h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've recently started work in London and I'm really having problems seeing what the big attraction is.
It's almost as if having a London postcode is fashionable, and somehow this is worth the inflated costs of housing, drinking and pretty much anything you're ever likely to buy.
London seems to be dirty, congested and, as outlined above - extortionately expensive. You're also a slave to the public transport. Given the congestion and the sky-high cost of parking, you'll find yourself relying on the train. Which can be really fun when there's a strike and you find yourself being crammed into a space roughly half your waist-length on the only train for the next hour. But then, this is *London*, baby! yeah!
Yeah, and....?
Can anyone help shed some light on this absolute mystery? Thanks.

I'm afraid I side with Johnson;
'A man who is tired of London is tired of life.'
Dunno why, but i'd never consider living further away from it than I do (1/2 hour by train).

The place is foul. I got out as fast as I could and wild horses wouldn't drag me back.

Family in London seem to think we have no civilisation up here - no theatres, operas, decent restaurants - and we can't convince them otherwise. Ridiculous.

Sounds like you live a similar distance from London to me. Wouldn't fancy moving any closer, mind.

How about "A man who is tired of London has just noticed how much he's being ripped off".

Depends what you want from life.
I love the history, the culture, the diversity, the readily available alternative to the mainstream.
Say what you like about other cities, there is no other cirty in Britain that offers the sheer range of choices that London does.

I am a Londoner by birth, I love it. I don't really mind the dirt and smells. But I cannot live here full time, so I commute in. I am with you s

London is a great place if:

1) You have a lot of money.
2) You can find a nice place to live (see above)
3) You have the time, money, and energy to get involved in the incredible range of arts and activities which are on offer in London.
4) You don't mind spending that much time in traffic jams with a bunch of idiots who have only one thing on their mind - getting in front of you.
5) You don't own a car but don't mind using the best, and filthiest public transport system in the world.
6) You can get out of it whenever you feel the need (see point 1)

If you can do all of those things and more, and keep your sanity, London is the best place in the world. I lived there for 40 years, and I was unable to satisfy most of the above points.

zoodlewhirdlezoodlewhirdlezoodlewhirdlezoodlewhirdlezoodlewhirdlezoodlewhirdle

Admitted - there are advantages to living in the big city, if only in terms of choice in drinking establishments, but then, you'll pay for that choice in what it costs you to buy the drinks, as well as what it cost you to get there/live somewhere close.

The history is nice to have, but then, there's a fair bit round my way, and if I really feel the need, I could always visit the Tower of London (and again, pay lots of money).

And then there's the friendliness factor. I know people from up North often tend to go on and on and on about how much nicer folk are up North, which really irritates me, but in London, the culture does seem to be one of "me me me!"

Trying not to go on and on about it but it has to be said - they ARE.
I lived in London for 25 years. Then I came oop north for a weekend and was amazed at the friendliness I encountered from every stranger.
17 years later I'm so used to it I expected everyone to behave that way - till I had to drive my mother down to London.
Why are they all so rude and nasty and unhelpful and impatient? Why do they scowl at you when you smile at them? Misery gutses.

I love London, I only meant to live there for 3 years and ended up staying for 9.

I would be there now, but house prices drove us out 19 years ago, but its still only 20 minutes away by fast () train and I thoroughly enjoy a day up there regularly.

However if I had to commute daily then I might have a different view.

And it turns your snot black. (True! Test this phenomenon next time you visit.)
I am damn bloody p'ssd off that everything has to happen down Sowff. Mainly because the reason usually given is that it's easier for everyone to get to. How can this be, when 4/5 of us live nowhere near, and must add to the fantastic cost of doing anything Londonwise the usually large train fare? Or face a tedious drive.
It may have lots to offer, but can you ever find any of it? Even with a reputable map I have no idea where I am. And it's so big I don't think you can classify it as one place; cities you should be able to comfortably get round in a weekend at least.
Main problem, tho', is as said above- attitude. It is much too hurried, selfish, over-focused and lacks humour. Anywhere else, it's pleasant to walk about and look at shops even if you don't go in. There, you ignore the sights and spend most of your time a) scratching, b) going elsewhere.
Even the rain is more wet.
50p for a Cadbury's Dairy Milk! shove that. I'll take the northerly direction.

