“Off to my mum’s in the country” = every london family except us?!

[sellotape12]

Feels like every person we know in our neighbourhood in South London (and work) has departed for a huge family get-together in big country houses…except us! Is this a London bubble thing? Our street is deserted of cars and all our pals from nursery left yesterday to rural Marlborough/ Norfolk/ Cornish villages / Berkamstead. I always find it really fascinating to see their Instagram stories of smoked salmon and champagne or long walks in the countryside. I just didn’t grow up like that!

OP- this thread is not going to go well.

Seriously?! Hilarious!!

me and all my friends in west London are still here. Family from the north visit us. Parents live in small houses-too small to host. We’ll have a lovely 3 days.

you can easily do smoked salmon and country walks if you want to OP :) :)

Enjoy the quiet. We used to visit London between Xmas and New year and loved the quieter museums and restaurants.

There's probably a higher percentage of people living in London who grew up elsewhere than generally. So, lots of London based folk would leave to visit their families in home towns/cities over Christmas.
Big country houses? I doubt that's necessarily common - unless you live in a very affluent part of London.

That’s what my sibling who lives in south London is doing. Although it’s a house in the countryside rather than a country house.

Nope, very definitely still here in our bit of South London. I don't know anyone who has upped sticks for a rural get together.

My parents are both from London and our holiday house was abroad (in a rubbish place for Christmas) all 4 of my grandparents are from and lived in London so we had nowhere to escape to in winter until one of my brothers bought a country house. Tbf we went skiing quite a few times at Christmas so we did get away.

Yes! It's great isn't it? I love having London to myself at Christmas.
I reckon 1/4 of London fucks off to visit family elsewhere at Xmas

It's really true. The suburbs hollow out with people off to family. Quite a lot visit family abroad. Especially when the children are younger (under 2s fly for free).

This year seems slightly less than usual. I think the cost of living is biting.

Don't be fooled into thinking central London is quiet though! It's rammed with tourists.

To be fair London houses are awful for Christmas gatherings - I'd imagine most people's family's "country houses" are probably just a normal sized house with more room to have more than 2 people in the kitchen at once..

you and I have the same postcode, so glad to see we’re not the only one sticking it out in London!

Interesting. South London/NE Surrey here. DS can’t get a holiday playdate for love nor money because his friends are either abroad, in Cornwall or having prolonged stays with family living elsewhere. Private school, although we are definitely at the ‘ordinary’ end if that makes any difference.

I always wished I didn’t have to leave London at Christmas its no longer a worry as highly unlikely to have snow these days so travelling at Christmas is somewhat easier.

Pretty sure my family in Wandsworth are staying put. My aunt still lives in the townhouse she bought in the 70s for a pittance.

SE London here and about 80% of our friends are still in town. Our road seems as busy as ever!

True from my experience too! I have friends in SW London where lots of their friends and they have second homes in the country or quiet and beautiful seaside resorts. There's a small town on the Isle of Wight where lots of SW London families have second homes and congregate for exactly what you're describing in the winter and they all go sailing in the summer.

we live in london and have done all our lives so do all our family (excerpt one great Aunt who lives in Kent) all our families live in London - nowhere to escape to!

It's not a London thing OP it's a rich person thing. Nothing wrong with it but don't feel bad that this isn't your life, yours is different but not necessarily worse. There's more to life than money.

Smoked salmon isn't mega expensive anyway, it's within ordinary people's reach for an occasional treat. Save up and get yourself a bottle of champagne next year if you want. You can go for a walk too, that's free. Big families are nice so long as there's no fallings out or toxic personalities causing havoc. Nothing wrong with small families though. You can still have a cozy Christmas even if you're alone. Life doesn't have to be one long party, that would be so draining, quiet moments are fine too. Sort out a night out for new year if you want.

@recyclingisaPITA smoked salmon and Champagne are cheap as chips in Aldi/Lidl ( before the 8p/10p/15p for a bag of spuds festive supermarket showdown ) if that's your thing. Even the Co-op were flogging Champagne at £15 a bottle today !

Why?!

BUT outside M25 is scary - didn't you know?

I would love to be staying in London. However the duty rota means I will be heading north, albeit to a much bigger house than mine. I am taking smoked salmon though, as a treat for my mum.

I know what you mean our neighbours are all away and we're off to my parents' house in Sussex tomorrow. We live in a teeny house in London so can't really host. Id love to have my siblings all over but we don't fit!