Pros and cons of living in London
London is one of the greatest cities in the world. It’s full of amazing culture, ancient history, and incredible opportunities. But living there isn’t for everyone. It’s super busy and the fast-paced lifestyle can be unforgiving. If you’re thinking of moving to London, check out these pros and cons first.
Pro: Historic and famous locations
There’s no shortage of historic and famous locations in London. Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London … It’s no wonder they draw millions of tourists every year. The city has countless museums dedicated to everything from dinosaurs to sports cars. If you love history and culture, there will always be something that interests you.
Con: Hordes of tourists
As well as being a great place for history, there’s plenty of modern-day activity. So, it’s no surprise that London draws millions of tourists every year. Unfortunately, this can be a bit overwhelming if you live in the centre and have to deal with crowds on a daily basis. You may find yourself charging through hordes of people just to get where you need to go. Luckily, most cities in the UK are used to dealing with large amounts of tourists, so it doesn’t really affect everyday life too much.
Pro: Endless things to do
London is a city that never sleeps. It’s hard to get bored here with so many things to do at all times of the day and night. There are incredible nightclubs, museums, art galleries, plays and concerts. The choice is endless. You can easily spend an evening seeing a movie than going out for dinner followed by drinks at one of the bars in town. London has something for everyone – you just have to know where to look.
Con: Choice overload
There’re so many choices in London that it can be a bit overwhelming. There are countless restaurants, bars, and clubs all competing for your business. You may find yourself walking around town with a massive list of places you want to try out, but not enough time to try them all. It’s hard to decide where to go sometimes – it can be easy just to see what everyone else is doing and join them there.
Pro: Higher wages than the rest of the UK
London has long been a place of opportunity – and that extends to people earning more money there than anywhere else in the UK. That’s right, London actually pays its workers better than any other part of the country. Companies are willing to pay more for their staff so they can have the best possible talent available.
Con: Cost of living is very high
This is why Londoners actually get paid so well. In order to afford living there, they need the money just to pay rent. It’s not uncommon for a family of four or five (or more) to live in a one-bedroom flat with communal bathrooms and kitchens. Then, you’ve got the cost of food, drink, entertainment, and everything else. It makes you wonder whether it’s still worth living in London for the higher wage when there has been a jobs boost across Nottingham and other parts of the country.
Pro: Well-connected by tube and train
Once you’ve chosen your place to live near the centre, you’ll need to get around. Luckily, London is well-connected by tube and train. You can avoid all the traffic jams in town by using buses and trains instead. It means you don’t have to sit in a car for hours every day just trying to get from one place to another – there are much more convenient options available now that would make your life a lot easier.
Con: Insanely crowded at rush hour
London is a huge city with millions of people living in it. During rush hour, you can be pretty sure that there will be crowds of people everywhere trying to get to work or home again after the day is done. It’s hard to walk anywhere during these times and not feel like your feet are being crushed by someone around you – even though they aren’t.
Pro: Diverse population
London is one of the most diverse cities in the world. It’s home to people from all over the globe so you never really know what you will run into in your day-to-day life.
Con: Political and legal uncertainty
Living in London means living in the UK – and that means you have to deal with all its issues. The political situation here is stable though there’s constant upheaval at Westminster. The combative politics can affect your daily life if you let it get you down.