To think it's 'down' to London from Yorkshire?

[abbeydo]

In Downton Abbey they keep speaking of 'going up to London', but if they're in Yorkshire, surely it's down?

I've always thought that too

I would say down, but then I'm not posh.

IT’s always “Up to London”, from anywhere.

It used to always be going up to London because it was like London was 'above' everywhere else I think.

Yup. I used to live in Scotland but now live 'down south' and go 'up' to Scotland when visiting my folks!

In 19th century novels like Trollope I notice they always say 'up to London' and 'down to Scotland'. I imagine it's a prestige rather than a compass point up, London being the social and political centre and the home of the season.

But I agree with you from a modern standpoint.

Oh you've touched on my biggest bugbear.

One went “up for the season” no matter where one lived. (Or as far as I know from Downton, Pride and Prejudice etc.)

It’s down south and then up north when I go to my parents’ place in the far north.

You always go up.

Yes I think it's a convention to say 'up to London'.

Agreed. I go UP to London, but I’m on the Sussex coast.

I thought it was a railway thing? The ‘up’ line always goes to London

I always thought it was 'up to the capital'. So not meant literally (or geographically!)

I live in Hertfordshire (so immediately north of London).

I always say ‘up to London’. ‘Down to London’ doesn’t sound right.

Except of course if you are a student in Oxford or Cambridge, then you go up at the start of term or you're sent down when you are expelled. More elevated still you see!

Thought it might be a convention thing! Thank you mumsnet

Agree it’s the “up” line to London.

People might say "up to London" but we all know that anywhere outside of Yorkshire is down.

I've always thought up north and down south! So I agree they'd be going down to London.

Yes I remember my friends Mum telling me this. It’s always up to the capital city and down to somewhere if your going from the capital. We lived in Ireland so always up to Dublin..

It’s just convention. It’s always ‘up’ to London.

I’m from Newcastle and my Dad used to correct me if I said I was going down to London.

Up to the capital - to Edinburgh - definitely up 😃

Good old Wiki
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_directions