French Londoner for 14+ years here. This is one of the most realistic video about London, agree with all of it. Regarding the pros of London, I LOVE the fact that the city has so many beautiful parks.
I lived in London in 1999 -2000 and I had a beautiful, large flat with a huge bedroom, lounge and roof terrace and the cutest kitchen. It was the top floor of a very grand house in Muswell Hill and I loved it. We paid £115 a week (£57 each a week as there were two of us). No problems, nicely decorated. And the landlady was very nice. Oh, how times have changed. I miss the London of the 90s, there were half the amount of people living there it seemed and people weren't trying to rip you off on every corner.
I payed only £40 a week in London from 1994-2000 for a small house with garden, rents now are nuts. If your landlord does not do the repairs, write to the landlord to tell them you are getting it done and taking it off your rent, and just do that, get the workman in to do the work, keep the receipts and send copy to landlord and take the amount off the rent. Works every time.
I left London in 1999 and even though I do miss it, it angers me about how the cost of living has made the city unliveable for working class and even plenty of middle class people.
My parents have lived their whole lives in a small village of only around 2000 people (not in UK). They visited London for the first time last year. They don't enjoy noisy, big cities but they both nearly cried when they saw Tower bridge. They walked the streets with dropped jaws and couldn't believe how insanely beautiful the city is. I myself love London, but can't afford to live there. And yes, these types of videos are great, keep them coming ❤
I lived just over a year in London. from 2017 - 2018. It was the most exciting and life changing year of my life. For the first time in my life I've had a sense of belonging. Even though I don't live there anymore, It'll forever be my favorite city
I have visited London many many times over the years and it’s a thrill every single time I land at Heathrow ❤…I go for the art galleries and the food ! The people watching is the BEST 😜
I absolutely love London for the history, architecture, amazingly broad range of cultural and entertainment venues, the beautiful green spaces and parks which are everywhere and most of all the way it makes me feel. London makes me feel truly alive with its vibrant, cosmopolitan, eclectic and endlessly engaging options and its 'happening' atmosphere. It is imho the greatest city in the world and it never ceases to knock my socks off and delight me.
I've lived here 15 years and question the 'bored of London bored of life' aspect. I spend a lot of time in Sweden and now I am 42 I appreciate the peace and the nature, but if I am there too long I miss all the restaurants in London etc
London used to be great but it's pretty awful now. I say that as someone who has lived here for 20 years. Even the creative scene has massively stagnated. The north is way more interesting.
Yes that's where I'm headed if I ever go back to England, the North. The people are wonderful and immediate and it's not so difficult to break in socially.
I’ve lived in London for 2 years and I really enjoyed it I have to admit that I was financially comfortable so my personal perspective was not “realistic” at the time
This was a very well put together video. I am glad you created this video as, in my opinion, it serves as a reality check for people wanting to stay in or move to London. I also believe that this will help them make an informed decision without the rose-tinted version set by Hugh Grant/ Bridgette Jones movies. :) Thank you for creating it!!
I've lived in London for over 40 years now!! I've never found the same energy, creativity, diversity and history anywhere else. There are downsides, of course, but i woundnt live anywhere else
I lived in London for 10 years; south of the River in various flats and houses, working in Brixton and then Kings Cross/Camden. Lively, vibrant, dirty, noisy, frenetic, exciting, exhausting, rich, poor, cosmopolitan, beautiful, accepting. I loved it. I go back now every once in a while and I'm still charmed, challenged and excited. Recommend, recommend!
It is nice to hear someone give an honest review of life in London. My father was born in London 1920, on the few occasions I traveled there from Australia, it has felt like I was going home.
Berliner here! And yes, the house prices are CRAZY. I can't compare to London, but I recently moved to a new flat and it's crazy how expensive the city has become. 😢
True, and not only are flats very expensive in Berlin, especially in relation to the comparatively low salaries here, but the competition for any halfway affordable flat is massive. Plus so many flat ads are scams. So glad I had the good fortune to buy a place here 22 years ago, when housing was much cheaper. Food is still a lot cheaper here than in London, or also than in big US cities, though the prices have gone up since the pandemic. I lived in London in 1979/80 on a £25/week salary, plus free rent on a room, and I was able to go to the opera etc. A place in the slips at Covent Garden cost £2.50 in those days, I think;-)) Unimaginable now.
I was in London for a month last year. I found that the food was at least 20% cheaper than it is in the United States. To me, it was a bargain because inflation in the last 3 years hit the US worse than the UK. Love Tesco, Sainburys, Poundland, etc…
I grew up just outside London, in Epping near the Forest. My family were Londoners. I loved London in my 20's and 30's for shopping, clubbing and the culture. I felt really at home there. When I got married we were lucky in those days to be able to afford a small home, we now live in Cheltenham in Gloucestershire that' s a bit like a mini London but with the Cotswold hills near by. We bought a huge regency flat with a garden for about 20 grand more than our tiny London studio and we love it here.
I have been living in ny/nj area for 35 years n I am planning to move to London to retire. Although cost is high in London it is still 20% lower than where I am so I think I should be happy
I lived in London for 25 years. It’s an incredible city that attracts an enormous amount of talent, but the price you pay to live there is beyond expensive. You sacrifice your own quality of life and your health. Living and working in London is a never-ending hamster wheel, a high-speed train that never reaches its destination, a hard concrete jungle that is losing its human soul day by day. You need to be physically and mentally fit to live in London, or else it can tear you to pieces and spit you out. Having said that, it is the most exciting city I have ever been to. It has so much to offer for those who have the energy to discover it. Every day, you will find something new. Making it in London may not be possible for most people, particularly if you are young, but consider yourself lucky to have experienced the character and edge of London. London is a beast-if you can tame it, the rewards are extraordinary. But if not, it’s a relentless master that shows no mercy.
The problem is the jobs & wages have not caught up with the cost of living for the majority that live there. If you are wealthy, London is a great place to live. The same in New York. Real estate is a problem in both cities.
Each part of London has a different vibe, so many cool hipster places or traditional, posh, ethnic, green, busy etc etc. Queens Park is very safe and family friendly, but houses cost over 1 million. Hampstead Heath is an awesome place to explore. Used to live in south London but the Northern Line is a pain in the butt.
