Why does everyone make out like North London and South London are so different?

Posted by strattad@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 3 comments

A friend of mine from North London says she has rarely been and says "it's like a completely different world down there"

North London has some desirable areas like Hampstead, Muswell Hill, Highgate, and billionaire's row can be found here. On the other hand South London has Richmond, Twickenham, Kingston and Earlsfield which I believe to be pretty nice. Having been to areas in both the north and the south there seems to be a completely equal distribution of rough and nice areas in each.

What makes North and South London so apparently different from one another? Is it the people? Is there a different culture? Or is it just some running joke? Please help this person from the home counties out as it is completely lost on me.

Serious answers only please, I saw a thread like this a while back and the only comments were people from whichever side of London saying it was because the other was shit.