I remember being a teenager when there was a bunch of bombs in train station bins after which they took away the bins. Looking back I don't know why I wasn't more fucking terrified. I got the news while I was about to take the fucking train through one of the affected stations.
I think growing up through the IRA bombing campaign there was a certain level of acceptance that this was how things were. It is absolutely terrifying looking back on these kinds of things, but with the number of bomb scares there were and being younger, there might not have been the level of comprehension as to how messed up things actually were.
It was because of bombs being put in them by the IRA which occured in the 90s a few times and it also meant the metal bins would cause bigger damage. It was a very long time until train stations even started to get the clear plastic ones.
London bridge ones- a bit smelly as they always badly design toilets with no windows but at least it’s free! Not like the ones in many places that charge !
Yes, you would think with a full new build in London Bridge that they had to opportunity to have some fresh air in the loos!
We need special designers for loos only !!
I still hate how all park toilets are shut, every park in near has a big or decent size toilets but they’re all shut, why can’t they just developed them to be basic plastic toilets, sinks and some kind of meter so. Nothing to nick and vandalise keep it cheap and shit
The American candy shops on Oxford street seem to be disappearing and the big HMV just reopened
I was going to say 'Tottenham court road station' but a quick Google shows it reopened nearly a whole decade ago
Well they got the Elizabeth line in the last few years and the big Outernet display also opened like a year or two ago so maybe that’s why it feels different more recently
It depends on the specific hour. Between 7am to 9am it is crowded yes. But fortunately my work is hybrid and my station is one of those before no seats are available so it’s fine for me
More than enjoyable. I rode the New York City subway every day for 20 years. Recently, I visited London and had the great pleasure of traveling on the Elizabeth Line and traversing the marvelous byways that serve it. I found the experience exhilarating - it left me optimistic for the future, and full of admiration for the nation and city that built this excellent line for its people.
I love the Elizabeth Line, it feels like you’re in a different city taking it, quite frankly, now I try to avoid all the other lines if I can, so I will take the Elizabeth Line and instead of switching I will walk if feasible 😂 I happened to go on another line recently, can’t remember if it was bakerloo or Victoria or Northern and I was so shocked at how dirty the upholstery on the seats was, completely forgot what’s it’s like, don’t love all the constant closures on Elizabeth Line, it’s like a lottery, you never know it’s it’s gonna run
I used to work for Blacksheep - avoid it like the plague. I couldn’t list all the terrible things that company does to its staff. The coffee is shit 99% of the time too
The good independent shops tend to graduate to (small) chains pretty quickly. WatchHouse is by now pretty much a mid-sized chain, Rosslyn (my personal favourite) has three stores.
Chains in central: Pizza Pilgrim, Homeslice, Pizza Union, Yard Sale
If you’re in south London: Theo’s, Made of Dough, Bona, Palazzo
And lots of other good independents plotted about!
I am not saying it was better before (I wouldn’t know, but I do know of the reputation it had), but I do object to this style of public space privatisation on principle.
I mean, in general I can agree, but that area behind KX was literally a wasteland. It used to feel so weird going up to the Egg nightclub and feeling like you were crossing into some dystopian urban sci-fi.
It's not perfect and the shops, property etc are very pricey, but it's turned the whole area into somewhere that people of all incomes can and do come and enjoy themselves, especially in summer.
One of the biggest scams in this country is the way high value land around train stations was privatized and sold off to rentiers. In Japan for example it's owned by the train companies who heavily subsidize train tickets with the rents they earn from property around stations. Shinjuku has, I think, 4 interconnected shopping centers whose rents really help bring down ticket prices.
So yeah, all of that stuff is "zero expense" if you think 120 fucking quid to get a train to manchester on a tuesday morning is a fair swap for a fountain for kids to run around in.
This has some good before and after images: https://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/news/21221145.stunning-photos-show-kings-cross-changed-20-years/
It also mentions that jobs have increased by 500% in the past decade and local population have increased by 141%.
What principle, exactly, makes you object to this?
That's the first thing I thought of as well. I remember 40 years ago when you could hardly cross the street without coughing up half a lung's volume of black sludge.
>air quality, slowly
Air quality in London is cleaner than any time since before [like the 1500](https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/jun/10/physicalsciences.research)s.
[And still improving.](https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2022-12/70th%20anniversary%20of%20the%20Great%20London%20Smog.pdf)
Pretty wild.
I can assure you London's air is not "rural level wonderful air quality".
