We need to talk about London

[summerisle]

I'm voting obsession (on toast)

Isn't that some fancy dan perfume ?

 

[Garymc2412]

Me and the Mrs off to London in morning for the weekend.theatre on Friday and the cure at bst Hyde park Saturday.
Haven't a clue where to go anyone know decent pubs in or near theatre land and Hyde park.need to see england game sat afternoon at least

 

[LEONARD]

 

[Philw]

I love living in London to be honest. As cities go, it has so much to offer. The only thing lacking is access to nature. Diverse cultures, entertainment, science and technology, museums and art, easy access to Europe and further afield and much more.

There's plenty of parks about really, and if you're lucky enough to live in the right area you have places like Richmond and Bushy Park, but surely that's the same with any city? It doesn't take that long to get out to the proper countryside.

Living in London doesn't have to be hugely expensive, but the trouble is the hipsters all think that living in London means you absolutely must eat and and drink in swanky pubs and bars, use cabs or public transport, aspire to live in Shoreditch or Notting Hill, subscribe to Starbucks culture and otherwise sell your soul in order to keep up with the coked up city workers who lives in the opposite flat but whom you've never even actually spoken to.

I would suggest some of these things to keep your budget and your blood pressure down...

Go and enjoy the public parks (go for a nice walk in Richmond park can be glorious on a nice day)
Go visit some museums
Buy some groceries from the local market and prepare a delicious meal for yourself
Ride a bike about town
Go skating with the London Friday Night Skate

My girlfriend lives just round the corner from Richmond Park, and I used to live a 5 minute walk from Bushy Park. Still go to both quite regularly, especially this time of year

I was out in Clapham a few weeks ago, and several hundred skaters came past, marshalls and everything. Was that this?

Overall, London is awesome. I like where I live - it's not too expensive, being out in the suburbs a bit, but I can still easily get into the city and access everything it has to offer, plus I'm closer to more nature etc as above. I do kind of agree with the OP tho, I can see why other parts of the country feel that way. On behalf of London I'd like to just say sorry for being such a hog!

 

[Bruce Wayne]

There's plenty of parks about really, and if you're lucky enough to live in the right area you have places like Richmond and Bushy Park, but surely that's the same with any city? It doesn't take that long to get out to the proper countryside.

I think the parks in London are indeed amazing, but don't really regard them as countryside. Countryside = mountains, lakes, forests etc. (and usually a relatively small number of people). Cities like Trento or Liberec have that and you can be up a mountain in a few minutes. From Elephant I'm 20km from the M25, let alone anything too countryside like.

 

[Philw]

I think the parks in London are indeed amazing, but don't really regard them as countryside. Countryside = mountains, lakes, forests etc. (and usually a relatively small number of people). Cities like Trento or Liberec have that and you can be up a mountain in a few minutes. From Elephant I'm 20km from the M25, let alone anything too countryside like.

Oh yeah, certainly not 'countryside'. Can't really compare it to somewhere like Trento tho. That's about the size of Maidstone, and set in the Italian Alps! It may have amazing nature all around it, but I'm sure it's missing a myriad of other things that London does have. Great area tho (I go there every year or so Repping ).

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Oh yeah, certainly not 'countryside'. Can't really compare it to somewhere like Trento tho. That's about the size of Maidstone, and set in the Italian Alps! It may have amazing nature all around it, but I'm sure it's missing a myriad of other things that London does have. Great area tho (I go there every year or so Repping ).

For sure, it's unlikely you'll ever find somewhere with everything

 

[Philw]

For sure, it's unlikely you'll ever find somewhere with everything

I can dream! Somewhere like Barcelona, Milan, or - if smaller - Nice would get pretty close. Still a little way to proper nature, but what nature once you get there!

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I can dream! Somewhere like Barcelona, Milan, or - if smaller - Nice would get pretty close. Still a little way to proper nature, but what nature once you get there!

Aye. I thought about Grenoble for a bit but it's a bit grotty (and French). A friend moved to Bolzano recently and loves it, so that's an option.

 

[Philw]

Aye. I thought about Grenoble for a bit but it's a bit grotty (and French). A friend moved to Bolzano recently and loves it, so that's an option.

Having been thru Grenoble a few times to get to the Alps I would never consider living there - seemed so dirty and industrial, tho I'm sure it does have it's nice parts. Do you prefer Italy? I love Nice, plus it's on the sea, so great for summer, and close to Cannes, Monaco etc. What about Lyon?

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Having been thru Grenoble a few times to get to the Alps I would never consider living there - seemed so dirty and industrial, tho I'm sure it does have it's nice parts. Do you prefer Italy? I love Nice, plus it's on the sea, so great for summer, and close to Cannes, Monaco etc. What about Lyon?

The riding in Italy is better (imo). Turin was ok when we went there, and some great mountains nearby. Haven't been as far down as Nice, but no someone that lives down that way and makes a living from biking. He loves it and the photos he posts do look nice. Went for a trip to Granada earlier this year and did some riding in the Sierra Nevada. Some decent climbs there and the climate is nice, but the mountains aren't anywhere near as pretty as the Dolomites or Alps.