to think that some people don't realise that London isn't the only city?

[Undercovasanta]

I keep reading threads about busy roads, full schools, crime etc etc. The things all these threads have in common is that they are full of people saying 'oh I know all about busy roads too as I also live in London' or 'yes I live in London as well, so I know all about the problems with schools'.

It makes me just want to shout:
'WE HAVE BUSY ROADS TOO (and shit schools) AND WE DON'T EVEN LIVE IN LONDON!'

People in London do realise that those who live elsewhere have similar issues to them don't they? Or perhaps we just all live in little villages in thatched cottages?

I believe there are also places like Manchester, Birmingham etc who also have roads with cars on them etc.

But London is EXCEEDINGLY shite for those things (and no I don't actually live in London and never have).

I would (and have) get taxi (for example) in Manchester or Birmingham (even in rush hour) - but I wouldn't in London as the traffic is awful.

I think London does have one of the biggest problems with schools (in terms of places) in teh country as well.

although I think in terms of shit schools it's a toss up between Bristol (City) and Northampton (town) as to which has the highest proportion of shite schools

What?! There are other cities?!

Huh.

I tell you what I miss about London, the Underground. Where I live now public transport is buses, they are infrequent and expensive compared to the Tube. If only all UK cities had such a marvelously integrated system of public transport.

Ha ha ha. You obviously haven't used London transport recently.

Daaahlin', England is not the only country that matters somewhat, never mind Londonium being the centre of it all. Getting rather provincial here, aren't we....bless.

Congratulations on your busy roads, crime and shit schools, non-Londoners everywhere.

I have (used public transport recently)

Had to get from central London to out near Uxbridge (having arrived in Central London on Public Transport). Was bloody marvelous.

I think of you Londoners that complain about your "bad" public trasnport don't know how lucky you are.

I would LOVE a local bus that runs past 6 or 7pm in the evening. (any of the 5 we have - if you want to go from one side of town to the other you have to use 2 buses - as they all stop in the town centre and then go back out again - no cross town buses. Oh and one of buses from one (quite large) area that's probably the furthest away from teh town centre runs once an hour

Thanks Skegness. We dream of reaching the heady heights of real London misery. One day.......

I have lived in London for 2 years and now live in a small town in the North West. People's driving is more scary (speed mainly) here than it was in my quiet little street in Maida Vale!

I definitely miss London public transports as well. Have local bus every hour here too, I never use it as it is actually quicker to walk than to wait for the bus! Went to London ten days ago and transport was still great!

I have used London Transport recently and thought it was fantastic. The tube got us round town at a speed that would be impossible in Manchester. it's not luxurious or comfortable or smart but it moves you quickly from one crowded place to another. Travelling overground is another matter - the traffic is diabolical in all major cities. it's the price you pay for the amenities.

It is the BEST city though.

No it isn't.

Well it's the one I live in, so by that definition, which is the only one I'm interested in, it CLEARLY is.

I live in Newcastle/Gateshead (as they call it now) and we have a brilliant integrated public transport system with the metro and buses. The metro goes right into the train station and the airport. And we have night buses - excellent for teenage clubbers!!

Well you're quite clearly wrong.

i thought there was just grass and trees outside the m25 - do you mean there are other places?

Try having Norwich as your nearest city. My friends in London regard it as such a joke.

Compared to other (non-UK) cities, London transport is a joke. It is MUCH more expensive (e.g., single on Paris Metro - EUR 1.10, Moscow Metro RUB 26 [about 52p], London Tube - can be up to £6), much more crowded and constantly breaking down. Let us, for example, look at this weekend's engineering works on TfL. This is actually a VERY good weekend, because more than half the tube is working. But still. Expensive and rubbish

I have just moved out of London back to my home town in the north west and must say London transport is WAY cheaper than our local transport. Far far far cheaper! And it runs 24/7, whereas ours is all finished by 11pm and is by and large used by ne'er do wells after 6.30pm and I find it quite threatening. I use the local train to get to work because it's cheaper than parking, but it's still a lot more expensive than the tube would be for the equivalent short journey. London transport is not perfect, but by and large it's pretty frequent, runs all night (ours stops at 8pm on New Year's Eve, so if you want to go out you either have to drive or pay double fare in a cab, which I think is madness) and most people use it, most of the time - I felt completely safe in central London on public transport even late at night when travelling alone. I wouldn't want to take public transport here after 8pm really. Certainly, London transport is overcrowded but it's a lot better than regional public transport in a lot of ways.

Motheroftwoboys when did they start calling the Toon that??!

Beyond London it is all a big void full of cows and/or factories.

Yes, there are other cities (apparantly), but they are, well, just cities. London is a CAPITAL city.

It's all dragons. Here they be, in fact.

I don't live in London any more. But I don't admit it, it's just too embarrassing.