To fall out of love with London

[LoveToGiveAdvice]

I have moved out a few years ago, originally I thought it will be temporary and I would want to move back. But now, I can't see the appeal of London at all. I mean yes, there are museums, theatres, restaurants but it is not like I have time /money to go there every week.
Other observation is that salaries are not much different outside of London when you account for housing costs.

Im in my 30s, I only lived in London for a year in my 20s. Whenever I go, I can so clearly imagine what a wonderful life it must be to be rooted there, provided you have a solid income and housing

I left London at the age of 54 six years ago having lived there all my life.

I really miss it even though I do like where I now live in Hampshire.

God I miss TFL so much. Never thought I would say that. Sometimes you don’t realise what you have/had until its gone. And I thought I was ready to leave.

Problem is I like what I have now and possibly wouldn’t actually fit back into London life now. It’s a bit like living in limbo. Then there’s the fact I can’t really justify the expense of moving back and downgrading house size.

@Spidey66 that’s, really interesting, Thankyou for sharing. I totally get what you mean about shopping … I don’t enjoy those shopping centres at all, and in fact I prefer shopping online. Camden market and Portobello is for tourists now, I don’t care even about going to Spitalfields.. it must be my age! I’m more impressed by space and beauty than being marketed at. I’m glad to hear you’ve made a transition and now no doubt have cleaner air and a different vibe…Green lanes is so intense/packed/scruffy/trafficy, I used to live Turnpike Lane so I know what you mean about Turkish food! Part of me thinks I can’t ever leave London, I’m condemned to always find other places slightly intimidating in case they are ultimately terribly limited. Sounds ridiculous, I know.

Im not a Londoner or even a blow in faux Londoner but...I definitely feel like this is something an actual born and bred Londoner would never say 😅

Yes, public transport in London is very hard to contemplate giving up. But Hampshire.. you have clean air and space and wonderful landscapes. I hope you like it there, I have only visited a few areas, absolutely loved it!

Turnpike Lane is indeed pretty awful these days! Wood Green Shopping Centre used to be great, now there's sweet FA there except bookies, chicken shops, pound shops, charity shops and mobile phone shops. In Frome we have a load of independent shops, which are lovely, but not enough 'normal' shops like shoe shops.

I totally get missing TfL. After years of moaning about it being crowded and expensive, I'd give my right arm not to have to run for a bus knowing there'll be another along in no more than 10 minutes or so.

I love London but don't like the area I live in (SE London) it's pretty rough and not an area I would choose but love London in general just not my bit 😂

@Spidey66 that’s why my Frome living father in law is in Bath with us today - shoe and autumn jacket shopping -!!

@MKDex ha - I’m the opposite, I would only go back to London if I can live in Richmond, Barnes, Wimbledon ,Hampstead, Chiswick etc -

I do think some people forget London is home for all sorts of people and not everyone only considers it to be London if you live in Hackney or Brixton etc

Absolutely true, and of course there are people like me who have lived in Brixton and Hackney as well as Barnes and Hampstead, we aren’t all neatly pigeon holed, by any means.

Ah yes I remember you telling me about your father in law in Frome.

we have to go to Bath or Trowbridge for clothes and shoes, apart from the odd bit in Peacocks or the supermarkets (classy, me!)

I LOVED growing up in London, but after over 50 years, I felt differently and moved to the seaside a few months ago and I love it. I'm still only 90 mins away and go back once a week. My young adult kids are still there and are enjoying the same sort of life I had at their ages.
It's a wonderful city, a fabulous place to grow up in and start your career.
I'm grateful to have lived there....but I'm glad to be away now. Albeit I probably won't ever live more than a couple of hours away!

Born and bred Londoner here...I live in zone 3/4 now. Where I am is quite suburban...I wouldn't ever want to move closer to the centre ....utter cesspit. Never fails to amaze me how somewhere can be so expensive yet so grimy and full of poverty...

I look forward to the day I can leave

It’s a great place to be long-term if you bought your house years ago, have lots of disposable income and time to enjoy the city, a partner to share costs with, and live in a ‘mumsnetty’ area, but for some of us, nope. I love visiting, but after fifteen years of the grind and expense, I relocated up north and it was a hugely beneficial decision.

I don't live in London but I do find the many "don't like London any more" threads interesting.
It's also interesting how people judge it based on theatres, art galleries, etc. rather than having family, friends, social networks, hobbies and the like.

I visit friends in London and we go to the local pub, parks and their kids go to the local schools. They seem happy and they are not always doing "London" stuff. Most people are just living their lives.
I do appreciate though that the house prices are prohibitive for many - and one of the reasons I don't live there.

Where exactly is the “ utter cess pit”? I haven’t seen it!

Why are there so many threads about not liking London? I feel like London is being trolled! Is the Daily F paying people to do this so they can create headlines about how London is failing????

London is our capital, it needs to do well, we shouldn't talk it down, it literally funds the whole of the UK! We need its money generating ability!

I still think the appeal of London especially as you get older is convenience, I can walk to my GP, supermarket, local restaurant, cafe, hairdresser, gym, library, cinema, tube/train and pub all within 15 minutes. If I get on the tube, I can get to the nearest art gallery, museum, theatre, posh shop, royal park also all within 15 mins.

People come and go, on my street, we have had older people leave and replaced by three young families, clearly with decent jobs as my street ain't cheap. I am getting older but have no plans to leave as I am not a gardener so I need to have the things mentioned above to entertain me!😂

Dirty streets, run down looking buildings, too much traffic to name a few things which I dislike

Surely that exists in every city in the UK and the world?

I'm sure...I just don't want to live amongst it anymore. I never chose to live in London...just happened to be born here

I live in South East London and can't see us living anywhere else.

Public transport is easy and plentiful. Free for the children/teens giving them freedoms children outside of London don't have. I'm not my teenagers taxis. The Kent countryside is on our doorstep, as is central london.

Local schools are very good and high performing. The children get opportunities and resources in primary and secondary that aren't available to kids in non London schools. We have some of the best universities which many outside couldn't attend because of the cost.

My family have wonderful friends and communities. I love not having to be reliant on a car. I enjoy plentiful sports clubs, community groups and kids clubs on my doorstep. I can pick up milk/dinner/wine/last minute school project stuff a few minutes walk from my house. Not to mention the bars and restaurants of all cuisines.

I get that some like a quieter existence. London isn't for everyone. All places have their good and bad or nice and not so nice areas. That isn't exclusive to London. Even small towns have their rough parts. You just need to find the good bits 😀

Urgh I'm a Londoner who moved out too. I took the kids to Harrods at Christmas. I expected it to be crowded but people standing around taking selfie and eating Mc Donald's on the seating?

It’s 100 % up to you and what suits your life best.

It would be really nice to think that these threads could be conducted without the customary combative declarations that any one place is either a ‘shit hole’ or a cultural desert.

Me: I love London for all that it has on offer, especially free and cheap in my retirement. I love it despite its compromises and challenges. I totally get why others love the coast, countryside, market towns etc etc.

Go for what suits you and enjoy it.

Same here. I was born in London, move out when I was 26, but still worked there until 33. Lived all over since, including overseas. I never go back anywhere, always move forwards. I do this because you notice the changes when moving back, but not much while living there.

PIL insist we should move to the town DH grew up. They can’t see how its changed, apparently it’s the same as it was when PIL got married in the ‘50’s.

I was born and need in London. Moved out in my 40's. I still have most of my family and friends there. My dream is to move back when I've retired but for that I would need 1. A divorce 2. My mother to die and leave me her house. If I sell my detatched 4 bedroom house I would be able to buy half a studio flat in London otherwise!