What is the one thing London needs most?

[aeropilot]

psi310398 said:

And, as for the delights of Camden Market, Oxford Street or Carnaby Street; apart from possibly some 12 year old girls why would any London resident ever want to go near them?

Camden market and Camden in general was a great place back in the 80's and 90's before all the trendies, hipsters and bleedin tourists 'discovered' it proceeded to ruin it.

[jakesmith]

aeropilot said:

Camden market and Camden in general was a great place back in the 80's and 90's before all the trendies, hipsters and bleedin tourists 'discovered' it proceeded to ruin it.

Everything is st now that it’s slightly different to how it was when you were younger right? You might find if you had a more open mind and didn’t worry about the origins or motivations of those attempting to enjoy the same things as you that you’d enjoy things a lot more.

[aeropilot]

jakesmith said:

aeropilot said:

Camden market and Camden in general was a great place back in the 80's and 90's before all the trendies, hipsters and bleedin tourists 'discovered' it proceeded to ruin it.

Everything is st now that it’s slightly different to how it was when you were younger right? You might find if you had a more open mind and didn’t worry about the origins or motivations of those attempting to enjoy the same things as you that you’d enjoy things a lot more.

[psi310398]

aeropilot said:

jakesmith said:

aeropilot said:

Camden market and Camden in general was a great place back in the 80's and 90's before all the trendies, hipsters and bleedin tourists 'discovered' it proceeded to ruin it.

Everything is st now that it’s slightly different to how it was when you were younger right? You might find if you had a more open mind and didn’t worry about the origins or motivations of those attempting to enjoy the same things as you that you’d enjoy things a lot more.

Not at all, Camden always been a bit st. I remember Camden and the market from the late 70s onwards. It was then and in the 80s largely populated by druggy hippies and other soap dodgers but it was at least reasonably authentic. It is now simply a tourist magnet, with a rather unfortunate not-so-hidden seam of junkies and drug dealers.

But if that's your bag, fine. I won't be competing with you for space there..

[jakesmith]

I’ve been there 3 times had a great time. Once it was a summer live music and food event in the goods yard by the canal, with bands, loads of stalls with different food and drink, sun out, by the canal, loads of people about but you could get a seat. Then when the sun went down the bars opened.

Another time we mooched round the market looking at all the weird st and people, quite a laugh for an hour or so

And one time we went to Proud Stables that is a bar / club in disused stables, we had a private stable and about 15 of us had drinks service and pole dancing

You’d struggle to do anything near the scale and variety of these outside London and that’s just one plac

If that’s not your cup of tea, fine, but don’t say there’s nothing to do there unless you’re a 12 year old girl as that just makes it look like you have no idea what you’re talking about

[psi310398]

jakesmith said:

I’ve been there 3 times had a great time. Once it was a summer live music and food event in the goods yard by the canal, with bands, loads of stalls with different food and drink, sun out, by the canal, loads of people about but you could get a seat. Then when the sun went down the bars opened.

Another time we mooched round the market looking at all the weird st and people, quite a laugh for an hour or so

And one time we went to Proud Stables that is a bar / club in disused stables, we had a private stable and about 15 of us had drinks service and pole dancing

You’d struggle to do anything near the scale and variety of these outside London and that’s just one plac

If that’s not your cup of tea, fine, but don’t say there’s nothing to do there unless you’re a 12 year old girl as that just makes it look like you have no idea what you’re talking about

Except if you look at what I wrote, I never said that.

I asked why (by implication) any adult Londoner would wish to go there.

As Camden Market (like Oxford and Carnaby Streets) is patronised at least 95% by out-of-town grockles and foreigners, it would seem that it is not a view I am alone in holding.

[anonymous-user]

Less ill informed internet bumpkins citing cut and paste Partridge-isms ?

[Agammemnon]

Brooking10 said:

Less ill informed internet bumpkins

How very parochial & condescending.

[anonymous-user]

Agammemnon said:

How very parochial & condescending.

Sorry RovingHawk

It was tongue in cheek hence the Partridge reference.

[jakesmith]

psi310398 said:

jakesmith said:

I’ve been there 3 times had a great time. Once it was a summer live music and food event in the goods yard by the canal, with bands, loads of stalls with different food and drink, sun out, by the canal, loads of people about but you could get a seat. Then when the sun went down the bars opened.

Another time we mooched round the market looking at all the weird st and people, quite a laugh for an hour or so

And one time we went to Proud Stables that is a bar / club in disused stables, we had a private stable and about 15 of us had drinks service and pole dancing

You’d struggle to do anything near the scale and variety of these outside London and that’s just one plac

If that’s not your cup of tea, fine, but don’t say there’s nothing to do there unless you’re a 12 year old girl as that just makes it look like you have no idea what you’re talking about

Except if you look at what I wrote, I never said that.