I agree, London is an amazing and vibrant city in every way imaginable! 🙂 From 1987-1991, I used to enjoy travelling to London for my holidays and would stay with friends in their flat in Notting Hill ... long ago before it became gentrified. 😵💫 I loved going back to London again in 2009, its endless charm welcomes one with all its endless delights. 💖
I have lived in London for 9 years now and it’s a city that stole my heart. I tried moving closer to nature, but it keeps luring me back in. I love it so much, I love the sense of community we have in different boroughs, but I completely agree with everything you said, a lot of people are surviving because of the crazy prices and I also hope it can change one day
I rented the same flat in North London for 5 years. My landlord was lovely and didn’t raise my rent once. I understand how rare that is though. Prior to that I really struggled to find a flat, even finding myself on the curb once with all my things and my cat! Fortunately a friend really came through and someone I had never met let me stay with her and her flatmate for a while. I’m considering moving back now and am anticipating a struggle to find an affordable flat. Six of my friends share a flat in secret as only 2 are on the lease. This is the only way they’re able to afford to live in London. It’s such a pain but I love it there.
This was an excellent video! I appreciate your measured perspective of London. It’s sad that in so many large cities, the wealth gap is astounding. I live in Chicago and you can travel a short distance in the city and it’s like stepping into another world. So many neighborhoods are becoming gentrified and lower income people are being pushed out of neighborhoods where there families have lived for generations.
Born and bred Londoner. Moved to Amsterdam when I was 27 and it took over a year to climatise to the slower pace and less hussley way of life. After a decade here, I'm now ready for a small seaside town and if I ever get to retire I'll no doubt live on a mountain all to myself 😂
London is awesome, has so many opportunities for work and cultural events, restaurants and trendy hotels. But, on the other hand is super expensive compared to other similar cities in Europe.
A good part of the beauty of London is her chaos. I mean what other city can you see a portion of the Roman wall next to a car park. English history is fascinating, and would love to live in London.
I’ve lived in London for about 20 years now it’s a cool place but my partying days are over and when I watch ‘escape to the country’ I want to move out of my flat and get somewhere further out a bit bigger with a little garden and some chickens. 🤔 I’d also consider Norway with those beautiful sea views 😍
Ive lived 25 years in northern norway and i will never tire of cycling through sparsley populated fjords in the summer, with patches of tilled land, and reindeer and livestock feeding next to the roads.
So glad you love London. Best city ever!!!! But have to say I lived there for 25 years, a lot of the time in rented accommodation and never saw one single cockroach !!!! Xxx
I love London, is my favorite city! I miss living there, I have lived in several cities, and countries, and I felt immediately like I found my place, home! I couldn't stay there because of family matters, but like I said before I miss it every day.
I have a friend from Norway who lived in London for 3 years with her children. Her daughters hated being singled out for achievment in school. Her son loved it.
I'm a S. Korean who used to work in the City of LDN over 13 years....London is a city I do have sort of a love-hate relationship with. However, somehow as time goes by, I find myself missing the city more and more.
I grew up in London and left many years ago. It was more affordable back then, but now it's crazy. I've also lived in Berlin. However, I've been very happy living in Leipzig for the past few years. It's much nicer than both London and Berlin, is very international and very green with lots of canals, theatres, a great art scene, plentiful restaurants, and it has rail link to the rest of Europe. Best of all, it's very affordable!
wow great video. You are so right about London. Although I was a bit surprised by the landlord comments. I must have gotten very lucky but I lived there for 8 years from 2002 and all the landlords I had were reasonable to bloody brilliant. Had 1 rat problem which they tried to fix. No roaches, but Im Aussie so no big deal. This was around N1 and EC1 so dont know if that made a difference. My last landlord was an Indian family who would bring home cooked Indian curries because they were worried that we were partying too hard and not eating well!
The way you spoke about London resonated with me so deeply that I found myself nodding at nearly every point you made. In the 2010s, I had a well-paying job south of the river and was fortunate enough to live with friends in Chelsea. Then the threat of Brexit made me question how welcoming London was to young immigrants such as myself. I moved to Helsinki, where I've lived for close to a decade and is now home for the foreseeable future. Anyway, I make it a point to visit London a few times a year to feel more like myself, like I'm part of a much bigger and more colourful tapestry. Yes, the chaos in London can be jarring for someone coming from the Nordics but like you, I love this incredible, crumbling behemoth of a city and always will. Cheers.
I would love to see a similar video but of your impressions of Berlin! I just moved to Berlin 6 months ago and would love to hear about your experience.
Jenny, thank you for this wonderful insight into London 2024, as I lived and worked there from 1975-81 through the evolving gay and punk scene..When Thatcher came to govern, it all changed and I left to return home to Sydney. As you commented and I have to agree I felt 'at home' there .I do miss the old town ..alot ..X to London
@alonew I know, right! 🙄 SF Bay Area is now so over the top in so many ways, the quality of life has become utterly ruined for many, especially for we Native San Franciscans who used to enjoy all the lovely things SF was known for. 🙄 There used to be something for everyone, no matter their financial status; now, it's all for the rich and privileged. 🤔
Would like to go back to visit London for another try as I just didn't warm to it when I was first there in my early 20's. Besides the beautiful architecture and all that history, I found the food and coffee terrible, the people rude and of course the weather was horrid. Coming from Australia it all seemed so grey. The culture was very similar to my own in a lot of ways except the class structure was so noticeable it really irritated me coming from a more egalitarian society. I went on to explore more of Europe but Paris stole my heart at first sight.
As a fellow Londoner its good to hear your upbeat opinion. However, we are not going through good times at the moment and London is not the vibrant city that is used to be 15 or so years ago. Inequality since the pandemic is quite shocking to me. One thing though, i have lived all over town and never have i had a cockroach problem. Anyway you are welcome here, its the diversity of different nationalities living together that has made this city great. At the moment it all feels a little flat.
Berlin apartments are indeed very expensive now and hard to get. At least from a German perspective. I remember how easy and cheap it was around the year 2000 and even in 2015 it was quite okay 😊
Hey I lived in London for two years and I did absolutely loved it, and I agree with all that you said but than I moved back to Paris and I didn’t come for 9 years, and when I cam this year 2024 everything did change and it was too much I didn’t recognised the city that I did loved so much and unfortunately I was happy to be back in Paris, for me Paris was so a chill city when compare it to London even if we do have all the bad things about the city and the peoples are not nice in Paris too but I still love it …
I lived in London as I was completing my master's degree in 2011-2012. I had made two small trips there before and loved it. I returned to Paris and been living here for 12 more years now. I do miss speaking English, the diversity, the openness, the politeness, to me it's uncomparable to Paris in terms of people. The city is cleaner and I love the architectural contrasts. It's very vibrant but also more tiring. I left because of the high cost of living (which is already high enough in Paris). Maybe it was a mistake as there could have been more employment opportunities in London. You can also find better quality food more easily in Paris. But I do miss London from time to time and expect to go back there a little bit more in the future (had an almost complete shutdown during the decade, maybe to avoid missing it ^^)
I've been living in London for 6 years and I agree with everything you said. People back home always ask me what is England like? what are British people like? but I honestly feel I'm not able to answer that question because living in London I am not heavily exposed to purely British people/culture. I only feel I get a real taste of proper British culture when I travel around the UK. Living in London feels like living in the world, that's why I never felt like an outsider, because you get this feeling like we are all unique, we are all our own thing, and that is what makes us Londoners.
