Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Living overseas

Whether you're considering emigrating or an expat abroad, you'll find likeminds on this forum.

Original poster

I Hate London

338 replies

JamSandwiches45 · 02/07/2018 05:48

We've been here as a family for three years now. We moved from Auckland, New Zealand. I can't be the only expat that spends every day regretting the decision?!

Apart from the shopping and the proximity to Europe/US for holidays, I can't think of one thing that's better here than we had at home. The place is a filthy ghetto! The general attitude/reluctance for people to actually put in a hard days work is astounding. I won't even mention the schools, are DH is a supply teacher and the stories I hear are beyond me.. I fear for his safety daily.

I miss my house on the beach! Time to pack it in and go home I think.

OP posts:
EssentialHummus · 02/07/2018 07:47

I think that if where you live makes you that unhappy, you should make plans to leave. And it sounds like your DH’s job is transferable. But please (and I don’t mean this in a sarcastic way) be very clear about what is an objective issue with the place, and what is more to do with your own perceptions/prejudices/fears about the place. Otherwise you run the risk of being equally unhappy in the next place, and what’s the point of that?

I live in London. I know most of my neighbours; we greet one another on the street and help with DIY/lending things/street parties etc. I feel like I’m part of a community despite being a different age and nationality to others. I’m elated that my daughter is growing up here (I grew up in Johannesburg). I feel safe on the street, despite living in an area of London that others sometimes question the safety of. So I battle to recognise your description of the city.

moira123io · 02/07/2018 07:48

@missyB1 Each to their own, but some like me our very proud of our country. If you don't like OP talking about London in a negative way, why sink to their level? Educational standards are not 'low' in NZ, as a teacher I found the NZ system far more progressive and accommodating to those with SN's and differing learning styles. Kids are far happier at school there (and so was I).

Candyflip · 02/07/2018 07:49

itchytights did you move to Auckland when you left London? Because the OP is suggesting that this is the best place on earth. Those of us who have been to/lived there are disagreeing. London is not for everyone, some people need somewhere a bit calmer and duller. But why come onto a UK based site and say London is a ghetto?

Grandmaswagsbag · 02/07/2018 07:49

I don’t blame you. I think it’s largely a shit hole. You could move out to the countryside though and be quite close to London. Most of the U.K. is absolutely beautiful.

surferjet · 02/07/2018 07:53

some people need somewhere a bit calmer and duller

Not wanting to live in a crime infested shithole doesn’t mean you’re weak or dull? Hmm

Original poster
JamSandwiches45 · 02/07/2018 07:53

@Candyflip Never said Auckland was the 'best place on earth'... but keep putting words in my mouth. It's called a forum, Candy, a place for opinions, if you don't like it leave.

OP posts:
Original poster
JamSandwiches45 · 02/07/2018 07:54

@Grandmaswagsbag I don't disagree, I've been out to Wales and the train journey alone was spectacular. Just not an option with DH's job and the kids in school right now.

OP posts:
BillywilliamV · 02/07/2018 07:54

Wondered what OP was looking to schieve by posting this...?

Original poster
JamSandwiches45 · 02/07/2018 07:56

@BillywilliamV having a rant and a vent, looking for other expats in a similar boat, it's a forum, what else are they for?

OP posts:
tempester28 · 02/07/2018 07:59

You have a house on the beach and you moved to London? you must be bonkers

Tooohot · 02/07/2018 07:59

Fair enough you don’t like a place but I think you are exaggerating when you say Staffordshire is ‘horrific.’

expatmigrant · 02/07/2018 08:01

Well that's funny. I love London and have lived all over the world.
Been to Australia a few times on my travels and all I can think about is how overrated it is and could never quite fathom why people like it so much.
Best thing you can do is get back there asap and leave London to those of us who love it.

buggedby · 02/07/2018 08:02

I get it op. I had similar feelings when living in Melbourne. Everyone said how great it was but I was just hugely home sick and unhappy. My feelings were really no reflection of the place.

Going from a huge city (london) to a small one was hard. it wasn't similar in the slightest. I found the people unfriendly, place was deserted and you could walk around the centre in about an hour. Limited cultural and diversity - I just didn't get it at all.

I moved to Sydney in the end and was much happier!

The key is know your audience. Moaning to people about how crap their country is will just make you feel more isolated. The vast majority will get defensive.

London is great but it's definitely not for everyone. Loads of places to live in the UK, visit a few and move. Or go home if you miss it. No shame in that at all.

newroundhere · 02/07/2018 08:03

It's called a forum, Candy, a place for opinions, if you don't like it leave.

Biscuit

You realise the irony, right?

