I've been down to London this morning....

[Deleted User]

LOVE London, wouldn't live anywhere else.

LydiaJ

It seems surprising to me that everyone on this thread is talking as though there are only two options - London or a deeply rural idyll. I wouldn't like either. I'm most comfortable living somewhere with a population somewhere between about 100,000 and 500,000. Maybe that's just a reflection of what I'm used to and where I spent my childhood (Bristol) and twenties (Oxford), but nevertheless there are plenty of us who choose what feels to us to be a pleasant compromise, with the facilities of a city (although obviously not as extensively as in London) without quite so much overcrowding (traffic, high housing costs, etc).

ETA I'm a teacher so can work anywhere in the country where there are schools, and don't like commuting.

twadge_face

LydiaJ wrote: »

It seems surprising to me that everyone on this thread is talking as though there are only two options - London or a deeply rural idyll. I wouldn't like either. I'm most comfortable living somewhere with a population somewhere between about 100,000 and 500,000. Maybe that's just a reflection of what I'm used to and where I spent my childhood (Bristol) and twenties (Oxford), but nevertheless there are plenty of us who choose what feels to us to be a pleasant compromise, with the facilities of a city (although obviously not as extensively as in London) without quite so much overcrowding (traffic, high housing costs, etc).

Good call. Except perhaps the point is that those who grew up in a city like you do (and Bristol is great, I really like it) get the benefits of being in a city and hence don't have the need to get out and go anywhere else. Furthermore they have the benefits of a smaller, dare I say townish vibe, closer knit community.

I would suggest that in my experience most younger people (i.e. in their twenties, starting out like) who want to move from a quieter originating point, tend to move to London.

Trouble is, it would appear that most jobs are all a bit London-centric.

I've quite fancied Manchester as I love the place and I have family there. But for jobs it does seem to be sorely lacking compared to London. Also my close family are in the southwest so it'd be too far really.

But you raise a good alternative that is under-represented in this thread.

bo_drinker

I've been it is a !!!!!! hole no mistake.

vaporate

Cleaver wrote: »

Isn't it lovely how we're all different?

I go down to London a lot for work and had a year of my life when I 'lived' there from Monday to Friday for work. Londoners have my envy and admiration for living in such a great city. Row after row of amazing streets and roads full of amazing architecture slap bang in the middle of an amazing place.

I love wandering around London and looking in to those basement kitchens and seeing families or inidividuals eating or preparing meals and think how great it'd be to have all that culture, history, great buildings, restaurants, bars, attractions etc. on your doorstep. There's just something about London that makes you feel alive, and it's only really New York and Paris that I've visited that gives me that same buzz.

I actually think the opposite of you Ad. When I see one of those 'secret' London terrace roads, right in the centre with lovey houses, hanging baskets and relative peace and quiet in such a busy place I can fully understand why so many people chose to pay so much to live there.

Londoners, I take my hat off to you for living in such an amazing place. You're lucky, lucky people. Make the most of it. Obviously peak oil is coming and you should all be fearful, but for now you should enjoy great food, people, museums and all the other stuff and don't worry too much about it...

Yeh right give over haha.

London is a crap hole full of immigrants and selfish suited idiots fighting over the seats in the morning on the train. Overly expensive rat hole accommodation with local prices of 'goods' to match.

I also do indeed take my hat off to you.

FTBFun

bo_drinker wrote: »

I've been it is a !!!!!! hole no mistake.

Indeed. Dulwich Village is a right hole.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

ninky wrote: »

i lived in a village as a teen and the realities of village pubs, lives and farmers hold few romantic notions for me.

So true. I grew up in a semi-rural suburb surrounded by chocolate box style Dorset countryside. Small town gossip, risible public transport, suffocating boredom as a teenager. No thanks.

bo_drinker

I lived down there for 9 months and I wouldn't p1ss on the place if it was on fire. Went down Oxford St a few years ago I thought I was in another country. Stinks of p1ss also.

Cleaver

vaporate wrote: »

London is a crap hole full of immigrants and selfish suited idiots fighting over the seats in the morning on the train. Overly expensive rat hole accommodation with local prices of 'goods' to match.

bo_drinker wrote: »

I lived down there for 9 months and I wouldn't p1ss on the place if it was on fire. Went down Oxford St a few years ago I thought I was in another country. Stinks of p1ss also.

I'm going to politely back out of this debate as it appears to have reached an intellectual level that I just cannot compete on.

Hermia

macaque wrote: »

People talk about all the things to do in London but they don't actually do them. Concert halls are often half empty and West End plays are crammed with American and Japanese visitors.

I do, as do my friends. Okay, we don't go to West End plays, but that is because you can see much better (and cheaper) stuff on the fringe or at The National Theatre. I love the fact that no matter how obscure your hobby you can find some group of like-minded people in London. I love the fact that you can find many free or cheap events to attend every night at the week. I have lived in other places around in the UK and hated the fact that I'd have to travel 60 miles to see a foreign film, art gallery or even to have an authentic curry! I lived in the country for a while and could not find any social groups or events relating to my hobbies at all.

I don't really understand why these "I hate London and anyone who likes it is an idiot" threads regularly appear. A lot of people clearly love London and are proud Londoners. And different places suit different people. There are places that I wouldn't enjoy living, but I wouldn't dream of starting a thread about it!