London = Awesome / Rest of UK = Rubbish... Discuss...
Discussion
I can see the attraction for some people, but it isn't for me personally. I really enjoy going down for a few days at a time, but after a while I go a bit stir crazy and have to make a break for somewhere quieter.
Of course there are great opportunities for all industries, its the largest city in Europe! I really can see the attraction for a certain character, but I have seen the sort of hours and lifestyle my industry colleagues have in London, and I have to say I am just not interested in doing that full time (by which I mean for more than a couple of days a month).
I have noticed before with friends in London that whenever I say that, they tend to get very defensive and list off the things that they love about the city (rather like one or two on here are) like its part of their civic duty to make sure they secure an admittance that they would rather live in London than wherever they live at the moment.
(that said live and let live has never been a PH strong point, why start now)
MarshPhantom said:
Swervin_Mervin said:
You have to admit that the dirt is pretty bad. One day visiting and it's black snot when blowing your nose.
Not true, been here nearly 20 years and never had that.
kingston12 said:
Disastrous said:
I like Glasgow (in as much as I can like any city) as it's small enough to get out of quickly, whilst still having a decent (albeit not London sized) slice of culture, choice of restaurants etc.
I live in the West End of Glasgow so it feel sufficiently un-city like but I can be in the town centre in 20 minutes and on the boat in Loch Lomond in an hour.
As said before, London drives me mental because of how much of an operation everything is. All involving throngs of people, public transport of traffic jams.
I've had black snot too, by the way.
I think you can almost do that in London as well. I am about 30 minutes from the centre (15 train, the rest messing about at either end) and it is probably about as close and as far as I'd want to be. I live in the West End of Glasgow so it feel sufficiently un-city like but I can be in the town centre in 20 minutes and on the boat in Loch Lomond in an hour.
As said before, London drives me mental because of how much of an operation everything is. All involving throngs of people, public transport of traffic jams.
I've had black snot too, by the way.
On these summer evenings, I can be walking in a huge local deer park by 6pm, quick pint by the river at 7pm, home for dinner by 8pm. Work feels like quite a long time ago by then.
On a Friday, I can stay in town seeing mates who come from other parts of London/SE and we can all get home easily, most of us until the early hours.
I wouldn't be able to do both of these things easily if I lived much closer in or further away from London.
Someone from outside London says I can be in the city in minutes or on a boat in the loch in not much longer.
Londoner counters with "I can drink beer; we have boats therefore London is better"
You're missing the point. 15 minutes into Glasgow means all the many and varied things Glasgow has to offer are about 15 minutes away. You can't get anywhere in London in 15 minutes.
And assuming that you live in Kingston, I'd be amazed if you can leave work at 5:30, get to Waterloo then Richmond and be in the park by 6.
Richmond Park to the River with a pint in your hand doesn't leave much time for an actual walk in Richmond Park. And 7pm drinking by the river in Richmond to dinner at home in Kingston is also very optimistic.
FWIW google says The Quadrant to Sawyer's Hill is a 49 minute walk. Then onto Kingston is another hour. That's not including a pint by the River.
Edited by Hackney on Wednesday 30th July 15:34
Hackney said:
kingston12 said:
Disastrous said:
I like Glasgow (in as much as I can like any city) as it's small enough to get out of quickly, whilst still having a decent (albeit not London sized) slice of culture, choice of restaurants etc.
I live in the West End of Glasgow so it feel sufficiently un-city like but I can be in the town centre in 20 minutes and on the boat in Loch Lomond in an hour.
As said before, London drives me mental because of how much of an operation everything is. All involving throngs of people, public transport of traffic jams.
I've had black snot too, by the way.
I think you can almost do that in London as well. I am about 30 minutes from the centre (15 train, the rest messing about at either end) and it is probably about as close and as far as I'd want to be. I live in the West End of Glasgow so it feel sufficiently un-city like but I can be in the town centre in 20 minutes and on the boat in Loch Lomond in an hour.
As said before, London drives me mental because of how much of an operation everything is. All involving throngs of people, public transport of traffic jams.
I've had black snot too, by the way.
On these summer evenings, I can be walking in a huge local deer park by 6pm, quick pint by the river at 7pm, home for dinner by 8pm. Work feels like quite a long time ago by then.
