The Lesson’s I’ve Learned Living In London
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London has been teaching me a lot of tough lessons recently - some are widely known lessons that everyone will go through, but some have been a little more personal than I thought…
I wasn’t overly sure what this blog post was going to be about until I sat down to write it. It’s been two months since I moved to the Big Smoke, and to say it’s been a bit of a whirlwind is an understatement.
It’s been a crazy period of my life. I went from having every weekend to binge-watch the latest Netflix show, to endless months in Lockdown with nowhere to go. Now, living in London, I don’t think I have stopped moving once.
Ok, that's a lot of hyperbole. I’ve had a few evenings and afternoons to try my best to chill out, and maybe two whole days with no expectations to go out or do anything (not that that’s stopped me).
Things have been intense, and I have loved every exhausting second.
1. You will always be tired
The first thing I have learned is that this feeling doesn’t go away, you just learn to manage it and power through. I went out to pubs, comedy shows, nights out in Shoreditch and long weekends away at Thorpe Park, and I don’t think I sat on my sofa for longer than an hour a day, for 12 days.
I haven’t found my groove yet. There are still days where I feel lost and scared, before realising it’s the 6 hours of sleep, the high-pressure job, and 4 pints a night talking.
Moving to a big city like this will test you it seems. I thought I was prepared, but I don’t think you can ever be prepared for this city.
2. It’s not a 24/7 city
The next thing I have had the displeasure of learning is that this city is NOT open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In fact, you’re lucky if it’s even open on the weekends.
Pubs and bars around Canary Wharf are built for businessmen, closing an hour before the last tube ride home and only open on weekdays. Good luck finding a taxi rank, or affordable hotel room. Don’t even get me started on the lack of a Night Tube.
While you will be inundated with Pret’s everywhere you go, they all seem to close at 3, with shopping centres shutting their doors before nightfall.
It’s all hustle-and-bustle everywhere you go, assuming you only ever go on the Tube between 7am and 10pm, and nowhere else.
3. The people are friendly and the beer is cold
According to every Northerner, London is a cold and heartless place. Good luck meeting anyone who won’t just scream ‘STAND TO THE LEFT’ or look at you like you called them something derogatory when trying to strike up a conversation in a bar.
I have never yet had this experience.
Since moving here, I realised just how chatty people actually are. Before you assume it’s because I’m Northern, most people seem to think I’m from Wales.
I’ve been on nights out with strangers and invited to hilarious underground house parties by people I have known for less than an hour. No one says no when you invite them to a party or a gig. Everyone just loves to hear about your weird experiences on the central line and that one time you started dancing with the bartender on an empty dance floor.
If you are an open and chilled out person, London loves you. Just don’t be that weird guy singing to himself on the bus.
4. IT’S BLOODY HOT
It’s November and I find myself sweating in my thin trench coat and short sleeve blouse on my way to work. It’s been 13-15 degrees for the last couple of weeks and you can’t help but get sweaty.
This time last year, I was wearing two jumpers under my thick long coat, freezing cold in the Leeds winter air. This year, I don’t even know if I am going to need my thick coat.
That’s not even thinking about the tube. Consider this your warning. If you plan on getting on the central line, northern line, or Bakerloo line - just take your coat off. Do yourself that favour or risk being a sweaty mess by the time you reach your stop.
5. There is nowhere better on earth
Ok, this one is entirely personal, but I could not express my love for this city enough. I was caught referring to myself as a Londoner a couple of days ago and I get very territorial about the north/south of the river divide.
Admittedly, this place has me smoking again, so it’s not all peaches and cream. But, I find myself never getting bored, constantly inspired, and working my ass off for the first time in my life.
If you are looking for a chance to make it or break it; London is the one. I don’t think you can find a better place to test your drive and hunger for what you want your life to look like.
I see why people would enjoy the quiet life and move out of this city, but the only place that could call me away at this point is New York.
London is where I was meant to be, and I couldn’t love this city anymore.