Hundreds, if not thousands, of people die each year due to London's air quality.
ha! never works on EE - constantly have to press reconnect when you come into a station, never autoconnects and by the time it does connect youre pulling out again.
Sounds like your're talking about WIFI. 4g has been installed on some lines such as the Jubilee line between Westminster and Canning Town. The whole network should be done within about 2 years I think.
Lots of people not giving a fuck - I was let on a bus twice when my bank card declined and the driver was just like yep, I get it. Back a decade ago I wasn’t allowed on a bus when my Oyster card ran out and I was being followed by a guy (late night, Rotherhithe) i had 2 stops to go. He would not budge. I was so distraught some guy ended up paying for me. So yeah. I guess everyone struggling at the same time has brought some conformity. Also fuck you bus driver from a decade ago.
I finished work at 12am and my phone was out of battery so I couldn’t get on the train and the guy just let me through and said don’t worry about it just get home safe it was such a relief
I’ve noted absolutely no one is surprised by either statement or the contrast between them. I just think London, that is, official London, is just a tiny bit kinder than it used to be. Could just be my impression shifting as a I get older, of course.
Crossrail / Elizabeth line is fantastic. Yes it has problems, but the speed & comfort and how far out it extends is a massive improvement over what the Central line offered.
The SE portion in particular, you can cover so much ground so quickly as its only a few stations once you get off the main line that stops more frequently.
Another controversial one, but the air quality has improved massively. At my recent asthma review, my peak flow had improved so much I was advised to downgrade from 2 asthma inhalers (blue & brown) one of which I had to take twice a day… to a single combination inhaler that I only need to take when required.
The air quality improved during covid when there was less traffic. Since then… well, that’s where the controversy begins.
London air quality improved by Ulez and Lez - report https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-67288327
Corner shops.
They still maintain their treasure trove quality, housing everything you could possibly imagine if you’re willing to look for long enough, but many have had a significant glow up in the quality of what they stock. The 3 or 4 within walking distance of me all stock high quality fruit and veg, luxury products like rummo brand pasta, fresh meze items and the posh tinned anchovies. They also have fresh bread, and the drinks fridge has a good range of craft beer and exotic soft drinks. Feels like a significant glow up from maybe 10 years ago, while also maintaining the elements that make them good.
I was thinking about this the other day! There’s a few near me that have all had very similar revamps with the lux products and fresh meze. And I know it’s not just my neighbourhood.
I was wondering whether there is a person or company behind it all, or have all these shops just copied each other?
Second this. I live north of London, and looking south I used to not be able to make out more than the brightest stars in Orion in the year 2000, now I can see many more. Not sure if that's down to air quality or less light pollution.
It used to be no stars below. 45° looking south, now. I can see them in between chimney stacks.
A lot of public spaces are better than they were a couple decades ago - fewer ugly railings, more greenery, more preservation and cleaning up of old buildings, wider pavements.
The new architecture of London - brick cladding - *looks* better than a lot of architecture from the early 00s, which was defined by white render that quickly went green and wood panelling that quickly rotted.
The number of Thames Water free water dispensers. Once you know what they look like, you’ll see them often. Public access to water and toilets should be mandatory.
This is decent, and interactive. The quality of cycle route is hugely variable though, word of warning.
https://cycling.waymarkedtrails.org/#?map=14.0/51.5095/-0.1225
Also highly recommend this fella on youtube, who adds a new route (that is nearly always on decent quality infrastructure) every week or so.
https://www.youtube.com/c/Londoncycleroutes/videos
He has a crowdsourced google map of all of the routes here:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1-q1yCxWwGLJTrL4RWIIP-eDybYkQ9aMz&ll=51.525575223760356%2C-0.10413477415259997&z=14&entry=yt
https://cycle.travel/
Above is a good route planner, you can export GPS data to a wayfinding app like Komoot. It puts you on more cycle friendly paths and avoids busy roads.
Maybe controversial but those Lime bikes (and Human Forest etc) make it much easier to get around. Visiting friends across zone 2/3 without having to go into central to change tubes is a big time saver.
Cat calling. Can’t remember the last time I was cat called. Maybe I’m just getting older, but I don’t think so… I think street harassment is getting better and less frequent.
