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?

What is this chaos of which you speak? I haven’t come across it.

My London raised kids and their friends aren’t chained up inside crime-ridden workhouses with no glimpse of grass.

By 3 mine could identify the difference between a moorhen, coot and mallard. By 8 could lay and light a campfire and sharpen sticks for toasting. By 10 could read a map and had been up Helvellyn. By 12 had oh… it goes on. Family outings, scouts…

Just as rural kids get taken on trips to cities for other stuff.

Public transport and walking to school etc builds resilience and independence that was lacking in my rural / coastal nieces and nephews who got ferried everywhere.

There is richness and inspiration in the whole spectrum of living if we know how to embrace it

There not assuming they have no facilities, they're just well aware they don't have anything like the same range or quality.

I love London! I was there for 15 years. I loved the area we lived in, the kids schools, the parks in our area, our community, everything. I have all of my friends there and unlimited places to go out! I recently had to move overseas for my husband’s work and I cannot wait to go back! Yes it’s bloody expensive but it feels like home!

This sounds lovely! Can I ask what area in London you are?

Are you kidding? I'd move back in a flash if it was possible. I might retire there tbh.

Most jobs are clustered in and around London so why even question this when it’s obvious. If you want to work in government, for example, good luck getting a job up north. Things are shifting in some areas I.e the media is increasing up north like Salford but yeah…

It’s fairly obvious why someone would choose to live there really. Way better job prospects, a lot more to actually see and do, it’s convenient in the sense they have a more than functioning PT system with great links across the country, diverse number of people to meet and (not) greet, ULEZ has hugely cleaned up the air etc etc.

My dad lives there so I spent a lot of my childhood down there and I like it. I always feel more free.

The school my son goes to which is specialist is amazing.

The incredible range of cafes/shops from every country you can think of.

That it’s totally normal here to be in an interracial relationship and no one looks twice (this isn’t the case elsewhere).

The most wonderful concerts and exhibitions. This week alone I am doing three things that would not exist outside of London.

I do a lot of yoga and we attract world famous teachers for workshops which I love to attend.

lots of reasons to love London. Been here 18 years now.

Interracial friendships too are more common I think.

I’d love to live in London but only if I could afford to live in a nice area in zone 1 or 2, which is unlikely to happen!

I mean, I totally get why people love it - its a wonderful city and I always love visiting (its fairly near me).

That said, I certainly wouldnt want to live there due to the crowds and pollution.

I live by the beach and I cant imagine anywhere I'd rather be than near the sea so we are all different.

I grew up in a city (not as big as London though) and I absolutely love it. I moved here from a small leafy town, from a large 4 bed house to a tiny flat.

Why I love living here: culture at your fingertips - amazing history, museums, galleries, so much to do and you dont need to drive anywhere. Something interesting is happening every day. So many different areas, parks, restaurants, cafes. Shops! So many people, from everywhere, and no one is judging you for being foreign. Native Londoners are also lovely. I love the noise, the constant movement, the action. Its like you are in a centre of life.

I can also tell you why I hated my small town/ village life: nothing to do unless you have to drive somewhere, sometimes miles away. Everybody knows everybody and knows everyone's business. A lot of people are incredibly racist and small minded. Its deadly quiet in the evenings, nothing is happening apart from people getting pissed in the town centre. I used to cry going home from London on Friday evening.

I think the "London is an urban spawl people" only see central London for work or visits. I live in Zone 3, I am currenly sitting on my balcony watching a couple of birds flying in and out of a hedgerow. We literally have ancient woodland behind our flats. We have volunteer groups, an annual fete and community litter picks just like any other community.

My son also goes to an amazng special school ,hes in yearc11 and has done since reception.and we can also get food frim practicslly any culture you can imagine in the north west
All these things people think are uniqe to london are not

This reminds me a bit of the threads where people discuss why they like being single or not having kids, & couples & parents will ALWAYS come on & say ‘but that’s not a good reason because I / we can do that too.’ As if they’d only really be satisfied if we either kept quiet or talked about how sad we were not to be like them.

And it’s just not the point. When people say what they love about London it doesn’t mean other places don’t have good things too or that they’re bad to live in. We’re just talking about why we love our home city.

My Friend lives there because they are on the Telly, and most of thier work is there. They just bought Zone 1, and it was £750,000 for a flat - which was eye watering for me. It’s not my cup of tea, I find the city busy & chaotic .. but it’s perfect for them. They have lots of friends down there, mostly in the arts - how some of them manage the expense of beyond me. They are always picking up work, and are very happy there. Horses for courses

I chose to move to London 25 years ago and I’m not tired of it yet! Still the best decision I ever made.

if it’s not for you then that’s ok to!!!

Hampstead Heath is pretty remarkable. Also Hackney/Walthamstow Marshes, Wanstead Flats, Ham House and Gardens, Epping Forest…
IME the Peak District and the Lake District are often marred by lines and lines of cars and massive car parks. I find it such a pity that so many of our beautiful spaces are only comfortably available if you're in a car.
And personally I also love the smaller green spaces in the city. I find it delightful and a little miraculous that you can duck off a busy road and find yourself in Regent's Park, or Highgate Woods, or the Kyoto Garden in Holland Park. Something to do with the contrast, I suppose.

I don't intend to leave London later in life either, for basically all the reasons you give.
The idea of retiring, like so many people seem to, somewhere that you MUST have a car to go and get a pint of milk, you can't walk down the road and see people, it'd be god knows how long before an ambulance got to you...
I want to live somewhere where the staff in my regular cafes/corner shop would notice if I didn't come in for a couple of days and come to check on me!

I can't see where anyone says the whole rest of the country doesn't have theatres or cinemas or restaurants?
People are saying very clearly that it's the quantity, variety and ease of getting to these things (and in some cases the free access) that they like.

Great. But are you arguing with me for having the temerity to talk about going out to eat when people on UC with no money exist, or arguing with me on grounds that there are also restaurants, cocktail bars and health centres outside London?
You seem determined to take issue with anyone who says they like London and gives reasons why.

Why does the exact detail of airport logistics matter so much to you?
Surely it's clear to you that the obvious advantage, and the other poster's point, is that with London airports (and yes I am including those other than City ) are easily accessible by public transport?

Did you miss the phrase 'count as'?

Why is this so important to you?
I flew from Southend recently and, in terms of convenience and time taken, the experience was just the same as going to Heathrow. The only – tiny – difference was that I had to get a mainline train part of the way. I'm sure you can see that that's what the other poster is saying?

Peoole are giving reasons sbout why they love living in London that are not Unique to London
Im sure London is a fabulous place for some
But manyvof the reasons given apply to other areas of the UK too.