Londoners - How do you find living there, enjoyment-wise and financially?

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  • TeddybleadsTeddybleads Posts: 6,814
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    1). 36 years give-or-take
    2). I've lived a few places, Hamermsith, then Islington in my 20s which was great but moved out to Blackheath in my 30s which I love. I'm right on the heath so it gives a great feeling of space I'm not sure I'd get elsewhere, plus the views of London are great.
    3). Not enough.
    4). About 70% of my income goes on my mortgage and bills. It can be a challenge but we manage.
  • Harper_MilneHarper_Milne Posts: 2,854
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    20 years (all my life)

    South east (dont believe what the media say, its okay really)

    London is cool if you've got the money. People at my work who arent born here look at London with such enthusiasm like it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. i dont really see it that way because its all I've ever know. Rent here is super expensive so be prepared. And travelling is quite expensive. I'm on a low wage and live at home, there is no way I could afford to live in London by myself at this point. There's no sense of community here, and it's quite dirty and grotty so have fun with that. I'm a Coke addict and theres always deals in Superdrug and supermarkets.
  • malpascmalpasc Posts: 9,626
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    I disagree with the lack of a sense of community. Where I live, in our building everyone in every flat knows and is friends with eachother. We are probably quite lucky that the demographic of all the residents in our building is very similar - we're all pretty much the same age from the same background and do similar jobs but in other London places I've lived where we aren't so similar I've become friends with neighbours etc.
  • trevgotrevgo Posts: 28,241
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    malpasc wrote: »
    Me and the other Mr Malpasc live just off the High Street actually, but I'd really like to live either in the Village or around Lloyd Park.

    If you've not tried the new Chequers on the High Street you really should - it is a very startling turnaround from the awful place it used to be.

    I haven't, but I may take the opportunity to do so this evening, monsoons permitting. Thanks for the idea. I'd heard it was much improved - though the High Street is a bit daunting late evening, I always think.

    Flippin gayers everywhere in the "stow, innit?:D
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 64
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    1. How long did/have you lived there?

    Since 2010.

    2. Which area did/do you live in?

    I used to live in Fulham and recently I moved to Greenwich.

    3. How much were/are you earning?

    Mid-thirties.

    4. How much was/is your rent and expenses, and how did you find it? Did you have spare money?

    Quite a lot actually. I didn't have any spare money as my living expenses were gobbling up all my wage. Now that I've moved in with someone I can see some savings. If you plan to live alone in a good area, don't think you can save much. Just for reference, rent in Fulham 1bed flat 260pw, rent in Greenwich 1.5 bed house 1,500/mo.
  • malpascmalpasc Posts: 9,626
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    trevgo wrote: »
    I haven't, but I may take the opportunity to do so this evening, monsoons permitting. Thanks for the idea. I'd heard it was much improved - though the High Street is a bit daunting late evening, I always think.

    Flippin gayers everywhere in the "stow, innit?:D

    My partner actually works there, although he isn't in today as he's recuperating from an operation. However, I'm not that biased about the place just because of him. If he worked in a crap pub I wouldn't go there still!

    The more people who use the High Street at night the less daunting it will become :D
  • LandisLandis Posts: 14,849
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    A fantastic city with much to admire. (Here is one which is hardly ever mentioned. It has a radio station - LBC which is so good it makes BBC Five live sound like Hospital Radio).

    But....to live and work. Let's take a professional, decent pay occupation in something like IT. The intelligent choice of location to live and work in 2013, would IMO be the areas around Manchester or possibly Leeds.
    This would be based on:
    Disposable income.
    House price/size/desirability
    Commute time....(Hugely underestimated in importance except by people who have retired and then do the Math.....)
  • PlebbianPlebbian Posts: 80
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    1. 6 years. First twenty years of my life in Thailand then 2 years in Buckinghamshire before the husband decided he was fed up with the commuting.
    2. Canary Wharf
    3. Not great but not too bad
    4. Rent takes about 15% of our income. We do save but not as many as we would like, a lot of our income get spent on travelling.

    I love London but we are looking at buying a house somewhere up north where the OH's family live as we wouldn't think about having a pet let alone a child whilst living in London. Hopefully should have a house by Feb 2014!
  • AdsAds Posts: 37,037
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    London is a fantastic place to live, as long as you live in a part of London you are happy in. I live in a great location, but have to admit I would hate to live in areas like Tottenham and Edmonton.

    In terms of money - unless you are lucky enough to be in social housing, then accommodation is going to be expensive. Its slightly depressing that what we pay in rent for a normal size flat, would rent a huge house in the country back where I come from.

    Apart from accommodation, living costs in London aren't that much different from the rest of the country - public transport is actually cheaper than many other places.

    Socialising in central London isn't cheap though, £50 disappears very quickly on a night out, spending £100 on a big night out isn't too hard.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 3,396
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    SourCherry wrote: »
    1. 8 and a half years so far
    2. Walthamstow
    3. Enough
    4. My rent and bills takes up 23% of my monthly salary

    My rent is nowhere near £1,000 per month. You can live in a decent houseshare in Zone 3 for around £500 per month.

    When I said £1000 I was referring to living alone :)

    Thanks everyone :D
  • trevgotrevgo Posts: 28,241
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    Landis wrote: »
    (Here is one which is hardly ever mentioned. It has a radio station - LBC which is so good it makes BBC Five live sound like Hospital Radio).