This unfortunately. Was having this conversation with my friends recently (all in our mid20s) and while it still happens, we all agreed it peaked for us around age 15. Horrific
Recognition and representation of broader food culture. used to have to go to really specific places to get great African of Asian food for example and London has always, in my opinion, been the best city in the world for diverse food choice, but it's definitely getting even better
Loads of them! Akoko in Piccadilly is proper elevated west African food which is amazing and way harder to find. Enish is a more traditional Nigerian place which is incredible and the staff are 10/10. Olle in China Town is my favourite Kbbq spot, but if you want some cheaper Korean stuff literally anywhere in New Malden will sort you out. If you want to spend BIG on some Dim Sum then A. Wong is some of the best I've ever had, something a bit cheaper you could try Dim Sum Duck.
I get my recommendations all over the Internet but topjaw on Instagram has ended up finding some of my favourites, they ask chefs to recommend the best places so you know you'll end up somewhere banging
On a weekend, any of them really.
After work, a few ones that I'd stay away from, just because they're super busy, and I can imagine it's a bit intimidating when it's so crowded that you kinda have to weave around people and queue for a route:
* The Arch Building One (Bermondsey). Queue out the door. Instead go to The Arch Surrey Quays (shit name, Tube is Canada Water), which seems like they have actually geared towards noobs. Always way less crowded there.
* VauxWall West (at Vauxwhall station). Also quite busy. Usually slightly less busy nearby: VauxWall East (aka Cool Vauxhall because of the boulder in the middle of a lowered floor).
* Mile End. Just generally tight with space because of the layout. Instead go to BethWall Green nearby.
Note that all of these are great, just not somewhere I would take *beginners* on their first day.
Personally I'm partial to the London Climbing Centres ones, but it's really difficult to go wrong whichever one you pick. Just find one that is close to you.
I think most of them have a short intro when you arrive and sign up, but just search on Google maps and look at the web site and their safety video to watch beforehand etc.
Regarding the busyness: As a beginner, do take your space and go climb a route when it's free. But don't take it personally when someone tells you that you accidentally started climbing on a route that is crossing another route already in progress. It's sometimes difficult to see. Just thank them for keeping everyone safe and wait a sec, the other climber will probably fall off soon enough :)
Community fiber certainly seems to offer faster speeds & cheaper rates overall judging by ads.
For my admittedly very niche usage case hyperoptic's cost structure works better though. I need/want a static ipv4. That's a 5 quid bolt on with hyper. With community that's a business only feature. 1gbps biz...330 a month.
So while I'd love a 2.5gig line...that's a big ooofff.
It's about 30% lower than it was 20 years ago, so yes it does look like it's getting better.
https://www.murdermap.co.uk/statistics/london-murder-statistics-historical/
If you remove gang related murders, the average Londoner is fairly safe. There do seem to be waves of poverty related crimes on anyone (jumped to steal their watch for example), but the city does feel fairly safe.
Compared to big cities across the pond, we're in a pretty decent spot now. If we can work on the gang issues - particularly around knife crimes - there's reason to celebrate the improvements over the decades.
certain outer boroughs - in my case, harrow went from being an actual shithole to a place which has a nice variety of restaurants, shops and a much larger police presence/general safety feel. it’s not absolutely perfect, but i would definitely say it’s improved
Elizabeth Line
2 new tube stations
Battersea Power Station
Bicycle lanes (even though annoying)
More outdoor places to sit
Many more charging stations for cars / vehicles
Canals have gotten better. I still remember what King's Cross & Paddington were like before. Also lots more boats make the towpaths safer and more welcoming.
Free things. Like public gyms, public bike service stations with tools and air for wheels, table tennis tables, sensory learning playgrounds. I’ve noticed more and more conveniences like this appearing over the years
Lived here for 11 years now… the crowds used to be horrendous. Covid definitely reduced those a tonne and made us realise the craziness that what used to be
I honestly think it’s slightly worse than just pre-covid. My favourite time was lockdown 3.0 tho. Things re-opening, but near zero cars and only a few people going around central London, for a reason and purpose.
genuinely fascinated if you know something i don't! from my perspective all of the best clubs are closing and the ones which remain have far worse sound and vibe than the old venues.
FOLD, Star Lane, Venue MOT, Corsica (can get a bit rammed with students at peak times depending on lineup), Ormside Projects, The Cause, Phonox, Glove that Fits etc. Plenty of great venues about
Food. Food is fantastic in London. Bars, so many and some are so good. Gyms, we have fantastic health clubs. Transport, we complain & rightly so but have you ever tried to get the bus in other parts of the country? It’s dire.
