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Original poster

Is living in London fab?

56 replies

Smurfgirl · 25/02/2005 17:04

I have been offered a job in London next year, it would mean delaying something quite big (a degree!) so I probably won't do it, but I have always wanted to live in London for a bit. I am young/single/child free so in terms of practical stuff its easy for me to move.

I have grown up in industrial northern cities, so I suppose the idea of going somewhere with all the fab shops, museums, restaurants excites me. London just seems to have a lot going for it.

I lived in Brussels for two years but that wasn't very exciting. Is living in London exciting, or is the busyness/cost etc just a hassle?

OP posts:
shimmy21 · 25/02/2005 17:08

I loved it Smurf. I'm now in an industrial northern city and it just doesn't compare. You're right that before strings are attched is the time to make the most of it.

Is it a good job?

wheresmyfroggy · 25/02/2005 17:09

London is busy and exspensive but if you are young and single then it can be a great place to live. so many clubs pubs bars shops rstaurants museums galleries etc etc

I'm sure it would be more exciting than brussels anyway (advanced apology to anyone living in brussels)

Earlybird · 25/02/2005 17:09

It's fab. But helps to have a circle of friends and a good salary.

charleypops · 25/02/2005 17:09

I'm from the industrial north too and moved to London when I was 26 the summer I'd finished my degree. I absolutely loved it but then decided I wanted to "settle down" after 3 or 4 years so moved away (with dp I'd met there). Wish I'd done it sooner actually - you need energy and enthusiasm to get the most out of it, especially if you're on your own. Couldn't you do your degree there?

WideWebWitch · 25/02/2005 17:09

I lived there for most of my twenties and would say when you're young, single and childless is absolutely the time to discover London. Enjoy.

Earlybird · 25/02/2005 17:10

What area of London will you be working in?

decmum · 25/02/2005 17:15

You'll soon carve out your own little bit...there are loads of areas north and south london which are small communities with everything you need day to day, but at the same time on the doorstep of the whole metropolis.

In some respects spending the weekend in Hampstead or Muswell Hill or Battersea is just like being in a village but with great bars/restaurants etc.

Then during the week you take on the tube and Soho and all the central city culture.

MunchedTooManyMarsLady · 25/02/2005 17:15

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes!!!!!!!!!!! Wonderful living in London. So much to do when you are single and so much to do when you have a family. Love it!!

franch · 25/02/2005 17:18

Yes it's fab! I'm from the north too and love it here, even now, with a 1yo and another on the way. Found it easy enough to settle in and make friends - agree with others that a bit of spare dosh helps though (could do with a bit more of that!) HTH - come and join us

blossom2 · 25/02/2005 17:30

London is absolutely fantastic for being young & single. Great bars/clubs and loads of parks. Perfect for the summer and lazying around, picnic with friends. Great pubs for reading the sunday papers with friends & sunday lunch, getting very drunk in trendy bars.

A tip - Kenwood House in Hampstead do summer concerts (classical) with fireworks at the end, over the lake. You can pay and listen in the enclosure or alternative listen for free on the grounds of Kenwood house. Its a great way to spend a summer evening with a picnic, wine and beign with friends/family.

I miss london.

stripey · 25/02/2005 17:34

I LOVE London. If you like cities then IMO it is one of the best.

Davros · 25/02/2005 17:46

I think so but then I've never lived anywhere else which is a bit naff! It will depend somewhat on where you live and work to get the most out of it and the transport connections. I assume that it can be quite difficult and seem too big and unfriendly for people not used to city life but I don't actually know! It isn't really unfriendly, especially with the communities in the London villages but people do respect others' privacy which is not everyone's cup of tea.

Beetroot · 25/02/2005 17:57

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leglebegle · 25/02/2005 17:59

absolutely! I lived there for 7 years, only moved back 'home' last year. really enjoyed myself and got great work experience. did all the theatres, and cultural things etc, so its not true that you don't do it when you live there as one of my relatives said to me once. you should do it for sure, enjoy!

snafu · 25/02/2005 18:16

London is fabulous if you are young, free and single. I don't agree that you need to have pots of money to make the most of it - especially not if your friends are in the same income bracket as you - you find your niche. It is busy and congested and dirty and noisy - but that's all part of the buzz. Can you not do your degree there?

And, fwiw, I think it's not a bad place if you are babied-up, either. I moved out when I had ds because I thought I should bring him up away from the city - and tbh I really regret it!

FairyMum · 25/02/2005 18:30

Depends where you live. We have just moved to Fulham which is fab, but there are plenty of places in London I would not even put my foot in.

snafu · 25/02/2005 18:39

Just out of (genuine) interest, FairyMum, where would some of those places be? I like to know what Londoners think of different parts of their city.

Original poster
Smurfgirl · 25/02/2005 18:43

The job I think is in Kew. Its au-pairing for friends of the family. Low pay but thats ok because they would cover accommodation/food and I have a bit saved up from my current job.

The cost of living is too high for me to do my degree in London.

OP posts:
alexsmum · 25/02/2005 18:44

got to say, i was glad i moved away and when i go back i think, yeah nice for a visit but wouldn't want to live there again.
just a question? if you are young, single and childless why are you on mumsnet??????

Gobbledigook · 25/02/2005 18:47

Erm, I loved it for about 2 yrs then became incredibly miserable and I hate the place with a passion. Commuting on the tube is my absolute worst nightmare - I detested it. The place is smelly, dirty, polluted and it's really impersonal and unfriendly. It's astronomical to buy or rent property and it's so congested it's untrue - we could never get a parking space anywhere near or house, even on our road, where we lived. Yuk, Yuk and double yuk!

This is only my opinion of course and lots of people love it so it's impossible to say how you'd find it - if you've always wanted to go then go for it. I'm glad I did it but I wouldn't live there again for any amount of money.

Beetroot · 25/02/2005 18:48

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wheresmydragon · 25/02/2005 18:48

we live in southfields which is lovely area, lots af parks and places to go with children and always feels very safe..................

But i work in Soho, a different kettle of fish but one i wouldn't change for the world, i have always worked in soho and absolutely love it, so many places to get amazingly ratarsed (not that i do that often anymore)

Original poster
Smurfgirl · 25/02/2005 18:49

Found mumsnet when I thought i might be pregnant. Lurked for ages, gave in and posted

OP posts:
wheresmydragon · 25/02/2005 18:49

Blimey GDG where did you live in london?

Gobbledigook · 25/02/2005 18:51

I lived in Fulham, Putney then Southgate and Palmers Green. All nice areas but not for me - I'm a mancunian through and through I'm afraid and I love Manchester with all my heart . My condition on getting engaged to dh who is from London and it's where we met, was that we had to move back here if we were going to have a family. Thankfully he agreed and he loves it here!

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