I live in Dublin, it's so easy to get to London, so visit regularly (heading over this weekend again actually) Dublin is probably on a par with London price-wise so it doesn't seem so shocking, but the cultural value of London is unmatchable; so many amazing exhibitions, events, festival etc. Looking forward to some great vegan food there over the weekend!
I lived in London from 2012 to 2021. I completely agree with everything in this video except for the "chaotic system" myth - this is only true if you are a foreigner coming to London without a job or to study. Otherwise, it is very simple to get set up. I dealt with black mold, horrible landlords, expensive rents and chitty flatmates. One thing not mentioned is the ridiculous leasehold/freehold property system that means you are rarely the full owner of your own home even if you "buy" a flat. I studied to be a lawyer and learned that even as an Corporate Associate in a top City Firm I could NOT afford to buy my own flat in Central London (Zone 1-2) without parental assistance. This made me wonder how normal people manage???? I actually left London because I fell in love with an American but the property prices and system were also a big factor for why I did not want to stay. It made me sad because I trully love this city and I still consider it "home" :(
I lived in London for 6 months in 2000,worked at Harrods and shared a house with an old lady on the West part(the stop vefore. Healing Broadway,can't remember the name)and finally in Soho.At the end i celebrate with a solo trip to Copenhagen and back to Sicily,in my hometown to finish the University.That moment...that moment had changed everything and my destiny...i still wonder what my life might have been if only i had decided to stay😢I'm turning 50 in less than 3 weeks and feel so nostalgic and confused on every aspect of my life
We tend to question our past decisions every now and then, but, remember that this questioning is made by your present self. Back then, everything you feel so nostalgic about had to do with a whole different person. Maybe staying focused at you being you in the present moment and feel grateful for everything you have achieved through your journey would be the best way to celebrate your birthday! Life starts all over again every single second! Don't lose hope! You are here, you are alive. Everything is possible! Beauty is coming your way! Take care!
Ja, jag fullkomligt ÄLSKAR London. Har varit där fler gånger än jag minns. Vill åka tillbaka direkt när jag kommer hem. Vi brukar säga här hemma att i London har vi tillgång till och får vara del av världen! Allt kommer till London, artister, pjäser, konst… London är äkta! Klart jag är ordentligt avundsjuk på dej som får uppleva detta ”på riktigt” och inte bara en vecka då och då 🥰
I used to work in London but commute from quite far away, because - you guessed it - the cost. I would love to return (to the UK on the whole), but as a career changer, well, even if I’d find a job, I’d never be able to afford living in London. I would love to, but it’d just not feasible. The occasional holidays have to suffice, I suppose!
I live in the south coast which is an hour and a half by train into Lindon . I love to visit and stay in London , love the city vibe and hustle and bustle but enjoy returning to the coast too . I agree so much I’d like to see and do I’ll never get to see it all .
London is unforgiving. if you cannot make it here in a short space of time, London will chew you up and spit you out for the next person to take your place.
Im Pakistani and I lived in London for 14 months as an International student and absolutely hated it. I just cannot see what people see in the city. Nope i'm not bored of life lol...give me the happy cheerful Far East to live in any day. Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City etc...been to all these places and would move there in a heartbeat if i could. London is miserable with awful weather, terrible food and it is absolutely unaffordable. Only a rich person can enjoy living there.
Great video, Jenny! I love London. It has always felt like home to me, too and I wish I could live there permanently. Sadly, I am stuck in Toronto - possibly the most boring and soulless big city in the world. It is getting to be as expensive as London without any of the perks!
I think it’s good to visit and dedicate enough free time to enjoy London, visit art exhibitions, theatres, fashion boutiques, restaurants. If you live in the city and need to work most of the time (in front of the computer and don’t need to be physically present for your job - you are not a chef in the Londoner restaurant or a dancer at Covent Garden for example) then you have probably only some evenings and weekends to enjoy the city and maybe want to get out of the city during some weekends, then living in the city only makes sense if it’s just super convenient for you and affordable. I think living somewhere else (where is an airport close by) might be easier and ecological as you can come and visit London regularly if you feel like or add other great destinations like Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, New York, Tokyo, Dubai, Istanbul, TelAviv… you just need to have time and budget for that.
I love London. I am a fashionista and there is a strong tribe of my people there. During my last visit the lovely sales people at Alexander Mc Queen took the time to show all kinds of lovely stuff even though it was quite obvious there is only keen interest not a sales prospect going on.
I love London , hope to visit again soon! I feel like Paris is the same 😅 I use to live their as a child and saw my parents struggle with the same problems( then we move on the suburbs)… and I’m planning to go back to get closer to my work , hope to find a nice place🤞🏻 I know it’s expensive but three hours is to much to come and go from work in one day😅 We can always gain money but we can only lose time !
I was looking into buying Songmont. Is it a safe parcel service, would they deliver to the door hands in hands? Do you have to pay taxes here in London? Because I assume that they would be sending the bag from the US
A great city but not English any more. It has become home to the world, which may seem exciting but it does mean that for many British people, their capital city is no longer a place they can afford to live in or really feel at home in. I'm glad you are enjoying it.
I have lived here for nearly 30 years. Still not sure what I think but I do consider it to be home at least. I live in a bad area though and that does make a difference. I can see that the city is beautiful. I live about 20 min from the nicer parts.
I completely agree with your points. I'm from the US, and I've lived in London for exactly one year now. My first few months were brutal, I dealt with the worst housing and landlords, I had people screw me over- the city just does not take care of you. But I still felt such a love for everything there, in a way I couldn't explain. Now I have a lovely British partner and the most wonderful community of friends. I'm back in the US for the summer, but I'll be dreaming every night of the day I get to go back. Very lovely video, as always
Moved from London to Berlin last summer and yes - halved our living expenses overnight. Berlin is definitely getting more expensive but so is London. Our rent increase last summer in our SE LDN flat basically forced us to leave the city. I love living in Berlin, especially as a young professional, affordability is a huge part of our happiness here these days. But all that to say that I still miss the sheer beauty and diversity of London regularly. If I’d be rich I’d move back in a heartbeat 😂
I've now become too grumpy with humans to live among that many of them. I currently live on the side of a mountain on the outskirts of a 10K person city. I was a reluctant visitor to London--so many other European cities on my list--but I had to go through there with my work years ago. Have now visited 6 or 7 times. For me as a Canadian it feels both exciting (nothing comparable here) but also comfortable--all the British history we learn makes it feel a bit like 'ours.' Love walking, people-watching, music venues, West End, restaurants, and the feeling that adventures could happen.
