London, no thanks.

[Night Train]

Not quite born there but I lived, studied, and worked there from 1968 to 1995. I then spent a few years returning regularly to visit my folks, until they moved up to the Granny flat at the back of my house, and I even had a job back in London and commuted every weekend for a while.

However, now I will only return if I have to, and then only if I am able to spend as much of that time as possible in the museums and galleries. I refuse to drive in London now. Even when visiting in the past I would park on the outskirts and take the tube in as I realised that London was bad for my blood pressure and stress levels.

London isn't 'bad' but I am old and fed up with the hussle and bussle of that sort of life and also the cost of living there. Much happier here in a big house, on a quiet street, with many rooms, and off street parking. York would be nicer, but any decent small town or village would do me.

 

[vernon]

[QUOTE 2522733, member: 1314"]Me in London last night. Rather my bike last night. About 8.30pm. View attachment 25396 [/quote]


Chain's slack.

 

[vernon]

[QUOTE 2522738, member: 1314"]Me in central London tonight.

View attachment 25397 [/quote]


Chain's still slack.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Last Monday Neil Young at the 02, a meal and a couple of beers before and a couple after, travel time 45 mins each way.

Last Friday, Covent garden for a pub crawl and a Chinese in China Town, travel time about an hour

Last Saturday Moody Blues at the 02 with a meal and a few beers.

Coming up next Sunday Bruce Springsteen at the Olympic Stadium and soon after the Bowie exhibition.

In between cycling and a top class local (2 miles) gym.

Try doing that in the country or some northern plague pit

Right then - you like a bit of music, a Special Fried Rice with beer and a bit of exercise and that makes London great?

 

[Silver Fox]

Any decent London pale ales? I'll be out in London on Saturday night.

Loddon pale ale would be worth a try, I had several whilst down that neck of the woods and it's most agreeable. Apparently it's brewed in the Henley area.

 

[cookiemonster]

Moved to London from Aberdeen 18 months ago and, in a year's time, I will be leaving, once my current contract ends. I would leave sooner if I could.

Not the city I thought it would be, too many aggressive, rude, lying peanuts who I wouldn't trust as far as I could kick them. Way too overpriced too.

Never trust a Londoner.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

[QUOTE 2522754, member: 1314"]...and if you don't like London. Here's a local in Greenwich.

View attachment 25399 [/quote]
Oi, that's Rovverive!

Anyhow, back to beer. I thought of Meantime Beers but decided that you'd only get to try them (better bottled than in the boozer, aka triple B) if they happened to pass through Greenwich. It's probably the same with London Fields brews. The chance to sample them, I mean, not the rating. That's your own research....

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

I visited London on my own in November. I was on a business trip so didnt get much time to see the city. However, when we went out for an explore around the local area, me and a few people I was with had a few drinks before hand then headed out. To my dismay, a lad who I was with suddenly ran across the road infront of a taxi! Missing him by inches. I seriously thought he was going to be hit.
The taxi sounded his horn but just carried on (probably has someone do it everyday). I just could not believe the stupidity of the person I was with.

Whilst I was there I was being very vigilant and keeping my belongings close to me (I know the crime rate in London is high). When walking through the underground, I was amazed at how many people walked into my suitcase and didnt think a thing about it. I ran over about 15 toes just trying to get out of the place on one day.

I would certainly not like to live or work there. Especially if it meant using public transport (although the underground is quick).

The first time always seems like its a bit intimidating. I spent the best part of 2 months on and off down there a few years back, and I love it as a result, there is ALWAYS something going on!!
I just go where I want to go to though, I hate doing the whole tourist thing!

Regarding crime, I have honestly never had any problems at all, but if you are still concerned, try not to loiter too long, and always look like you know where you are going/what you are doing, even if you don't really - it isn't exactly a pick pocket haven like Prague anyway!

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

My favourite London beer is Fullers. London Pride is an excellent bitter at around 5%,

I once inadvertently got myself pi**ed on the stuff in an East End boozer (Walthamstow of all places) and then had to wobble my way back across London to where I was staying. London isn't somewhere I tend to get drunk in, not because I don't think I'll be ok, but more just because I'm always doing something else at the same time.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Way too overpriced too.

I seem to be one of the few who has realised that contrary to what you'd think actually The City can be quite cheap for food if you know where to go in the back streets. Also, I once bought a bottle of water at London Bridge for 30p. The bottle had Cyrillic writing on it, and it probably came from Pripyat (Chernobyl) or similar, but still, 30p.... in the middle of London!! Beat that!!

Never trust a Londoner.

I ended up in London at the same time as the last Routemasters were running, and I decided to photograph the old and vintage vehicles they had brought out to run specially (it was route 38 IIRC).
Anyway, for some reason, I had hung my camera in a fence whilst I did something and then walked off, forgetting all about it.
I was sat on a bus when I suddenly became aware of a guy holding what looked like my camera up and asking who it belonged too!
I didn't make that mistake twice!

 

[User169]

[QUOTE 2522854, member: 1314"]Walthamstow is not London. It's so far north of the river it's more or less the Scottish Borders.[/quote]

At least it's got a London postcode. If your postcode doesn't begin with N, S, E or W, you ain't in London.

 

[srw]

At least it's got a London postcode. If your postcode doesn't begin with N, S, E or W, you ain't in London.

Even if it does you might not be.
NE (Newcastle)
S (Sheffield)
EN (Enfield)
WR (Worcester)

London's great for working and playing in. I'm delighted not to live there too.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

[QUOTE 2522854, member: 1314"]Walthamstow is not London. It's so far north of the river it's more or less the Scottish Borders.[/quote]

Says the bloke who lives in Kingston, which is virtually Cornwall, innit.

When I was at poly in Kingston there was debate about whether Kingston was in London, some rec as it doesn't have an underground station it isn't, Walthamstow does though I think.

 

[Primal Scream]

Right then - you like a bit of music, a Special Fried Rice with beer and a bit of exercise and that makes London great?

Glad you agree

 

[Cush]

Been to London twice on on long weekends this year with SWMBO, once to see Billy Elliot and visit the Shard (both great) and recently to see the Lion King and have a trip up to kew on the boat (we walked the Thames path many years ago) We were pleasantly surprised at how helpful the tube staff were and how many offered to give up their seats to SWMBO (we are both late teens) SWMBO did not like the hustle and bustle but agreed there is probably more green places than in many towns and we found a beautifully quiet area just round from Westminster Abbey . I liked the hustle and bustle but a weekend was enough. I did speak to a couple of cyclists near our hotel at Euston and they mentioned that they following a route that joined all the major parks in one route, this idea fascinates me. Can any body tell me more about it, as I may be able to get a leave pass some time in early October and really fancy the idea. Costs in the supermarkets are roughly the same as any where else and so are the hotels.