Why do people live in London?

[Waahaawoowoo]

This thread is inspired by a thread where people where explaining how a £100k salary doesn't go far in London. Examples were given of mortgages costing £25k pa. (This is my salary). Childcare bills for 2 kids costing £40k. Our joint salary is £55k pa.

I live in NE Wales. Our house costs us £12k pa for a 3 bedroom semi. Wraparound Childcare used to cost a maximum of £12k pa. But we no longer pay due to age of kids and me WFH. I cannot get my head around DH and I being significantly better off than a couple who earn double what we do.

The logical answer to me would be to move from London. So why do people stay? Is it family? The type of work you do? I'm curious more than anything about what keeps people there when they could possibly have a better standard of living elsewhere.

Yes, it's exactly like Manchester.

Same, I live just outside London, I grew up here all our family is here.
my husband waffles on about moving somewhere cheaper, but I couldn’t imagine not visiting central London regularly. It’s just part of who I am xx

Different from Manchester in that there are far more gangs & murders in London. And it smells much more than Manchester does too.

If you really were a little more clued up then you would have realised you do sound like a snob.

I’ve read the thread thanks and I’ve not read anything that I would characterise in the way you have.

You can try and split hairs that you labelled ‘comments’ ignorant rather than the posters themselves - but that’s a transparent evasion and it comes to the same thing.

My question is why is it necessary to label comments or posters ignorant because they don’t like fields or areas where there’s not much going on culturally? Isn’t that simply a difference of opinion and experience?

Jobs - generally to get to the top of your career mainly you need to be in London
Diversity
Amazing parks
Amazing things to do, often free
People - friends, new people to meet, amazing community
It's beautiful
Endless variation
Great public transport
Top schools
Easy access to the countryside and Europe by train

She asked about people who had time for cultural opportunities on a weekly basis and I told her about what we do. What people do outside London has nothing to do with that - I hope they’re enjoying themselves. 🤷🏽‍♀️

@AlmostaMamma your friends with dc each go out with friends 2-3 times a week? do they work?

@Meandfour sorry I forgot about that. It's not as good as Manchester.

I was born in London. I've tried moving away lots of times, to lovely places but I get homesick. Sometimes it is tempting to move somewhere cheaper so we wouldn't be broke all the time, the area DH grew up in is much cheaper but I don't think I'd be happy. I also think that the kids will have more opportunities in London.

This!! I too was born here, my parents lived here (even though neither was born here) as did my grandparents (ditto), my family and friends also live here. Why would I want to live anywhere else?! I lived in another country for a chunk of my life and just wanted to come back to London. London is home and I love it here.

Our combined household income is about £120K and our mortgage is about £18K per year - a lot by some standards and tiny by others.

It's not even really an active choice to live here as it wouldn't occur to me even think about living anywhere else. We have one of the best transport networks in the world, endless culture, theatre, art, food, diversity, open spaces, galleries, museums (most of which are free) and the river.

And before anyone asks, I "use" the amenities of London at least once a week.

As my OH would say, I like my home, it's where all my stuff is.

I grew up in London and occasionally return to visit relatives, I raised my children in the north. North wins hands down for me.

I think I might like living in Manchester or Edinburgh too, but it has to be a big noisy city! Moot point as DH's job is tied to London.

@limitedperiodonly @Meandfour Damn straight!

There you have it, folks. The country mice have reached the "pooh, you SMELL!" stage of their argument.

@PupInAPram can I let you in on something? I've no idea whether Manchester is better. In fact I've never been there and have no plans. It's just that you seemed so desperate for the confirmation and I'm nice like that.

Easy there Alan Partidge - Manchester's inheriting London's housing crisis too going by the rocketing housing market.

@limitedperiodonly thankee for your kindness (doffs cap)

Manchester is fantastic. I think lots of Londoners (myself included) could exist extremely happily there. It’s one of the few other places in the U.K. that’s really comparable (across a range of factors), though.

There you have it, folks. The country mice have reached the "pooh, you SMELL!" stage of their argument.

It makes about as much sense as your equally ridiculous statement earlier that people who live in London are better at "adulting."

I mean no disrespect to people who live elsewhere, but I feel like living in London makes you a different kind of adult. I think people who've had to tackle London life are just that little bit more clued-up, resilient and self-reliant

I think London is magical. I can't imagine ever moving. I'm not born and bred but I am very proud to be a Londoner and to be raising kids in London. Every time I cross the Thames and see that utter beautiful it makes my heart full. And other places are like that too. I was standing on the balcony or the National Gallery (for free) the other day and looking at Trafalgar Square in the sunshine and thinking 'i can't believe I get to live here!' There is nothing like that feeling.

Also there's so much to do all the time. And the people are diverse and interesting. Our South London community is like a friendly village.

In many ways I have rose tinted glasses but I also teach in a secondary in an area with lots of challenges but there is still a beauty in it. There is so much waiting for the students.

I think the basis of it is that there is potential everywhere. It's so open. I absolutely bloody love it.

I'm sure there are other places that have all these but I don't think anyone could change my mind that this is the best place for us.

(Also minimal brexiters is definitely a draw)

You are welcome @PupInAPram. I'm going to Sainsbury's now because it's stopped raining. I heard you have both in Manchester too.

And no, I can't say that I've noticed any particular smell in London. At least no more than any other city.

I live in London....married with one 8 year old kid. I choose to live here because of the endless things to do and its fantastic in an educational way. Loads to see on victorian times, medieval times, Tower of london, fire of london site, the plague, where King Henry lived and I take ky kid to museums galore, great links to outside of london......one day I will move back out of london and buy a house, but I have to say, when we visit family in the towns outwith london, I'm pretty bored.

As I've always said. A house is just bricks and my kid won't remember what we have but he will remember all the places I fill his day.

Was born here and me, and pretty much everyone I know doesn't have 100k household income and we get by fine.
Don't know what these people are on about. London has some of the most deprived communities in the country (as well as the most privileged). Obviously deprivation is not ideal, but my point is that different parts of the city are adapted to different needs and incomes, so you can usually find/make a life that fits your income level