I would like to suggest that all UK school leavers, or graduates, go to live in London for a few years. Not Croydon or Pinner, but central London, where it all happens.
Personally I spent 6 months commuting before moving up to town. Those post-school six months of early trains and very late nights were debilitating. Once I'd found my first bed-sit (in Bayswater) my life changed dramatically, and in many ways I was obliged to become an 'adult'.
London is a great city, and being a part of it is an education in itself. I was lucky to have lived there in the mid to late 60's when 'Swinging London' was at its peak, but everyone's experience of London is wonderful, whenever they live there.
I met fascinating people, did amazing things, and experienced so much that would otherwise have passed me by. Not everything was 'positive'; I was mugged, given rubber cheques, and encountered some horrendous landlords, but generally life was good. Some of my greatest memories are of Sundays, when I would either cycle around town, take busses, or simply walk along the embankment.
Of my three children, just the two boys have lived in town. My oldest currently in Kensington, and my youngest recently in Holland Park. My daughter decided that Oz was more to her taste, and intends to remain there.
Education comes in two parts. Firstly it's all about Ox bow lakes, Latin verbs, and Pythagoras. Then later (and I think more importantly) it's all about LIFE; and learning about LIFE cannot be better accomplished than in that great institution called London.
I hadn't realised your oldest had moved to London. I am behind the times.
ReplyDeleteYes, and loving his new location.
DeleteThat will be a change for them. How do the boys like going to school in the "big smoke"?
DeleteThey've stayed at their very good school.
Deletecommuting back to London presumably. What part of London are they now living in.
DeleteI see they are in Kensington.
DeleteTwo of my grandchildren have gone to uni in London, the third will make it next year. Ben loves wandering round London streets, taking his mother on long walks. They go to university and work when they have the time. I am surprised at the ease that they settle down to large debts from the government. But obviously the experience transcends it all.
ReplyDeleteUni is usually a great experience full stop; but to go in London is a real bonus. I'm sure you already do, but encourage them to take full advantage of where they are living. There is so much I now regret not having done during my few years spent in town. I should have done so much more.
DeleteKensington and Holland Park! Impressive. I agree. Some time spent in London when young is character building.
ReplyDeleteIt made me the man (wimp) I am today.
DeleteI lived in Bayswater in the 70s and then in Nottinghill, spent weekends walking everywhere. Just a tremendous place to live, so much going on.
ReplyDeleteI lived everyinute of it. Albert Hall concerts way up in the gods. Art along Hyde Park, concerts, pubs....so much more. Totally agree with you. We saw London at its best.
My first Bed-sit was in Inverness Terrace; just parallel to Queensway. The perfect introduction to London life; my rent was 4 Guineas a week! How times have changed.
DeleteThere is nothing wrong with Pinner! Lived there for my formative years and it never.... twitch.... did me any.... twitch.... harm that.... twitch.... I am aware of.... twitch.... of which I am aware [sorry Sir].... twitch....
ReplyDeleteI have nothing against Pinner either, nor against Croydon, I was simply using them as examples of 'outer London' as opposed to the real thing. I once got very very drunk in Pinner aged abou 19, and one needs an armed guard to pass through Croydon, but they are both lovely places!
Delete"I once got very very drunk in Pinner..."
DeleteThe Queen's Head,
The Victoria,
The George,
or private house??
I did the same Cro and loved every minute.... London in the late 60’s/early 70’s was exciting ( apart from the IRA !! ) .... and now, living in the countryside but only 20 minutes from London, we have the best of both worlds. London is my favourite city in the world. XXXX
ReplyDeleteMy favourite city too Jacqueline, with Paris a close second. I'm still hoping to buy my S Ken Mews house.
DeleteI moved to London when I was 17. I paid 5 guineas a week for bed, breakfast and evening meal. I started temping for the Alfred Marks Bureau the day after I arrived on a Monday morning at UCL. I loved every minute of my life in London, through thick and thin, all of it.
ReplyDeleteThat's just about how I felt, other than the daily grind of working on the Stock Exchange. My life improved drastically when I quit.
DeleteI wish I could, but it is not possible for me
ReplyDeleteNo longer possible for me either Lokesh. I'll have to be satisfied with where I am.
DeleteLondon is no longer affordable...and is overwhelmingly huge! As I discovered when I had to visit twice a term from Cardiff Art College in the 70s....and from visiting friends ever since. Good to experience...but good to escape to sanity!!
ReplyDeleteMy youngest son's flat in Holland Park cost as much for two months, as I spend in a whole year. Unbelievable. Still, everywhere is inhabited, so people can afford it..... goodness knows how.
DeleteLove to visit ,
ReplyDeleteHate to live there
I would love to have a home again in London, but not some grotty bedsit in Bayswater. I'm still hoping to afford that Mews House in S Ken.
DeleteI lived there in the mid nineties when I was 23 for two years. So much fun and things to do. I only wish I was richer and could afford to live there now.
ReplyDeleteFor a good London lifestyle these days, you need to be very wealthy. Unfortunately, I'm not
DeleteI never lived on my own which is a great regret. Two of my grandchildren chose colleges out of state and are loving their adventures. It is a great growing up lesson and something they will always remember fondly.
ReplyDeleteLondon has always been a favorite place of Americans to visit and live. I only got to be there at the airport during a fuel stopover on my way to Greece. I wish I had had a chance to holiday there.
There's still time. London is a wonderful place; it's like a huge area of interconnecting villages. There's lots of talk about knifings at the moment, but as long as one steers clear of the rougher areas, one would be fine.
DeleteI think big cities are for the young or the rich. After that … not sure. When you are young you don't give a stuff and when you are rich well…. but yep I can see living in London under those two criteria! Not for me - it bought me out in hives! All that pollution!
ReplyDeleteI must admit that I haven't visited London in decades (or even the UK), so its pollution levels are a mystery to me. However, with all the traffic etc it's bound to be awful. I still love London though.
DeleteMy son believes as you do and although he has lived up here for the last twenty years he still speaks of missing London sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI was lucky to have been there at such an exciting time, things may seem very dull now in comparison.
DeleteI had a couple of years in my late-20s in London - Whitechapel then Barons Court and wouldn't have swapped it for anything, despite loathing my City job there. That first winter was a wonderland - snow!! -, the second was oh, yes, I remember what winter means and the third was oh my god, winter again!! If I had realised I wasn't going to stay forever, I'd have squeezed much more in. I don't know how the young can afford living in Central London these days, though. It was even pretty $$ in the 90s.
ReplyDeleteI had a flat in Barons Court for a while. The (above ground) tube ran behind the building, and the whole place shook every time a train went by (every 2 mins). Yes, it's so expensive these days; you need a good salary.
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