I lived in London many years ago in the sixties. I lived in Walton street, Chelsea. Very near King’s Road which was very trendy at the time. We used to see famous actors and singers all the time. Harrods was just round the corner and we went to their food hall that was wonderful. I’ll never forget those years in London.
12years Londoner now after having lived in NYC and Moscow, and do agree the struggle with flats when renting and "chaotic" system mentioned in the video. Interestingly enough London living could be different (Central Marylebone vs Richmond brings different lifestyles indeed)
I loved your perspective on London. Thank you for sharing. It has always been a layover as I travel to other countries, but your stories make me want to explore in the near future. I would love to hear a list of your favorite vegan restaurants and must-sees for a visit. Also, could you share your eyeshadow brand and color? As a redhead, I would like to order it. It really is complimentary to your eyes and skin tone. I am enjoying your content!
Been living in London for the past 4 years and agree with absolutely everything you said in this video. It feels like the center of the universe, with dystopian twist when it comes to wealth inequality. I freaking love this city, more than any other city, but there are a lot of things I would change.
I’m a Londoner born and bred.. and yes you are indeed a Londoner now 😊 It’s a great melting pot of city with people from everywhere, and that’s a great description of living in London.. some days you think this city is gonna drive me crazy .. and others it’s an I ❤ London day full vibrancy and adventure.
I lived in London throughout the nineties. The city has changed so much, many things I used to love are impossible now. For example, just walking into an exhibition at any of the large museums or galleries. Nowadays, you often have to book a time slot in advance and the prices are very high, making it an elitist pleasure. I honestly don't know how people afford it. And I know some collections and shows are free entry, but still. The same goes for the big old cemeteries and other locations. It's just too crowded, too many people, too many tourists. But this is a problem everywhere, the world population has grown and it's palpable. The cost of living has risen everywhere in Europe, rents are still rising in Berlin, and of course you pay more for groceries too. For example, fresh produce that used to be available for €1.99 at a shop like Lidl now usually is €2.49. A cup of coffee now costs about 25-30% more than it used to. Clothes, books, cosmetics, everything is more expensive, so London prices probably also rose proportionately. Prices for services have probably gone up the most. Getting highlights at a salon costs three times as much as it did ten years ago. Surprisingly, the standard of some apartments is still the same (lower than average for western Europe) as it was thirty years ago. This just shows how much people are struggling, and that owning property doesn't mean you are able to maintain it as well.
Sadly, Berlin going coucou with the prices is true. I am a lucky one having the old contract but the newcommers have to face paying 800-900 euros for a room (!) or 1400-1600 euro for a 50m2 apartment somewhere within a ring. Of course there are cheaper options outside that are still very accessible but the same things I just mentioned were around 40% cheaper just 5-6 year ago. Similar thing with dining out, nowadays when I go to a mid-range restaurant I always leave 30-40 euros (including one drink) no matter if it's a dinner or a brunch. Even looking at the ultimate falafel prices, a few years back one could easily eat for 3-3,5. Today it's closer to 5,5-6 euros. Poor but sexy Berlin is sadly over. As somebody who lives here for 10 years already, it's interesting to see how the city transforms although the quality doesn't always follow the price raise.
„Poor but sexy is over“ - haha, well said! 😅 I was living in Berlin for 10 years too. Moved there in 2009 and left in 2019. I had lots of fun but now I prefer to just visit the city - being surrounded by nature makes me more happy. I need more quiet, I’m getting old I guess 😅
I love London but living there would be a challenge. It’s very expensive. On the other hand there is a lot of culture and the parks and buildings are beautiful.
I love London, I've been travelling to this city with a certain regularity since 1981. But the last time was in 2019, I have old friends there. Since the C-regime in 2020, it's no longer fun, and now, in 2024, so much crime! In the 80s and 90s, I could stroll through the city centre alone as a woman at night. Those days are over. It's so sad. Greetings from a German pensioner
I lived in London for 1,5 years. Very ambivalent city🙂. It all depends on how financially rounded you are, and what's your interest (the free museums and galleries if it's still true is a fabulous thing!) Great food scene, interesting designers, and all that mix of the rich history and new craziness is fine for a while. Later on, you can be overfed, and oh, I almost forgot the terrible traffic and permanent problems with the underground, so you can spend most of your leisure time traveling from point A to point B because they can be pretty far from each other. I lived in more big cities, though London was the biggest one. It definitely has its charm, but I moved on and don't regret it. It's a season for everything, and it was a season for London in my life too, and I am happy it was. I met two great, life-long friends there and I am forever grateful.
French Londoner for 14+ years here. This is one of the most realistic video about London, agree with all of it. Regarding the pros of London, I LOVE the fact that the city has so many beautiful parks.
i love the parks!
🇨🇵🇬🇧👍
I lived in London in 1999 -2000 and I had a beautiful, large flat with a huge bedroom, lounge and roof terrace and the cutest kitchen. It was the top floor of a very grand house in Muswell Hill and I loved it. We paid £115 a week (£57 each a week as there were two of us). No problems, nicely decorated. And the landlady was very nice. Oh, how times have changed. I miss the London of the 90s, there were half the amount of people living there it seemed and people weren't trying to rip you off on every corner.
Early 90s I lived in a studio in a Regency house in Bayswater for £45 per week. I miss London of the 90s too.
I payed only £40 a week in London from 1994-2000 for a small house with garden, rents now are nuts. If your landlord does not do the repairs, write to the landlord to tell them you are getting it done and taking it off your rent, and just do that, get the workman in to do the work, keep the receipts and send copy to landlord and take the amount off the rent. Works every time.
So happy we're finally not renting in London!
Well done for purchasing a property in London! Which area did you settle in?
Make a video of your flat pls
I left London in 1999 and even though I do miss it, it angers me about how the cost of living has made the city unliveable for working class and even plenty of middle class people.
I watched a video from Britmonkey talking about that 😮 it is pretty good but a little bit sad
My parents have lived their whole lives in a small village of only around 2000 people (not in UK). They visited London for the first time last year. They don't enjoy noisy, big cities but they both nearly cried when they saw Tower bridge. They walked the streets with dropped jaws and couldn't believe how insanely beautiful the city is. I myself love London, but can't afford to live there. And yes, these types of videos are great, keep them coming ❤
I lived just over a year in London. from 2017 - 2018. It was the most exciting and life changing year of my life. For the first time in my life I've had a sense of belonging. Even though I don't live there anymore, It'll forever be my favorite city
I have visited London many many times over the years and it’s a thrill every single time I land at Heathrow ❤…I go for the art galleries and the food ! The people watching is the BEST 😜
i love the people watching !
