Is London as fantastic as everyone thinks?

Question

I lived close to London for 2 years, I have to say I hate it. Celebrities make London sound as though it's the best place to be but how can it be when it's a city riddled with nasty violent unnecessary crime, drugs and gangs.

Answer 1

I lived there for 30+ years, born and bred, and hated it.
The only thing it's good for is shops that open 24/7.
As far as I am concerned, it's smelly, dirty, stuffed full of horrible people, and those who were born there are eventually pushed out due to ridiculous house prices.
Areas such as Notting Hill, Fulham, Kensington etc., command prices of £1million's for pokey little holes and you step out onto the street and confronted by hoodies, drug dealers, alcoholics in doorways, rubbish piled up on street kerbs waiting for the bin man to come (even thought that is 5 days away), rats, pissy smells and stains in doorways............
The list is endless.
Yuk

Answer 2

Being born and bred in London, and being a young person who thrives on City Life, I love London. Yes like everyone has said its got many downsides. I'm of Indian origin, and this whole debate about multiculturalism spoiling it is not a simple one. On the one hand the multiculturalism is why London is so fantastic, there isn't a single type of cuisine, fashion, art, music culture that you won't find here. and its amazing. But on the other hand, Its the disrespect, ignorance and disgusting and unappreciative behaviour of some of those who have come over here that is ruining this fantastic city. The history and architecture is fascinating, and the shopping in my opinion is the BEST in the world. Unfortunately, the experience you will have of london WILL differ depending on how much money you have... but the feeling you get when you're just walking around in Embankment, or Picadilly Circus or Sloane Street, or Covent Garden, or Kensington Gardens or West Hampstead or Richmond, is like no other. I also think if we had good weather here, it would be completely different, the weather does let us down a bit, London in the summer is so gorgeous. But there's something romantic about the rain and the cold!!!! There's beauty and ugliness in every city.. thats what makes a city a city! You just have to ignore the latter and appreciate the former. To be fair, I do think its very difficult for struggling people who have moved to London from warmer countries to work here, to appreciate the beauty and culture of London.

Answer 3

London is like any city - it's got positives and negatives. I work in London and do most of my socialising in London and I think it's great. There is so much to do and so many places to go and eat and drink. There are scummy quarters with drugs and violence but you won't tend to find that in the centre and the West End.

But I no longer live in London as I craved some green open spaces. I moved to a small town about 30 miles south west from where I can commute - so now I have the best of both worlds.

Answer 4

Sona 's answer is fantastic and spot on...of course London has many problems, of course it is dirty and dangerous, of course it is expensive , but despite all that I still love the place with a passion and would never dream of living anywhere else.

London is very different to almost 90% of the rest of the country, and people who only visit it or dont grow up there may find it unfriendly and intimidating. But once you understand and accept it, then you find so much to enjoy. It is the most vibrant, exciting city on Earth bar none, and still retains its dignity and basic humanity...you just have to dig a little bit for it.

Answer 5

Wow! I don't know what London all these people are writing about. High crime? Gangs? Violence? In reality it's so safe compared to most US cities! I think London is wonderful!!!!! There are world class museums, great food, wonderful street markets and history on every corner. It's one of the world's great cities!

When in London be sure to visit the best restaurant in town, Domingos! It's just outside the Northfields tube station--cross the road and turn left. Super Spanish tapas and the owners are great people.

Answer 6

I've lived in London for nearly 10 years now in different parts. There are some fantastic things about it - the architecture, the range of things to do, etc, but there's also a lot wrong with it ( or more accurately, a lot of the people who inhabit it ). Depends what you want, when I was in my 20s it was great, but now the dirt and noise and crowds are getting on my nerves. But I'm leaving for New Zealand next year, so I'm enjoying those bits I love and trying to ignore the bits I don't!

Answer 7

Get a grip people - you make London sound like Baghdad.

Sure London's got it's downsides but it is also vibrant, fun and lively with unlimited things to see and do, beautiful architecture, lovely parks and a fascinating history.

It's all about where you go and what you do there.

Oh and by the way Helga - if you think Britain is such a dark and negative place then why don't you get off the UK AND IRELAND site - there's a clue in the title.

Answer 8

Yeah, you're right. I mean, it's not like New York or Washington, is it? You seem to be implying that this is the only capital city that has these problems and all the others are perfect little places where only Doris Day and Rock Hudson types walk along the streets singing a merry tune and not getting interfered with, except by people who want to start a little dance and sing along to the chorus. I think you need to do a bit of travelling and see how safe and lovely all the other capital cities are.

Answer 9

I think the stadium is good enough for what it has to do, it doesn't exactly need to be better or up with the best. China wanted to wow the world and so they did... and brilliantly. London doesn't need to proove it is the best and our games will be at a lower scale. Course the Birds Nest is obviously better looking, but the reason of ours is to be able to dismantle down to a lower size, not to be amazing. The Beijing stadium is really imaginative, but ours has an essential reason for the Olympic legacy. Plus you should count all the hundreds that died building the Beijing Stadium. In London, no one has had a reported injury since they started building.

Answer 10

god, how negative are you people.

you could all do with reading a little budhist wisdom...

anywhere you live has parts with drugs and under classes.... but when i go to london I see culture and special places, i see the satchi gallery and the national gallery. i see buckingham palace and the albert hall.

i see walks in hyde park in winter watching the ice skaters and the snow.......

i see all of the theatres and the shops and restaurants, i see harrods and selfridges brimming with tasteful and expensive treats.

I see afternoon tea at the ritz.

I see a walk around trafalgar square feeding the pidgeons (not now though). I see a walk along the river and a ride on the london eye. I see the Shakespear Globe theatre fully restored.

I see buckingham palace in all of its glory - I see kensington palace -

I see a city full of survival and culture - people who are busy getting on with their exciting lives - working so hard to keep the hub of our wonderful city turning, so that we can take for granted things like banks and telecommunications.

I see magnificant places to study and relax -

are you guys looking in the wrong places - or do you always pick the negative out of everything..........