    You have to be kidding. Tabloid, rightwing twaddle. Makes 5 Live sound like Radio 3.
  • RAINBOWGIRL22RAINBOWGIRL22 Posts: 24,459
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    I was born and still live in Islington (central North)

    Rent here does indeed cost in excess of £1k a month but I live with my partner so everything is halved.

    Until I went on maternity leave we always had spare cash for socialising, non essential purchases and holidays.

    We aren't high earners by any stretch of the imagination and couldn't actually afford a mortgage in the borough we live in.

    London is amazing "enjoyment wise" - there is literally everything you could ever want on your doorstep (or just a short train ride away as the only thing London doesn't have any coast!!)

    I loved being in London as a 20 something. Life was mainly a blur of bars, restaurants, parties and picnics! Even as a skint stay at home Mum there is so much to do. Parks, galleries, museums, tourist sites!!
  • kaiserbeekaiserbee Posts: 4,276
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    I was born and still live in Islington (central North)

    Rent here does indeed cost in excess of £1k a month but I live with my partner so everything is halved.

    Until I went on maternity leave we always had spare cash for socialising, non essential purchases and holidays.

    We aren't high earners by any stretch of the imagination and couldn't actually afford a mortgage in the borough we live in.

    London is amazing "enjoyment wise" - there is literally everything you could ever want on your doorstep (or just a short train ride away as the only thing London doesn't have any coast!!)

    I loved being in London as a 20 something. Life was mainly a blur of bars, restaurants, parties and picnics! Even as a skint stay at home Mum there is so much to do. Parks, galleries, museums, tourist sites
    !!

    Being exiled in East Yorkshire, if I could find a way to go back to west London I would be there like a shot for the reasons highlighted. If only I could afford to go home :cry:

    London is full of life. East Yorkshire (while pretty in places) is dead as a dodo.
  • CitizenofPhobosCitizenofPhobos Posts: 1,677
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    I lived there from my birth in 1982 to 2009 sick and tired of the migrant filled squalor it became, back in the 80s I could go out and see George, Steven, John, Robert etc...Nowadays you only see Abdul Salim, Rajesh, Janek and Tyrone.
  • DianaFireDianaFire Posts: 12,711
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    I lived there from my birth in 1982 to 2009 sick and tired of the migrant filled squalor it became, back in the 80s I could go out and see George, Steven, John, Robert etc...Nowadays you only see Abdul Salim, Rajesh, Janek and Tyrone.

    Maybe the first lot just dumped you?
  • malpascmalpasc Posts: 9,626
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    I lived there from my birth in 1982 to 2009 sick and tired of the migrant filled squalor it became, back in the 80s I could go out and see George, Steven, John, Robert etc...Nowadays you only see Abdul Salim, Rajesh, Janek and Tyrone.

    Weird, because whenever I go out I still see people with "British" sounding names. I see people with "Foreign" sounding names of course but that's what makes London the place it is - a true world city.
  • CitizenofPhobosCitizenofPhobos Posts: 1,677
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    DianaFire wrote: »
    Maybe the first lot just dumped you?

    That would have been better actually, but I'm afraid they white flighted to Canada, Australia and the west country.
  • DianaFireDianaFire Posts: 12,711
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    That would have been better actually, but I'm afraid they white flighted to Canada, Australia and the west country.

    So quite a few of your old mates are immigrants now? That must rankle.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 155
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    1 all my life
    2 south of the river
    3 dont earn much - with the old folks
    4 moneys tite 4 all of us

    but i would not live anwywhere else. if u look around u can always find cheap stuff - food booze clothes anything - the reel problem is always the bills - you can pay a fortune and end up livin in a dump. also depending on where you R lief can be brill or it can be a nightmare. do the homework. dont just come down to kings cross and end up another bum. peeps will always try to rip you off - even the posh mob in chelesa. stay away from dodgy digs or u will end up in trouble.

    but if u make a go of it and u do things right its the best city on the planet. tons to do & loadz of great peeps. 24 hr excitment. and boris.:D
  • CitizenofPhobosCitizenofPhobos Posts: 1,677
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    DianaFire wrote: »
    So quite a few of your old mates are immigrants now? That must rankle.

    Moving to Canada or Australia as a Brit isn't really like moving to Burma or Nigeria, I'm sure they fitted in quite easily.
  • DianaFireDianaFire Posts: 12,711
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    Moving to Canada or Australia as a Brit isn't really like moving to Burma or Nigeria, I'm sure they fitted in quite easily.

    Immigrants nonetheless. No other way to describe people who move from one country to another one.
  • LandisLandis Posts: 14,849
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    trevgo wrote: »
    You have to be kidding. Tabloid, rightwing twaddle. Makes 5 Live sound like Radio 3.

    Sorry - I missed this comment.
    Yes - LBC is right wing but inexplicably that (or living 200 miles away) has not put me off. The Sat morning knockabout with Ken Livingstone and David Mellor is a great listen.
    As is Iain Dale (who stood for parliament as a Tory I believe...). While Iain Dale is on air he is up against the Five Live Drive show. Yesterday, the main presenter on 5 Live Drive actually stopped speaking because his computer froze.
    I guess that stops his mouth from working. When they are not reading a script the Five Live presenters are watching 24 news channels on monitors and "telling us what they can see"
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