“ no one deserves black mold and no one deserves a Ferrari” ❤❤ loved that quote❤❤
If you work for that Ferrari you deserve it.
There is just something unexplainably magic about this city - 8 years in london and loving it 💕✨Thanks Jenny for sharing this x
thank you!
It's the history of the place.
I absolutely love London for the history, architecture, amazingly broad range of cultural and entertainment venues, the beautiful green spaces and parks which are everywhere and most of all the way it makes me feel. London makes me feel truly alive with its vibrant, cosmopolitan, eclectic and endlessly engaging options and its 'happening' atmosphere. It is imho the greatest city in the world and it never ceases to knock my socks off and delight me.
I've lived here 15 years and question the 'bored of London bored of life' aspect. I spend a lot of time in Sweden and now I am 42 I appreciate the peace and the nature, but if I am there too long I miss all the restaurants in London etc
I completely agree!
London used to be great but it's pretty awful now. I say that as someone who has lived here for 20 years. Even the creative scene has massively stagnated. The north is way more interesting.
Yes that's where I'm headed if I ever go back to England, the North. The people are wonderful and immediate and it's not so difficult to break in socially.
10 years in London. love it. I don't use pleasures of London as I would love to do, but I know I live in the best city.
So happy to hear someone who can see the beauty of this amazing city. I love London.
london can get very warm in summer . i was surprised how warm it was actually . and o yes it's very expensive indeed
I’ve lived in London for 2 years and I really enjoyed it
I have to admit that I was financially comfortable so my personal perspective was not “realistic” at the time
Moving to London from New Zealand next week! I can’t wait 😊
Hope you enjoy it!
This was a very well put together video. I am glad you created this video as, in my opinion, it serves as a reality check for people wanting to stay in or move to London. I also believe that this will help them make an informed decision without the rose-tinted version set by Hugh Grant/ Bridgette Jones movies. :) Thank you for creating it!!
I've lived in London for over 40 years now!!
I've never found the same energy, creativity, diversity and history anywhere else.
There are downsides, of course, but i woundnt live anywhere else
New York or Berlin are also full of energy, creativity, diversity and history - I’m curious to hear why you think London offers even more?
This is such a good video and the perfect description of London today! Well done Jenny for sharing this! x
I lived in London for 10 years; south of the River in various flats and houses, working in Brixton and then Kings Cross/Camden. Lively, vibrant, dirty, noisy, frenetic, exciting, exhausting, rich, poor, cosmopolitan, beautiful, accepting. I loved it. I go back now every once in a while and I'm still charmed, challenged and excited. Recommend, recommend!
It is nice to hear someone give an honest review of life in London.
My father was born in London 1920, on the few occasions I traveled there from Australia, it has felt like I was going home.
Berliner here! And yes, the house prices are CRAZY. I can't compare to London, but I recently moved to a new flat and it's crazy how expensive the city has become. 😢
True, and not only are flats very expensive in Berlin, especially in relation to the comparatively low salaries here, but the competition for any halfway affordable flat is massive. Plus so many flat ads are scams. So glad I had the good fortune to buy a place here 22 years ago, when housing was much cheaper. Food is still a lot cheaper here than in London, or also than in big US cities, though the prices have gone up since the pandemic. I lived in London in 1979/80 on a £25/week salary, plus free rent on a room, and I was able to go to the opera etc. A place in the slips at Covent Garden cost £2.50 in those days, I think;-)) Unimaginable now.
I was in London for a month last year. I found that the food was at least 20% cheaper than it is in the United States. To me, it was a bargain because inflation in the last 3 years hit the US worse than the UK.
Love Tesco, Sainburys, Poundland, etc…
I grew up just outside London, in Epping near the Forest. My family were Londoners. I loved London in my 20's and 30's for shopping, clubbing and the culture. I felt really at home there. When I got married we were lucky in those days to be able to afford a small home, we now live in Cheltenham in Gloucestershire that' s a bit like a mini London but with the Cotswold hills near by. We bought a huge regency flat with a garden for about 20 grand more than our tiny London studio and we love it here.
I have been living in ny/nj area for 35 years n I am planning to move to London to retire. Although cost is high in London it is still 20% lower than where I am so I think I should be happy
I lived in London for 25 years. It’s an incredible city that attracts an enormous amount of talent, but the price you pay to live there is beyond expensive. You sacrifice your own quality of life and your health. Living and working in London is a never-ending hamster wheel, a high-speed train that never reaches its destination, a hard concrete jungle that is losing its human soul day by day. You need to be physically and mentally fit to live in London, or else it can tear you to pieces and spit you out.
Having said that, it is the most exciting city I have ever been to. It has so much to offer for those who have the energy to discover it. Every day, you will find something new. Making it in London may not be possible for most people, particularly if you are young, but consider yourself lucky to have experienced the character and edge of London.
London is a beast-if you can tame it, the rewards are extraordinary. But if not, it’s a relentless master that shows no mercy.
The problem is the jobs & wages have not caught up with the cost of living for the majority that live there. If you are wealthy, London is a great place to live. The same in New York. Real estate is a problem in both cities.
Each part of London has a different vibe, so many cool hipster places or traditional, posh, ethnic, green, busy etc etc. Queens Park is very safe and family friendly, but houses cost over 1 million. Hampstead Heath is an awesome place to explore. Used to live in south London but the Northern Line is a pain in the butt.
I love spending a few days in London, it's great fun! But I'd rather live in a smaller place, where everything is at a walking distance
I agree, London is an amazing and vibrant city in every way imaginable! 🙂 From 1987-1991, I used to enjoy travelling to London for my holidays and would stay with friends in their flat in Notting Hill ... long ago before it became gentrified. 😵💫 I loved going back to London again in 2009, its endless charm welcomes one with all its endless delights. 💖
I lived in London in the 1970s, loved it ! I have to say it was so expensive back then too.
I have lived in London for 9 years now and it’s a city that stole my heart. I tried moving closer to nature, but it keeps luring me back in. I love it so much, I love the sense of community we have in different boroughs, but I completely agree with everything you said, a lot of people are surviving because of the crazy prices and I also hope it can change one day
I rented the same flat in North London for 5 years. My landlord was lovely and didn’t raise my rent once. I understand how rare that is though. Prior to that I really struggled to find a flat, even finding myself on the curb once with all my things and my cat! Fortunately a friend really came through and someone I had never met let me stay with her and her flatmate for a while. I’m considering moving back now and am anticipating a struggle to find an affordable flat. Six of my friends share a flat in secret as only 2 are on the lease. This is the only way they’re able to afford to live in London. It’s such a pain but I love it there.
