To wonder how anyone can live in London?

[Sausagefingers9]

I hadn’t been to London in years so had forgotten just how extremely busy it is. I’ve just got back from a trip there and feel like I need a lay down in a dark room!

How does anyone ever turn off when there is so much stuff, and noise and people everywhere? Everyone looked so grumpy and depressed.

Because it must be galling to live in other parts of the country that barely get a look in, because it’s always London this, London that. Yes, there is life outside the M25.

Come on! You see it all the time on here, and in real life. You’ve got to be really blinkered to not realise that the rest of the Uk might not regard London as being quite the dog’s bollocks that Londoners do.

And yes, we have stabbings etc. We still also have the privilege and power. But either you can see that or you can’t. There are Aston Martins and Porsches parked on my road, and at the bottom is an estate where there’s been a fatal shooting. The flash cars and their wealthy owners arrived after the shooting. People still want to live here.

However. Re north/south - I’m south which I love and one thing I love is that as I have, by and large, always worked in central London, I get to cross the river every day. I think the river features more in the lives of south Londoners. Many north Londoners I’ve worked with never see the river from one week to the next.

Each to their own but I do agree to an extent... Lived in London for many years and yes, a lot of stonefaced people, all "busy busy busy" especially in the dire rush hour you would meet the worst types of selfish miserable people with no consideration for others.

My partner and I moved out, not too far but just so we weren't in London anymore and it was the best thing we done, the people are generally more happier and polite where we are and you do realise even more how rude and depressing London can be when you're out of it, we rarely visit London now but do find when we are there, there's a heavy feeling... Or maybe that's the pollution

I sometimes like it. I sometimes can't stand the place. I usually want to lie down and cry on the Saturdays my daughter wants to go to the Science Museum for the 1000th time. So busy in there. So unbelivably busy and noisy and dark and stuffy. Not fun. At all.

Well I was in Covent Garden at 10am yesterday and it was empty

I have no idea where you were that it was busy - oxford street ?

I commute every day. It's not that busy, loads of wonderful quiet spots - I sat in Embankment gardens and had a hot chocolate today in the afternoon - it was practically empty

I find London a very quiet city and the people are really friendly - everyone talks to me at the bus stop

• you see what you want to see

I love living here and all the interesting and engaging opportunities my children have.
I also love the coast, mountains and the deepest darkest countryside but would struggle in suburbia or a middle sized market town.
Horses for courses, thankfully everyone can find their own niche.

River Tam

If that was aimed at me, I think we’re at cross-purposes. My question is why London having all the privilege and power (assuming it does) should make people not want to live or work in it or visit it. Not why people might get fed up of London being talked about.

No doubt when you’ve given your MN-approved ‘masterclass’ in ‘class analysis’ my eyes will be opened and we’ll understand each other better.

OP only. Well don't spend our time marching up and down Oxford Street or Piccadilly Circus. The further out you go the less busy it is. I pretty much have our local vast park to myself in the mornings at the weekend, well me and my dog.

I live next to a busy zone 2 Overground train station on a reasonably busy road - unless someone is literally shouting outside I've pretty much stopped hearing all the noise.

Mr Noodle lives 5 minutes down the road from me and apart from the distant hum of an A road it's completely silent and serene.

I guess it just depends on personalities and where you live, finances etc. I'm very high energy and love being in a place that's constantly evolving. It probably does seem scary on a day trip but if you're used to it there's nowhere better.

It may be hard to believe but the community spirit here is incredible. My leafy suburban road is a bit like Ramsey Street. We all know each other like family and the local school is 5 minutes walk away with parks all around.

Then 20 minutes away you've got the buzz of central London. There's nothing better than coming out of the tube into the bars, restaurants, exhibitions and general excitement of one of your favourite areas. There's always somewhere new to go or a cool place to visit. Of course, if you want the quiet life that's maybe not for you but I've tried living outside of London and I was totally and utterly bored. Very unimpressed by the small-mindedness as well. Anything goes here.

North v south @letsthenamesbegain? Nonsense! The real and only true dividing line is DO YOU or DO YOU NOT go west of selfridges???

London with kids is awesome - now my lot are over three, we can do all sorts of stuff. Took the Thames clipper from London Bridge pier all the way to Battersea power station on Sunday - there were about 4 other people on the boat so the kids basically had the run of the place, pointing out all the sights - Tate modern, millennium bridge, oxo tower, cleopatra’s needle, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, the hospital where they were born, some kayakers, commenting on how high the tide was and how fast the river was flowing. Then a wander round the power station grounds and a bus home. Amazing for about £20 for all of us.

You do have to know how to do London properly. Which does involve avoiding anything that tourists are likely to want to do (at least at the times that they are likely to do it!) and finding your own way around - but that’s what makes it so special. It can be your own city, your own place so easily with a little effort.

And most days all I need to do to cheer myself up is to look up! Those beautiful buildings are right there waiting to be seen.

Kissing my original comment about power and privilege was in response to a pp asking why it’s ok to London-bash. If you’ve got all the power and privilege in comparison to the rest of the country then I reckon you can take it on the chin.

Lots of people don’t like the monarchy, or the landed gentry or the aristocracy. They have all the power and privilege. Is it ok not to like them? As a class?

London has got lots of things that other places don’t, in spades, and that’s going to make people not all that thrilled with London. They then visit it and find it crazy and dirty and unfriendly, all of which it certainly can be, you’d be daft to say it never is, and then they wonder why the bloody hell people want to live there and bang on about it being so great.

There was a thread recently where someone who was not British gave their views on Britain, some of which weren’t complimentary. I found it quite interesting, I’m always interested how others view us, and didn’t take any of it personally, but good god, most of the responses would make you think that the OP had gone up and spat in their face.

This is kind of similar.

I think there are depressed people in cities and countryside

Each to their own. I dislike London. It’s ok for a visit but I’d never want to live there. Too expensive. Not a fan of how busy it is constantly etc.

That said, I live in Salford which is well, it’s Salford. But I love it and despite moving around when younger, I’d never want to live anywhere else. Even if we do all sound like characters from shameless

It’s interesting though that people list “expensive” as one of their reasons. Housing is, yes absolutely. But day to day living costs are no more expensive than anywhere else. In fact with Oyster I know my travel is cheaper than out in the countryside. Supermarkets charge the same regardless. Nights out, well if you go to local areas rather than tourist spots, it’s no more expensive than anywhere else. Utilities again cost the same wherever you are. London is only expensive because of housing.

OK, I get you Tam.

But one of the things I like about London is that people here generally don’t get worked up by critics of it. There’s nothing to prove.

Try starting a thread about how, say, Liverpool is a dump or that Glasgow is boring...

It’s called working and living in zones 3456
Easy peasy !
I wouldn’t Wprk centrally for love nor money

Tunnocks34

Home
Is where the heart is !

I loved it when I lived there in my twenties but I don't even like going there for the day now! I've got steadily more countrified in my old age.

Well firstly a lot of the people there are very young and hence suited to that kind of thing. Secondly not all of London is like that. Some parts are quite nice and peaceful.

Sarf of the river?

Not blimmin' likely guv'nor, bleedin' different world darn there innit?😳😂

Re flatsharing in your 40s:
Most of my friends in London who earn under 40k, aren’t married and who haven’t had parental or family assistance to buy are flat sharing. Age ranges of said friends: 25-circa 50.
This is definitely A Thing. Most landlords id encountered in London wanted their tenants to earn 3x the annual rent. Some as much as 4-5x.
If your flat is a 1200 pcm... and you’re only earning 22-28K...

Well.