Why live in London?
Discussion
Was going to post on the levelling up thread in news, but as I am no longer able to post in News I will post here...
Why do people choose to live in London?
My sister got a job in London and I thought it be fun to follow her down. She lasted 11 months, me I did 9. It was expensive, crowded, we had to buy a newer car because my sister's car was liable for clean air charges, my car was OK but did 18MPG in the London traffic, plus there was the congestion charges. I guess t be great if I earned a fortune in the city
People who are nurses, bus drivers, teachers could have a much better life up north.
Why do people choose to live in London?
My sister got a job in London and I thought it be fun to follow her down. She lasted 11 months, me I did 9. It was expensive, crowded, we had to buy a newer car because my sister's car was liable for clean air charges, my car was OK but did 18MPG in the London traffic, plus there was the congestion charges. I guess t be great if I earned a fortune in the city
People who are nurses, bus drivers, teachers could have a much better life up north.
Why live in the UK?
There are cheaper places to live. There are warmer places to live.
Just because it did not work out for you and your sister does not mean it's like that for everyone. Many people love London (I do, but only to visit).
I worked in London in the 90s and even them I thought it dirty, noisy and people were rude. But I chose to work there and loved it.
There are cheaper places to live. There are warmer places to live.
Just because it did not work out for you and your sister does not mean it's like that for everyone. Many people love London (I do, but only to visit).
I worked in London in the 90s and even them I thought it dirty, noisy and people were rude. But I chose to work there and loved it.
I work in London most days mainly round the posh bits and I quite like being there but I often think I wouldn't want to live here.. I know there are plus points like everything being on your doorstep and all that but the constant racket would drive me insane. Sirens, noisy motorbikes, noisy supercars, buses, noisy, dirty, inconsiderate people, houses all on top of each other despite costing squillions.. I just don't get it.
Nice place to visit, but I wouldn't wanna live there
Nice place to visit, but I wouldn't wanna live there
stinkyspanner said:
Sirens, noisy motorbikes, noisy supercars, buses, noisy
I know a family that were born in London and have lived there ever since. They tell me when they go for a break in the countryside, they don't sleep so well without the above 
OP, stating the obvious, but people are different and like different things.
I grew up about 30 miles from London and went there a lot. I went to university 170 odd miles further north. A group of my friends at uni came from rural locations across the country and all moved to London together. They were in their 20s and loved the buzz/opportunities compared to where they had grown up. All developed careers and built their lives there.
Spent 20 years in London and loved it until I didn’t. Started off in a cheap house share eating beans on toast and Fray Bentos pies to survive, left having built a career for myself. Turning point was that I unwilling to make the big sacrifice in what your £ got you housing wise. Or, put it another way I couldn’t afford what I wanted in London.
My initial reason for moving to London was proximity to a well paid office job. Eventually I was travelling to Europe a reasonable amount and being close to City airport made that easy.
Once there I had a close group of friends (in location and friendship) and we were out constantly, weekends and weekdays. That group has now dispersed all over the country and so meeting up is now planned months in advance. Probably miss that most.
Nightclubs/Gig venues. Depends what you are into but London had all I wanted in this regard and having moved out I see less bands and have a far number less all-nighters . Still head into London for an every now and then but involves hotels, travel costs etc so becomes a ball-ache.
Plus everything else going on; Museums, galleries, Notting Hill Carnival, all the parks and open spaces, lidos, football stadiums, food markets, clothes shopping, record shops, independent cinemas, street art, dodgy basement parties, Michelin * restaurants - definitely the choice of restaurants
It probably made me more tolerant of others, meeting people from other countries and cultures that you get in any big city. Travelling when young does the same I think.
Definitely some downsides, the biggest was probably if you owned a vehicle. For 2/3 of the time I lived in London housing choices were dictated by access to secure parking or a garage to hide them. Was another big decision in leaving when I was able to get a tidy car.
Left 5 years ago.
My initial reason for moving to London was proximity to a well paid office job. Eventually I was travelling to Europe a reasonable amount and being close to City airport made that easy.
Once there I had a close group of friends (in location and friendship) and we were out constantly, weekends and weekdays. That group has now dispersed all over the country and so meeting up is now planned months in advance. Probably miss that most.
Nightclubs/Gig venues. Depends what you are into but London had all I wanted in this regard and having moved out I see less bands and have a far number less all-nighters . Still head into London for an every now and then but involves hotels, travel costs etc so becomes a ball-ache.
Plus everything else going on; Museums, galleries, Notting Hill Carnival, all the parks and open spaces, lidos, football stadiums, food markets, clothes shopping, record shops, independent cinemas, street art, dodgy basement parties, Michelin * restaurants - definitely the choice of restaurants
It probably made me more tolerant of others, meeting people from other countries and cultures that you get in any big city. Travelling when young does the same I think.
Definitely some downsides, the biggest was probably if you owned a vehicle. For 2/3 of the time I lived in London housing choices were dictated by access to secure parking or a garage to hide them. Was another big decision in leaving when I was able to get a tidy car.