This was an excellent video! I appreciate your measured perspective of London. It’s sad that in so many large cities, the wealth gap is astounding. I live in Chicago and you can travel a short distance in the city and it’s like stepping into another world. So many neighborhoods are becoming gentrified and lower income people are being pushed out of neighborhoods where there families have lived for generations.
Born and bred Londoner. Moved to Amsterdam when I was 27 and it took over a year to climatise to the slower pace and less hussley way of life. After a decade here, I'm now ready for a small seaside town and if I ever get to retire I'll no doubt live on a mountain all to myself 😂
I loved living in London. The tube system was magic & I so miss it 🇳🇿🇳🇿
London is awesome, has so many opportunities for work and cultural events, restaurants and trendy hotels. But, on the other hand is super expensive compared to other similar cities in Europe.
A good part of the beauty of London is her chaos. I mean what other city can you see a portion of the Roman wall next to a car park. English history is fascinating, and would love to live in London.
I’ve lived in London for about 20 years now it’s a cool place but my partying days are over and when I watch ‘escape to the country’ I want to move out of my flat and get somewhere further out a bit bigger with a little garden and some chickens. 🤔 I’d also consider Norway with those beautiful sea views 😍
Ive lived 25 years in northern norway and i will never tire of cycling through sparsley populated fjords in the summer, with patches of tilled land, and reindeer and livestock feeding next to the roads.
So glad you love London. Best city ever!!!! But have to say I lived there for 25 years, a lot of the time in rented accommodation and never saw one single cockroach !!!! Xxx
agree! I have never seen a cockroach there either.. in fact only in the US
I love London, is my favorite city!
I miss living there, I have lived in several cities, and countries, and I felt immediately like I found my place, home!
I couldn't stay there because of family matters, but like I said before I miss it every day.
Visited London a month or so ago. On Oxford Street, H & M and Primark have replaced unique British department stores that are no longer in business.
Yeah, it really comes to something when Primark has replaced British Home Stores....heartbreaking.
Could anyone please tell me if the London Living Wage which is currently set at £13.15 (gross) is enough to live in this city these days?
Thank you
I have a friend from Norway who lived in London for 3 years with her children. Her daughters hated being singled out for achievment in school. Her son loved it.
I'm a S. Korean who used to work in the City of LDN over 13 years....London is a city I do have sort of a love-hate relationship with. However, somehow as time goes by, I find myself missing the city more and more.
I grew up in London and left many years ago. It was more affordable back then, but now it's crazy. I've also lived in Berlin. However, I've been very happy living in Leipzig for the past few years. It's much nicer than both London and Berlin, is very international and very green with lots of canals, theatres, a great art scene, plentiful restaurants, and it has rail link to the rest of Europe. Best of all, it's very affordable!
I have visited London multiple times and I love it there! It feels safer than Paris (not hard tbh 😂) and it's so beautiful ❤
wow great video. You are so right about London. Although I was a bit surprised by the landlord comments. I must have gotten very lucky but I lived there for 8 years from 2002 and all the landlords I had were reasonable to bloody brilliant. Had 1 rat problem which they tried to fix. No roaches, but Im Aussie so no big deal. This was around N1 and EC1 so dont know if that made a difference. My last landlord was an Indian family who would bring home cooked Indian curries because they were worried that we were partying too hard and not eating well!
The way you spoke about London resonated with me so deeply that I found myself nodding at nearly every point you made. In the 2010s, I had a well-paying job south of the river and was fortunate enough to live with friends in Chelsea. Then the threat of Brexit made me question how welcoming London was to young immigrants such as myself. I moved to Helsinki, where I've lived for close to a decade and is now home for the foreseeable future. Anyway, I make it a point to visit London a few times a year to feel more like myself, like I'm part of a much bigger and more colourful tapestry. Yes, the chaos in London can be jarring for someone coming from the Nordics but like you, I love this incredible, crumbling behemoth of a city and always will. Cheers.
I would love to see a similar video but of your impressions of Berlin! I just moved to Berlin 6 months ago and would love to hear about your experience.
I think I already have a couple of those :)
Jenny, thank you for this wonderful insight into London 2024, as I lived and worked there from 1975-81 through the evolving gay and punk scene..When Thatcher came to govern, it all changed and I left to return home to Sydney. As you commented and I have to agree I felt 'at home' there .I do miss the old town ..alot ..X to London
I was born in London and had to leave 20 years ago... couldn't afford to live there any more. I've been back since and hardly recognise it.
Love your take on London! I'd love to see around some of your favourite neighbourhoods. :)
A California Bay area resident sitting with popcorn and watching a rant on Expenses 😵💫
@alonew I know, right! 🙄 SF Bay Area is now so over the top in so many ways, the quality of life has become utterly ruined for many, especially for we Native San Franciscans who used to enjoy all the lovely things SF was known for. 🙄 There used to be something for everyone, no matter their financial status; now, it's all for the rich and privileged. 🤔
A SoCal based resident also noticed that expenses here in groceries, eating out, is just as expensive as London... My visit end of 2023 proved it.
Living in Vancouver BC… BC = bring cash 😑
Yup used to live in Vancouver and also Victoria BC. Prices just keep going up up.
LOL
I'm a Londoner who doesn't live in London anymore. But I carry London inside me whether I go.
Would like to go back to visit London for another try as I just didn't warm to it when I was first there in my early 20's. Besides the beautiful architecture and all that history, I found the food and coffee terrible, the people rude and of course the weather was horrid. Coming from Australia it all seemed so grey. The culture was very similar to my own in a lot of ways except the class structure was so noticeable it really irritated me coming from a more egalitarian society. I went on to explore more of Europe but Paris stole my heart at first sight.
As a fellow Londoner its good to hear your upbeat opinion. However, we are not going through good times at the moment and London is not the vibrant city that is used to be 15 or so years ago. Inequality since the pandemic is quite shocking to me. One thing though, i have lived all over town and never have i had a cockroach problem. Anyway you are welcome here, its the diversity of different nationalities living together that has made this city great. At the moment it all feels a little flat.
As a new British citizen living in London, I wholeheartedly agree with this list!
Berlin apartments are indeed very expensive now and hard to get. At least from a German perspective. I remember how easy and cheap it was around the year 2000 and even in 2015 it was quite okay 😊
Those bags are gorgeous! London is one of my most favorite cities.
