Why is everyone hating on London

[greenwichvillage]

Recently a lot posts I read on social media is about how much people hate London. Its has been called all sorts of names - cesspit, dirty, crime ridden and the foreigners have taken over. They don't recognise London anymore and they are glad they have moved to whiter areas with cheaper housing.

For context, I have lived here all my life, lived in North West London and now live in Southwest London. I admit there are parts of London that have deteriorated, equally there part parts of London that are really nice. Yes it is expensive to live in and properties are expensive but that does not make it a cesspit.

I love living where I am and I love all that London has to offer. I'm not English but I am British and I'm not white and I feel really safe here in London. Yes there are problems with crime, but there is crime everywhere.

I have been to other areas in the UK and really none of it appeals to me, I have been to beautiful country side and small towns and cities and tbh I would get bored after two days there. But I would never go as far as insulting it which people seem to do quite a lot with London.

I think Farage/ Reform and Tommy have a lot to answer for.

I agree

I love london
only because you don’t get restaurants like you do in other parts of the country

no Harrods/ selfridges / variety of places

the jazz bands at the mayfair restaurants are incredible

Bar Hopping in Mayfair

Borough Market

Choice of food

there is no place like it

ULEZ is great. Who doesn't want cleaner air?

Reform don’t want ULEZ.

Or any other traffic calming or anti-pollution measures.

People who want to drive everywhere

I thought of this thread today. Got on the bus (in north london) with a heavy bag of shopping, young guy, probably about 18. Jumped up out of his seat and said to me "have a seat" with a beaming smile! Maybe he just wanted me sitting down before he stabbed me 😂

Let them.
We’ll keep it for ourselves OP 💛

Born and bred here, now raising my teenaged kids here OP. I have met so many polite teenagers, one of them shook my hand and called me m’ame recently.

I love bringing my kids up here in this big melting pot. They have friends from all over the world and every teenager that has entered my home, has been polite and sweet and respectful.

My youngest plays football in the park with Brazilian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Somali and Turkish kids. Then they come round for tea and are super polite and respectful kids.

Best city in the world ⭐️⭐️⭐️

💛 ULEZ
Miss EU 🇪🇺
💛 Sadiq

Farage, Reform & Tommy ought to be locked up!

Mental.

I've never felt unsafe in London as far as I can remember. I don't live there and I'm always pleased to leave, but that's more because I like to go home to a more peaceful environment and I'm not a fan of cities for more than a day. I do enjoy visiting it though (and I work there twice a week) and really don't understand the 'dirty cesspit' comments. In fact, I was talking to a friend about it recently who was visiting from the States. She said she couldn't believe how clean it was compared to New York, and even commented on how people are far friendlier. I know she'll have been visiting the tourist spots, which may make a difference. The biggest issue for her is that over here you can be pretty confident that the person you meet isn't carrying a gun.

I grew up in South London and left fully at 20. I occasionally visit but can't say I miss living there with the exception of choice of ingredients easily from all around the world.

I don't think it's changed that significantly since the early 2000s but living elsewhere in the country and now rural Scotland makes me realise the behaviours I learnt growing up (especially around vigilance, walking around as a female, or active avoidance on buses or transport) are not the norm everywhere.
We occasionally take our children to the museums but wouldn't choose to stay in London as I never fully relax.

Flip side I still have friends who find where I live to be too quiet and boring!

Incorrect: London is aka “The Smoke”, not the smog and absolutely not “The Big Smoke” 🤣

The Museum of London disagrees with you

https://www.londonmuseum.org.uk/collections/london-stories/why-is-london-called-the-big-smoke/

Haha that’s fair enough you think that but it’s a saying me and a few people use! A bit like idiolect :)

I had no clue about this I thought there must be a reason I said it!