Is living in London really as bad as people make it out to be?
Posted by TheGalacticExplorer@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 139 comments
Hi! I'm a 21M mexican who has just finished college and, I am considering immigrating, and one of my top options is London.
But recently I've been looking at this and several other subs, as well as Quora and a few other forms, and seen mostly negative opinions about living in London, mainly about the cost of living (which I don't really have any expectation of it being an affordable place considering it is such a major city, and all cities the size of London are at the same price range or even more expensive), as well as high crime rates, low wages, it being dirty and dull.
I'm honestly looking for a place with good jobs, public transport, green with good quality of life.
Is London really all that bad, or are people just exaggerating?
klc81@reddit
It's fine.
Most of the vitriol you'll see online toward london is from people from quaint little hamlets like Manchester or Liverpool who visited once and found it scary.
Eyeous@reddit
Quaint little hamlets - I’m definitely stealing that. You know it’s definitely going to push some buttons! Someone said to me that Leeds is “the London of the North” the other day which made me giggle. 🤣
klc81@reddit
To be fair, Leeds does have almost the same population as London (had in 900ad).
Numerous_Stranger488@reddit
since when did living in a big city become a flex
Rough-Sprinkles2343@reddit
Can confirm. Partners family all northern and say the most dumbest things about london
josha95@reddit
“Most dumbest”
Rough-Sprinkles2343@reddit
Didn’t know this was an English class Joshua
Unfair_Mail_5445@reddit
Manchester and Liverpool quaint little hamlets? You smoking something? London is just a really expensive shithole
Purplepeal@reddit
My gripe with London was how long it took to see mates who were not local to me. Would be like a 2 hour trip. I could get from Sheffield (where I live now) to Leeds and back in that time.
Also going out for a few drinks after work meant I was absolutely dying for a piss once I got off public transport and had to find the nearest green space to piss in a bush.
I'll take Sheffield any day. I can cycle to all my mates easily on opp sides of the city and drive to see friends in other cities without much hassle. I have the Peak on my doorstep (not quite) and walk into the city center in 45 mins. And I can afford a house here working a job that is enjoyable. I enjoyed London in many ways and enjoy visiting still but it's such a massive ballache in so many ways, unless you're absolutely loaded. I lived in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam for a year and that was better than London.
klc81@reddit
Perfect example of what I'm talking about. Thanks.
Unfair_Mail_5445@reddit
Go on you wanna let me in on the joke?
IDFGMC@reddit
Go to the bathroom and look in the mirror.
Unfair_Mail_5445@reddit
In the house I can afford ok
That_Northern_bloke@reddit
To be fair the dash to platform 14 at Piccadilly is terrifying
Prize-Phrase-7042@reddit
The platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross is even scarier. What if it doesn't let you through ?!?!?!?
Timely_Egg_6827@reddit
Decent hospital just round corner.
Secure-lSociety-52@reddit
It is bad and it’s getting
ps1aracroftoes@reddit
Watch somebody called “2mwad” on YT has good videos on London would 100% recommend OP
ChrisPeacock_@reddit
Is this the guy that tells tourists to make friends in london by walking up to people wearing balaclavas in brixton and asking them if they want to get splashed 😭
east112@reddit
It depends. If you can afford it, it is probably the greatest city in the world. If you can't, then if course you'll be miserable. The vast majority can't afford it and their opinions would drown the ones of those who do.
T1mk99@reddit
How can a city the vast majority of normal people cant afford be considered the greatest city in the world?
CompetitionParty1475@reddit
EXACTLY
Crafty_Smoke_3187@reddit
It's the best in the world! 90% of the negativity online is people with something to gain from the engagement they get from spreading that kind of narrative
faxanadu38@reddit
Honestly people exaggerate a lot online
London is expensive yeah but that’s true for any global city. Wages aren’t amazing across the board but if you’re in the right industry there are way more job options than most places in Europe
Crime exists but it’s very area specific. Most people live normal lives without any issues. It’s not some constant danger zone like Reddit sometimes makes it sound
Public transport is genuinely one of the best things about London. You don’t need a car at all and you can get almost anywhere pretty easily
It’s also way greener than people expect. Loads of big parks neighbourhood parks canals etc. You can be in a quiet green area and still be 20–30 mins from central stuff
Dirty and dull is just not true. London is massive and varied. If you’re bored it’s usually because you’re staying in one bubble. There’s always something going on if you want it
Quality of life really depends on expectations and budget. If you’re expecting cheap rent and huge space you’ll struggle. So no it’s not perfect but it’s definitely not as bad as people online make it out to be.
tradegreek@reddit
One of the best cities in the world to live in imo I lived in London throughout my twenties and absolutely loved it
Gullible-Degree1117@reddit
Quality of life is not great there no way great
-Mantaforce-@reddit
It’s full of English people, fuck that!
