To wonder why people choose to live in London?

[Cantbloodyrememberthenameonthread]

I always wonder. And reading a recent thread prompted me to ask the question. Why do people do it by choice? People complain about the house prices (rightly), ulez, nursery fees, cost of everything being more expensive, commutes, tubes etc.

if you’re not absolutely tied to London for work or health or I guess family. Why do you choose to live there when there are so many cheaper easier lifestyle options in the country?

Best city in the world!

I won’t be popular for this but I’m in social housing so that’s covered 🤷‍♀️ and I don’t drive I use the bus to go everywhere and the hopper fare makes that nice and cheap.

Freedom.

The vast majority are tied due to work and family though…

The small remainder enjoy city life, aren’t bothered or affected by the drawbacks you list.

Because I love it. I've lived here my whole adult life (over 40 years). My children were born here, and still live here.

Native Londoner here
It’s my home. My friends and family are here.
I love The breadth of culture- Museums…Parks…Music…Food… Sport… etc
There are sooo many things for our kids to do and experience.
I think it’s important to bring my kids up to be tolerant of others - going to a huge London comprehensive school with kids from all over the world helps ensure they’re not growing up to be narrow minded bigots.
My neighborhood is super friendly. And it’s basically the best city!
💖London

Because it’s a fabulous city!

It's not for me but I guess some people like city life? I love to visit but like to leave again.

Freedom of what?

those listing museums parks etc, there are literally museums and parks up and down the country that don’t come with the chaos of London. So is it just from a love for the city?

I am here because my family, friends and career are here.

London is also an amazing place to live - places to visit, the parks, the job opportunities, culture, dining etc.

The complaint on nursery fees is usually that you’re excluded from the free hours etc for your earnings being too high… while that income affords a fairly ordinary looking life here as the cost of living is higher. That makes it feel particularly unjust.

Not everyone will settle there. I was offered a relocation with work - I knew I wouldn't be able to buy, but I was single and rented, so I decided to try it for a year. I stayed eight. The thing I loved about it was that there was always always always something to do or see, and it was usually free. There were loads of shows rather than waiting for a production to tour, and I could fly direct to places where I'd have to change. I never tired of walking around and exploring - buildings, churches, museums, galleries, restaurants, parks.

I moved back home up north but I plan to rent for a year when I retire in just over a decade - I'm not done with London yet.

It’s a great city. Not in the world but it’s certainly great.

London is fantastic. So much to see and do, lots of it for free. Best theatre scene in the country. Great transport for getting around. Fantastic restaurants and cuisines from all over the world. Lots of parks and open spaces. Beautiful architecture. There is energy and bustle and joy. There is a freedom in the anonymity you can only get in a big city. All of those things far outweigh the negatives of living here.

Because London has everything! If my DH hadn't wanted to move out or if I'd stayed single I would probably still be there. Life is convenient in London. You don't need a car. It has fabulous entertainment, food, shopping, nightlife, parks. The public transport is amazing. There are masses of jobs so if you lose one you get another. You've got mainline trains and airports. Yes, there are a few things that aren't great, but it's still the best city in the world.

In the industry I work in the additional salary you can earn in London is much higher than the additional living costs compared to most of the rest of the country. And once you've paid the mortgage off, you own that expensive SE house.

For me the (relatively) lower salary outside London came with the advantage (to me) of not having to live in London or the SE.

That was my choice, that I am lucky to have been able to make, but many people love living in London (or maybe, shock and horror, grew up there). For other people it's a question of where the jobs are in their chosen field irrespective of whether they actually like London.

Because they want to and have convinced themselves its worth it.

Grew up there. Happier raising my children elsewhere. Fortunate to have jobs which arent tied to the overpriced, oxygen lacking, full of idiots, metropolis.

I do miss the bus network and access to theatres.

Not really - we live in a small city with no museums or art galleries. There is a nice park though.

Because ‘if’ you can afford a decent area or are lucky enough to have reasonable social housing or a part buy there is an awful lot to do to vary up life for little money. If like me you are 64 then transport is free. If you don’t need nurseries then utilities are same as anywhere else. You’ve got airports on your doorstep that you can get to by public transport and if of working age like my son way more job opportunities ( even now) I get that it might not suit people with young families needing space and gardens unless in a good position but for lots of other people it has lots of services on tap - hospitals you can get to with A&Es including some real top end specialist ones. Good bars and restaurants we went out for a lovely meal (whilst visiting our son) at the gastro pub in Hampstead and it was better value than where we live !

It's been a while since a London-bashing thread. Jealousy never changes.

You can’t seriously be suggesting that all museums are the same? That going to a smaller local museum is basically the same as going to the British Museum, for example?

I love visiting London but would hate to live there. I live in a smaller much more manageable city that has everything I need culturally and has easy access to the countryside, mountains and the sea.

I had to move from London back to the one horse town in the west of Ireland I grew up in when I was 26 to care for my father. I’m nearly 50 now and am so sad when I think of the life I could have had.

Many industries/jobs are only really in London (with a very few opportunities elsewhere).

I love it! We live in West London. It is lively, there is always something to do in our area and borough (especially for children and younger teens). We are fortunate to be in an area with fantastic state schools. I feel safe here although I still always take the usual big city precautions.

Our area is very diverse with lots of international families as it's often used as a residential hub for people working in London on a secondment. I appreciate this hugely as someone from a mixed background who is in a mixed marriage. I don't feel like my family sticks out. My children have friends from all over the UK and the world. Our life is so much fuller for knowing these friends and neighbours 💓

There is lots of greenery here, at times I forget we are in the capital especially in the Summer once everything has bloomed. We have a lower crime rate which helps. I recognise that for many people life in London is the complete opposite experience so I feel very blessed and always tell our children not to take it for granted. If you are in a part of London where crime is rife and everything looks dilapidated then of course that will affect your mental health and how safe you feel, even at home.

Yes it is expensive and house prices are stupid, if we moved away we could get double the sized house for half the price we paid but we are foolishly in love with it here 🤣 Maybe once all our kids have grown up we will move away. I don't have a problem with ULEZ. I am all for cleaner air for our children!

I don’t need constant access to museums like the British Museum. Once or twice a year is enough.