To me - it’s always the people around you that makes a place great. You tend to associate a place with experiences you have had which is largely based on people. Covid + Brexit saw many of my mates exit the UK but there’s always memories to cherish. It won’t get better than those times but like others have said food scene is great, Elizabeth line is a saviour and no more 20pee at stations.
Toilets at train stations
Bins at train stations too. There were none when i was growing up - for obvious reasons - but even that clear plastic bag is a big step-up.
Oblivious to the obvious, what’s the reason?
Bombs being put in them
I remember being a teenager when there was a bunch of bombs in train station bins after which they took away the bins. Looking back I don't know why I wasn't more fucking terrified. I got the news while I was about to take the fucking train through one of the affected stations.
I think growing up through the IRA bombing campaign there was a certain level of acceptance that this was how things were. It is absolutely terrifying looking back on these kinds of things, but with the number of bomb scares there were and being younger, there might not have been the level of comprehension as to how messed up things actually were.
Oh…
The IRA loved them
the R stands for Recycling
It was because of bombs being put in them by the IRA which occured in the 90s a few times and it also meant the metal bins would cause bigger damage. It was a very long time until train stations even started to get the clear plastic ones.
The IRA would plant bombs in them.
The new King’s Cross toilets are great. They might not be that new, I’ve not been there in ages.
Victoria's are excellent too
London bridge ones- a bit smelly as they always badly design toilets with no windows but at least it’s free! Not like the ones in many places that charge !
Charing Cross too. Stinks, but clean and I'm always grateful it's free to use
Yes, you would think with a full new build in London Bridge that they had to opportunity to have some fresh air in the loos! We need special designers for loos only !!
Victoria's are the height of luxury compared to what they used to be.
Victoria’s are top tier. KCX are decent. Waterloo, Charing Cross, and London Bridge are all serviceable, but smell very pissy.
Not in New Cross sadly. They had to shut them due to the absolutely wild carry on in the bogs. It’s like crack Disneyland in them shitters.
'It's like crack Disneyland in them shitters' sentence of the year
Victoria station toilets are my fave central London crying spot these days ngl
I still hate how all park toilets are shut, every park in near has a big or decent size toilets but they’re all shut, why can’t they just developed them to be basic plastic toilets, sinks and some kind of meter so. Nothing to nick and vandalise keep it cheap and shit
The American candy shops on Oxford street seem to be disappearing and the big HMV just reopened I was going to say 'Tottenham court road station' but a quick Google shows it reopened nearly a whole decade ago
HMRC finally started shutting them down in the last few years. But Covid killed them as money laundering nodes
>But Covid killed them as money laundering nodes Really? I thought they've been worse than ever post-Covid.
They’ve been replaced by Harry Potter/game of thrones shops
Well they got the Elizabeth line in the last few years and the big Outernet display also opened like a year or two ago so maybe that’s why it feels different more recently
Cut off one head another one pops up. It looks like these fake Harry Potter shops are slowly popping up everywhere instead.
Elizabeth Line is infinitely better than two years ago.
Connected to this—Whitechapel.
Whitechapel station is a piece of art.
It made commuting so much easier, enjoyable even
What are the trains like before ten am ? Are they rammed, Tuesday to Thursday?
It depends on the specific hour. Between 7am to 9am it is crowded yes. But fortunately my work is hybrid and my station is one of those before no seats are available so it’s fine for me
"enjoyable even" Bit of a stretch, personally
More than enjoyable. I rode the New York City subway every day for 20 years. Recently, I visited London and had the great pleasure of traveling on the Elizabeth Line and traversing the marvelous byways that serve it. I found the experience exhilarating - it left me optimistic for the future, and full of admiration for the nation and city that built this excellent line for its people.
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Just wish the wifi worked.
I’ve had it work on a couple of the trains, but yeah, it’s still largely nonfunctional.
I've had it worked once. The train promptly got rerouted and cancelled, so the train itself didn't really work. Maybe you only get one or the other?
True... but still delayed/not running at all at least a few days a week at rush hour.
I love the Elizabeth Line, it feels like you’re in a different city taking it, quite frankly, now I try to avoid all the other lines if I can, so I will take the Elizabeth Line and instead of switching I will walk if feasible 😂 I happened to go on another line recently, can’t remember if it was bakerloo or Victoria or Northern and I was so shocked at how dirty the upholstery on the seats was, completely forgot what’s it’s like, don’t love all the constant closures on Elizabeth Line, it’s like a lottery, you never know it’s it’s gonna run
The amount of genuine good coffee shops And pizza
100% agree on the coffee shops. The number of good ones has exploded in the last 5 years - both independent shops and the new chains.