Such_Tap_2041@reddit
London is a city in England, so of course there's English people.
-Mantaforce-@reddit
Yeah unfortunately England is full of English people
Such_Tap_2041@reddit
Shame that 😞
Such_Tap_2041@reddit
The crime rate in the UK is fairly even across all cities, it just depends on the area. If you live near the city centre or where they get a lot of tourists, the crime rate will be lower because authorities are always around, but further away in less popular areas, crime rate will be higher. I live in a small and more deprived city in mid England and I'm scared of leaving the house alone, because knife attacks and seggsual assault are rampant here! The place is also filthy and run down, almost like a ghetto, with lots of homeless addicts in the city centre that cause trouble! So, anyone saying London is high in crime, and dirty and dull have not being around at all! London is one of the best cities in the country, York is my favorite and if I ever afford to get out the shithole I was unfortunately born in, that will be where I move to!
martzgregpaul@reddit
If you look at the figures its way safer than most of the equivalent cities elsewhere. Some people just dont like having a muslim mayor so want to make out its like Kabul
ExtensionGuilty8084@reddit
This! And the same people wouldn’t dare speak their mind in public. They’re just weak who lives in zone 7482884838484 or in a different city around midland (lol)
Akril1c@reddit
No I live in Zone 1. There are too many foreigners, myself included.
ExtensionGuilty8084@reddit
Earl’s Court here. The latter.
RedMember123@reddit
Good jobs - one of the best markets on earth ✅ Public transport - one of the best in the world ✅ Green - one of the greenest cities in Europe ✅ Quality of life - Yes if you earn min £45k
London is one of the most vibrant, forward thinking, exciting and beautiful cities in the world. Your salary will dictate how much fun you have.
What did you study?
DaggerredMaster@reddit
London is not even in the top 10 of the greenest cities in Europe.
Public transport sucks, you get sweaty in the tube even in the winter because it doesn't have air con.
RedMember123@reddit
47% of london is green space or water, it has 3000 parks - more than any other European city. Tubes are 24 hours Friday and Saturday, run average every 3 mins connect most parts of the city and on the newer lines have aircon. It’s one of the most integrated and extensive transport systems on the planet.
Have you even visited?
DaggerredMaster@reddit
I have, and the questions are
You've compared this to other European cities, have you visited them? Do you think London is greener than most of them??
What does green means? Is it just parks? What about air quality index, pollution, clean streets?
Almost all other European capitals have integrated and extensive transport systems which are less crowded, more punctual and less expensive that doesn't break down often like London tubes does.
No-Dig-4508@reddit
Most of the local parks in London are horrible, full of litter, poorly maintained and overgrown, I've even seen mattresses dumped just inside park gates which makes a change as most just dump them on the streets with other household rubbish. I don't think they understand the concept of taking stuff to tips. The air quality is terrible, as is the constant barrage of noise and antisocial behaviour. It's probably the most unfriendly city in Western Europe too.
RedMember123@reddit
I’ve said London is ONE of the best in the world, not the best, not sure why you’re so triggered by this.
Where did you visit when you came to London?
Spontanudity@reddit
Don't move to London unless you've already got a job that pays well and can support your life in London. And like all major cities, there are vast differences between areas. But one thing remains, it's expensive to live here. But there are nice places and not-so-nice places, and everything in between.
BCRSVZ@reddit
It's a great place as long as you can cross the 40k mark, either come in at a job on 40k or more or something with clear progression to 40k or more.
Plane_Comb_1169@reddit
Can you rent your own place, with no housemates, on 40k?
Time-Mode-9@reddit
No, but flatshares are common in Central London, and can be a great way to get a social life
spacemanmoses@reddit
😂😂😂 Maybe if you then never left the place...
Barkasia@reddit
You can but it will likely be a shithole, quite far out, or a shithole that's quite far out.
