I work in London and live on the outskirts. I'm in and out a fair bit. I lived in London from 18-38. I think of London as constantly morphing. It is never the same, always changing. Some of it is for the better and some for the worse. I cannot get over the current pace of high rise building going on. The skylines of Vauxhall, Nine Elms totally transformed. I do wonder who must be buying all the expensive tiny flats though. They certainly aren't affordable for average income earners.
I go to Kings Cross now and it is a really lovely place to visit. How much of a shithole did it used to be?! God it was awful. Battersea - another fantastic transformation that was a long, long, long time coming. Victoria Station and its surrounds is another place greatly improved. Paddington Basin area also hugely improved and a pleasant place to visit.
However, I think Covent Garden, Soho and the theatre area is hideous now and Oxford Street is also in need of a huge overhaul.
Agree with all of those complaining about the ever pervasive smell of weed. It is grim. Definitely the smell of weed has changed. I used to quite like the light thin slightly sweet smell that weed had in the olden days, but now it is earthy, dank and so strong. Not nice at all.
I definitely find the city more crowded these days, which it obviously is because there are more people, but I'm also more of an old git and I like crowds less. I walk miles these days and avoid the tube as much as possible. I find that so crowded too.
One of my pet peeves is having to drive everywhere at 20 mph. It is so bloody painful. I also find the bicycles, partially motorised bikes, mopeds and electric scooters weaving in and out of the traffic from all angles quite alarming too. Again, that maybe because I'm an old git now too!
Overall, fwiw I don't think London has become a parody of itself @NattyBrickMember .