Hey I lived in London for two years and I did absolutely loved it, and I agree with all that you said but than I moved back to Paris and I didn’t come for 9 years, and when I cam this year 2024 everything did change and it was too much I didn’t recognised the city that I did loved so much and unfortunately I was happy to be back in Paris, for me Paris was so a chill city when compare it to London even if we do have all the bad things about the city and the peoples are not nice in Paris too but I still love it …
I lived in London as I was completing my master's degree in 2011-2012. I had made two small trips there before and loved it. I returned to Paris and been living here for 12 more years now. I do miss speaking English, the diversity, the openness, the politeness, to me it's uncomparable to Paris in terms of people. The city is cleaner and I love the architectural contrasts. It's very vibrant but also more tiring. I left because of the high cost of living (which is already high enough in Paris). Maybe it was a mistake as there could have been more employment opportunities in London. You can also find better quality food more easily in Paris. But I do miss London from time to time and expect to go back there a little bit more in the future (had an almost complete shutdown during the decade, maybe to avoid missing it ^^)
I've been living in London for 6 years and I agree with everything you said. People back home always ask me what is England like? what are British people like? but I honestly feel I'm not able to answer that question because living in London I am not heavily exposed to purely British people/culture. I only feel I get a real taste of proper British culture when I travel around the UK. Living in London feels like living in the world, that's why I never felt like an outsider, because you get this feeling like we are all unique, we are all our own thing, and that is what makes us Londoners.
I live in Dublin, it's so easy to get to London, so visit regularly (heading over this weekend again actually) Dublin is probably on a par with London price-wise so it doesn't seem so shocking, but the cultural value of London is unmatchable; so many amazing exhibitions, events, festival etc. Looking forward to some great vegan food there over the weekend!
I lived in London from 2012 to 2021. I completely agree with everything in this video except for the "chaotic system" myth - this is only true if you are a foreigner coming to London without a job or to study. Otherwise, it is very simple to get set up. I dealt with black mold, horrible landlords, expensive rents and chitty flatmates. One thing not mentioned is the ridiculous leasehold/freehold property system that means you are rarely the full owner of your own home even if you "buy" a flat. I studied to be a lawyer and learned that even as an Corporate Associate in a top City Firm I could NOT afford to buy my own flat in Central London (Zone 1-2) without parental assistance. This made me wonder how normal people manage???? I actually left London because I fell in love with an American but the property prices and system were also a big factor for why I did not want to stay. It made me sad because I trully love this city and I still consider it "home" :(
I lived in London for 6 months in 2000,worked at Harrods and shared a house with an old lady on the West part(the stop vefore. Healing Broadway,can't remember the name)and finally in Soho.At the end i celebrate with a solo trip to Copenhagen and back to Sicily,in my hometown to finish the University.That moment...that moment had changed everything and my destiny...i still wonder what my life might have been if only i had decided to stay😢I'm turning 50 in less than 3 weeks and feel so nostalgic and confused on every aspect of my life
Remember it’s never too late to change something in your life ❤
We tend to question our past decisions every now and then, but, remember that this questioning is made by your present self. Back then, everything you feel so nostalgic about had to do with a whole different person. Maybe staying focused at you being you in the present moment and feel grateful for everything you have achieved through your journey would be the best way to celebrate your birthday! Life starts all over again every single second! Don't lose hope! You are here, you are alive. Everything is possible! Beauty is coming your way! Take care!
Ja, jag fullkomligt ÄLSKAR London. Har varit där fler gånger än jag minns. Vill åka tillbaka direkt när jag kommer hem.
Vi brukar säga här hemma att i London har vi tillgång till och får vara del av världen! Allt kommer till London, artister, pjäser, konst…
London är äkta!
Klart jag är ordentligt avundsjuk på dej som får uppleva detta ”på riktigt” och inte bara en vecka då och då 🥰
I used to work in London but commute from quite far away, because - you guessed it - the cost. I would love to return (to the UK on the whole), but as a career changer, well, even if I’d find a job, I’d never be able to afford living in London. I would love to, but it’d just not feasible.
The occasional holidays have to suffice, I suppose!
Your London is my NYC. Love it.
I live in the south coast which is an hour and a half by train into Lindon . I love to visit and stay in London , love the city vibe and hustle and bustle but enjoy returning to the coast too . I agree so much I’d like to see and do I’ll never get to see it all .
London is unforgiving. if you cannot make it here in a short space of time, London will chew you up and spit you out for the next person to take your place.
Im Pakistani and I lived in London for 14 months as an International student and absolutely hated it. I just cannot see what people see in the city. Nope i'm not bored of life lol...give me the happy cheerful Far East to live in any day. Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City etc...been to all these places and would move there in a heartbeat if i could. London is miserable with awful weather, terrible food and it is absolutely unaffordable. Only a rich person can enjoy living there.
Great video, Jenny! I love London. It has always felt like home to me, too and I wish I could live there permanently. Sadly, I am stuck in Toronto - possibly the most boring and soulless big city in the world. It is getting to be as expensive as London without any of the perks!
I think it’s good to visit and dedicate enough free time to enjoy London, visit art exhibitions, theatres, fashion boutiques, restaurants. If you live in the city and need to work most of the time (in front of the computer and don’t need to be physically present for your job - you are not a chef in the Londoner restaurant or a dancer at Covent Garden for example) then you have probably only some evenings and weekends to enjoy the city and maybe want to get out of the city during some weekends, then living in the city only makes sense if it’s just super convenient for you and affordable. I think living somewhere else (where is an airport close by) might be easier and ecological as you can come and visit London regularly if you feel like or add other great destinations like Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, New York, Tokyo, Dubai, Istanbul, TelAviv… you just need to have time and budget for that.
I love London. I am a fashionista and there is a strong tribe of my people there. During my last visit the lovely sales people at Alexander Mc Queen took the time to show all kinds of lovely stuff even though it was quite obvious there is only keen interest not a sales prospect going on.
I love London , hope to visit again soon! I feel like Paris is the same 😅 I use to live their as a child and saw my parents struggle with the same problems( then we move on the suburbs)… and I’m planning to go back to get closer to my work , hope to find a nice place🤞🏻 I know it’s expensive but three hours is to much to come and go from work in one day😅 We can always gain money but we can only lose time !
I was looking into buying Songmont. Is it a safe parcel service, would they deliver to the door hands in hands? Do you have to pay taxes here in London? Because I assume that they would be sending the bag from the US
Which visa are you presently living in the UK on? The UK is no longer part of the EU.
Settled status - indefinite leave to remain. If you have lived in the country for over 5 years and contributed, you can stay.
A great city but not English any more. It has become home to the world, which may seem exciting but it does mean that for many British people, their capital city is no longer a place they can afford to live in or really feel at home in. I'm glad you are enjoying it.
Absolutely agree!!!! ❤ London and hope to call it my home forever more
last November for a weekend. The gap between those that have and those that have not is both visible and shocking.