No_Memory1601@reddit
London is the last place to look at. Its expensive, and its slowly sliding towards being a 3rd world city. As a British national, I no longer see London as our capital city. It is full of 3rd world immigrants, so I'd recommend Spain.
KingPing43@reddit
Cheers Nigel
No_Memory1601@reddit
Well, l won't lie.
TSC-99@reddit
It’s expensive and everything is a pain in the arse to do
quinc3_paste@reddit
London is incredible. It's endlessly fascinating and beautiful. But it does have a way of obliterating your savings. For me, it felt worth it to live there for a while just to have the experience.
Necessary-Nobody8138@reddit
It isn’t Britain.
oldmantres@reddit
I didn't enjoy living in London. But I felt it was relatively safe and it wasn't that dirty for a major city. Air quality was bad and it's crowded but otherwise what you'd expect. You're young, you'll enjoy it.
Caveman1214@reddit
There’s more to the UK than London, would you consider Queens?
ok2888@reddit
Not really but there are risks like any big city. I've lived here all my life and only once did I have a bad encounter where some masked up roadmen/gang members jumped out of a car and started chasing me down for no reason. Granted they were probably trying to kill me or at least seriously injure me but other than that there have been absolutely no incidents whatsoever.
One thing I will say though is make sure your phone and wallet are in a secure pocket that's not easy to just slip your hand into and when you have to use your phone in the street make sure you hold it tightly with two hands and are aware of who's around you, especially in central areas. Other than that you'll be fine, it's not a mad max warzone or anything some people might think it is it's still one of the safest cities in the world. I was at university in Swansea and I feel I was much more likely to end up getting stabbed or beaten to death there than in london🤣.
PrincessStephanieR@reddit
It’s expensive and crowded. But if you like that sort of city… go for it.
BigBadVern@reddit
Me and University friends all moved to London in the mid 90s. Shared house, about £50 a week each. We had a blast. Seems much different nowadays
Own_Translator_8894@reddit
I love London but it’s so expensive - I lived up north much cheaper but London is fun if you have a lot to cover rent etc ! I would need to earn a lot more to live there happily
KentuckyCandy@reddit
Dirty and dull? People will just say anything online.
Banterz0ne@reddit
I live in London.
It's more expensive than other cities in the UK... Of course, because it's the capital. It's not that expensive versus plenty of other European cities, new York etc.
Cost of living - same, it's cheaper than plenty of European cities, new York, Sydney, etc.
High crime rates, dirty and dull.... What? What city is this lol.
ConsiderationLow7156@reddit
Yeah, its a shithole
Londongal3@reddit
Its expensive but worth it.
Adorable-Salad1336@reddit
Ireland is where you need to go. The whole of the UK is deteriorating.
No_Potato_4341@reddit
You're probably an Irish that's biased against us lol
Adorable-Salad1336@reddit
I'm in London and want to move to Ireland :(
Foxzyx0@reddit
Ireland is a fantastic country but no picnic at the moment either. HSE GPs are oversubscribed and costly whereas the NHS is free, and good luck renting in the severe housing crisis.
MandatoryBeer@reddit
Dublin has a worse housing situation than London, somehow
GladAbbreviations981@reddit
I paid £12 or 310 mxn for 3 small tacos on a paper plate last week.
Independent_Olive373@reddit
It's definitely expensive but definitely not dirty or dull. Well.some bits not as clean as others, but London has probably got more cultural attractions - many free - than anywhere in the world. Plus some amazing green spaces. I am from Manchester and think London is amazing
No_Memory1601@reddit
Anything is better than Manchester especially how it is deteriorating.
Independent_Olive373@reddit
Manchester is the coolest city in the country. Not the nicest, but def the coolest. I've lived in London a long time and every time I go back I realise how great it is
Kriegsmarine777@reddit
As someone who grew up in the suburbs south of the river, London is great if you have money. That's really all it boils down to.
Having a good enough income means you don't need to live in the cheap areas, which is where the most notable crime is. 27 years and I've never experienced a crime firsthand, obviously anecdotal but the actual crime is blown out of proportion by the media. 90% of avoiding being a victim of crime in London is being aware of your surroundings and where you are. Similarly the dirty and dull parts are avoidable if you can afford it. I grew up in a leafy suburb, but you could take a short bus to Croydon or Penge and see a much grimier part of the city only a few miles away.
