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AIBU?

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Original poster

When someone says they’re going into “town”, what does that mean to you?

430 replies

Hairbrush123 · 01/03/2022 20:23

Having a debate with DH and wonder what this term means to other people? To me, it means going into the centre of the town I live in

OP posts:
oakleaffy · 01/03/2022 21:43

Into centre of City we live near,
Or Central London when visiting family there.

Sodullincomparison · 01/03/2022 21:45

It depends

“She went to town decorating her house for Christmas” means over the top.

To go to town as an activity means to go to the city centre for shopping for night out.

CandleRose · 01/03/2022 21:46

It means city centre here. I find that those who live in the burbs of a city, even if you live in an actual town, you'd still say town meaning the city.

If you were going into your local town in the burbs you'd refer to the town by name. But town means the city.

user1485813778 · 01/03/2022 21:46

Into London from suburb. Would never say this to refer to local town centre.

Yerroblemom1923 · 01/03/2022 21:48

Going to nearest town. Although gave someone a lift once as they were going "into town" only to realise they meant the city of Manchester rather than the surrounding towns. Why don't people just say they're "going to the city"?!

hugocat · 01/03/2022 21:48

@HunterHearstHelmsley

Going to the local town or going to Birmingham. It can be confusing. Mistakes have happened... Particularly with "meet you at the ramp in town".
Haha yes I know the ramp by the old Pallasades
MintyGreenDream · 01/03/2022 21:50

Going to town=shopping etc.
Going round town=drinking

impossible · 01/03/2022 21:51

Into town means into my town centre or into London. I live in the south east and used to live in London.

hugocat · 01/03/2022 21:52

I lived in the outskirts of London for 15 years , it was always 'uptown' meaning central London, I wasn't aware of the local shopping centre being called 'town' .

phoenixrosehere · 01/03/2022 21:52

They are going into the nearest town centre.

I specify by city if I’m going somewhere outside of that.

hugocat · 01/03/2022 21:53

@RufustheFloralmissingreindeer

We used to go ‘to the top of the road’

Meaning One Stop…but now we don’t have a top of the road (as such)

Are you from Birmingham? X
Bussinbussin · 01/03/2022 21:54

Into the city.

I'd say 'going to the shops' if it was just down the road to the local strip.

JimmyDurham · 01/03/2022 21:54

@HoundOfTheBasketballs

"Into" town means going to the shops where I live.

"Up to" town means going to London.

This,
DieSchottin93 · 01/03/2022 21:55

Where I live it means into the nearest city centre. If someone is going to the local high street, they are "going down the vil/village", even though we live in a town and not a village Grin

JaceLancs · 01/03/2022 21:56

Going into town or city centre
I usually think shopping but that’s because my clubbing days are over lol

Cryofthecurlew · 01/03/2022 21:58

It’s all about context. I live in a village with 160 people our nearest small “town” where I usually do my shopping as it has a range of shops supermarket butcher pharmacy etc is 12 miles away, our nearest city is 90 miles away. So if I said “I’m going into town to do my shopping” I think my DH would automatically assume I’m driving to our nearest town I doubt he would ask where I was going. He definitely would not assume I’m driving to our nearest city because I would say “I’m going to Glasgow” or even for that matter our nearest county town 30 away.

Original poster
Hairbrush123 · 01/03/2022 21:58

Thanks all! DH thinks the term is too vague as it could mean any town - he just calls our town centre by its name!

@HunterHearstHelmsley where are you from? I live in Solihull so not far from Brum Grin but I wouldn’t call Birmingham “town”!

OP posts:
JuteWeaver · 01/03/2022 21:59

To me, it means going to the town (or city) centre for clothes shopping etc, or maybe a meal or drinks.

Benjispruce5 · 01/03/2022 22:01

Going into the town centre.

didshedidntshe · 01/03/2022 22:02

I live in London and haven't heard anyone say going into town in years (if we were going into central we'd saying going to central) but I grew up in Sussex and 'going into town' would mean going to the town centre or the centre of the nearest town

HighOnPie · 01/03/2022 22:02

‘Into town’ means London.

‘Up West’ is what they used to say in Eastenders when they were referring to going ‘into town’.

Benjispruce5 · 01/03/2022 22:03

I live in the suburbs of a town so town would only mean that town iyswim. If I was going into Birmingham from Solihull, I’d probs say Birmingham as Solihull has its own town centre doesn’t it?

Bimblybomeyelash · 01/03/2022 22:03

Into town means into the town that I live.

Up to town means up to London Town.

I wouldn’t say the latter seriously though.

Savvysix1984 · 01/03/2022 22:04

Into town- means the closest town to where I am at that time. If I'm in a London suburb then it would be central London, but if I'm at home then town is the city centre to where I am.

mewkins · 01/03/2022 22:04

Hmmm. It means going to the town centre of the small town I live in (ie. Walking down the hill). It could sometimes mean going into london but only if the person was likely to already kmow what i meant!

Weirdly, when I lived in the suburbs of London it was never referred to as going into town. I guess we sometimes said 'up west' (like they do in eastenders!) or just 'to camden' or wherever.

When I visit my boyfriend it means going into the city centre.