Londoners, why do you not move?

dominoman

ladymagpie wrote: »

As someone who moved from the south (from born until i was 19) to the north, I much prefer living in the north.

2. Bus stops aren't quiet, strangers actually talk to each other.

Errrr. Surely another reason to stay in London. Why would I want to talk to someone at a bus-stop. At least in London when that happens I know it is a drunk or someone from the mental rehab unit on day release.

ladymagpie wrote: »

3. Food and drink are the same but cost less.

Not quite true. London has the best cafes and restaurants in the country by a mile. There is so much competition that anyplace that is sub-par goes bust and closes, so the cafes and restaurants that thrive generally are excellent. You can't say the same thing once you leave London. I pack my own food when I leave for the badlands so I don't have to risk it.

botchjob

London is a fantastic place to live. And a fantastic place to bring up kids. I had the misfortune to grow up in a no-mark new town in the commuter belt. It had lots of greenery on the doorstep but was a god-awful place with nothing to recommend it whatsoever. London has EVERYTHING anyone could possibly ever want, and is a rich and varied environment in which to raise well-rounded children. It’s not the capital city, and centre of finance, culture, and government for nothing, you know…

I know loads of people who have left London to lead a ‘better’ life elsewhere, only to regret it – at their leisure - later. Sure, they get a bigger house, a garage for the car, and a garden big enough to require a petrol mower. But the trade off seems to be a slow rotting of the brain to the point where they see golf as an acceptable weekend activity, and find themselves thinking that UKIP are talking some sense. My own sister used to be a bit of a high flier in the City before quitting to lead a “better” life in the West Country. Ten years later, she is skint, underemployed, underextended, and, I think, bored to tears with her rural idle. But it’s a one way ticket and she can never afford to move back. Still, there’s some nice views outside the window.

I intend to be in London for at least another few decades before retirement eventually beckons. And who knows, maybe I’ll stay in this dirty ol’ town as an OAP. Or perhaps I’ll trade my overpriced and unremarkable semi for a Rectory in rural Norfolk.

Then again, I’ll probably have to dish it all out to my kids so they can have a hope of buying somewhere in London.

Swings and roundabouts, innit. Swings and roundabouts.

demontfort

dominoman wrote: »

I'm guessing you've not lived in London?

Compared to London most of the country is just dull and backwards, particularly once you go north of the M4. London is crazy, noisy, exciting, boisterous, and ever-changing - not to mention the best culture, parks and museums of any city in the world.

Houses are ridiculously expensive in London, but I'd still rather have a tiny flat here than while away my remaining years oop north :beer:

Hmm, interesting that somebody who labels the rest of the country as backwards and is a self proclaimed expert on London has not yet figured out that most of London is north of the M4 :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

tukka123

Ask yourself the same question.... Why would you move from you hometown....

I actually moved closer to London from Berkshire as the cost of travel and the fact it took ages to get to and from work..

Living in Berkshire doesn't make it financially possible anymore as the train company keep upping the price.


Also for my job and life style......

Better Jobs with more money
Good transport links
The West end
Good nights out

My family live here and it's not impossible to find a nice place to live for a decent price.

quidsy

I don't want to live in the "North". I don't even want to go to North London.

somethingcorporate

Same as everything - different strokes for different folks.

I lived in London for 3 years and hated it - I don't like busy cities.
I am just moving out to the country and cannot wait.

I can see the appeal but it is just not for me.

And the house prices actually make me feel sick. £1m+ for a 3-bed semi. No thanks

jayss

We have cheap council tax :j
I moved back a year ago and am delighted to be back to 24hour buses, cheap theatre/music/comedy tickets and better paid work.

MEM62

berbastrike wrote: »

just a simple question, as if I was living in London I would want to move from there because its simply too expensive.

For the same price of a tiny 1 bed flat, you could move north and get a modern semi...

Unless you have very good careers, then its a bad decision to live there

'The BBC would like to apologise to our customers in the north - it must be awful for them....' :rotfl:The most Hilarious Not The Nine O'clock News sketch ever!

My job is here, my family is here. I live in the West London / Surrey area and its a great place to live. There are jobs in the area, easy access to the city and less than an hour from the coast. What's not to like???

hazyjo

Dimey wrote: »

Parts of London are wonderful but there's the other side......

I know a 90yr old lady who lives alone in a flat near Elephant & Castle in London.

She has to have metal bars over her front door for security. Like a jail door.

The Council sacked the caretaker for the block 5 years ago and since then it's become filthy. Urine and drug syringes in lifts and unclean rubbish areas.

There used to be a little area of communal garden but the Council ripped up three huge old trees (squirrels made homeless) and built more flats just 12ft away from this lady's window. Her view of the garden and sky is now just a brick wall.

Residents sheds have been broken in to so many times the contents have been stolen and the doors are hanging off the hinges.

Cobblestones in the entrance road have been dug up by utilities and never replaced.

Her neighbours in the block don't speak English so she is totally isolated. Last year she fell outside the lift and people walked past without helping her up.

She's the only person who still sweeps the shared balcony outside her flat.

I'm sure there are places like this in many large cities.

The lady won't move out of London as she's lived there all her life and has memories of her late husband in the flat.

She's very sad how the area has changed so badly.
She remembers old friends who moved into the flats when she & her husband did, after World War 2. They all looked after their properties then. They were grateful to get places that weren't bomb damaged. They used to talk to each other, have a laugh & joke and help each other. That was the real old London. Real old characters.

Surely you could say that about most major towns/cities though? Middlesbrough, Glasgow, Manchester, Swansea, Bristol, etc (to name but a few!)... Everywhere will have its areas where you'd not want to be wandering alone at night any more!

Anyway, apparently (eventually!) much of Elephant & Castle is being improved. I think it's easier to regenerate areas in London than most other places.

ladymagpie wrote: »

1. While I love London and the electric feel of the place, I wouldn't exchange my city's crime rate for yours.

Would like to see those rates in percentages to population/stats. I mean there might be 20 stabbings in London in a year, but compared to the amount of people in another area, they often find that their rate is worse. They showed something in the Standard recently that actually showed London was much safer than other major cities (per head).

Jx

Almo

I don't know why some people feel the need to polarise the issue. London is a great city. There are great places to live outside London too. What appeals to one won't appeal to another, and vice versa.