You can choose to live as close to any landmarks/workplaces as you want, and then enjoy the vibrant culture side of London. It's got genuinely amazing public transport in terms of coverage, sometimes you'll have to change a bunch to get somewhere but you can get almost anywhere, and within inner London at almost any time (Living south of the river I usually have a last train around 1am)
I'm a huge music fan, and I could go to a gig pretty much every night, if it wasn't for the money aspect. There's also both tonnes of green space inside London (just have a look at Google Maps on satellite view), and within an hour you can be in the South Downs, a little more and down on the coast (again, for a cost in a train fare). Within 3-4 hours you can be in the Peak District, within 7-8 hours you can be in the Highlands (or take a sleeper train to wake up in Fort William).
It all boils down to how much spare money you have (and similarly, how good your job is. I worked a decent but not high paying job for a long time because it was incredibly flexible with time off, so I could take advantage of cheap last minute deals or sudden gig announcements.)
Formal_Produce3759@reddit
Awful to work and live in, fun to votes.
explorer9898@reddit
You’re from Mexico so I’m pretty sure London would still have the lowest homicide rate of any city in all of Mexico if it were in that country for context
TheGalacticExplorer@reddit (OP)
Fair, i'm sure in no place other than Mexico or Afghanistan does a major city get blocked off by cartels for 3 days.
explorer9898@reddit
Basically the point I am making is London is high crime in comparison to other cities in the UK and Europe more broadly- if London were a city in South America and nothing changed except its geographic location- it would be one of the safest / lowest crime cities in South America
ian9outof10@reddit
Just to add, please come - we need as many Mexicans as possible to live here so there’s a reason for more Mexican food. Please I’m begging you. You don’t have to start a restaurant, but by being here you’ll want a taste of home and Mexican restaurants will meet that need, prosper and expand. Again, please 😁
Tw1nkl3land@reddit
On what basis are you planning to move to London?! To study? To work? Thanks
collapse_2030@reddit
Long time Londoner here... It's a great city and one of those rare places that quickly feels like home even if you are not from here (very few places like that in the world). Many things to do, and you will always have friends passing through town. It's exciting and anything you want or like you will find.
Don't worry about crime, it is actually a very safe city (certainly compared to Mexico!). People complain about it but there is a lot of exaggeration on this point and most of that is straight out racism. I live in what is considered a 'problem' area and have never seen or had any problems.
The only two things I would say you should be aware of: first, infrastructure is crumbling in the UK. The health system is in chaos, schools and universities are collapsing, and you can see it on people's faces. If you have a family or health issues you should be aware of this and maybe think again. Second, rent and housing prices are crazy (as is general cost of living). Housing is also substandard and small for what you pay. As others have said, you need to have your financial bases covered. Don't expect to come here and find a job that will pay your way easily!
Hope that helps!
ShockingHair63@reddit
Cost of living is bad, especially for the young. But in terms of crime etc I think it gets excessively negative press in the media. Some crimes are on the up and that is a problem, but it’s not the apocalyptic scene painted by some foreign media in particular. Much safer than many other large wealthy cities.
Anxious-Molasses9456@reddit
like any capital ans big city, theres good and bad
if you dont have a job already, living in London looking for a job is a really bad idea
morecbt@reddit
Born and lived in London my whole life. I love the place.
Jamesapm@reddit
It's a 💩 🕳️
JPK12794@reddit
Depends on your lifestyle and if you like London. You'll need a good wage to live the lifestyle or you'll be work and home then trying to budget every penny to be able to live there but do nothing. If you're earning decent wages you'll be able to do things and if you enjoy what London has to offer you'll like it. My friend lives there and loves it. I personally hate being in London and would never want to live anywhere near it, I last went 2 years ago and regretted every second. I'd spend some time there for sure first.
PatTheCatMcDonald@reddit
I tried it for a few years, got out just as the interweb took off. Was much easier to network back then. Now everybody is too busy walling themselves off from social contact and just using social media instead.
Timely_Egg_6827@reddit
Lived there 10 years. If you want cheaper and less urban, then live in zone 4. I spent first 3 years in Islington and my bedsit was expensive, the city is bustling but you have access to great music, great theatre and travel links fantastic.
