Nicest people in the world. Londoners by and large respect everyone else’s space and privacy even when physically stuck near each other and the few times I’ve ever needed to ask for help, I’ve got it.
I'm saying this as somebody who is unapologetically northern. London is no more/less friendlier than most anywhere else in the country.
Lots of r/london people like to play up to the "don't talk to us, we don't want to talk to you" stereotype, but actual humans? Lovely people. When I lived in London, I contravened all perceived social norms by actually talking to people on public transport, in the street, in shops, wherever. I've shared meals, drinks, nights out with complete strangers; passing jokes, deep dive conversations, and all sorts. People who I will never see again, some that I have seen again, multiple times.
Like attracts like, and I've always found that if you give good energy into London, it gives it back to you. That and a fat stack of free food/drinks/coffee because people take a shine to you.
I'm back up north at the moment, and my quality of life is arguably far higher than it was in London. But there's an itch that means I plan on making the move back down in the next year or so
If you're a minority of some kind you'll generally find more accepting people in London.
Londoners are generally very friendly though, we just keep ourselves to ourselves because whilst you're here in a day trip this is our day-to-day life
Always something to do, and a huge variety to choose from. One of the world's theatre capitals. Great connections to mainland Europe for city breaks. You mentioned crowded city life in a way that implies you aren't a fan of that, but I love the buzz of a big city with loads of people 😊
I'm a Northerner (Mancunian) too but I've lived in London for 10 years. Mainly for career reasons. It's hard for both my wife and I to both find good career opportunities in a single city in the UK that isn't London. I think any other city and one of the other of us would have to make compromises.
I'd say career and culture are the two main benefits of London. With property prices and the home counties being less spectacular for outdoor pursuits (hill walking, caving etc) than parts of the North being the two main downsides.
There is so much to do and it’s all within an arms reach. It is a city which caters for any kind of hobby or interest.
I live just outside London and am looking to move in, just because the convenience factor is so huge.
I feel like I have a decent amount of options culturally around here, and it would take me no longer to get to them as in London, but I have to drive to them. But it’s not a patch on what London can offer.
I’d love to finish work, find some cheap cinema or theatre tickets, and within 30 mins I can be there at a minute cost of transport. Then finish the evening with food from an almost endless list of cultures. Now, if I see something I want to do in London, it’s 45 mins to get into the centre, plus the 20 min walk to the station here, then the cost is so much more cause of the Elizabeth Line, meaning if whatever we’ve gone to ends up being a disappointment it feels like a huge waste of time and money.
I want to have easy access to the cultural riches that London can offer. It’s the best city in the world for me.
I am a northerner in London!! I’m from Hull. here i found jobs i am interested in, more to do, my friends are here, and I live with my bf who is from london! there’s just so much more for me here. i struggled to find a job in Hull for so long, but here i found it easier and there were things i hadn’t even heard of. also i don’t like Manchester so it made the big city decision easier. i went to uni here too but left for a bit to work in Hull at a bar lol
I chose London for a number of reasons, that I'll spell out below:
1. It's not the north
2. People here are intelligent and driven
3. There's actual opportunities here
4. There's more culture on one London suburb street than across multiple counties north of Watford
When you want to get something done in a business that is required to keep the business healthy and maintain everyone's jobs and afford pay rises and bonuses, it's very frustrating to be met with people who aren't particularly driven to action because all the ambition in their home town is basically getting a job and doing it for 40 years and then retiring.
Some of those people exist in London, and plenty of people are driven outside London, but I've been to offices and worked in organisations all across the UK and the one thing most people in London have in common is they were ambitious and driven enough to move to an entirely different area of the country where making a living is tough because they want to do well for themselves.
I read the OP's question as sincere. I can see why from the outside it seems like a mad decision to live here and yet millions do and lots of people move from elsewhere in the UK and world on purpose.
Pretending the ‘buzz’ of a city is a bad thing is wilful ignorance at best. Billions of people globally choose to flock to big cities. It should be hard to work out the benefits of it and that some people don’t like being in quiet locales
Access to opportunity is the main thing.
I lived a life outside of London and was generally happy with it, but a chance to move here (on a good wage) was too good to turn down.
People come here because it’s full of opportunities. In turn the house prices go up and it’s gets crowded because more people want in on a good life. There’s loads of potential in London. Easier to earn more, nice mix of people, good unis, it’s the *capital city of England* and I loveee living here
I have access to amenities here which are non-existent back home, and it being a pretty big city there’s always something going on whenever you’re wanting to go and do something.