Clearly only your opinion is the only one that is permissable on this forum... Confused

Original poster
JamSandwiches45 · 02/07/2018 08:03

@expatmigrant Except I'm not from Australia.

OP posts:
Jb291 · 02/07/2018 08:05

OP I'm sorry that you're unhappy living in London. One good thing about it is the proximity to several international airports. Might I suggest that if you hate London that much and feel you can't settle anywhere else in the UK happily then it might be a good idea for you to take yourself and your family and fly back to New Zealand.

Original poster
JamSandwiches45 · 02/07/2018 08:07

@newroundhere When it comes to speaking about the racism and ignorance I experience, yup, got it right there!

OP posts:
Needmoresleep · 02/07/2018 08:07

I am a Londoner and really love the city. But have noted how many expat Americans, Antipodeans and Europeans, especially Scandinavians, regualarly and loudly, moan about Britain and the British. Often boardering on plain racism. Yet some have been here for decades.

Still more moans when non-dom tax came in. Obviously Britain was supposed to be so grateful they were here that they had no need to contribute towards the cost of our public services.

You don''t like London. Don't stay. But accept that others do. And indeed not all of us would love New Zealand.

PinguForPresident · 02/07/2018 08:07

I'm sorry you're too small-minded to enjoy London, OP, or to get out and find somewhere more suited to your temperament. there are many jobs that are indeed London or Birmingham based. Teaching is not one of them.

Staffordshire is one of the largest counties in Britain. To dismiss it in it's entirety as "horrific" is ridiculous. Again, perhaps you chose the wrong part of it. If you husband was commuting to Birmingham, perhaps rural Shropshire would have suited you better. I commuted from a village there to Birmingham for years, which gave me the best of both worlds.

Perhaps you would be more at home on a forum for other disgruntled ex-pats.

expatmigrant · 02/07/2018 08:08

Oooops my bad. Sorry! Back peddling now. Too early for me. Been to NZ too and have only the fondest memories.
I love NZ and it's people and my BF lives in Christchurch.
In this case I can see where your coming from. If you don't like busy smelly cities like I do, then London is maybe not the place for you.

TheClitterati · 02/07/2018 08:08

Pakeha from Ak here. Lived in London 24 years. Still remember how incredibly difficult it was at first.

I did fall in love with London, and then out of Love due to pollution, crime, housing etc. All the big city ills.

Can you move home OP? If not then can your H find teaching work elsewhere that is still close to PIL but somewhere more easygoing? Kent coast is lovely. Or does geographic location to pil dictate where you live?

froggers1 · 02/07/2018 08:10

Ok. My two pennies. I'm married to a kiwi and lived in Auckland for four years. I was bored to tears there but I couldn't live in Londonm I have done and didn't enjoy it. I love visiting for the 're, things to do but not live there. So, we live about an hour away in a large village. Everyone's happy including my DH. There are calmer, more rural places in the UK but if you are homesick go back..

Magicpaintbrush · 02/07/2018 08:11

You can't possibly write off the whole of the UK when you've only experienced London and Staffordshire!!! What about Cornwall, Dorset, Cumbria etc all so beautiful and nothing whatsoever like London or Staffordshire. I don't much like London either but most of the rest of the UK is amazing. If you are after beaches etc then why on earth you settled in a city us beyond me. You could have settled somewhere like West Sussex and still been able to commute to london easily enough.

LegoBitcho · 02/07/2018 08:11

expat oh do fuck off with your shit stirring. Hmm

Australia is as overrated as London. Back peddle all you like.

corlan · 02/07/2018 08:13

Here's a little story for you OP:-

A traveler came upon an old farmer hoeing in his field beside the road. Eager to rest his feet, the wanderer hailed the countryman, who seemed happy enough to straighten his back and talk for a moment.
"What sort of people live in the next town?" asked the stranger.

"What were the people like where you've come from?" replied the farmer, answering the question with another question.

"They were a bad lot. Troublemakers all, and lazy too. The most selfish people in the world, and not a one of them to be trusted. I'm happy to be leaving the scoundrels."

"Is that so?" replied the old farmer. "Well, I'm afraid that you'll find the same sort in the next town.

Disappointed, the traveler trudged on his way, and the farmer returned to his work.

Some time later another stranger, coming from the same direction, hailed the farmer, and they stopped to talk. "What sort of people live in the next town?" he asked.

"What were the people like where you've come from?" replied the farmer once again.

"They were the best people in the world. Hard working, honest, and friendly. I'm sorry to be leaving them."

"Fear not," said the farmer. "You'll find the same sort in the next town."