Left 5 years ago.
stinkyspanner said:
I work in London most days mainly round the posh bits and I quite like being there but I often think I wouldn't want to live here.. I know there are plus points like everything being on your doorstep and all that but the constant racket would drive me insane. Sirens, noisy motorbikes, noisy supercars, buses, noisy, dirty, inconsiderate people, houses all on top of each other despite costing squillions.. I just don't get it.
Nice place to visit, but I wouldn't wanna live there
I agree with all of that except the nice to visit bit. I can still taste the pollution from last time I was there in 2011. Nice place to visit, but I wouldn't wanna live there
I used to live in a commuter town on the Hampshire Surrey border and it was not much better than living in London. Only advantages was there was a bit more space the further out you get. And housing cost a bit less.
I lived in London for a few years - when I was a student, and about a decade later.
Back then the pros were stuff like - the electronic stores on Tottenham Court Road, the nightclubs/nightlife, theatre, cinemas, the 24hr bagel shops, the vast number of museums and venues to lose yourself in, the handful of 24hr restaurants. (Up All Night?). It was fun, it was dynamic. Sure things were expensive but we were earning a London wage.
Back in the 90's accommodation wasn't that expensive compared to now. My girlfriend and I looked at 2 bed flats in Maidstone and they were £600pcm for a nice one. Add on 2 sets of season tickets at £250pcm each and 1.5 hours each way every day. We found a flat on the borders of Earls Court/West Ken for £900 and it was £60pcm for a travelcard with only 30 mins travel each way.
The noise and the sirens you got used to. We moved a few times, when our pay increased, and we could afford more. It was common to rent places with double glazed windows and a third single glazed unit which made a noticeable difference on noise. We moved out to Cascades in Docklands not long after that had been built and that was a nice isolation.
I get why people live in London. They move there and simply stay because they know no different. For instance, if you've lived in the Country all your life and visit the less salubrious parts of London you would feel very unsafe at night. But people who have lived there all their life will say it's not dangerous.
Back then the pros were stuff like - the electronic stores on Tottenham Court Road, the nightclubs/nightlife, theatre, cinemas, the 24hr bagel shops, the vast number of museums and venues to lose yourself in, the handful of 24hr restaurants. (Up All Night?). It was fun, it was dynamic. Sure things were expensive but we were earning a London wage.
Back in the 90's accommodation wasn't that expensive compared to now. My girlfriend and I looked at 2 bed flats in Maidstone and they were £600pcm for a nice one. Add on 2 sets of season tickets at £250pcm each and 1.5 hours each way every day. We found a flat on the borders of Earls Court/West Ken for £900 and it was £60pcm for a travelcard with only 30 mins travel each way.
The noise and the sirens you got used to. We moved a few times, when our pay increased, and we could afford more. It was common to rent places with double glazed windows and a third single glazed unit which made a noticeable difference on noise. We moved out to Cascades in Docklands not long after that had been built and that was a nice isolation.
I get why people live in London. They move there and simply stay because they know no different. For instance, if you've lived in the Country all your life and visit the less salubrious parts of London you would feel very unsafe at night. But people who have lived there all their life will say it's not dangerous.
After a week in The Lakes, where I could actually enjoy driving, I headed back home to London yesterday.
After a very long drive through all that heavy rain I first headed to Wandsworth to drop my son off then home to Twickenham.
20 mph limits everywhere, grrrrrrrrrrr.
And I thought, yet again, why do I live in London!!
Plus the stupid amount of money I pay in rent.
One day I'll escape, probably in a wooden box.
After a very long drive through all that heavy rain I first headed to Wandsworth to drop my son off then home to Twickenham.
20 mph limits everywhere, grrrrrrrrrrr.
And I thought, yet again, why do I live in London!!
Plus the stupid amount of money I pay in rent.
One day I'll escape, probably in a wooden box.
If you work in a niche area, the answer is jobs.
Going back a long way but an ex gf of mine studied fashion design, practically zero chance of getting paid work outside of London.
Enjoyed all my visits down there, decent city but when it came to my time to leave the norf I emigrated instead.
Going back a long way but an ex gf of mine studied fashion design, practically zero chance of getting paid work outside of London.
Enjoyed all my visits down there, decent city but when it came to my time to leave the norf I emigrated instead.
I tried moving out, hated it, and moved back!
On the plus side there are all the amenities, plus a short commute rather than an expensive season ticket and half your life on the train. Outside of rush hour driving isn't as bad as visiting bumpkins make out - just don't be asleep at the lights and you're good. I mostly walk locally. There are lots of parks and the area is generally leafy, and if I want the proper outdoors I can drive out.
Sure, there are downsides. The worst of the traffic noise is the motorbikes and mopeds, so I'm cheering for the skip lorries until ICE bikes get banned. Property is expensive, especially detached, and you get less choice if you want a garage. I don't mind all the people, apart from all the northerners who come south to moan...