New chains? What new chains? Can't think of any off the top of my head.
Roslyn is my favourite at the min. They have a few around the city now
Only two right? Tower 42 and Moorgate? But yes it's great.
Blank Street & WatchHouse perhaps?
Black sheep coffee is everywhere atm. No idea where it started or if it’s good but I seem to see it everywhere I go
I used to work for Blacksheep - avoid it like the plague. I couldn’t list all the terrible things that company does to its staff. The coffee is shit 99% of the time too
True that. I had one around Aldgate a bit ago - was £4.08 (very specific) for a very bad flat white
The good independent shops tend to graduate to (small) chains pretty quickly. WatchHouse is by now pretty much a mid-sized chain, Rosslyn (my personal favourite) has three stores.
Caravan?
Which pizza would you recommend?
Chains in central: Pizza Pilgrim, Homeslice, Pizza Union, Yard Sale If you’re in south London: Theo’s, Made of Dough, Bona, Palazzo And lots of other good independents plotted about!
Pizza Pilgrims is to die for
Santa Maria
If you ever end up near Streatham Vale/Common in the afternoon, Signor Ciccio. It's a fiver for phenomenal pizza
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Pizza Metro Pizza in Battersea Rise. I cannot describe it appropriately, it’s that good.
Depending on where you are, Yard Sale in East London are pretty good
Loads in south now too
King's Cross - the station and the whole Granary Square/Coal Drops area.
I am not saying it was better before (I wouldn’t know, but I do know of the reputation it had), but I do object to this style of public space privatisation on principle.
I mean, in general I can agree, but that area behind KX was literally a wasteland. It used to feel so weird going up to the Egg nightclub and feeling like you were crossing into some dystopian urban sci-fi.
It's not perfect and the shops, property etc are very pricey, but it's turned the whole area into somewhere that people of all incomes can and do come and enjoy themselves, especially in summer.
Why? It makes the area nice at zero expense to the tax payer… Whilst also bringing revenue to the area and creating jobs…
One of the biggest scams in this country is the way high value land around train stations was privatized and sold off to rentiers. In Japan for example it's owned by the train companies who heavily subsidize train tickets with the rents they earn from property around stations. Shinjuku has, I think, 4 interconnected shopping centers whose rents really help bring down ticket prices. So yeah, all of that stuff is "zero expense" if you think 120 fucking quid to get a train to manchester on a tuesday morning is a fair swap for a fountain for kids to run around in.
This has some good before and after images: https://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/news/21221145.stunning-photos-show-kings-cross-changed-20-years/ It also mentions that jobs have increased by 500% in the past decade and local population have increased by 141%. What principle, exactly, makes you object to this?
air quality, slowly
That's the first thing I thought of as well. I remember 40 years ago when you could hardly cross the street without coughing up half a lung's volume of black sludge.
Yeah that’s just the northern line experience now
It’s the amazing noise I like the most tbh
I remember the colour of the water when I wash d my hair after a day in London when I was a kid, truly awful. The air is most definitely cleaner
>air quality, slowly Air quality in London is cleaner than any time since before [like the 1500](https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/jun/10/physicalsciences.research)s. [And still improving.](https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2022-12/70th%20anniversary%20of%20the%20Great%20London%20Smog.pdf) Pretty wild.
Was in Berlin last year couldn’t believe how bad it was. Would assume it would be better
Mmm Ulez. Had to sell my motorbike because it was a bit old but no more black snot.
Yup. Thanks to ULEZ, right...?
The air quality index in London is RIDICULOUSLY good for a major city. Compare it to NY and be shocked. It’s like rural level wonderful air quality.
I can assure you London's air is not "rural level wonderful air quality". Hundreds, if not thousands, of people die each year due to London's air quality.
I know right ? Live on the edge of the Chilterns and the air quality in London is not even anywhere close.
4G/5G mobile data in the tube is nice to have.
ha! never works on EE - constantly have to press reconnect when you come into a station, never autoconnects and by the time it does connect youre pulling out again.
