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Is it just me or is London a bit sh*t these days???
It's largely become a big office with a pret on every corner. People come in, do their days work and go home again, it's a city that serves a purpose but increasingly little else.
Decent pubs (not gastropubs) are rare, decent but reasonably priced food/restaurants even more rare.
Homes for the rich but few else, gentrification (social cleansing) of areas is driving out any semblance of character or independent traders.
The infrastructure is at breaking point, crossrail etc is supposed to help but all it actually does is bring more people into already crowded areas rather than spread business into other areas.
Vanity projects (Emirates Air Line, Garden Bridge) take priority over much needed river crossings to the east of the city.
Venues closing all over the place, soon you'll only be able to go to the o2 to see live performances, where's the opportunities for people not on the x factor to perform.
Uber threatening to kill off black cabs.
Tourism, retail and offices make a rather bland city, and that's the direction London is taking in my opinion. It's lost character, maybe because it's an international city now rather than an English one but working and spending time in London no longer excites me, am I the only one?
Also for those sunny Sunday afternoons or warm balmy evenings for a fiver you can visit
And watch Shakespeare at its best
A couple of years ago I joined a group walking for Marie Curie Cancer charity,and we walked along the river from Vauxhall to Tower Bridge and back again. There were an awful lot of places I've never seen before because I normally travel by tube or car,including the Globe theatre. A day well spent.
A couple of years ago I joined a group walking for Marie Curie Cancer charity,and we walked along the river from Vauxhall to Tower Bridge and back again. There were an awful lot of places I've never seen before because I normally travel by tube or car,including the Globe theatre. A day well spent.
There is no better walk in London to be fair, and a few decent hostelries along the way!
Love that post shotknees.. Apart from the.. 'to see Yes'.. Eek! No Ta!
Yup,it was Rory Gallagher there,or the first ever appearance of Jethro Tull as a bluesrock outfit playing support to the Savoy Brown Blues Band.Always got a parking place in Wardour Street. Great gigs gone,The Rainbow and Nag's Head Battersea,never strolled the streets of London in fear of your life. All the characters are gone - like Mad Eric who used to pretend he was a bus,wore leather gauntlets and goggles and made all the noises as he pootled along the road....."plenty of room on top,ding ding." Don't miss a world without Ibuprofen mind. There was no equivalent of Sue Perkins however.
As with all topics on here, it's all about opinions.
Whilst I can see where the OP is coming from, I'd also say that it's an amazing city. The quote "London is great if you have mates and money" is also a fair point.
But you can also do more for free in London than any other major capital (subjective for sure).
Free things off the top of my head: All the museums on exhibition road are free (V&A, science etc) The national & portrait galleries on Trafalgar Square British museum & library. Tates Britain & modern. 8 Royal parks (Hyde, regents etc) Views from the southbank, all the Thames bridges, outside Greenwich observatory... Public spaces at kings cross, Canary Wharf, the square mile, Covent Garden etc I could go on
Arguably, I believe an adult couple could spend a weekend in London for c.£200 total: 1. Budget hotel c. £60 eg tune 2. 2 X travel cards (all zones £50 for 2 days, 2 people off peak) 3. Lunches at Street food markets £40 4. Live music £20 (st Pancras old church, the Lexington etc) 5. Evening meal £30 (pub grub, pie & mash, fish & chips etc)
Combine, the 5 points above with all the free activities and I'd say a full weekend in London for c.£200 could be had.
Now £200 isn't small change, but could you do similar in Rome, New York, Madrid etc?
I enjoy theatre. Due to the current economic situation I always get cheap tickets in the week. Not for big name shows but mostly cheaper than a cinema ticket now. Also if you avoid the west end you can get decent food out. It is weird though as go into town and often find it quite empty in the evenings. Not sure if it is weather, fear of terrorism or people getting home as soon as possible after work.
When we get out act together we can do some bloody good things in London:
St Pancras and Kings X South Bank Loftus Road (ok maybe not)
but its sooo costly and bureaucratic to get stuff like that done that it takes ages.
the biggest concern for me is the cost of housing - its getting (got) stupid. Only millionaires can afford to live in central London, whilst the beauty of London was that everytime you turned a corner you got a different place with a different feel. Now its just Russians and Chinese billionaires..
As with all topics on here, it's all about opinions.