On the plus side there are all the amenities, plus a short commute rather than an expensive season ticket and half your life on the train. Outside of rush hour driving isn't as bad as visiting bumpkins make out - just don't be asleep at the lights and you're good. I mostly walk locally. There are lots of parks and the area is generally leafy, and if I want the proper outdoors I can drive out.
Sure, there are downsides. The worst of the traffic noise is the motorbikes and mopeds, so I'm cheering for the skip lorries until ICE bikes get banned. Property is expensive, especially detached, and you get less choice if you want a garage. I don't mind all the people, apart from all the northerners who come south to moan...
My wife is a nurse and for context we live in Leeds, West Yorkshire.
She went to uni with a woman who is a nurse in London, her friend complained bitterly about London costs, rents etc so she moved to Leeds, she lasted about 6 months and went back to London because she said she missed the London life.
Now she's back in London and living in a small flat which she shares and complaining about London costs on social media again.
It just seems to suck some people in to a certain perceived lifestyle.
She went to uni with a woman who is a nurse in London, her friend complained bitterly about London costs, rents etc so she moved to Leeds, she lasted about 6 months and went back to London because she said she missed the London life.
Now she's back in London and living in a small flat which she shares and complaining about London costs on social media again.
It just seems to suck some people in to a certain perceived lifestyle.
Vasco said:
London is ok when you're young-ish and in a good job.
Once you're a bit older and you've achieved your basic needs it's worth looking at life in the more rural areas.
That's what I did. Worked and lived there in the early 90's. Worked very long, hard hours and partied very long, hard hours Once you're a bit older and you've achieved your basic needs it's worth looking at life in the more rural areas.
Now I'm older and wiser (and creakier) I'm in bed before the time I used to go out I think that the increased remote working is going to leave a lot of middle-high income people living in London considering moving out.
Just walking my dogs I've met 4 families this year who have all upped sticks from London and the south east to move to the south west. Housing prices, quality of local schools, quality of life, countryside all stated as reasons for moving.
One guy is a fund manager for a tier one bank. He now commutes to Canary Wharf by train one or two days a week, probably a good 3 hours each way.
I lived in London for a few years when I was far younger, then for a couple of years split my time between Paris and Greenwich. Loved it.
Cities are great when you're young and your priorities are going out and meeting people. Once you've got kids the pros diminish while the cons only ever become more acute.
Just walking my dogs I've met 4 families this year who have all upped sticks from London and the south east to move to the south west. Housing prices, quality of local schools, quality of life, countryside all stated as reasons for moving.
One guy is a fund manager for a tier one bank. He now commutes to Canary Wharf by train one or two days a week, probably a good 3 hours each way.
I lived in London for a few years when I was far younger, then for a couple of years split my time between Paris and Greenwich. Loved it.
Cities are great when you're young and your priorities are going out and meeting people. Once you've got kids the pros diminish while the cons only ever become more acute.
bongtom said:
Why live in the UK?
There are cheaper places to live. There are warmer places to live.
Just because it did not work out for you and your sister does not mean it's like that for everyone. Many people love London (I do, but only to visit).
I worked in London in the 90s and even them I thought it dirty, noisy and people were rude. But I chose to work there and loved it.
Are you an MP by any chance?There are cheaper places to live. There are warmer places to live.
Just because it did not work out for you and your sister does not mean it's like that for everyone. Many people love London (I do, but only to visit).
I worked in London in the 90s and even them I thought it dirty, noisy and people were rude. But I chose to work there and loved it.
PositronicRay said:
London whilst young
Rural town for raising family
Village when retired
Back to town when elderly.
That sounds good to me. Most definitely want to be in a town near the doctors/dentists and less than 5 mins walk from a decent food shop when I'm elderly. Rural town for raising family
Village when retired
Back to town when elderly.
Having said that. I live in the London suburbs because that's where I have always lived since birth and I'm a civil servant. Never drive a car in London though. Have literally never paid the congestion charge and wouldn't even know how to do it. (Just go on-line straight afterwards I guess?)
London is not singular in nature.
I grew up in Upminster (London Borough of Havering); just 20 minutes to Fenchurch Street, yet in no way would a visitor consider Upminster to be 'London'. This and other places like it afford the opportunity to retain easy access to the City and West End whilst avoiding much of the negatives associated with living in the middle of it.
My daughter moved to Beckenham (from Essex) two years ago with her now husband. When they visit, they find things like the fact that we can only get Fish and Chips on a Thursday and Friday because that's when the Chip Van turns up in the village, quite funny.
I grew up in Upminster (London Borough of Havering); just 20 minutes to Fenchurch Street, yet in no way would a visitor consider Upminster to be 'London'. This and other places like it afford the opportunity to retain easy access to the City and West End whilst avoiding much of the negatives associated with living in the middle of it.
My daughter moved to Beckenham (from Essex) two years ago with her now husband. When they visit, they find things like the fact that we can only get Fish and Chips on a Thursday and Friday because that's when the Chip Van turns up in the village, quite funny.
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