Pros and cons of London. A sensible review of the points

[Pat Vegas]

Rather than go on a rant about the place I am trying to review a few things to list the pros and cons

The pros list is longer than the cons currently. Feel free to add more.

Pros

1) Arsenal.
2) Multiculturalism
3) Food (even though UK has an image of having **** food)
4) History
5) The tube
6) Shopping, you have access to most things
7) Pubs/entertainment
8) English breakfast (not exclusive to London)
9) Museums/Galleries etc.

Cons (some not exclusive to London but all of the UK)

1) Tottenham (****)
2) Expensive, cost of living .
3) Lack of affordable housing. / crap out of date accommodation

4) Becoming a place solely for the Rich, Or the very poor, being in the middle is quite difficult

5) Transport costs. Train tickets, Travelcards, Petrol all through the roof

6) TV Licence

7) Too spread out/ London Lifestyle, Friends live in different places and it is very difficult to arrange to meet people in a group, As everybody is so bloody busy or can’t be bothered to travel across London to meet someone after work. (myself included)

8) Big city mentality of not talking to strangers. If you were collapsed on the floor you’d probably be ignored.

I will refrain from moaning about the weather.

[Rich]

going to be working in central London but will probably be living in Dorking by then.

40 min train in, but no big deal - a coffee and a copy of the Times will keep me amused and will leave me feeling refreshed upon arrival into Waterloo/Victoria.

[Pat Vegas]

an overall difference.

[Billy Goat Sverige]

[Classic Jorge]

I have to say, there's literally no way I could live in London proper now, I'm too used to the space - both physical and personal - which is just at too much of a premium.

I think the main, all encompassing con about London is that you have to pedal so hard just to keep up. I mean, our last flat there was a grand a month, I hate to think what it would cost to rent it now. And it wasnt lovely by any means, just a one bedroom ground floor flat between finsbury park and the harringey ladder.

As for the slow death which is home county suburbia, that was never an option.

[Rich]

[Rich]

[Billy Goat Sverige]

http://www.dorkingandleatherheadadvertiser.co.uk/Commuter-sl ams-fare-increases-inadequate-Dorking/story-25762468-detail/ story.html (http://www.dorkingandleatherheadadvertiser.co.uk/Commuter-slams-fare-increases-inadequate-Dorking/story-25762468-detail/story.html)

You'll be making a petition soon.

[Rich]

[Classic Jorge]

http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/304/files/2015/04/leatherface-850x560.jpg

[Berni]

[Ashberto]

I think petrol costs the same everywhere, and trains and buses also charge in other places, I believe. I don't think a bus ride in London is very expensive, if you can get there on one bus. Your cons 2,3 and 4 are basically the same but yes, housing costs are the chief menace. Apart from the cyclists, obviously.

[Classic Jorge]

I hope he doesnt smoke

[Rich]

[Ashberto]

My commuting costs are practically zero.

[Classic Jorge]

If anything they're more claustrophobic than london, just in a mental rather than physical sense.

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

Freak.

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

Factor in that not everybody is in as highly paid profession as yours is.

[Ashberto]

[Pat Vegas]

[Rich]

[Ashberto]

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

Yes we can all agree that Routemasters were cool and quirky, a London thing.

Now your bus is simply a big bus, and red. Ours are yellow. They're both still the same, except yours is red and ours is yellow.

[Ashberto]

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

[Pat Vegas]

[Billy Goat Sverige]

[Rich]

with me for free.

Free tube is nice too.

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

If you are tired of London you are tired of life.

I've always loved that one.

[Rich]

be minutes from the countryside. I want to be close to Box Hill so I can embarrass Neg up it on the bicycle.

[Pat Vegas]

country journeys.

Anything to far jump on a plane. they treat planes like coaches over there.

[Ashberto]

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

So your transport costs are not simply the GBP300 per month as to accurately assess your full costs you would need to incorporate all the various elements such as fuel, insurance, tax etc.

How come your family travels for free?