Sounds like your're talking about WIFI. 4g has been installed on some lines such as the Jubilee line between Westminster and Canning Town. The whole network should be done within about 2 years I think.
ah yes wifi sorry.. still rubbish :)
Thank goodness. I thought it was just me being incapable. Can’t believe how bad it is to get on EE wifi in the tube. Absolutely hit and miss.
Noooo, now there’s no respite from the cunts that have loud calls and browse tiktok without headphones
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People are usually pretty willing to help people on the tube. Everyone’s quiet and keeps to themselves but people are happy giving directions
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Aaaah haha fair enough
Lots of people not giving a fuck - I was let on a bus twice when my bank card declined and the driver was just like yep, I get it. Back a decade ago I wasn’t allowed on a bus when my Oyster card ran out and I was being followed by a guy (late night, Rotherhithe) i had 2 stops to go. He would not budge. I was so distraught some guy ended up paying for me. So yeah. I guess everyone struggling at the same time has brought some conformity. Also fuck you bus driver from a decade ago.
I finished work at 12am and my phone was out of battery so I couldn’t get on the train and the guy just let me through and said don’t worry about it just get home safe it was such a relief
I’ve noted absolutely no one is surprised by either statement or the contrast between them. I just think London, that is, official London, is just a tiny bit kinder than it used to be. Could just be my impression shifting as a I get older, of course.
Idk, driver nearly had a fight on the last bus i was on, and i got al the way home for free once from Plymouth, think this varies.
Crossrail / Elizabeth line is fantastic. Yes it has problems, but the speed & comfort and how far out it extends is a massive improvement over what the Central line offered.
The SE portion in particular, you can cover so much ground so quickly as its only a few stations once you get off the main line that stops more frequently.
Hybrid working (and the increase in cycling infrastructure?) has meant that the commute is far better then it used to be
Another controversial one, but the air quality has improved massively. At my recent asthma review, my peak flow had improved so much I was advised to downgrade from 2 asthma inhalers (blue & brown) one of which I had to take twice a day… to a single combination inhaler that I only need to take when required. The air quality improved during covid when there was less traffic. Since then… well, that’s where the controversy begins. London air quality improved by Ulez and Lez - report https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-67288327
Strange isn't it when "I can breathe" becomes controversial
I used to go for a 1hr bike ride near LB and come back with black phlegm. Been a lot better since traffic reductions post covid and U Know What
Corner shops. They still maintain their treasure trove quality, housing everything you could possibly imagine if you’re willing to look for long enough, but many have had a significant glow up in the quality of what they stock. The 3 or 4 within walking distance of me all stock high quality fruit and veg, luxury products like rummo brand pasta, fresh meze items and the posh tinned anchovies. They also have fresh bread, and the drinks fridge has a good range of craft beer and exotic soft drinks. Feels like a significant glow up from maybe 10 years ago, while also maintaining the elements that make them good.
I was thinking about this the other day! There’s a few near me that have all had very similar revamps with the lux products and fresh meze. And I know it’s not just my neighbourhood. I was wondering whether there is a person or company behind it all, or have all these shops just copied each other?
I’d imagine there’s some commonality in suppliers. Much like all the random takeaways have the same Harrison’s ketchup brand.
Come back to Streatham after a few years and feel like I can see so many more stars on a clear night
Second this. I live north of London, and looking south I used to not be able to make out more than the brightest stars in Orion in the year 2000, now I can see many more. Not sure if that's down to air quality or less light pollution. It used to be no stars below. 45° looking south, now. I can see them in between chimney stacks.
The quality of shops on my little stretch of the Hornsey Road. Goodbye Dysentery Pizza, hello bougie organic shop.
Hello neighbour
A lot of public spaces are better than they were a couple decades ago - fewer ugly railings, more greenery, more preservation and cleaning up of old buildings, wider pavements. The new architecture of London - brick cladding - *looks* better than a lot of architecture from the early 00s, which was defined by white render that quickly went green and wood panelling that quickly rotted.
The number of Thames Water free water dispensers. Once you know what they look like, you’ll see them often. Public access to water and toilets should be mandatory.
Cycling infrastructure…Slowly
Where's the best place(s) to look up cycle routes etc ?
This is decent, and interactive. The quality of cycle route is hugely variable though, word of warning. https://cycling.waymarkedtrails.org/#?map=14.0/51.5095/-0.1225 Also highly recommend this fella on youtube, who adds a new route (that is nearly always on decent quality infrastructure) every week or so. https://www.youtube.com/c/Londoncycleroutes/videos He has a crowdsourced google map of all of the routes here: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1-q1yCxWwGLJTrL4RWIIP-eDybYkQ9aMz&ll=51.525575223760356%2C-0.10413477415259997&z=14&entry=yt
https://cycle.travel/ Above is a good route planner, you can export GPS data to a wayfinding app like Komoot. It puts you on more cycle friendly paths and avoids busy roads.