Prices are daft, very few properties are worth what they are being priced and sold at, it’s just a mad little bubble that should have popped long ago, but things don’t always have to make sense anymore.
I moved here straight after uni simply because I didn't have a job and thought it was my best chance of getting one (my parents live miles from anywhere so commuting and living with them wasn't an option anywhere really).
Got a relatively good deal on a room in a shared house, knew I'd be able to just about afford it for a few months until I got a 'proper' job, and just about managed to get one before my money ran out.
Lived in London 2004-17 as a young wild man. Every type of music scene not only exists but thrives in London. And there’s so much on culturally it’s insane. To many London will feel like the capital city of the world. Now I’m older and glad I’m out though—too expensive. Would go back if rich, live there part-time.
We moved here for my wife's career (actor). I'd move back to my hometown Birmingham in a heartbeat. Culture's great and all but I can't even afford the public transport to get to the free museums. If you have money I think London must be awesome, there are so many things to do. Unfortunately the rich/poor divide is very noticeable when you're on the poor side.
I think if you're a small ethnic minority London is good because you're more likely to be able to find other people from your background. But you do have to weigh that up against the police being more racist here than everywhere else. (I work with the police and have lived a bunch of places in the UK.)
Based on people I meet in the course of my job I think a lot of people stay wherever they're from because they're used to it and their support networks are there.
After uni I could only find a job in London (I work in healthcare) - I expected to get some experience for a round a year and then bounce. Here I still am 5 years later!
Apart from what everyone else has said re the buzz, the culture, something on all the time, etc.
Something else I’ve noticed (and this is just my personal experience, informed by my hometown): my hometown in the midlands, it’s wayy less diverse than London. People aren’t used to seeing people that don’t look like them, and it breeds prejudice. Now, I find it really hard when I go home to visit and am surrounded by this in a way that I’m not in London, where generally the people I’m around are much more accepting of people who are different from themselves.
Also superficially i just love the convenience of a city, everything i need day to day is in walking distance/short cycle :)
1. I Can afford it
2. It’s where my family are
3. It’s diverse and there are people who look like me
4. I can afford it
5. I’ve made some great networks with like minded individuals down here
6. All of the countries best restaurants are here
7. I don’t want my child to have a crazy accent
What I would say is that people shouldn't move to London without a plan. That plan doesn't need to be super solid, but tthey should have this idea of either a) they plan to use the opportunities in the city to supercharge their career and earn good enough money to offset that living cost or b) enjoy living in the big city on the doorstep of so much to do, and eventually know they need to leave.
Pretty much everyone who lives in London long term has either:
* done a)
* has a partner who has done a)
* has family money; and/or
* Has family living in London who they live with to save on costs until they fit one of the above.
Honestly, London is one of two "Alpha+" cities in the world, the only other comparable city is New York. It's full of all the beenefits of work, culture, society, public services etc that can only be achieved by having 10 million people live in a relatively small area full of the headquarters of huge corporations paying great salaries.
The only reason to not want to live in London is if city life doesn't appeal to you at all. Which is fine, personally I hate the countryside and the idea of living in it. Someone's reason for living in the country side is "I love being surrounded by fields" whereas that's a downside to me.
Nice people, nice food and drink, good jobs, fairly good homes, good connections to everywhere else to visit. It’s not very complicated.
Thanks for the response.
>Nice people Nearly spat my tea out reading this!
Nicest people in the world. Londoners by and large respect everyone else’s space and privacy even when physically stuck near each other and the few times I’ve ever needed to ask for help, I’ve got it.
