I work in central, my building is at Embankment (just opposite the Wheel).
Still in the office now, here's the view:
The attitude varies wherever you are, think of London as a city of small towns and tribes - everywhere you go has its own style and its own people. Add to that a vast population of tourists and a vast population of commuters - none of whom see 'London' as home. However, it's different in the suburbs and outskirts...
I grew up in a small town - everyone effectively had a vested interest in the place and the other people that lived there, small communities breed community spirit, a sense of belonging. London however is a city of strangers. Culturally, you don't engage with people on public transport because of the close proximity, it's very intimate on the tube/train at 7:30 when you're in someone's armpit - it's not the done thing to strike up a conversation. Subsequently it's a very private time. Earphones in, newspaper out.
The rise of social networking has certainly changed many people's attitudes - there are always events everywhere - but London remains a very lonely city if you don't know anyone. People tend to stay in their 'tribes' - whether post work drinks, or seeing the friends they know from university/school etc. It's tough to break into a 'new' group of people... ...how do you meet new friends?
Obviously London is very 'cosmopolitan' (hate that word), there are people of all races and nationalities all over the city - with that comes a huge range of cultural and behavioural approaches. If you're a staff member in a restaurant, you're going to have no 'regular' sense of expected behaviour - everyone, for better or worse, is different.
In my mind, it's not a 'rude' city per say - if you are with friends, know how things work, interact with people in a certain way, then it's a fantastic city.
But, if you are alone, being the tourist/visitor, crossing paths with commuters when they are in 'travel mode' isn't avoidable - we all have to be somewhere sometimes, and the commuter vs tourist tribal wars aren't fun to be a third party in.
If you're here, find somewhere off the beaten track, everywhere near big tourist spots is going to be like that - cheap surley employment, cheap poor quality food etc. If you had to work with tourists all day, wouldn't you be like that? Don't go to cruddy tourist places.
Forget the people; tourists and kids and commuters have other things on their mind and are the same in major cities - there aren't such things as LOCALS in London, don't expect to find them. The pub, unless you outside of central London, WON'T feel like your local pub in the vilage back home because noone knows each other. The barmaid is there working during her gap year from Australia, the drinkers are tourists or work colleagues drinking after work. It's not the same atmosphere so don't expect it.
Get away from the real tourist traps - most of the stuff in the guidebook is rubbish anyway.
Get into the parks, get along the river - find your OWN thing to do, you'll enjoy it far more.
Get into the suburbs though, and it's a different story altogether - far more to do, beautiful things to see, no tube, no annoying coach tours, no commuters, no drunk kids etc...
If anyone is in London and needs advice, let me know.
Some days I hate London, other days I love it.
Fighting the commuter/tourist crowds through Trafalgar square to get to a meeting is not fun.
Summer in the city on a river boat having a beer post-post work with colleagues/friends is awesome... 8)
:wink:
Si
to all of that. Very well said !
