Spill the beans... What are your tips on becoming a Londoner?

nearlyrich

I must confess I used to dislike London, I was scared of driving, didn't care for the tube especially in rush hour, a combination of my latest job and my DS moving there means I have spent a lot more time there recently and I am getting to like it more and more. I even used a bus last week in rush hour great value at £1.20 off my Oyster same journey here in the sticks would have been at least £2.50.

Savvy_Sue

I think you're fortunate if you just 'know' where you'd be happy. I was born in London, moved out for uni, came back, moved out again and spent 20 years in a large town, then moved to a large city. People kept saying "there are lots of lovely villages around X" and I just thought "WHY would I want to live in a village?"

So here we are in a similar kind of location to the one I grew up in, just a different city, and I couldn't be happier. Good transport links, access to culture and as much excitement as anyone can handle, good shopping, easy to get into the country when we want.

But as I said, I'm fortunate to KNOW that before we tried village life ...

staircase2

mollyeyre wrote: »

That should be BORACIC as in boracic LINT .... SKINT!!!!! Huh! call yerself a londoner???

I would doubt very much that the original people who came up with that phrase would be bothered how it was spelt to be honest!

staircase2

ziggycj wrote: »

I read somewhere (on here I think) that tescos prices are the same regardless of where they are... unless your in Scotland where they may be cheaper :mad:.

Not so - theyre different on many different items depending on what kind of store as well as the location.

staircase2

tenuissent wrote: »

The point being that if you are brave enough to go to "ethnic" areas of London, you can buy all sorts of food, clothes and services for peanuts.

Im not sure that you need to be 'brave' to be honest - or in truth that there are 'ethnic' areas of London - there are certainly some areas which have a higher percentage of people from various backgrounds but all of London is pretty mixed in reality.

staircase2

Robisere wrote: »

I would hate to have to live in this dirty, overcrowded, polluted, overpriced city.
***
I pity all city-dwellers, but most of my sympathy is reserved for Londoners.

What a load of tosh! There are plenty of places in various parts of London which are pretty much semi rural - something tells me you havent travelled nearly as far as you like to think you have (aside from the 'badge of honour' trip to Tescos that is...lol)

Biggles

Sharon87 wrote: »

I'm a Londoner and can't see the point in living 18 miles from the nearest supermarket!

I'd love to live 18 miles from the nearest supermarket. Our small town would then still have Real Shops!

kormachameleon

Get a bike. Never pay for transport in London again. Even maintenance is free if you find out where Dr Bike's holding his latest 'surgery'. Feel like you're in a movie as you pedal over Tower Bridge and sail past St Paul's. Get a (free) cycling instructor lesson, to make you safe and confident. Cycling gets a bad press, but if you follow the rules of the road and act courteously to other road users, it's the best way to get around London. Even for a creaky 55 year old lady like me (definitely not one of the lycra brigade), it's the quickest and most interesting way to get from A to B in London. And such a lot of fun.
Jane

tenuissent

"Im not sure that you need to be 'brave' to be honest - or in truth that there are 'ethnic' areas of London - there are certainly some areas which have a higher percentage of people from various backgrounds but all of London is pretty mixed in reality." By brave, I only meant that some people feel uncomfortable when completely surrounded by people who look different, have different customs, food and clothes, and know what they are doing. I've had twinges of that feeling myself just before plunging into busy markets in Brixton, Bangkok, Salala etc, not quite knowing what to ask for, or how people will react to an "outsider". I'm just saying it's worth overcoming this feeling if it exists. I love getting a huge bundle of fresh coriander, for example, instead of the pathetic little plastic packets in supermarkets, or a complete Punjabi suit for an overseas wedding, for £15.

John_Pierpoint

Biggles wrote: »

I'd love to live 18 miles from the nearest supermarket. Our small town would then still have Real Shops!

.....and pay real prices too.

Tell me do they still have 9 - 5 opening hours with a half day on Wednesday ?