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?

Again, do you not think those exist in other cities, I have access to all of that where I live. I mean jeez, my MIL lives in a market town nowhere bear London and they have a Polish supermarket with the most amazing cakes I've been told.

My relatives who live in London can afford it, have it all on their doorstep, would and do go to these independent shops but the reality is they also go to Waitrose and from the looks of it, as it is heaving so do many others on a Saturday in London just like the rest of the country, who would have thought that life could be so pedestrian in London 🙄

London hasn't always been a 'world city', the erosion of original Londoner's sense of connection to the place and being priced out of where they grew up is not something to be celebrated IMO.

Do you object to ‘outsiders’ coming to make their lives in London?

London hasn't always been a 'world city'
It has though.

@Goldenbear

I agree with your points. It’s not some sort of utopia and yes it’s unacceptable that some people who grew up here are not in a position to live here any longer. My own DC are an example of that and I could never buy the house I live in now and there are far worse situations than mine.

However in the context of the question posed in this thread ‘Why do people choose to live in London’ - people have answered the question with responses saying what they like living in London, not the downsides or negatives as that’s not what was asked.

If someone started a post asking what people dislike about living in London then yes of course you would get a completely different set of answers, some from the same people who have given the reasons why they choose to live In London on here!

I agree but as a child immigrant, I’m not sure if I would have been offered the same opportunities as I was in London.

London’s strength is in its diversity . It’s been a city for newcomers from around the world since its foundation by the Romans (who were also immigrants).

I lived in London for 30 year. I really enjoyed when I was young: the freedom, the culture, the variety of restaurants, the clubs, the diversity, the street fashion...

I studied and worked there and loved the city.

Unfortunately it lost its appeal for me when it became too expensive, stressful. crowded, lost a lot of its quirkiness and saw increased anti social behaviour.

I left it 4 years ago for a Kent seaside town and loved it here. I feel much healthier and happier.

I think now London is the type of place where you can be happy if you have a high income, don't rely on public transport and live in your own home in a safe and leafy part of town.

It really is not a city where you can have a good quality of life anymore unless you are fairly privileged.

Really?

I think you need to properly look the history of the city.

It was diverse from the start under the Roman Empire with people from across Europe and the Middle East then it was a hub for migrants for centuries (French, German, Irish, Jewish) and people from the Caribbean, South Asia, and the Commonwealth after that.

Far but no traffic

A diverse city with many ethnicities - yes! Not Global city status though- commercialisation, foreign investment with high net worth individuals pricing Londoners out, I know I grew up there in one of those diverse cities, DH and I have that background!!

Lots of 'outsiders' like my DH's family you mean 😂 lots of people born in London from diverse ethnic backgrounds have been forced out of London - like Brixton, like large parts of North London, yea, I do object to that!

Yes, many of whom were pushed out in the 00s

I think now London is the type of place where you can be happy if you… don't rely on public transport

I don't get this reasoning at all. I absolutely rely on public transport. It's one of the things that makes London so liveable (in comparison to, say, a village with a couple of buses a day and none on Sundays and/or a bus service like the one I described earlier, where a 45-min journey costs over £6 one-way.)
You can also, easily and affordably, get to e.g. Epping Forest, Box Hill and Walton on the Naze on public transport. As well as to all the much-discussed airports that may or may not be 'London airports' , which seems to matter so very much to some posters🙄

Who was pushed out in the 00s? What era does 00s refer to?

Who are these original Londoners? Romans?

My not liking supermarkets has triggered you something fierce, I see. Do you want to mention it a few more times?

Don't worry, it's just personal preference. I doubt I'm starting a trend that's going to send Sainsbury's (majority shareholder Qatar Holdings LLC) to the poorhouse (I assume those were a regular feature of London life, back when London was your oyster?). But I like my local shops/high street and want them to flourish, and dislike supermarkets, so I'll just keep on living the way I want and can afford, and your friends and relatives on the north circular can live the way they want and can afford.

So, basically, you're just full of sour grapes and want to push back the small amount of economic prosperity in the country? I mean, I have news for you. A lot of people in a lot of places can't afford to live where they were born. New York, Cornwall, etc.

Do I think successive governments have failed on social and affordable housing? Yes. Do I think successive government have been way too soft on people parking their money in empty properties? Yes. And I don't like the tax loopholes that allow people to perch here and get out of paying. But at the same time, push newcomers out of London and this country will be so far down the shitter before you can blink it will never come out.

And those people from diverse ethnic backgrounds were once newcomers themselves. But they're the ok newcomers? What about where you live now? You're a newcomer or 'outsider' there, if you're from London. Aren't you pushing up house prices/destroying connections by being there?

Whats an 'original' londoner

I think it has! London always had people coming to trade or make their living from all over the world going back centuries.

More than 10 million public transport journeys are made in london daily. That sounds like a pretty robust system and that doesnt include the numerous bike hire schemes

It's not me saying it hasn't!

It’s quite a wonderful place, with amazing people.

I love the fact that people here come from all over the world, or if they don’t often their very near ancestors have. It’s almost like travelling the world without the expense and time out of work.

There’s so much going on here too - theatres, museums, concerts, everything you could want. And there’s a beauty about it.

It’s very easy to drive or get the train out to the countryside when you want that balance - easier than doing the reverse I think.

The only time I really haven’t liked it is during the lockdowns.

Oh I know I’m agreeing with you but you were the last commenter

Oh, I see! Sorry.

Yes you made that point clearly, whilst not answering my question.

I am wondering if you are the poster that once said that people who are not born here can’t call themselves Londoners?