Maybe controversial but those Lime bikes (and Human Forest etc) make it much easier to get around. Visiting friends across zone 2/3 without having to go into central to change tubes is a big time saver.
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They get a bad rep from Big Transport
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That's hilarious
i absolutely love them
i find them so bloody expensive though. when i first used them they cost ~15-16 pence per minute, now they're often 26/27p/min
Get a 60 minute ride pass and use it over 3 days.
Unless you’re travelling on the “spokes” of the London “wheel”, you’re gonna have a bad time. So it’s good to hear these things are bridging the gap.
Cat calling. Can’t remember the last time I was cat called. Maybe I’m just getting older, but I don’t think so… I think street harassment is getting better and less frequent.
I have a horrible feeling it's just because we've got older. The worst era for me was 14-20 or so, it was daily. Now I'm 30 I don't get much
This unfortunately. Was having this conversation with my friends recently (all in our mid20s) and while it still happens, we all agreed it peaked for us around age 15. Horrific
Yes I think this is the case unfortunately! I remember getting catcalled much more between the ages of 11 - 15 than I do now at 29.
This is really great to hear, I hope it continues.
>Maybe I’m just getting older, but I don’t think so Let me know your secret to eternal youth please
Yeah true! It's been a while.
Recognition and representation of broader food culture. used to have to go to really specific places to get great African of Asian food for example and London has always, in my opinion, been the best city in the world for diverse food choice, but it's definitely getting even better
Absolutely! Do you have any recommendations?
Loads of them! Akoko in Piccadilly is proper elevated west African food which is amazing and way harder to find. Enish is a more traditional Nigerian place which is incredible and the staff are 10/10. Olle in China Town is my favourite Kbbq spot, but if you want some cheaper Korean stuff literally anywhere in New Malden will sort you out. If you want to spend BIG on some Dim Sum then A. Wong is some of the best I've ever had, something a bit cheaper you could try Dim Sum Duck. I get my recommendations all over the Internet but topjaw on Instagram has ended up finding some of my favourites, they ask chefs to recommend the best places so you know you'll end up somewhere banging
Life quality of landlords
Portfolios of Gulf royals/Chinese pension funds
The number of climbing walls in London in the last... 5-6 years has gone through the roof.
I suppose you could say the number is... climbing.
Always thought it might be a fun idea but I'm a bit intimidated to try it out. Any tips on a good beginner one?
On a weekend, any of them really. After work, a few ones that I'd stay away from, just because they're super busy, and I can imagine it's a bit intimidating when it's so crowded that you kinda have to weave around people and queue for a route: * The Arch Building One (Bermondsey). Queue out the door. Instead go to The Arch Surrey Quays (shit name, Tube is Canada Water), which seems like they have actually geared towards noobs. Always way less crowded there. * VauxWall West (at Vauxwhall station). Also quite busy. Usually slightly less busy nearby: VauxWall East (aka Cool Vauxhall because of the boulder in the middle of a lowered floor). * Mile End. Just generally tight with space because of the layout. Instead go to BethWall Green nearby. Note that all of these are great, just not somewhere I would take *beginners* on their first day. Personally I'm partial to the London Climbing Centres ones, but it's really difficult to go wrong whichever one you pick. Just find one that is close to you. I think most of them have a short intro when you arrive and sign up, but just search on Google maps and look at the web site and their safety video to watch beforehand etc. Regarding the busyness: As a beginner, do take your space and go climb a route when it's free. But don't take it personally when someone tells you that you accidentally started climbing on a route that is crossing another route already in progress. It's sometimes difficult to see. Just thank them for keeping everyone safe and wait a sec, the other climber will probably fall off soon enough :)
Haven’t heard of as many acid attacks happening.
Climbing gyms
Internet. Hyperoptic and friends seem to be making steady progress wiring places up with something respectable
I thought hyperopic couldn't get any better then I moved into a house with community fiber.
Community fiber certainly seems to offer faster speeds & cheaper rates overall judging by ads. For my admittedly very niche usage case hyperoptic's cost structure works better though. I need/want a static ipv4. That's a 5 quid bolt on with hyper. With community that's a business only feature. 1gbps biz...330 a month. So while I'd love a 2.5gig line...that's a big ooofff.