I have lived here for nearly 30 years. Still not sure what I think but I do consider it to be home at least. I live in a bad area though and that does make a difference. I can see that the city is beautiful. I live about 20 min from the nicer parts.
I completely agree with your points. I'm from the US, and I've lived in London for exactly one year now. My first few months were brutal, I dealt with the worst housing and landlords, I had people screw me over- the city just does not take care of you. But I still felt such a love for everything there, in a way I couldn't explain. Now I have a lovely British partner and the most wonderful community of friends. I'm back in the US for the summer, but I'll be dreaming every night of the day I get to go back. Very lovely video, as always
Moved from London to Berlin last summer and yes - halved our living expenses overnight. Berlin is definitely getting more expensive but so is London. Our rent increase last summer in our SE LDN flat basically forced us to leave the city.
I love living in Berlin, especially as a young professional, affordability is a huge part of our happiness here these days. But all that to say that I still miss the sheer beauty and diversity of London regularly. If I’d be rich I’d move back in a heartbeat 😂
Jenny you must visit Bath in England for the weekend x
I've now become too grumpy with humans to live among that many of them. I currently live on the side of a mountain on the outskirts of a 10K person city. I was a reluctant visitor to London--so many other European cities on my list--but I had to go through there with my work years ago. Have now visited 6 or 7 times. For me as a Canadian it feels both exciting (nothing comparable here) but also comfortable--all the British history we learn makes it feel a bit like 'ours.' Love walking, people-watching, music venues, West End, restaurants, and the feeling that adventures could happen.
I lived in London many years ago in the sixties. I lived in Walton street, Chelsea. Very near King’s Road which was very trendy at the time. We used to see famous actors and singers all the time. Harrods was just round the corner and we went to their food hall that was wonderful. I’ll never forget those years in London.
@@letitiakingsley775 that sounds like so much fun, and a very special era in London.
12years Londoner now after having lived in NYC and Moscow, and do agree the struggle with flats when renting and "chaotic" system mentioned in the video. Interestingly enough London living could be different (Central Marylebone vs Richmond brings different lifestyles indeed)
Oh my god everything you said about the renting and landlords not caring rings so true for Dublin as well
I loved your perspective on London. Thank you for sharing.
It has always been a layover as I travel to other countries, but your stories make me want to explore in the near future.
I would love to hear a list of your favorite vegan restaurants and must-sees for a visit.
Also, could you share your eyeshadow brand and color? As a redhead, I would like to order it. It really is complimentary to your eyes and skin tone.
I am enjoying your content!
Been living in London for the past 4 years and agree with absolutely everything you said in this video. It feels like the center of the universe, with dystopian twist when it comes to wealth inequality. I freaking love this city, more than any other city, but there are a lot of things I would change.
I visited London in highschool and it was amazing! I would love to visit again with my family!
I’m a Londoner born and bred.. and yes you are indeed a Londoner now 😊 It’s a great melting pot of city with people from everywhere, and that’s a great description of living in London.. some days you think this city is gonna drive me crazy .. and others it’s an I ❤ London day full vibrancy and adventure.
So true!
I lived in London throughout the nineties. The city has changed so much, many things I used to love are impossible now. For example, just walking into an exhibition at any of the large museums or galleries. Nowadays, you often have to book a time slot in advance and the prices are very high, making it an elitist pleasure. I honestly don't know how people afford it. And I know some collections and shows are free entry, but still. The same goes for the big old cemeteries and other locations. It's just too crowded, too many people, too many tourists. But this is a problem everywhere, the world population has grown and it's palpable. The cost of living has risen everywhere in Europe, rents are still rising in Berlin, and of course you pay more for groceries too. For example, fresh produce that used to be available for €1.99 at a shop like Lidl now usually is €2.49. A cup of coffee now costs about 25-30% more than it used to. Clothes, books, cosmetics, everything is more expensive, so London prices probably also rose proportionately. Prices for services have probably gone up the most. Getting highlights at a salon costs three times as much as it did ten years ago. Surprisingly, the standard of some apartments is still the same (lower than average for western Europe) as it was thirty years ago. This just shows how much people are struggling, and that owning property doesn't mean you are able to maintain it as well.
Sadly, Berlin going coucou with the prices is true. I am a lucky one having the old contract but the newcommers have to face paying 800-900 euros for a room (!) or 1400-1600 euro for a 50m2 apartment somewhere within a ring. Of course there are cheaper options outside that are still very accessible but the same things I just mentioned were around 40% cheaper just 5-6 year ago.
Similar thing with dining out, nowadays when I go to a mid-range restaurant I always leave 30-40 euros (including one drink) no matter if it's a dinner or a brunch. Even looking at the ultimate falafel prices, a few years back one could easily eat for 3-3,5. Today it's closer to 5,5-6 euros.
Poor but sexy Berlin is sadly over. As somebody who lives here for 10 years already, it's interesting to see how the city transforms although the quality doesn't always follow the price raise.
„Poor but sexy is over“ - haha, well said! 😅 I was living in Berlin for 10 years too. Moved there in 2009 and left in 2019. I had lots of fun but now I prefer to just visit the city - being surrounded by nature makes me more happy. I need more quiet, I’m getting old I guess 😅
Nailed it, you are one of us now!🥰
Have only had the opportunity to visit fortunately a number of times. My absolutely favorite city! You are a lucky duck.
I love London but living there would be a challenge. It’s very expensive. On the other hand there is a lot of culture and the parks and buildings are beautiful.
I love London, I've been travelling to this city with a certain regularity since 1981. But the last time was in 2019, I have old friends there. Since the C-regime in 2020, it's no longer fun, and now, in 2024, so much crime! In the 80s and 90s, I could stroll through the city centre alone as a woman at night. Those days are over. It's so sad. Greetings from a German pensioner
I lived in London for 1,5 years.
Very ambivalent city🙂. It all depends on how financially rounded you are, and what's your interest (the free museums and galleries if it's still true is a fabulous thing!)
Great food scene, interesting designers, and all that mix of the rich history and new craziness is fine for a while.
Later on, you can be overfed, and oh, I almost forgot the terrible traffic and permanent problems with the underground, so you can spend most of your leisure time traveling from point A to point B because they can be pretty far from each other.
I lived in more big cities, though London was the biggest one. It definitely has its charm, but I moved on and don't regret it.
It's a season for everything, and it was a season for London in my life too, and I am happy it was. I met two great, life-long friends there and I am forever grateful.
Lived there for 2 years…absolutely hated it
What a gorgeous video! Always run to your videos when I see them Jenny. Beautiful. thank you for always making such quality videos for us all.