Whilst I can see where the OP is coming from, I'd also say that it's an amazing city. The quote "London is great if you have mates and money" is also a fair point.
But you can also do more for free in London than any other major capital (subjective for sure).
Free things off the top of my head: All the museums on exhibition road are free (V&A, science etc) The national & portrait galleries on Trafalgar Square British museum & library. Tates Britain & modern. 8 Royal parks (Hyde, regents etc) Views from the southbank, all the Thames bridges, outside Greenwich observatory... Public spaces at kings cross, Canary Wharf, the square mile, Covent Garden etc I could go on
Arguably, I believe an adult couple could spend a weekend in London for c.£200 total: 1. Budget hotel c. £60 eg tune 2. 2 X travel cards (all zones £50 for 2 days, 2 people off peak) 3. Lunches at Street food markets £40 4. Live music £20 (st Pancras old church, the Lexington etc) 5. Evening meal £30 (pub grub, pie & mash, fish & chips etc)
Combine, the 5 points above with all the free activities and I'd say a full weekend in London for c.£200 could be had.
Now £200 isn't small change, but could you do similar in Rome, New York, Madrid etc?
Anyway, interesting debate
Plenty to do in Rome for free too, especially if you do a runner from a street bar.
H~aven't been back to London for a few years now, they say even Soho has become sterile, such a shame to hear of great old businesses that have been there forever closing down. I remember the butchers at the top of Berwick Street market selling rabbit and pheasant right in the heart of London Town. Dont know if he's still there....
Yup,it was Rory Gallagher there,or the first ever appearance of Jethro Tull as a bluesrock outfit playing support to the Savoy Brown Blues Band.Always got a parking place in Wardour Street. Great gigs gone,The Rainbow and Nag's Head Battersea,never strolled the streets of London in fear of your life. All the characters are gone - like Mad Eric who used to pretend he was a bus,wore leather gauntlets and goggles and made all the noises as he pootled along the road....."plenty of room on top,ding ding." Don't miss a world without Ibuprofen mind. There was no equivalent of Sue Perkins however.
Rory Gallagher, the rainbow and mad Eric who used to pretend he was a BUS... Marvellous post blob, consider my cap doffed.
Very sad to say that in my opinion, London as well as England is finished as we once knew it. Pubs closing down at an alarming rate, even my favourite Indian food in most restaurants has lost its kick and zing that it had back in the 80's, as it now all seems the same. I used to love a nice ruby 24/7 .I don't get that craving now. If you go to any Town or City in England these days, all the shops in the high streets will have more or less the same things. i.e, Nail bars, Bookies , Charity shops, Fast food chains, Bargain Stores and large Supermarkets. Gone are the old family run Butchers, Grocers, Bakers, Chemists ect. Its all the same. Dreary blandness of the highest order. As for London Taxi drivers. (Thankfully not all of them ) Well, I have had many a night out turned sour by some with a surly and miserable attitude, and you should see their faces drop if you want to go South of the Thames late in the evening. If they don't like doing that kind of job, then maybe They should stick to playing Golf with their pals and maybe Uber have given them that little kick up the behind that some of those grumpy ones may need. I can't see things ever improving sadly. Maybe its my age but that's how I see things these days.
Some great points. My wife and I regularly go on long weekends to places in England and given the fact that almost everywhere is a "clone town" these days, it almost moves me to tears when we end up in some Timewarp on Stour where there are some local businesses rather than just the tired old chains and there is actually some character to the place.
Frome in Somerset is fantastic, great for culture and shops for him and for her. It has an amazing record shop ( http://ravesfromthegrave.com) and the whole town just oozes character and charm. Bridport is also great and so is Malden; the high street had a proper bike shop, a skate boarding/BMX shop and - incredible because I though these were extinct - a shop selling rock T-shirts, badges and music memorabilia.
RFA
"Things had started becoming increasingly desperate at Loftus Road but QPR have been handed a massive lifeline and the place has absolutely erupted. it's carnage. It's bedlam. It's 1-1."
Plenty to do in Rome for free too, especially if you do a runner from a street bar.
H~aven't been back to London for a few years now, they say even Soho has become sterile, such a shame to hear of great old businesses that have been there forever closing down. I remember the butchers at the top of Berwick Street market selling rabbit and pheasant right in the heart of London Town. Dont know if he's still there....
Sam Arkus has gone too.
If at first you dont succeed, pack up and f**k off home.