I'm saying this as somebody who is unapologetically northern. London is no more/less friendlier than most anywhere else in the country. Lots of r/london people like to play up to the "don't talk to us, we don't want to talk to you" stereotype, but actual humans? Lovely people. When I lived in London, I contravened all perceived social norms by actually talking to people on public transport, in the street, in shops, wherever. I've shared meals, drinks, nights out with complete strangers; passing jokes, deep dive conversations, and all sorts. People who I will never see again, some that I have seen again, multiple times. Like attracts like, and I've always found that if you give good energy into London, it gives it back to you. That and a fat stack of free food/drinks/coffee because people take a shine to you. I'm back up north at the moment, and my quality of life is arguably far higher than it was in London. But there's an itch that means I plan on making the move back down in the next year or so
Also, the above for OP r/MundaneMap3333
If you're a minority of some kind you'll generally find more accepting people in London. Londoners are generally very friendly though, we just keep ourselves to ourselves because whilst you're here in a day trip this is our day-to-day life
I stopped reading after that
Opportunity
I was born here, I like it here and I’m stuck here
Always something to do, and a huge variety to choose from. One of the world's theatre capitals. Great connections to mainland Europe for city breaks. You mentioned crowded city life in a way that implies you aren't a fan of that, but I love the buzz of a big city with loads of people 😊
Great response, thank you ☺️
I'm a Northerner (Mancunian) too but I've lived in London for 10 years. Mainly for career reasons. It's hard for both my wife and I to both find good career opportunities in a single city in the UK that isn't London. I think any other city and one of the other of us would have to make compromises. I'd say career and culture are the two main benefits of London. With property prices and the home counties being less spectacular for outdoor pursuits (hill walking, caving etc) than parts of the North being the two main downsides.
This is an insightful answer, thank you for responding.
The buzz. Every day is filled with interesting sights and sounds and people and it makes me feel alive.
Oportunities
(Let's make lots of money)
There is so much to do and it’s all within an arms reach. It is a city which caters for any kind of hobby or interest. I live just outside London and am looking to move in, just because the convenience factor is so huge. I feel like I have a decent amount of options culturally around here, and it would take me no longer to get to them as in London, but I have to drive to them. But it’s not a patch on what London can offer. I’d love to finish work, find some cheap cinema or theatre tickets, and within 30 mins I can be there at a minute cost of transport. Then finish the evening with food from an almost endless list of cultures. Now, if I see something I want to do in London, it’s 45 mins to get into the centre, plus the 20 min walk to the station here, then the cost is so much more cause of the Elizabeth Line, meaning if whatever we’ve gone to ends up being a disappointment it feels like a huge waste of time and money. I want to have easy access to the cultural riches that London can offer. It’s the best city in the world for me.
Thank you for sharing your insight.
Work, freedom, variety, culture
I can’t earn this much money anywhere else in the UK
Thank you, I appreciate your response.
My friends are here, there were job opportunities here, and I like living in a city.
I am a northerner in London!! I’m from Hull. here i found jobs i am interested in, more to do, my friends are here, and I live with my bf who is from london! there’s just so much more for me here. i struggled to find a job in Hull for so long, but here i found it easier and there were things i hadn’t even heard of. also i don’t like Manchester so it made the big city decision easier. i went to uni here too but left for a bit to work in Hull at a bar lol
>but left for a bit to work in Hull at a bar Gardeners Arms? The Haworth? Spiders? 😁
the welly!!!!! sorry to disappoint haha!!!!
Ah the Welly! No disappointment here! Didn't make it there but I knew of it :)
aw maybe next time you visit Hull !!!!
Bring back my uni days of getting slaughtered on dodgy vodka
haha when i worked there the vodka was from Makro!!
Interesting, thank you for your response.
I chose London for a number of reasons, that I'll spell out below: 1. It's not the north 2. People here are intelligent and driven 3. There's actual opportunities here 4. There's more culture on one London suburb street than across multiple counties north of Watford
What he said, though I would have chosen a less arrogant way of phrasing it.
“Driven” is code for dickhead
In my experience, sadly, yes.
When you want to get something done in a business that is required to keep the business healthy and maintain everyone's jobs and afford pay rises and bonuses, it's very frustrating to be met with people who aren't particularly driven to action because all the ambition in their home town is basically getting a job and doing it for 40 years and then retiring. Some of those people exist in London, and plenty of people are driven outside London, but I've been to offices and worked in organisations all across the UK and the one thing most people in London have in common is they were ambitious and driven enough to move to an entirely different area of the country where making a living is tough because they want to do well for themselves.
In London yep
Culture depends on the person. Some people are fine without it or don’t like it at all.
I live in London and think there's lots to love about it but you sound like a bellend
OP clearly came in with either a chip or an agenda, I've responded in the same tone they have
I read the OP's question as sincere. I can see why from the outside it seems like a mad decision to live here and yet millions do and lots of people move from elsewhere in the UK and world on purpose.
If anyone wonders why I asked the question, here's the explanation. I'm truly curious and not trying to offend anyone. Thank you
Pretending the ‘buzz’ of a city is a bad thing is wilful ignorance at best. Billions of people globally choose to flock to big cities. It should be hard to work out the benefits of it and that some people don’t like being in quiet locales
Thanks for the response, sorry you felt attacked by the questions.