I moved out to zone 4 when a new night club opened nearby and things got more shady. But still work in Central London and mostly pretty calm if sensible. There is crime but it tends to be concentrated in certain areas. You pay more in travel and inconvenience but many quiet residential areas.
It's a big city but generally well maintained and low crime unless you go looking for it. Rents are high though.
Nyx_Necrodragon101@reddit
One of the things people like to do is moan. Yes our crime rate is higher than average but it's not the war zone people make out it is. It's comparable with most large European cities and lower than US cities like NY or LA.
It's expensive but that's because lots of people come here. There's huge demand. It's got good transport links and there's always something going on, even in my sleepy suburb. Is it perfect? No but it's not a bad shout.
Independent-Band8412@reddit
https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/comments/1guey7u/londons_violent_crime_compared_to_the_national/
Even then crime is concentrated in specific areas, the majority of London is below average crime wise
Nyx_Necrodragon101@reddit
God I love Map Porn! You low key made my day with this.
Independent-Band8412@reddit
Great! It was an interesting map, if I remember correctly a few of the dangerous areas were around stadiums or other large venues where lots of drunk people gather In close quarters so yeah, pretty safe with some trouble in areas where you'd expect things to happen
Current_Pitch8944@reddit
London's a shit hole. The people are rude. Costs too much and to receive too little. The city of London isn't even governed the same as the rest of the country. It is no longer and English city and hopefully it will naturally lose it's city status like Winchester did as more people leave it.
absolutepetrichor@reddit
If you’re not in East, which is essentially a Muslim area now, it’s fine. You really need to earn 6 figures to be comfortable though.
shredditorburnit@reddit
Food is fairly cheap, by international standards, rent is very expensive by anyone's standards.
Transport isn't extortionate, parks and a lot of museums are free.
Utilities aren't cheap but if you're working they won't be anything to be anxious about.
You are meant to get a licence if you want a television. Costs a little bit, but you can sort it online in minutes.
Crimes not that bad really. It's there and it's not impossible it will happen to you, but if you're sensible it's unlikely. Always lock your doors and windows when leaving the house.
Work - skilled stuff that's in demand can achieve a rather good salary. Unskilled work is paid terribly, as is skilled work that isn't in much demand.
There are income rules about immigrating to the UK, you should check you can get a visa that lets you do what you want to do.
makemycockcry@reddit
Something to do and people to do it with, the greatest city in the World. Nothing to do and no one to do it with, Hell, vein opening Hell.
ReformedWolf@reddit
I lived in London for a good few years. It was great fun, yes it's expensive so you may not live in the nicest place, or the most luxurious space. but there's so much to do and explore that if you're young and not tied down absolutely do it. As for crime it's a major metropolis, it's a high crime rate for the UK but globally it's relatively safe. Plenty of opportunities as well.
MojoMomma76@reddit
I've lived here for over 20 years (moved in my late teens for Uni, moved away for five years and then came back). It's not cheap. But if you have a reasonably good salary then it's one of the best places to live I can imagine. Every kind of cultural offering you can imagine on your doorstep, great (if expensive) reliable public transport, restaurants from almost every country (though Mexican food here is crap... the veg isn't the same and it's just not good). Wonderful parks. I live in SE London and can run from my front door to the river mostly through parks for my ten k route.
If you've got reasonable street smarts you're unlikely to experience crime, unless you get involved with shady stuff.
If you come, welcome!
OldLondon@reddit
No, the vast majority of people who moan about London don’t live here.
It’s like any other capital city, some lovely parts, some not so nice parts, some parts are super expensive, some places are shit holes, some places I wouldn’t walk alone at night and more places that I would without hesitation.
I’ve lived here 55 years and never once been a victim of any kind of crime nor have the vast majority of people I know.
AppropriateGene8057@reddit
London is ok but it’s soulless trap. Come to Manchester or Liverpool, real cities and genuinely warm to new people.
putlersux@reddit
As a Mexican you are kinda used to gang violence, it's not that bad though
angrybadger77@reddit
It’s definitely anything but dull, but it is expensive!
Independent-Band8412@reddit
Depende de las oportunidades que tenga tu carrera. Si puedes optar a un salario bueno es un buen sitio para vivir, si no creo que es mejor ir a ciudades más pequeñas.
