Is London a sh*thole?

weasel · Post by **weasel** » Sat Sep 05, 2026 7:02 pm

Barlow Boy · Post by **Barlow Boy** » Sat Sep 05, 2026 7:09 pm

Used to work k down there, definitely option B

BlackHillsPaul · Post by **BlackHillsPaul** » Sat Sep 05, 2026 7:44 pm

I actually don't know if London is a sh*thole. The closest I've ever gotten was a 5 hour layover at Heathrow airport on my way to Greece. But we Orthodox Christians aren't compatible with Islamists. The Mayor of London is an Islamist. So that would be reason enough for me to avoid it.

Victor_OTT_17 · Post by **Victor_OTT_17** » Sat Sep 05, 2026 7:51 pm

I love it in London. Used to hate it til I met my now wife. Seeing how much she loved it made me fall in love with the place! We spent more time on London trips than anywhere else in the world in the 16 years my missus was in England.

There are places you want to avoid, as in most countries now. But I have never had a bad time or experience in London since I went there with Michèle: around 20 trips in 16 years...

Orange Box · Post by **Orange Box** » Sat Sep 05, 2026 8:14 pm

Option B for me too. Worked and lived there, enjoyed it and hated it in equal measure, 40 years ago. But you couldn’t drag me kicking and screaming there now. I hate the place so much I wouldn’t even try for Wembley tickets when Leeds get to the FA Cup Final.

Johnthewhite · Post by **Johnthewhite** » Sat Sep 05, 2026 8:15 pm

B please

SG90 · Post by **SG90** » Sat Sep 05, 2026 8:27 pm

Same as most places really, some nice areas and some complete dumps.

Whitkirk White · Post by **Whitkirk White** » Sat Sep 05, 2026 8:27 pm

When a man is tired of London he is tired of life. So said Dr Johnson. I did my degree in London in the late 80’s and early 90’s and loved it. Not been in years so couldn’t say anymore.

Post by **1964white** » Sat Sep 05, 2026 8:42 pm

B for me.

weasel · Post by **weasel** » Sat Sep 05, 2026 8:46 pm

Whitkirk White wrote: ↑Sat Sep 05, 2026 8:27 pm When a man is tired of London he is tired of life. So said Dr Johnson. I did my degree in London in the late 80’s and early 90’s and loved it. Not been in years so couldn’t say anymore.

One man's sh*thole is another man's paradise. I'm sure Jaydog would agree.

John in Louisiana · Post by **John in Louisiana** » Sat Sep 05, 2026 10:13 pm

C for me, but I'm a tourist.

That being said, if I lived in the UK I would live in Yorkshire. No doubt about it.

Jaydog · Post by **Jaydog** » Sat Sep 05, 2026 10:33 pm

weasel wrote: ↑Sat Sep 05, 2026 8:46 pm One man's sh*thole is another man's paradise. I'm sure Jaydog would agree.

Probably not the right emoji for this…

Not the arrow, the mouth open one.
Never mind…

CUSSIE01 · Post by **CUSSIE01** » Sat Sep 05, 2026 10:45 pm

Not sure how to vote in this, lived & worked in London for 3 years in the late 80’s & absolutely loved it but I couldn’t do it now. Made a lot of money in those days but ended up spending more. Wouldn’t change a thing.

DDB220 · Post by **DDB220** » Sat Sep 05, 2026 11:31 pm

I have been in and around London for the best part of 40 years now. It is a big place - there are some very nice places and equally some holes. I live in Greater London near the green belt, just inside the M25.

Lived previously in Clapham, and West Norwood and I was in the Met Police, so I know the city well.

There is some top notch real estate in many places. If you are loaded it is a great place to live as you can pretty much avoid the deprived areas. But even many of those are subject to significant regeneration.

Trust me there is not even an argument for where a footballer would rather live.

Cjay · Post by **Cjay** » Sat Sep 05, 2026 11:49 pm

Not my cup of tea but its the 3rd most visited City in the world for a reason

Has some very nice areas and some bad ones

Some interesting things to see.

Clacton White · Post by **Clacton White** » Sun Sep 06, 2026 5:11 am

I put A ...but only because I hadn't read B . I used to work in London , didn't like it much then . It was a case of get to work , do your bit and get out asap . A lot where I was did social stuff , worked late ...all that stuff , I just wanted to get home , over an hour by train . Haven't been back to the centre since I finished working where I was in 2004 , I do have a friend in Surbiton that I visit , though they hate being part of London , it's Surrey but for tax purposes Khan dragged anything within the M25 boundary under the Greater London thing , they still refer to it as Surrey there . It's all just a hectic mad rush in London , was bad when I was there but everything is far worse now , it's dirtier , congested ....the tube is filthy . Heathrow is by far the worst airport I have ever flown from too , it's just far too big , Gatwick is ok but a horrid journey back home , Stanstead is nearer by far but still not good .....busy and takes longer to get out than Gatwick , though it's not really London . Now......Southend is good , but very limited flights . Avoid Heathrow at all costs though .
Anyway I should have put B .

Post by **hector** » Sun Sep 06, 2026 5:44 am

I put B too..

My dad was posted there in the 70's we lived for a while in Dulwich and then just off Shooters Hill, my first job after leaving school, before joining the army was in Lewisham 1978......

Then whilst I was in the army I had to do some work in London, I stayed in Islington and then Clapham...... I am not in a hurry to go back again......

Sean_Nile · Post by **Sean_Nile** » Sun Sep 06, 2026 7:34 am

ismo a Finnish comedian is an expert on $hit.

Barlow Boy · Post by **Barlow Boy** » Sun Sep 06, 2026 8:04 am

Cjay wrote: ↑Sat Sep 05, 2026 11:49 pm Not my cup of tea but its the 3rd most visited City in the world for a reason

Has some very nice areas and some bad ones

Some interesting things to see.

Blimey, you’re even bringing your stats into this debate

weasel · Post by **weasel** » Sun Sep 06, 2026 9:14 am

Cjay wrote: ↑Sat Sep 05, 2026 11:49 pm Not my cup of tea but its the 3rd most visited City in the world for a reason

Has some very nice areas and some bad ones

Some interesting things to see.

Often people go to funerals, not because they want to.