On a Friday, I can stay in town seeing mates who come from other parts of London/SE and we can all get home easily, most of us until the early hours.
I wouldn't be able to do both of these things easily if I lived much closer in or further away from London.
Someone from outside London says I can be in the city in minutes or on a boat in the loch in not much longer.
London counters with "I can drink beer; we have boats therefore London is better"
You're missing the point. 15 minutes into Glasgow is all the many and varied things Glasgow has to offer are about 15 minutes away. You can't get anywhere in London in 15 minutes.
And assuming that you live in Kingston, I'd be amazed if you can leave work at 5:30, get to Waterloo then Richmond and be in the park by 6.
Richmond Park to the River with a pint in your hand doesn't leave much time for an actual walk in Richmond Park. And 7pm drinking by the river in Richmond to dinner at home in Kingston is also very optimistic.
FWIW google says The Quadrant to Sawyer's Hill is a 49 minute walk. Then onto Kingston is another hour. That's not including a pint by the River.
Swervin_Mervin said:
MarshPhantom said:
Swervin_Mervin said:
You have to admit that the dirt is pretty bad. One day visiting and it's black snot when blowing your nose.
Not true, been here nearly 20 years and never had that.Hackney said:
kingston12 said:
Disastrous said:
I like Glasgow (in as much as I can like any city) as it's small enough to get out of quickly, whilst still having a decent (albeit not London sized) slice of culture, choice of restaurants etc.
I live in the West End of Glasgow so it feel sufficiently un-city like but I can be in the town centre in 20 minutes and on the boat in Loch Lomond in an hour.
As said before, London drives me mental because of how much of an operation everything is. All involving throngs of people, public transport of traffic jams.
I've had black snot too, by the way.
I think you can almost do that in London as well. I am about 30 minutes from the centre (15 train, the rest messing about at either end) and it is probably about as close and as far as I'd want to be. I live in the West End of Glasgow so it feel sufficiently un-city like but I can be in the town centre in 20 minutes and on the boat in Loch Lomond in an hour.
As said before, London drives me mental because of how much of an operation everything is. All involving throngs of people, public transport of traffic jams.
I've had black snot too, by the way.
On these summer evenings, I can be walking in a huge local deer park by 6pm, quick pint by the river at 7pm, home for dinner by 8pm. Work feels like quite a long time ago by then.
On a Friday, I can stay in town seeing mates who come from other parts of London/SE and we can all get home easily, most of us until the early hours.
I wouldn't be able to do both of these things easily if I lived much closer in or further away from London.
Someone from outside London says I can be in the city in minutes or on a boat in the loch in not much longer.
London counters with "I can drink beer; we have boats therefore London is better"
You're missing the point. 15 minutes into Glasgow is all the many and varied things Glasgow has to offer are about 15 minutes away. You can't get anywhere in London in 15 minutes.
And assuming that you live in Kingston, I'd be amazed if you can leave work at 5:30, get to Waterloo then Richmond and be in the park by 6.
Richmond Park to the River with a pint in your hand doesn't leave much time for an actual walk in Richmond Park. And 7pm drinking by the river in Richmond to dinner at home in Kingston is also very optimistic.
FWIW google says The Quadrant to Sawyer's Hill is a 49 minute walk. Then onto Kingston is another hour. That's not including a pint by the River.
15 minutes at home to change etc, 30 second walk to the river, 1 minute rowing across it and I am in Home Park before 6pm. Pub is right on the way back.
I am not saying that this is typical - when I worked in the City until recently, I'd have to factor in more time for the Waterloo & City Line, and of course I don't always finish work at 5pm.
Edit to add: I didn't mean to imply that I can get anywhwere in London quickly because that is just not the case, merely that my location and daily commute doesn't (usually) stop me from enjoying some of the things that a lot of people seem to think are shut off to those living in or near London.
Edited by kingston12 on Wednesday 30th July 15:47
MarshPhantom said:
I can be in Whitstable in 45 mins, Brighton about an hour and the rest of Europe is about an hour away.
Do you own a helicopter / aeroplane? Nowhere in Europe is an hour away from South East London.It will take you an hour just to get to an airport / ferry terminal / St. Pancras.
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