Exciting, lots to do, atmosphere, shops, so much to do !
Disadvantages:
Crime, pollution, noisy
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Ever since I was a little girl I have always been fascinated by London. I now live and work there so I feel qualified to write a review! We used to go up shopping and to visit the museums. I remember how awestruck I was on my first visit to Harrods!
The town I live in is full of people who have never been to London. Indeed, I have heard it referred to as a ‘scary, dangerous place’ filled with ‘terrorists, gangsters and drug dealers.” It must be noted that these people have never been to London before! I really hate narrow-minded comments like this. Sadly, it’s pretty much the mentality of a lot of towns. We don’t live in a safe world. It isn’t full of rainbows and butterflies and fluffy bunnies! We have faith in our police, security and intelligence agencies to protect us. They do a pretty good job.
London is our capital city. It is very large, cosmopolitan and busy. It has that special atmosphere that I for one, absolutely love. It isn’t the cheapest place to live but the generally higher salaries help to balance this out. It’s vibrant and exciting and I love it.
Like any city, there are dodgy areas. And you need to know basic safety. Things like locking your windows and doors etc however I generally feel safe. There is a very visible police presence and CCTV everywhere. Of course there is a risk of being burgled/mugged etc but this could happen anywhere.
The people: Everyone says Londoners are rude. I don’t really find this to be the case. People are busy and stressed but they rarely go out of their way to be rude to you. Nobody makes eye contact on the Tube and everyone looks depressed but that’s just the way it is! I find the shop staff to be made up of lots of foreigners. They are generally very, very polite and call you ‘ma’am’ a lot which would never happen in any other British town! Londoners generally a tough and resilient bunch! There was an advert for ‘Shaun of the Dead’ on the Underground, showing the zombies. I looked at it, saw the people around me and they looked just like zombies too! Spooky! A happy commuter is a rare and rather valuable sight.
Travel: I have written a review about this elsewhere. After a while you get very bored of the Tube. It always seems to be busy and warm! When it’s works it’s good. When there are delays it’s awful! Everyone gets very stressed and it’s even more crowded. The buses are generally ok but again, they are prone to delays and can be rather crowded. Even the travel isn’t cheap. Taxis are very expensive. The Underground is the most expensive in the world.
Housing: You’d be lucky to find a studio flat for less than £100,000 in any area of London. Rents wise, for a decent flat share, you’re looking at around £100 a week. You can find these in the Evening Standard newspaper or ‘Loot.’
Shopping: One of the best things is the shops! We have all the best department stores such as Harvey Nichols, Harrods and Selfridges. Bond Street and Sloane Street are filled with all the designer shops. And who can forget Tiffany’s? It really is worth a visit and the sales assistants are not pushy at all. There is also the usual range of high street stores.
The culture: There are many museums. They are mostly in South Kensington and include the Science Museum, the Victoria and Albert and the British Museum. London is awash with theatres and art galleries such as The Tate and The Tate Modern. You can also soak up the atmosphere of Westminster and view the famous Big Ben and Westminster Palace.
Going out: You will never be bored in London. There is so much to do! Bars, clubs, pubs and restaurants are abound. Nights out aren’t as cheap as elsewhere but you can generally go out and have a great night out at least once a week (on my salary anyway lol) You have all the usual chain places and then the more individual places that are often much better. £5 will buy you a decent lunch, you’ll need £10-£20 at the pub, £15-£30 for a nice evening meal, £50-£100 for a posh meal and over £100 at anywhere really posh. Tourist areas will be more expensive than average. For a pint at an average pub expect to pay about £3.
Press and Media: Look out for the free Metro newspaper that is handed out at stations every morning. Look around you and everyone will be reading it! They also do supplements to it, which can keep you occupied for a few moments. Look out for the Evening Standard. This costs 40p and not surprisingly, is published every evening! It basically has all the local news in it, flats to rent and job vacancies. It’s published by the same charming people who print the Daily Mail. On a Friday you can even find discount vouchers for the weekend Mail.
Safety and Security in London: Just be careful! Be aware of your surroundings; don’t leave your belongings unattended. Report any suspicious behaviour. And watch yourself crossing those roads! London drivers tend be rather bad tempered! There are lots of Zebra crossings and drivers will usually stop for you. Generally, I always feel very safe.
The scenery: I love the sunrise and sunset over the Thames. You can see the entire City and it is simply breathtaking. It is quite nice to walk down the paths by the side of the Thames too. Much of the architecture is fantastic.
Freebies: At the train stations you can often see people handing out freebies! Recently I have been given: Mini Diet Coke cans, mineral water, iced cappuccinos and a Kit Kat Orange bar. Maybe this promotional activity is to make up for the expensive prices we have to endure elsewhere? The Department of Culture has invested millions to keep Britain's museums free! How kind.
Starbucks: You will find a Starbucks on practically every street corner! There is an absence of any ‘real’ i.e. non-chain cafes around.
Jobs: London has many job vacancies. In the Civil Service, in banking, law firms, administration, retail etc you should easily find some sort of job.
Nighttime London: Generally ok, the busy areas are fine; beware of quiet, dimly lit areas. You might want to avoid the tube after 23:00 or so as it can be rather rowdy. If there has been a football match on…watch out! They can be a bit loud but rarely dangerous. The galleries and museums often have special events at night.
Living in London: I live in Zone One, very central. Being able to walk to work without having to use the tube is a big bonus! Being so central is great, you can walk to the shops, cafes etc...You can easily jump on the Tube to go to other areas. My rent and bills cost around £550 a month (including council tax) which is a lot but I don't have to buy a Travelcard or face the commuting stress.
I hope you enjoy your visit! Let me know if you want any advice!
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