Lo del crimen son exageraciones en mi experiencia, en 7 años no he tenido ningún problema. puede que le preocupe a un japonés pero por desgracia en México creo que estáis curados de espanto en este tema
Suitable-Analysis321@reddit
Yes it's a great city to live... And work!! You'll love it here if you are ready to work hard, play hard and spend big. Most people who live here earn enough to live well and enjoy life after a few years of working hard. I immigrated here 20 years back... Never regretted it.
Material_Pick451@reddit
I’m 22, lived here my whole life. I don’t want to deter you from coming if it’s a dream you have. But as somebody that has spent their whole life in the UK, I wouldn’t recommend that anybody spends their money, time and energy moving here.
That goes for the UK as a whole, there are so many beautiful places here to see, but the government does not like you unless you came on a boat… some will cry about this but it’s true.
There is no support, there is no consideration, there is no respect, there is just greed, resentment and abandonment from the self appointed “leaders”.
Brother if I had chance to leave this place for good, I would in a heartbeat. I highly suggest looking at a different country.
tl1295@reddit
The only People who complain about London are the ones who rarely visit or have never lived there, it’s one of the greatest cities in the world
W51976@reddit
It’s a very expensive place to live, and I’m born and bred Londoner.
My advice would be, give yourself 12-18 months to test the waters, and see if it’s a suitable option for you. Most people will know by the time one year is up, and that’s usually when the honeymoon period of being in a new location wears off.
If you can find a job that will eventually be remote, I would move outside of London, but as a person who’s under 30, the big city on your doorstep is something many young people are willing to suffer, despite it being unaffordable.
You will need to move into an HMO or flat share for a period of time, as living by yourself will prove very expensive.
Hasbeast@reddit
If you can afford to live comfortably there, it's the best.
psychopastry@reddit
I've lived in Hackney and Ealing, absolutely loved my time in both but it is astronomically expensive and there's really no getting around that. If you have a good chance at a well paying job or financial support from family then go for it.
bearvswoman@reddit
Over 80k mint
Under, shit
superjambi@reddit
I love London and wouldn’t live anywhere else in the UK. There’s lots of reasons why people on the internet hate on London, but a big reason why those opinions dominate online is because most people who love living in London are outside, enjoying the cultural, culinary and social delights of one of the worlds truly global cities, and not inside posting on Reddit or Quora.
harrythebau5@reddit
No, it's class.
kotare78@reddit
I had the time of my life in London. Lived in Richmond Upon Thames and earned good money.
“When a man is tired of London he’s tired of life.”
Foxzyx0@reddit
I would definitely consider London as having good job opportunities, good public transport, and very green (in a lot of parts). The main reason people complain is the cost of living if I'm honest.
Vaxtez@reddit
If you can afford London, then yes. It's an excellent place to live. You've got alot of job opportunities, a really solid (albeit costly) transit system with the TFL services & National rail services. This is on top of many things to see & do, some of which are free.
RobCarrol75@reddit
Yes. Stay in Mexico.
MemeEditsReturns@reddit
It's worse.
EyeAlternative1664@reddit
London can be the worst place to live and the best, determined by how much money you have and how many friends you have.
As someone who never wanted to move here I love it, and have done for twenty years.
The people who knock it tend to be provincial simpletons who don’t like to date outside their family.
You may miss Mexico a fair bit as we don’t have that many Mexicans here.
codechris@reddit
No, its amazing if you like big city living. You're better off asking in the London sub to get more realistic answers
isabellelaneldn@reddit
Oui
Annual_History_796@reddit
If you can afford it it’s an amazing place to live.
denseplan@reddit
Bad is relative, and without knowing more about you and your other options are for immigrating are then nobody can give a useful answer.
For example if you compare cost of living of London to New York City or Zurich, then London's is cheaper. Low wages is entirely dependant on your career and whether it matches what the city's largest industries are.
London is absolutely not dull, but yea doesn't have the architectural charm of Paris or night life of Berlin. So "dull" is dependant on your own tastes.
bambiiambi@reddit
What job are you planing go get?
dancarebear@reddit
It was Great until I turned 30 and realised I wanted more than an overpriced one bed dump in zone 7
greylord123@reddit
London isn't for me but I can see why people would like it. It's a big city with a lot going on. There's a lot of culture and a lot of stuff to do.
The downside being that it is expensive to live there and it's very crowded.
Personally I'd rather live somewhere quiet where I can afford to have a nice house. I can see why people who like somewhere like London would hate that.
