plenty of energy, cash and no kids. If any of those are missing, you’re fucked.

@LighthouseSouth waves back

We have a plan to move to London in 5 years. I'm really looking forward to feel it that "sense of belonging" and it's reassuring that others have mentioned it. We live up north at the moment and neither of us are from here - it's been a struggle making new friends and I think that will be much easier in London. Hell, I already have more friends who happen to live in London than I do who live here, plus I'm certain my friends from other places will be very keen to visit and stay with us. I can't wait to move to London and wish we could do it sooner!!!

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.

Is that you Nigel?

Definition of native British please 🙄.

Also, where do you live? So that I can come nowhere near it, ever.

The vibe is still generally anti London

Does it matter?

If you’re happy there what does it matter what other people think.

I don’t need everyone to like where I live, it’s enough that I love it.

I've now gone on a rightmove spree... Wow there's some amazing property in London but how do people on normal wages do it I don't do bad as a lone parent (well have a DP now) but what about the bog standard 3 bed semis haha. There's a 5mil house in Greenwich I'm now ousting over and a flat in Chelsea that's unreal. If you London Mnetters live in anything like that, colour me green with envy!!

Also quite interesting, in this thread and in real life, those who were born and raised in London seem to have more mixed views with negatives and positives whereas people who moved there are more firmly positive

I lived there in my 20s and most of my 30s and I benefitted from work, socialising, museums etc and loved the buzz.
I now live in the countryside in France, where I have raised DS in the fresh air and loads of space. When I take DS to London, he likes it for a day especially the novelty of public transport. ( obviously not rush hour).
I just find it filthy & crowded. Ok for a day trip.

I do like where I am now but, really miss living in London.

I think London is the best city in the world. The only other place I have visited that has come close is NY.

In this post we are talking about London as if it is just one place. But it is more like 1,000 little towns packed in together closely. Most Londoners love some parts of London and hate others. I think a lot of people who say they hate London have probably only been to Oxford street. It takes a lifetime to learn London and it can never really be learned because it’s always changing. That’s one of the most exciting things about living here for me. (Albeit the change is too fast and too much like social cleansing in some places).

That said London life it is not for everyone.

Jeanclaude yes I think you're right, I see it from the standpoint of my childhood there, and although it felt like a giant playground in my 20s, I still remember sobbing for days every time we came back to London from holidays on the UK coast. I'm a city-lover and I'll always have an affection for London (alongside other cities), but I'm very happy to visit every so often and spend most of my time somewhere else.

I love London: the people, the diversity, the freedom, the fact that my borough has the largest proportion of remainers in the country, the fact that my DD is London born and bred and it shows, the fact there's always something to do (no boring Sundays), the food, the amazing green spaces....

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-62058707.html

Jean I definitely don’t live anywhere like that but am partial to a bit of property porn.
I’ve got my eye on this one for when I win the lottery

You're right it doesn't matter at all that some people hate London but it does grate a bit when people practically accuse you of child abuse for raising children "in a dirty crone ridden hellhole". The same people then get very antsy if people call where they live dull and monocultural. It cuts both ways. FWIW I love London but can imagine loving some other ways of life too and one day might move, but I have to confess one distinct appeal is spending my ill gotten London property gains on going mortgage free and semi retiring. Which is another tick in London living's favour when you think about it, though I don't think it's a benefit to society.

Crime ridden! Autocorrect fail

Can anyone tell me if there are any good activities/ places to go during the holidays in London? I'm not local and everything I've searched for is quite expensive!