Do you think London isn't what it ued to be 8 years ago?

Question

I think it has changed...for worse

USED TO BE...sorry

Answer 1

I agree! I've lived here for years, and used to love it unequivocally. Now there are a lot of things that depress me, the main thing being the overpopulation. Years ago I remember Christmas shopping being a nightmare. Now it's all the time.

It's slowly got worse: the traffic is still bad despite the congestion charge; the new buses - we all loved and still want the old Routemasters - are truly microwaves on wheels, especially in this weather, they lurch about so you fall over and down the stairs, there's a rail just at your eyeline when you sit in the front upstairs... No air conditioning anywhere on public transport.

The individual shops with interesting and unusual things have been taken over by the big chains, so wherever you go you get the same thing - although there are small pockets like Dulwich with a bit of individuality left: good luck to the people fighting for them.

The tubes have not improved at all; people are still getting stuck in tunnels for hours, even though we pay the highest fares in Europe, and we pay the bosses millions for their failure to produce a reliable and comfortable service.

Old buildings are being "improved" to London's detriment; Fortnum and Mason is undergoing refurbishment, and I dread to think what it will look like - probably like all the other department stores. St Martin-in-the Fields is also being redone; there is an artist's impression to show that underneath where the lift will be will look like any office building foyer anywhere in the world. The lovely little market there has disappeared. What will it be? - another concrete space with a concrete bench. The National Gallery has been ruined by the renovations - I walked into the new cafe, and straight out again.

As one of my frequent visitors points out, nothing is done now for the people. Hardly any benches to sit down on, even in the shops; fares for transport difficult to understand and annoying; hardly any little cafes within shops to have just a drink and a biscuit; no departments like there used to be, like the "Coat Department": now you have to totter all round the shop looking for coats, one or two of which are in each designer's section. So you go away with nothing.

Last but not least, manners have deteriorated to an appalling level. A dear old lady friend of mine once held a door open as two young men sailed through. No orderly queuing any more. Litter and spitting everywhere.

Thank goodness we still have our theatres and pubs...

Answer 2

London gets better and better. Magical city ...love it!


Hi, Here's what I always pass along re: what to see in London!
Wear good walking shoes because London is a superb walking city. Bring a good map of the city and begin. Be a happy tourist and first hop on one of the major red double decker tour buses which afford you a perfect overview of London and you can "hop on and off" as often as you please...some for two days! I love www.theoriginaltour.com ! Highlights (see www.londonwalks.com): National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, Tate Modern Museum, London Eye, Covent Gardens (great shops n restaurants), St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, see a play!, Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Tower of London.
Know London has many beautiful parks which can be your oasis when needing a rest. Kensington Gardens in one of the world's wealthiest areas - See Princess Di's Kensington Palace and shop Kensington High St. and wander up Church St. for boutiques and such. Nearby: Royal Albert Hall, Science Museum, Natural History Museum and Victoria & Albert Museum. Hyde Park connects to Kensington Gardens. Explore Chelsea for boutiques as well. St. James Park - beautiful, sole restaurant inside. Green Park - high tea at the Ritz, Fortnum & Mason, Picadilly Circus (think Times Square). Shopping streets: Oxford, Bond, check for weekly markets...BUY "TIMEOUT LONDON" weekly magazine. Boat trip on the Thames - a must. Don't forget - you can take the EUROSTAR Chunnel train to Brussels or Paris for day trips (2.5 hrs +/- each way!) Hope this helps. Have a fantastic time! :)

Answer 3

It gets worse every day

Answer 4

it has changed downright, right from security to weather