My house is situated within commuting distance from London, in a town called Bexleyheath; it takes me about thirty minutes on a good day, or just over an hour on a bad day to get into the city. For me, this is the ideal set up, as much as I love London (those that know me can vouch for the fact that I’m up London most weekends), I wouldn’t want to live in the city itself. Don’t get me wrong I am not afraid to be biased and say that I think it is the best capital in the world, but living in a smaller town also has its benefits too. Below is a list of reasons why I enjoy living in a town just outside of London.
There is no denying that London is an amazing city, it really does have a bit of everything, as well as being a cultural hub and Christmas tree of tourist attractions, there is also the hustle and bustle of the city and its workers, and hip and trendy bars and restaurants to guarantee a night out that you won’t forget. I can’t help feeling that if I lived directly in the city, with all of this on my doorstep, then I would learn to take it for granted. However, the fact I live just outside of London means that I look forward to going on the train and using public transport to explore and travel further and further into London. There is something so exciting about sitting on the train knowing the day I have planned ahead!
There is no denying that there are things to do up London for free or on a reduced budget. For example, there are countless parks: Richmond Park, Hyde Park, St James’ Park to name a few, as well as museums and art galleries to keep you entertained. But then there is the other, pricier side of London – this is especially noticeable on a night out in London as you can expect to pay £12 upwards for one cocktail! However, in my local town it is much more affordable and again, the fact I have to save up a bit to go all out up London in terms of food and drink, means London is seen as somewhere special and novel. House prices in London are also a lot more expensive than those outside of London, research has shown that a garage alone can go for as much as £550,000- I would rather save my money to go on holiday!
No matter where you go in London, it will always be busy, no matter the time of the day. This is something I love about London, feeling the swarm of people around me as I walk down the street, so that even if I do find myself alone up there, I never actually feel alone. However, I don’t think I could handle how busy or crowded London is on a daily basis, I like the slower pace of my town and the more relaxed and chilled pace that everybody walks at!
Linked to the point above, I am aware that no matter where you live you will always have neighbours and therefore the chance to make friendships and close bonds. However, I feel like the bonds I have with my local community and with my Neighbours would not be possible if I loved in London. For example, every two years, we host a Street Party down my road and hand on heart, it is one of my favourite days of the year. The ambiance is one of community spirit and togetherness as everyone hosts BBQs and parties on their front drives. My town is filled with warmth whereas sometimes relations in London can be a little frosty, especially if you are travelling during rush hour squashed up alongside someone on the tube!
This is in terms of health and also in terms of crime. Pollution levels are higher in London due to the numerous types of public transport and countless buildings which use up higher levels of fossil fuels and electricity compared to local towns. Also, although crime can occur anywhere, recent events across the world has shown that London can be a prime target for crime such as terrorist attacks where maximum impact is guaranteed. I also feel a lot safer walking home after a night out in my little town compared to walking alone up London where more people are always out no matter the time of day or night.
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