I don't miss the lousy air quality in London. The family moved out of Battersea early fifties to escape the smogs,from which time the clean air act largely transformed the capital and with the general clean ups of buildings it was really quite magical sixties and early seventies.The increased traffic of the eighties and it was getting back to tasting the diesel and tainted fogs.Had to get out eventually,dodgy insides as much as anything.The air over here in west Wales is like a fine wine by comparison,okay sometimes with a hint of sheep shit....four years down here and we were still coughing up chunks of soot.The water in London too was crap.My bruv Phil went to see a specialist about ulcers,quack said whatever you do don't drink the water - full of discarded birth control substances and anti depressants.Phil started to grow breasts but was madly happy about the prospect(only kidding). If the place got back to the vibrancy and cleanliness of the sixties I'd go back - miss the heap of shit rotten concrete sometimes,but then ghosts aren't real are they?
I don't miss the lousy air quality in London. The family moved out of Battersea early fifties to escape the smogs,from which time the clean air act largely transformed the capital and with the general clean ups of buildings it was really quite magical sixties and early seventies.The increased traffic of the eighties and it was getting back to tasting the diesel and tainted fogs.Had to get out eventually,dodgy insides as much as anything.The air over here in west Wales is like a fine wine by comparison,okay sometimes with a hint of sheep shit....four years down here and we were still coughing up chunks of soot.The water in London too was crap.My bruv Phil went to see a specialist about ulcers,quack said whatever you do don't drink the water - full of discarded birth control substances and anti depressants.Phil started to grow breasts but was madly happy about the prospect(only kidding). If the place got back to the vibrancy and cleanliness of the sixties I'd go back - miss the heap of shit rotten concrete sometimes,but then ghosts aren't real are they?
"Things had started becoming increasingly desperate at Loftus Road but QPR have been handed a massive lifeline and the place has absolutely erupted. it's carnage. It's bedlam. It's 1-1."
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London is shyte nowadays on 18:26 - Jan 26 with 3579 views
London is shyte nowadays on 09:27 - Jan 26 by ShotKneesHoop
If you ignore the six fingered locals and Naaaarch On The Ball City, Norfolk is a pretty good place to live in, it's still got great pubs and beer - and everything is cheap because there's no work.
You can still buy a semi detached house for £140,000 - £200,000 up here. You just need a job - or a pension to pay for it. See cut and paste below:-
3 bed cottage for sale in Black Street, Martham, Great Yarmouth - £198,950. A very rare chance to purchase a village Victorian flint cottage set on 3 floors. Many character features with fireplaces to reception rooms, kitchen with utility, 3 bedrooms, large rear garden and car standing space to rear. An absolute peach of a ...
3 bed semi-detached house for sale in Chestnut Road, Tasburgh, Norwich - £195,000 An immaculate three-bedroomed semi house occupying a peaceful cul-de-sac location in the heart of Tasburgh with accommodation including hall, cloakroom, 16' lounge with adjoining conservatory, quality fitted kitchen/breakfast room with breakfast bar ...
3 bed semi-detached house for sale in Blenheim Avenue, Martham, Great Yarmouth - £144,950 We are pleased to offer this spacious, three bedroom family house situated in the popular Broadland village of Martham. The property offers lpg central heating and upvc sealed unit double glazing. Accommodation includes entrance porch, hall way, ...
funny enough theres a little place called Sherrington that's a fav of mine and very near the mucklebough tank collection
I first left London for good in 1990. Clearly I have failed as I have returned for the fifth time!
In the intervening years, I have found my feelings toward the city of my birth have lessened somewhat. Partly due to age/life experiences, partly due to preferring to live elsewhere to better suit me and largely due to loathing overcrowded smelly cities.
No matter whether a village, town or city, every place has a number after which, the infrastructure struggles. London is an old city and regardless of the ethnicity of inhabitants, the problem is one of over-density and the result it has on quality of life for those living here. It wasn't that long ago I was living in the world's most densely populated city and it was truly awful. And why Mrs PH and I took time out in a small French town. I suspect London won't be as bad as Manila, but it won't be as enjoyable as a small French town.
There is also the added issue of London being geared not necessarily for Londoners, but those able to afford it, be they locals or from overseas. I think in terms of quality there have been some huge improvements, but in terms of affordability, its to the city's detriment that housing is so poor, sparse and ridiculously expensive. With so many people priced out of the city, the Mayor who seems happy to sell London homes in KL or Shanghai, has failed to realise how short sighted this is.