My friends in London always comment on how i go out more and take advantage of more of Londons 'culture' than they do. Not that they are uncultured people, but that living in LOndon seems to eat so very much of their time. By the time they get home for their (good) jobs, they are so tired and shagged out they can't be bothered.

London steals your time and your money, everyones so busy trying to get through London to reach 'their space' ie work or home, that they rush everywhere, ignoring everyone and become rude and intolerant. Once back in their space they're beautiful warm humans again, but in the street or on the tube, oh no!

I like to visit London occasionally, but no more than once a year and for no more than a long weekend. Richard and I visit a museum (Natural History, Science and British Museums are favourites), see a play (not a musical - they are extortionate) and have a meal in the Chinese area. The change of pace between a small town (Redditch) and the big city can be nice - but only for a day or two. We are always *very* glad to come home.

Birmingham opened its replacement for its old Science Museum last year, but got round the 'museums should not charge admission' by calling it something like the 'Millenium Discovery Centre' and charging £6.00+ for admission. Now if London would move my favourite museums to Birmingham, where they would be accessible to more of the residents of our fair country... (Did I hear somebody say 'No chance'? I guess you're right.)

I don't have a lot of money. Getting the best out of London doesn't require you to be rich, merely to pay attention to what's going on.

Absolutely Blues Shark. I have a brilliant book called 'London for Free' and can spend a whole weekend doing the sites and the culture for absolutely nothing. Which is great cos I don't have a lot of money either.

It amazes me that Northerners spend their time slagging the place off. I would never slag off any of the Northern cities which without exception I have loved. I just hate people who moan the whole time about London, it is the most populous city in the country. Doesn't that say something?

I am extremely envious of the people that live in London - I commute in every day. I'd love to live closer, and be able to spend more time exploring all it has to offer.

Some places are more expensive - I agree that there are things that are ridiculously over-priced - but there are also places in my home town that charge over the odds for a beer, or whatever. It's called a captive audience.

I've also heard the same said of places Scotland. Put on a different accent, and you get charged a different price - and that was said by local people.
So don't say you hate London, for something that is done all over the country.

Nice place to visit, tried living there but was priced out. I think Londons fine but its not until you live outside London that u realise that its not that special. Plenty of other cities have lots to offer in terms of alternative life syles and most northern and scottish citys are far better to go out clubbin n drinkin.

In London it takes hours to get anywhere and unless you live in a good area transport can be a nightmare for example when I livwe in s. London it took me ages just to get to Brixton let alone the West end here in Glasgow I can be partying in Edinburgh in less time (the diversity between these citys is huge).

So London is cool but if you are prepared to look about you can have far more fun, cheaper, oop north! There is perhaps a feeling in london that there is nothing outside it but that belief is only held by people too lazy to actually leave the place

P.s. It isnt true about Londoners being unfriendly I found them Brilliant, but in general you do have to be more on guard in london cos theres more street crime and people hustling you perhaps thats where the myth of unfriendly Londoners cones from)

If I could find a place in London that wasn't extortionate in price, was close to work (ie 5min walk), wasn't a run-down dump and actually had a parking space, I might consider it, even putting up with the oligopoly-like pricing and the "'tude". Although, I still think there should be a monthly scheduled tidal-wave to clean all the dirt away. Maybe they could leave a little note on people's doors during the day 'Dear resident - this city is to be cleaned between the hours of 3 and 4pm tomorrow - please arrange to be out at this time, unless you are a strong swimmer.' I think about 40ft would sufficient.

As for the over-pricing happening everywhere - nowhere more so than London. I can't claim to hate places in Scotland for doing that sort of thing - because I've never been to them.

Never having been *really* scared in a London street myself, i don't understand the crime fears-and i have felt *genuinely* threatened in Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle and Paris...

Every city everywhere has dodgy areas where you have to be extra careful.

Lots of things about London are horrible, and lots of things are great, and I am sure the same can be said of any city. As for the ideal situation, you would probably have to live in quite a small town to have affordable housing 5 minutes walk from the main business and commercial areas, not likely in ANY city. Depends on your job though, if you work in a shop you could think about buying the flat upstairs?

Saw a studio flat in westminster advertised for over a million the other day, what normal person can now afford to live there?

Blues, what do you consider to be living in London? Is it a few areas of north london? The place is so big I would consider anywhere within about a half hour commute to be in London.



k trying to avoid the pointless 'my city is better than yours' debate