[Billy Goat Sverige]

[Ashberto]

[PSRB]

Cons 7. :hehe: My friends are all over the country, I'd love just for the mere hassle of having to get a tube to see them, as opposed to 3 or 4 hour drives

[Classic Jorge]

[Rich]

holder.

I only really use the car for getting around Surrey at weekends/going home/going to the supermarket.

[Jake]

[Pat Vegas]

[Jake]

[Billy Goat Sverige]

I think it's very very unlikely they let 4 people go free because you have a season ticket.

[Pat Vegas]

curtain.

If no curtain he has to face the wall.

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

Same as his travelling on London Underground is free.

Also he only uses his expensive car at weekends and for going to the supermarket so this is reflected in his tax and insurance costs. In fact both his tax and insurance are free.

And his petrol.

If we keep this going for 10 minutes you may find his annual travel card from Dorking is actually not GBP3600. It is zero.

Or free.

[Monty91]

yet we own a property with a half an acre of communal garden and three parks within a ten minute walk :shrug:

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

But that was a holiday, or holidays, as opposed to everyday life.

So an unfair assessment, or comparison.

[Billy Goat Sverige]

travel for friends (1/3 off), not free travel.

[Luis Anaconda]

and coming back for stag dos and weddings :yikes:


Good holiday, I take it?

[Billy Goat Sverige]

[PSRB]

[PSRB]

reminds me, need to ask him to grab Ozil's shirt

[Classic Jorge]

It's also not that much space, it's smack bang in a connurbation of something approaching 15-20m people.

One of the best things about leaving london was the release of the pressure of being around far too many people for too long a period, it's great.

Mind you, I'm quite a solitary soul and like nothing more than not speaking to or seeing anybody for a day.

[Luis Anaconda]

[Billy Goat Sverige]

[Classic Jorge]

[redgunamo]

[Jake]

New York pro is its size so you can walk almost everywhere, and also buy a slice of pizza almost anywhere. Everyone is also invariably extremely attractive.

Con is extreme weather (imo). And Americans.

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

Source?

[Jake]

Has been for f**king years.

[redgunamo]

[Monty91]

Surely in the work you are in you could set up your business in somewhere like Kentish Town (popular with media companies) and similarly avoid the city masses.

[Billy Goat Sverige]

fella they have (His name is Gianluca Di Marzio) said they're close to signing him. Also in the italian papers this morning i believe. 40m-45m euro the reported fee.

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

I don't do twitter.

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

Shaktar perhaps.

Mind you they have sold Basti (for Jorge) and Alonso is no spring chicken.

[Billy Goat Sverige]

where Schweinsteiger would've.

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

I dropped it into everyday conversation with the Mrs, akin to dropping down to Delanys for a few pints on a Tuesday night with my neighbour.

http://www.awimb.com/images/smiley_icons/ohwell.gif

[Berni]

[Classic Jorge]

I'd have a tiny flat, at the very best. As I say, I find the whole business far too claustrophobic. Millions of people between you and getting out, being free. I didnt realise quite how badly it was affecting me until I moved out.

London is nice for day trips but living there just wasnt healthy for me.

I'm aware I'm a misanthropic claustrophobe though.

[Classic Jorge]

[Ashberto]

the more you are expected to have to talk to people, surely? Especially in chatty Yorkshire.

[Berni]

Anonymity is London's greatest gift if you ask me.

[Classic Jorge]

*****FREE SOLITUDE LOOOOOLLLLLL*******

[redgunamo]

[redgunamo]

privacy invaded, they expect it wherever they go. Added to their essential narcissism, it's natural they would imagine that everybody wanted to talk to them :-)

[Ashberto]

Does Mrs SW not enjoy the fine works of the Woking boys?

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

The 8 year old mind you thinks nothing of strolling into his kids club in his Jam t-shirt and has various PW offerings on his tablet thing.

In terms of parenting skills I am top drawer.

:cloud9:

[Rich]

:-(

[7evens]

I've always loved the place, from the winding alleys of the square mile to the open spaces of Hyde Park.
Could easily live around the heath at Hampstead or a boutique little mews off of Marylebone or Primrose Hill.

You're bound to get burgled at some point... :-

[Ashberto]