I have sensed an anger growing, not necessarily because Poles and other immigrants have moved in, but by sheer dint of numbers. The money folks are asked to pay to use TfL services is horrendous. The time it takes to get from A to B is similarly frustrating and queues seem longer than I ever remember them.
This is an issue I have sensed in most big cities. Whether it is part of an Orwellian master plan for Big Brother to be able to keep tabs on us more easily and shut us up with apps and mobile games, I don't know. But I do wonder if the quality of life enjoyed by many people is sufficient to make living here viable. I also wonder who those running London are actually running it for.
Anyway, we're here for now and in keeping with my own personal tradition, when in Londres, a season-ticket is procured. Trips to HQ will commence from Battersea which seems to come at a hefty price that I do wonder how much some working in the area must spend in time and money to get here. Gordon Ramsey has a restaurant around the corner from me, there looks to be a pwaper pub close by but upon looking in the door, a delicious menu was evident and while time and styles change, such a menu should be in a restaurant and a rotund chap with a big welcoming smile pouring ales should be in a pub.
I assume we have Rfosi faces in the Battersea hood and if so, do we get mobbed up to cross the water?
'Always In Motion' by John Honney available on amazon.co.uk
Interesting reading the comments here. We left for Aussie just over ten years ago, and came back to see family this time last year for the first time. 1) the first thing I noticed was how many blocks of flats have just seemed to have appeared, but with no means of parking! 2) we spent a night up at the Monument at an old mates 50th at the Britannia, so me and the family went during the day and early ebening around Covent Garden, Piccadilly, etc. Apart from the masses of people everywhere, it really was a case of spot the odd Londoner, whether Black, white or any other colour you care to mention. I spent many a night clubbing up around this manor in the late 70's and 80's, yes you used to get tourists, but bloody hell, nothing like this. Also, thiswas thee coldest night of the winter and they were still queuing at every bloody restaurant and take away!! 3) We still found some great boozers around the West End, with locals that seemed to have been there since the 70's, but they were not as common place as when I used to meet my missus at the Mall and we would go on a Thursday/Friday night session. Sadly, London has moved on and to me lost so much of what I remember in my youth that I loved about the city. That said, I'm still proud of my roots and believe London still to be one of the better cities in the world, it just seems to have lost so much of it's soul. Whether that is because of the yuppies, foreign investment, poor local planning and what seems to be an undercurrent of local authorities not wanting to support local buildings with working class history or just very quick and huge recent immigration which only time will allow to integrate, I just don't know, but If I had to make a guess I would say all these factors have a bit to do with it.
on a similar note. I was just looking at a Victorian map of Paddington, and where my mum's family come from which was Dudley St. There was a great boozer on the corner called the Dudley Arms and now I have found this below. What the f##k is happening to this place !!
About the Pub Dating from 1826, it was grade II listed; a large split-level pub close to the A40 Westway and the new Paddington Basin development. The rear section had a pool table and a large sports screen.
As of January 2015, closed & boarded up. Planning app refers as follws.
11/06435/COFUL Demolition of Dudley House and Nos. 139-147 Harrow Road; erection of five storey building fronting Harrow Road, a 14 storey tower and six storey building fronting North Wharf Road, comprising a total of 88 residential units (38 affordable and 50 private residential units); ground floor (Class D1) social and community use ; flexible ground floor active frontage (Class A1-A3 and A4); basement car parking,provision of shared amenity space, play area and landscaping. (Council's Own Development) Dudley House North Wharf Road And 139-147 Harrow Road London W2 1LE.
Granted in 2012 and S106 agreed in 2013. The site awaits demolition.
The pluses are the cultural and social diversity and all the diversions that brings. The downside is the expense, noise and dirt.
Whilst all cities change over time, which is difficult for those who remember "the good old days", the problem is that the lack of affordable housing could drive away the people who are sorely needed - teachers, nurses, policemen,transport workers. All the money brought in by Russian oligarchs and Chinese millionaires won't count for anything if there are no public services.
Having moved away nearly 40 years ago, visits back are infrequent and I have no desire to return on a permanent basis.
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the Earth all one's lifetime." (Mark Twain)
Find me on twitter @derbyhoop and now on Bluesky
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