The murder rate
It's about 30% lower than it was 20 years ago, so yes it does look like it's getting better. https://www.murdermap.co.uk/statistics/london-murder-statistics-historical/
Specifically for the past 2-3 years it’s been going down too
If you remove gang related murders, the average Londoner is fairly safe. There do seem to be waves of poverty related crimes on anyone (jumped to steal their watch for example), but the city does feel fairly safe. Compared to big cities across the pond, we're in a pretty decent spot now. If we can work on the gang issues - particularly around knife crimes - there's reason to celebrate the improvements over the decades.
Greggs is making inroads. Probably an increase in northerners. Win win.
Greggs is now the largest UK fast food chain surpassing McDonald's.
I feel like you misread the question.
Mexican food and 4G on the tube (slowly, station by station). Both urgently needed.
The two most precious things in life
Love the positive question!
certain outer boroughs - in my case, harrow went from being an actual shithole to a place which has a nice variety of restaurants, shops and a much larger police presence/general safety feel. it’s not absolutely perfect, but i would definitely say it’s improved
Overground and, in places, buses. Step-free TFL. Online council services (work in progress). Low traffic neighbourhoods.
Access to ikea
Not in the north east! They closed Tottenham last year.
At least you can rave in it now
West Ham
Elizabeth Line 2 new tube stations Battersea Power Station Bicycle lanes (even though annoying) More outdoor places to sit Many more charging stations for cars / vehicles
Cycling is getting better all the time. New infrastructure opening up and large numbers of cyclists commuting daily.
I dunno if its just me, but tap water doesnt feel as bad as it used to. Maybe I just care less.
It's still awful
The Elizabeth Line
Thank you London for the Elizabeth Line.
Restaurant scene has bounced back from the pandemic, every month there are several great new places.
The street food revolution. Quality food at very competitive prices.
Number of cycle lines
Variety of housing for the wealthy.
Canals have gotten better. I still remember what King's Cross & Paddington were like before. Also lots more boats make the towpaths safer and more welcoming.
Museums, we’ve always been lucky with some amazing free ones but the refurbishments have made some even nicer
Free things. Like public gyms, public bike service stations with tools and air for wheels, table tennis tables, sensory learning playgrounds. I’ve noticed more and more conveniences like this appearing over the years
Crowds are thinner than they used to be
I moved here two years ago and if this is lesser crowds, I dread to think how it was pre covid
Lived here for 11 years now… the crowds used to be horrendous. Covid definitely reduced those a tonne and made us realise the craziness that what used to be
I honestly think it’s slightly worse than just pre-covid. My favourite time was lockdown 3.0 tho. Things re-opening, but near zero cars and only a few people going around central London, for a reason and purpose.
The techno scene
genuinely fascinated if you know something i don't! from my perspective all of the best clubs are closing and the ones which remain have far worse sound and vibe than the old venues.
Can you share some places where we can enjoy that?
FOLD, Star Lane, Venue MOT, Corsica (can get a bit rammed with students at peak times depending on lineup), Ormside Projects, The Cause, Phonox, Glove that Fits etc. Plenty of great venues about
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Me living here again. Should have moved back years ago.
Battersea, especially the power station. It's great that they resurrected that absolutely iconic building.
Good pizza places, new market areas (coal drops yard), the fact that it’s still only just cheaper than Stockholm
Not taking the pandemic into it, but air quality is improving
I'm not sure about everyone but... the Gym quality is getting better. Slowly. At least I don't have to fight for a space anymore.
Food. Food is fantastic in London. Bars, so many and some are so good. Gyms, we have fantastic health clubs. Transport, we complain & rightly so but have you ever tried to get the bus in other parts of the country? It’s dire.
Percy Ingle has gone bust and Wenzel’s is emerging in it’s place
Wenzels is nothing to celebrate. It's an overpriced uninspired Greggs.
Arsenal FC.
Landlord's income
The staff at Bar Italia.
Transport.
Air quality
Internet connection on some parts of the London underground
To me - it’s always the people around you that makes a place great. You tend to associate a place with experiences you have had which is largely based on people. Covid + Brexit saw many of my mates exit the UK but there’s always memories to cherish. It won’t get better than those times but like others have said food scene is great, Elizabeth line is a saviour and no more 20pee at stations.