The real pro’s and con’s of living in London?

London is one of the best cities in the world for all the reasons you think it is, and it can also be a challenge to live in for all the reasons you think it might be.

I'm American and have been living in zone one for a few years. I had visited a lot before moving here, and still love this city for all it offers culturally, but my wife and I have recently decided to move elsewhere for the following reasons:

1) The cost. We pay 1000 per month for a comically small studio flat in a nice area. The same amount will be getting us a nice one bedroom basically anywhere we choose in Edinburgh. I'd suggest taking a look at the Metro's "What I Rent" series to see what you're money will get you in London

2) It's impersonal. People aren't outwardly rude, but they're always in a rush and dealing with the crowds, so it's not uncommon to be crashed into by someone who doesn't even pick their head up to acknowledge your existence, let alone apologize.

3) The crowds. Rush hour on the tube can be absolutely hellacious, especially in the summer. Getting a pint after work in zone 1 when the weather is nice means fighting through a crowd of punters to get to the bar. Simply getting from point A to point B in London is an absolute chore more often than it's not.

Ultimately we decided that we both liked London a lot more as a visitor than as a resident. I would never discourage anyone from moving here for a few years, but my advice would be to have an exit plan.

/r/AskUK Thread