What's it like living in London?

What's up with Brighton, I'm asking from a self interest perspective as I've toyed with the idea of moving there at various points over the years, we have friends in Hove and always enjoy at trip down to the coast.
 
I'm constantly pondering moving out of London. Generally, it's more fun the younger you are, but I know people who are old-ish and having to have treatment in hospital. They are convinced that they are getting better treatment in London NHS hospitals, so it would appear that the popularity of London starts to go up again in the higher age-groups.
 
Lived in Wimbledon, Clapham and now in North London. So much to do and its great on your doorstep but its expensive. Lots of my married friends with family have moved out to Herts and Essex and beyond for a higher standard of living and fully understandable at their time of their lives but the downsides are there too. Commuting used to be one of them but given changing work patterns not so much nowadays. The post by Newboulds Pork Pie pretty much encapsulates it.
 
Lived in South East (Deptford) for four years around 15 years ago. The area was (slowly) gentrifying but it was really interesting time to be there. Old classics (the market, pie and mash shop, "propa boozahs" etc) mixed with the new (restaurants, breweries etc).

Family situation meant we moved back up North but were it not for that, we'd probably still be there. Worked/stayed there quite a lot since, it's still a great city.

As someone who was (more) into going out at the time the options were endless, probably overwhelming to be honest. Frequently 6-7 bands on each night you'd want to see. I'm not sure that would still be my way of life there if I'm honest, and we'd probably have moved out of zone 2 by now (Walthamstow was always on the list).

In all my time of living there I rarely saw the attraction of "central" though, and can probably count on one hand the amount of times I ventured into town (not gig related). It really is a city of villages, and despite being 10 mins from Trafalgar Sq on the train we'd spend most of our time around Deptford, New Cross, Brockley and Greenwich.
 
Pie and Mash is proper shyt.. honestly ffs
I would struggle do worse at home with any pie, some peas and some smash.

Honey on Pizza?
just lump an extra £10 on it
LONDON

Cucumbers in Gin
I’ll ave another £10 on top of that too me ask chynah!!

Tube trains are like that boat off Willy Wonka

Everywhere feels like smoking tabs
 
Moved down to London 23 years ago. Have lived in Barnet, Enfield, Southwark & Newham. If you are single and can afford it it’s an amazing place for going out/meeting people. For couples there’s always stuff to do, so many interesting places. Some parts of Greater London are undoubtedly a dump but there’s also loads of good places. Down by the river with beers when the sun is shining in Putney/Richmond is up there. Living in London broadens your mind and horizons. It introduces you to a wide range of cultures and people. I don’t regret moving there. When I had children I moved to leafy Berkshire on the outskirts as do many people when they settle down. Best of both worlds now, 20 mins to central London on the lizzy line while living by the rural Thames. Also sold a two bed flat and bought a Victorian house when I moved further out, flat was a good investment as my money went further.
 
Different strokes for different folks; there's no right or wrong.
I reckon its mainly down to time of life and status of relationship.
Younger people not bound by kids have the hunger for what London offers and the energy to cope with it.
Great to earn more money, inevitable you spend more money. Fine until or unless you have to save or spend your money on others.

Nowhere has everything, so we prioritise and make our choices.
I wouldn't swap being In North Yorkshire with the beauty, peace and safety, for any amount of choice of on tap food, culture or entertainment.
But I am 61, kids have left home, older family are passing and I can afford to travel to see friends I miss and places I want to be.

As I say, each to their own.
I'm going down for the Arsenal Man City match the weekend after this and am looking forward to it. But when I get on the train back on sunday night I will smile as I leave the Cross for home.
 
JM14 said:
Never seen the attraction of London. Minus Paris it must be the worst big city in Europe, it’s an awful place
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What makes you from that opinion?

Not having a go it's just I'm curious.

For the record I love living here. I, like someone at the beginning of the thread, wanted to come here for a year just to see what it's like.

Now I don't want to leave. Just being so close to so much stuff feels good. It has the best theatres, best restaurant choices, best transport, best independent shops surprisingly, best choice of gigs, best transport, biggest history of any city in England.

Sadly though it has become too expensive and next year I'm going to have to move out. This will be an unhappy time
 
Few of my mates who we left behind are starting to move, cost being the prime motivating factor.

Kent coast seems popular I think? Whitstable, Margate etc.
 
changingman said:
Few of my mates who we left behind are starting to move, cost being the prime motivating factor.

Kent coast seems popular I think? Whitstable, Margate etc.
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Probably cheaper there I guess. But they seem to out of the way. Margate especially is very remote.

I think I'll miss being in a hub for travel
 
I used the Elizabeth line few days ago and it charged me 10p clocking in using my card going to Tottenham court Road, when I clocked out it didn't charge me anything. On the return trip it didn't cost me anything at all. So it was 10p to go in and out of London.
 
GibbosEmpire said:
I used the Elizabeth line few days ago and it charged me 10p clocking in using my card going to Tottenham court Road, when I clocked out it didn't charge me anything. On the return trip it didn't cost me anything at all. So it was 10p to go in and out of London.
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It will catch up and charge you later on. The 10p is just an authorisation
 
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