To think I’ve missed out on an exciting life by never living in London?

[uuuuup]

Just that really. I can’t get it out of my head. I’ve lived in a large city and loved it and it makes me wonder how much I would have loved London. I’m all settled now with a child elsewhere. I feel I’ve missed out on so much?

Tell him there is a thing called trains.
Kings Cross to Cambridge Is a good day out.
I never drive anywhere unless is local towns lol

How do you know it’s the only place worth being if you’ve never lived anywhere else?

Manchester is better, imo. Still got all the theatres, museums etc but is much more compact and easier to get round. I used to work at the uni and had Manchester museum and the art gallery on my doorstep. Went to more living in Manchester as it often we’d just pop in rather than having to plan a big day out to get to somewhere in central London.

kids sports I can get them pretty much anywhere in 15 mins. London might only be 3 miles but it often took me 45 mins in traffic. Yes there was public transport but often was two tubes and a long walk, not great for young children or even teens when practice finished at 8 or 9 pm.

Leeds, Newcastle, Birmingham, same.

london is just too big and unwieldy for me.

I always fancied the idea of moving to London. There's just an energy about big cities. I bagged an interview at Yahoo without discussing with my girlfriend first. I told her I was planning on it, she didn't like the idea, so I didn't go.

15 years later we're pretty well settled with DS so I don't have have any regrets. I have a pal in the same line of work who's worked in London, New York and now Amsterdam who I'll admit I'm envious of, but I wouldn't swap places.

I do love it, I've lived in lots of places but always come back to London and now don't think I'd leave again if I had a choice.

I have relatives in London. They refuse point blank to come and visit.

anywhere outside the m25 is “too far”. They even expect my elderly aunt to get the train down to them, they’ve never once been to her.

some of these people who think London is the centre of the universe are the ones missing out, imo. The UK has so much more to offer than one city.

If you love city living, you would probably love London. It has so much to do if you like things like museums and theatre, exhibitions, street markets, old buildings, etc. But you do need to be in a position to take advantage. There's lots that's free if you can afford the transportation costs (money and time) - which can be difficult given the price of housing. And even more that will cost you but is hard to find elsewhere.

I've lived in several big cities and loved this aspect of all of them. London and New York stand out above the others for provision, but you can have an exciting life in other places and I don't think it's reasonable to think of yourself as having missed out.

Also, you may have children now and feel like a move is unachievable, but you can always move there when they've left home. My PiL did this and they love it.

We are not all like your relatives.

We can love living in London without thinking it is the centre of the universe.

And many of us go all over the country to visit people and love those areas too,

I've been to Greenwich, Tower of London and a stroll around west end for a meal out in carnaby street over the past 2 weeks as well as the dull stuff.
It's not always like that but definitely socialise in London or take the kids there fairly regularly.

Trust me you're not missing anything.

Maybe go for a week or two and wander around and find hidden London ! I used to work there , I did a year and my DH still goes down each week with his work so we go regularly but I love getting back to the countryside! A year was enough for me . I love visiting for a weekend now but smile on my way out as I need green and trees!

This 👆

London is great to visit but everyone I know who lived there has moved away from it.

It may be fun, but tiny houses/flats and crowded public transport got boring/tedious and tainted the fun.

My cockney father was fortunate enough to get a university education and leave the smog filled city behind only for me to choose to go to university in London. I loved it but I never fully relaxed. I remember going to visit my parents' house and sleeping so so deeply without a London A road going past my window. Lots of the things I loved about it I could have in any big city, and other things I loved were about being child-free rather than location. If the Maths don't work to live there permanently tly could you look to spend some time there? If you work for a big organisation could you apply for a secondment? Join the civil service then get a stint in Border Force one summer? There must be a way, but it won't be as easy as when you were young child free and single!

@foghead yes I do sometimes do "London" stuff.
The other week I did mooch around Greenwich and another day walked along the river near London bridge.
I sometimes go to the book stalls on the Embankment.
Oh and I went to Battersea Power Station.
But probably 80% of my "London" life is going to a Tesco that's the same as any Tesco anywhere 😂

It's simply the best city in the world.

I moved to London at 19yrs old and still here 30yrs later. I love it, I've raised 2 children here and have had a great life.

DH and I (he was born here) have discussed leaving a couple of times but never got further than talking about it. About 5yrs ago we moved out to zone 2, but that's as far as we got.

My bff moved to a northern city a few years back and I don't find it particularly any cheaper, or less busy when I visit her.

I’ve lived all over the UK and abroad and London is my favourite city by far. Lived there for 12 years and loved it. If you love cities, yes you’d love living there

@Needmorelego true. The main annoying thing is the house prices. I guess this is why I'm happy to go out - to get out of a small house.
I'd probably be happier to stay in more in a nice spacious house. But we're all settled with work, schools and socially so it's not likely we'd move.

I lived in London until I was 52. My children grew up there. When I first moved away I missed it terribly. it felt so much easier to get around - public transport, things to do, used to love doing all the touristy type stuff

Ive been away 13 years now in a very different place
I think there’s a definite buzz about London
Ive no idea what it is like now tho

I kind of thought it would be good to live there when I was considering what to do after university, I ended up with all my friends living in London and me living in Hampshire. Spent quite a bit of time travelling to see them at weekends and remember some great nights out etc. all in all I don't think I missed out on much.

I live in the centre of a European city now, and to be honest I don't really do that much culture wise, but then I am in my 40s. I think where ever you live, you have make the effort to do things. Living in the centre of a large city doesn't mean you will be in an a top nightclub every Saturday night and in an Art gallery every Sunday afternoon.

I lived in a large northern city for years, always fancied the bright lights of London so off I went.
i came home 9mths later.
It’s not all it’s cracked up to be.

I did it for 9 months. I didn’t love it, but I did have some fun and now when I go I know my way around.

But quite honestly, I’m so glad I don’t live there any more.

I lived in Pimlico for 4years,couldn’t wait to leave.I only visit twice a year now,to meet up with flatmates from those days,I was there Tuesday,London sucks the life out of you,leaving is always a joy.

I hated living in London (I was in Kentish Town too so a decent central area). It's just toooooo big! There may be stuff going on all the time but having to trek for an hour on the tube meant that I barely bothered. Bristol is far far more fun, I live dead central and everything is walking distance or a short bus ride or Uber. In London I barely went out, too expensive and stressful! Here in Bristol I'm out with friends at gigs, comedy shows, exhibitions etc pretty much every weekend.

I would NEVER move back to London!

Well if you feel you have missed out on so much OP, so have millions of other people! London is not the centre of the universe. The UK offers a mass of beautiful towns and cites, which are much more affordable; rich in culture, nature and diversity.