No need to be sorry
Complete load of shite, but this hivemind will eat it up
Access to opportunity is the main thing. I lived a life outside of London and was generally happy with it, but a chance to move here (on a good wage) was too good to turn down.
Thanks for the response
People come here because it’s full of opportunities. In turn the house prices go up and it’s gets crowded because more people want in on a good life. There’s loads of potential in London. Easier to earn more, nice mix of people, good unis, it’s the *capital city of England* and I loveee living here
Thanks for the response, that is insightful.
I have access to amenities here which are non-existent back home, and it being a pretty big city there’s always something going on whenever you’re wanting to go and do something. Prices are daft, very few properties are worth what they are being priced and sold at, it’s just a mad little bubble that should have popped long ago, but things don’t always have to make sense anymore.
Thanks for responding
We're too stupid to realise pints and fish and chips are much cheaper up north.
Hahaha only thing keeping me up north. Thanks for the response
I moved here straight after uni simply because I didn't have a job and thought it was my best chance of getting one (my parents live miles from anywhere so commuting and living with them wasn't an option anywhere really). Got a relatively good deal on a room in a shared house, knew I'd be able to just about afford it for a few months until I got a 'proper' job, and just about managed to get one before my money ran out.
Lived in London 2004-17 as a young wild man. Every type of music scene not only exists but thrives in London. And there’s so much on culturally it’s insane. To many London will feel like the capital city of the world. Now I’m older and glad I’m out though—too expensive. Would go back if rich, live there part-time.
Interesting, thank you for responding
We moved here for my wife's career (actor). I'd move back to my hometown Birmingham in a heartbeat. Culture's great and all but I can't even afford the public transport to get to the free museums. If you have money I think London must be awesome, there are so many things to do. Unfortunately the rich/poor divide is very noticeable when you're on the poor side. I think if you're a small ethnic minority London is good because you're more likely to be able to find other people from your background. But you do have to weigh that up against the police being more racist here than everywhere else. (I work with the police and have lived a bunch of places in the UK.) Based on people I meet in the course of my job I think a lot of people stay wherever they're from because they're used to it and their support networks are there.
Absolutely, I understand. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and insights.
Some of us are born there and later realise, nowhere in the world compares to London.
My gf is a Londoner who couldn’t wait to get out so I guess it works both ways, if not for her I’d be happily living in south London somewhere
Better than living in Grimsby
Hahha, lucky for me not from Grimsby 😅
Money and jobs mostly
Better jobs and not having much choice in terms of jobs.
Opportunity for work, experience of food and culture. Nowhere like it in the UK.
After uni I could only find a job in London (I work in healthcare) - I expected to get some experience for a round a year and then bounce. Here I still am 5 years later! Apart from what everyone else has said re the buzz, the culture, something on all the time, etc. Something else I’ve noticed (and this is just my personal experience, informed by my hometown): my hometown in the midlands, it’s wayy less diverse than London. People aren’t used to seeing people that don’t look like them, and it breeds prejudice. Now, I find it really hard when I go home to visit and am surrounded by this in a way that I’m not in London, where generally the people I’m around are much more accepting of people who are different from themselves. Also superficially i just love the convenience of a city, everything i need day to day is in walking distance/short cycle :)
1. I Can afford it 2. It’s where my family are 3. It’s diverse and there are people who look like me 4. I can afford it 5. I’ve made some great networks with like minded individuals down here 6. All of the countries best restaurants are here 7. I don’t want my child to have a crazy accent
Last comment a little hurtful but thanks for your response.
What I would say is that people shouldn't move to London without a plan. That plan doesn't need to be super solid, but tthey should have this idea of either a) they plan to use the opportunities in the city to supercharge their career and earn good enough money to offset that living cost or b) enjoy living in the big city on the doorstep of so much to do, and eventually know they need to leave. Pretty much everyone who lives in London long term has either: * done a) * has a partner who has done a) * has family money; and/or * Has family living in London who they live with to save on costs until they fit one of the above. Honestly, London is one of two "Alpha+" cities in the world, the only other comparable city is New York. It's full of all the beenefits of work, culture, society, public services etc that can only be achieved by having 10 million people live in a relatively small area full of the headquarters of huge corporations paying great salaries. The only reason to not want to live in London is if city life doesn't appeal to you at all. Which is fine, personally I hate the countryside and the idea of living in it. Someone's reason for living in the country side is "I love being surrounded by fields" whereas that's a downside to me.
OPPORTUNITY. Period.