It depends entirely on what you want to get out of it. If you want a vibrant city with a lot of culture then London is definitely a good place to be.
OkGlass6902@reddit
London is good for most things. I enjoy living here.
It's bad in terms of expense and what you get for your money in terms of housing.
If you are OK about high costs and a rather modest size of accommodation I'd say it's a wonderful city.
Fingertoes1905@reddit
I’m a single parent of teenage girls and I love living in my city. We are thriving and I love London
Blueberry252@reddit
I've lived here for around 10 years (grew up in a town in the south of England)
I absolutely love it, all my friends love it too. There's always something fun to do, especially in the summer it's just buzzing with people in parks, cafe seating in the streets or bars. So much music and theatre. Honestly whatever you want you'll be able to find it.
If you're spending all your time around tourist areas then yeah it's crowded. But most of us Londoners don't live there or go there often. There's loads of awesome boroughs all with their own character which are less hectic.
I don't know why people say it's dirty, that's not something I've experienced.
As others have said it is expensive, I was fortunate that when I moved here the cost of living crisis had not hit and it was feasible to share a flat with a friend on my 20k salary. It would be much more difficult now, so do keep that in mind.
HumanCalligrapher559@reddit
I would recommend staying somewhere just outside of london. London isnt what it used to be.
SummerEchoes@reddit
London was the best place I've ever lived by FAR. And I've lived in a lot of major cities.
Scary-Watercress2585@reddit
Same!
Dannybuoy77@reddit
London is massive. Greater London goes on for miles and miles. I live in the suburbs. It's 11 miles to the centre. I can cycle it in a under an hour. About the same on public transport. I love it as I live in the Goldilocks zone. Close enough to be loving in London but far enough out to be able to enjoy green spaces. A good community too. Sure if you live in the mixer, it's far more full on, but pick a good place a bit further out and it's a really bloody satisfying place to live. It's a wonderful city, really is
Classic_Mammoth_9379@reddit
London is a big place, so it really depends where you are. Maybe the people that hate london have spent a day or two in the rammed tourist spots, fed up of crowds around Chinatown, Westminster etc, well I don't think anyone likes that aspect.
The thing I've always loved about London is that there is actually lots of green space, you can find plenty of places with a high street that still has independent shops, pubs and restaurants that have decent footfall. I think those folks in the run down suburbs elsewhere who think they hate London might actually find their dream suburb there.
No doubt it's expensive to live there but there are some benefits, like plenty of functioning markets where you can get decent fruit and veg for far less than the supermarkets, public transport is also probably the best and cheapest in the country.
Clockwork-Armadillo@reddit
In 2018 Londons homicides reached its highest level in 10 years, not 20, 30 or 40 years.. 10 and yet a massive portion of the population who despite clearly being much older then 10 years old reacted to this news by running around crying saying things like "it never used to be like this back in the day" and "the whole countries gone to pot".
For context the total number of homicides in London that year was 149. In a city of over 8 million people not including the millions of tourists and commuters.
craigybacha@reddit
London is fantastic for those with career opportunities / studying opportunities there. Otherwise I'd stay away, despite the positives it has.
If you can get good career progression opportunities (which is what happened to me), then it's worth the sacrifices of having zero money, risk of crime, overcrowding in zone 1, etc.
If moneys not an issue to you though, yeah there's tons of great things about London, especially for a young person, but it depends what you're looking for.
POSITIVES FROM MY EXPERIENCE OF LIIVNG THERE FOR 15 YEARS:
- Tons to do.
- Lots of incredible eateries.
- As much culture as you can soak in.
- ALWAYS something to do.
- Lots of job opportunities.
- Good public transport, but it can get very busy at peak times.
BusyBeeBridgette@reddit
It is no different to living in any other city, truth be told. I was born and raised there and I loved it.
That_Northern_bloke@reddit
It's a major city so yea the crime rate will be higher as there's more people. The Police have been underfunded/cut for years by previous governments so response times are lacking. Don't believe what you see about stabbings etc, you're extremely unlikely to get stabbed randomly if you use your common sense. Phone theft is a problem, but again use your common sense and keep your phone in your pocket.
As for dull? I mean with excellent museums, the West End, and excellent parks, I've been to worse places
No_Potato_4341@reddit
Depends in London where you live like every major city.
EntryCapital6728@reddit
I dont even like visiting mate
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