Can it be possible to be wholeheartedly OS in London or am I just being a bumpkin?

gettingready

Nihongo wa tottemo muzukashi desu......

rubytuesday

gettingready wrote: »

Oh dear.. what is one person's idea of heaven - may be another person's idea of something else

I personally quite like having nothing to do with my neighbours, everyone keeps themselves to themselves and.. hope it stays this way

Polite "hello" when we pass each other is more than enough - for me.

As to so many kids running outside... kids being kids.... ermmmmmmm

Each to their own of course

I do believe I said quite clearly that everyone likes different things therefore the OP will have to make up her own mind of course, although no harm in getting others opinions.

gettingready

Absolutely.. and it is good we all all different - world is more interesting this way

sophistica

What can I say to help you? I have lived in London for 55 years and I find it really the cheapest and most interesting place to live.

Food
Try Waitrose for food bargains...look for the red stickers. You can eat really well and pay next to nothing for food. Lidl is good for basics like fruit and veg and cheese etc.

Entertainment
Try https://www.meetup.com there are dozens of groups for making new friends.
Orange Wednesdays for 2 for the price of 1 cinema tickets.
Most of the museums and parks are free.
Groupon vouchers give amazing deals for eating out in town.
Its also nice on a day off to go window shopping in Harrods or another big department store. check out lunch deals and some of london's famous restaurants. they can be very affordable.

Clothes
visit the charity shops in upmarket areas. My local shops have amazing deals.

London is the very best place to be Old Style in my opinion. With safety just follow common sense. Keep your money out of sight. Don't carry a lot of valuables. Don't walk around at night - use public transport.

gettingready

Rubytuesday - I actually lived in Hackney for a bit.. opposite LIDL, off Mare Street.. in a B&B.. courtessy of homeless persons unit good few years ago... over 10 years ago I think...

I loved Victoria Park - despite the squirrels having a go at my fingers more than once.. ungrateful fury things.... LOL

Life, huh?

Maitane

Maitane wrote: »

LOL! Diolch yn fawr Pingu, dw i'n siwr dwi mynd i colli Eryri a Mon ond mae'na i treniau syth i Gaergybi. Well, Bangor i fi a nol i Gaernarfon de. Naiswon cont!

Translation: Lol! Thanks a lot Pingu, I'm sure I'll miss Snowdonia and Anglesey but there are direct trains to Holyhead. Well, Bangor for me and back to Caernarfon. Nice one *Caernarfon word*

rubytuesday

gettingready wrote: »

Rubytuesday - I actually lived in Hackney for a bit.. opposite LIDL, off Mare Street.. in a B&B.. courtessy of homeless persons unit good few years ago... over 10 years ago I think...

I loved Victoria Park - despite the squirrels having a go at my fingers more than once.. ungrateful fury things.... LOL

Life, huh?

Oh I know exactly where you mean.

I'm right by the common.

I've also been bitten by a squirrel in Vicky Park when giving him a monkey nut!

Only the once though.

The park has had a bit of a make over and looks absolutely fantastic (not that it didn't before) and the boats are back on the lake.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

It's encouraging to hear of other OSers in London; reading these threads I do sometimes feel it's all for big families in houses with huge gardens who don't have to commute!

In terms of where to live, everywhere in and around London is determined by three factors; price, transport links and amenities. If it's cheap it'll be cheap for a reason (tiny, long walk to station, rough area etc). Assume that all letting agents are liars and thieves (aware that's harsh, but it's important to remember that they are there to make money out of you).

In OS terms you need to look at properties in terms of storage space (cupboards and freezer). Many newbuild flats have a shocking lack of storage, nowhere to keep an ironing board or mop even. If there is space to safely keep a bike that's a bonus (don't fancy cycling in town myself, but people who are into it rave about it, and it certainly saves money). Blocks of flats often don't allow bikes to go through the communal corridors.

Taking packed lunches to work seems quite rare, as many office workers rely on numerous cafes and snack outlets. A sandwich, packet of crisps, banana and drink from one of these places will set you back about £6- I only have them as occasional treats. A coffee on the tube every day will also cost you ~£20 a month- wait til you get to the office, where hopefully it's free.

London is a great place for markets and charity shops. Remember that all the big museums and galleries are free entry.