I asked why (by implication) any adult Londoner would wish to go there.

As Camden Market (like Oxford and Carnaby Streets) is patronised at least 95% by out-of-town grockles and foreigners, it would seem that it is not a view I am alone in holding.

I can't speak for Oxford Street as it is horrendous but Carnaby Street is hardly comparable it has loads of cool shops + Kingly Court

https://www.carnaby.co.uk/food-and-drink/kingly-co...

Adults go to Camden to consume food & alcohol in a fun and dynamic environment with other adults who enjoy doing things like having fun, talking, listening to music, and being in the company of others. The numbers are against you on this one.

Your 95% figure is pulled out of thin air and besides London is over 50% non 'locals' now anyway.

If you don't like 'foreigners' then you're in the wrong city I'm afraid, you could try another capital city but you'll find it similar due to a phenomenon known as 'globalisation'

[otolith]

[psi310398]

jakesmith said:

I can't speak for Oxford Street as it is horrendous but Carnaby Street is hardly comparable it has loads of cool shops + Kingly Court

https://www.carnaby.co.uk/food-and-drink/kingly-co...

Adults go to Camden to consume food & alcohol in a fun and dynamic environment with other adults who enjoy doing things like having fun, talking, listening to music, and being in the company of others. The numbers are against you on this one.

Your 95% figure is pulled out of thin air and besides London is over 50% non 'locals' now anyway.

If you don't like 'foreigners' then you're in the wrong city I'm afraid, you could try another capital city but you'll find it similar due to a phenomenon known as 'globalisation'

I don't dislike foreigners.

I had made the point that Londoners (whether born there or just living there) don't generally frequent these places. They are simply very efficient machines for parting out-of-towners and foreign tourists from their cash.

Any group of Londoners I know (including my 21 year old son and his friends) would simply fall about laughing at the suggestion of a night out in Camden Market.

[Murph7355]

psi310398 said:

....
Any group of Londoners I know (including my 21 year old son and his friends) would simply fall about laughing at the suggestion of a night out in Camden Market.

It always struck me as one of those places that you went once when you first moved to London as it was "the done thing" but quickly found plenty of other places that were better.

Most big cities are the same. They have their "in" places that "everyone" knows about...but when you really get under the skin of a place you find the real gems.

To the OP....does *anywhere* need an alligator park?

[Halb]

Murph7355 said:

To the OP....does *anywhere* need an alligator park?

Blofeld's pad?

[Murph7355]

Halb said:

Murph7355 said:

To the OP....does *anywhere* need an alligator park?

Blofeld's pad?

Wasn't he sharks?

I think it was Katanga that had alligators...and since all the phone scams have dried up I'm not sure he could afford London now?

[Agammemnon]

Murph7355 said:

Halb said:

Murph7355 said:

To the OP....does *anywhere* need an alligator park?

Blofeld's pad?

Wasn't he sharks?

If they had frikkin' laser beams then it was Dr Evil.

[mike9009]

P's and Q's

[fido]

Murph7355 said:

Most big cities are the same. They have their "in" places that "everyone" knows about...but when you really get under the skin of a place you find the real gems.

True, but then sometimes the reverse happens - for example there are places in Leicester Square / Soho that I still frequent even though they are tourist magnets. There's a right level of tourist magnet or Level 2/3 of knowledge for places to go. I won't post the exact places as I don't want it to be a PH-fest either!

[vixen1700]

Born in London, went to school there and did what most Londoners do, moved out. Firstly to the end of the Central Line, then further out to the Essex/Cambs/Suffolk borders.

Lovely at first, but soon became an overcrowded commuter village and it just seemed to lose its character.

Made the decision to move back to London nearly four years back and have to say it's the best thing we ever did for so many reasons.

London's far from perfect, but it's not as rude and unwelcoming as so many seem to think.

[Pan Pan Pan]

Nickgnome said:

Pan Pan Pan said:

You seem to be the equivalent of the bloke in hospital bed who exclaims `The food here is f*cking amazing! You should try to get out of London more, You will at least be cleaner, and your lungs will love you for it.
For me London was a dirty, noisy, smelly, overcrowded, rat hole, and I was delighted to get away from it, Still it wouldn't do if everyone loved the same thing would it?

I am out of London now. I live on the South coast looking across to the IoW. I lived in many places in the U.K. and abroad so nothing like your hospital guy. I still visit regularly and stay over. My passion is sailing hence the coast.

Your view is your view. Others do not see London that way and your need to criticise people who like London is very odd.

We can concur on your final sentence.

I was born, grew up, and worked in London, you appear to be a Johnny come lately visitor, who only lived in, and frequented the `nice' bits (there are some) of London.
I doubt you could really understand what the `real' London that many who really lived there for an extended time, knew. I was delighted to be able to get away from it, and I still am.
To truly know a place you have to see all of it, not just the `nice' bits.