London, London

My friends (specially my dear, poor wife) know how passionate I am about London. This obsession started years ago, in 2014, during my first Eurotrip. Since then, I’ve left Brazil and have come to live in 7 different places over 3 countries in Europe, 2 of those places in London, and have reaffirmed my bond to the city multiple times during these experiences. Next month I’m moving to London for the third time, hopefully for good (yes dear, I know. Thank you).

I figured now is a good opportunity to put thoughts to words and write down what I like and dislike of the city. Yes, this is one of those posts where you get a very biased and opinionated view of a particular place. You’re welcome.

Starting with the hard stuff first.

Weather

Stating the obvious, nobody comes to London for the weather. Locals are certainly obsessed by it: I estimate over half of business conversations in the UK will mention the weather, and it is the most basic and certain icebreaker in any social occasion.

That said, my experience is one can get used to (most of) it. Appropriate clothes will get you through the winter, it never gets that much cold, with temperatures above zero most of the time, and the rain doesn’t really bother that much after you accept there is no harm in getting a bit wet.

My only unsolved problem is the lack of sunlight: the UK is remarkably cloudy most of the year and winter months are just dark. Last I’ve checked, there is still no good alternative for a yellow, shiny ball of fire in the sky.

Costs

The biggest downside. Yes, London is expensive, one of the most expensive cities in the world. Rent and transport will be by far the big expenses, and there is little you can do about it: cycling will only get you so far, as the city is huge, and moving too far away will make you dependant on even-more-costly trains. You better put those plans to own your own place on hold for a while.

Entertainment will also cost you a bunch. There is no such thing as cheap drinking in a pub or club, and cinemas, theatres, festivals, and street markets will cost you more than a dime. There are a lot of free options but, unless you are a passer-by, museums and parks cannot entertain you forever.

Now, moving on to the good stuff.

Food

Yes, you’ve read that right.

In the old days, London had an infamous reputation for food, considered bland at best. While the Italian blood in my veins might agree to some of this regarding traditional English cuisine (fish and chips, roasts, meat pies, carrots and peas, boiled eggs, cold meals,…), this absolutely does not apply to modern London.

Pick and choose. Bangladeshi curry with roti bread? You got it. Pizza Napolitana with burrata Pugliese on the side? No problem. Upmarket 3-starred Michelin French cuisine? Absolutely. Fancy Japanese/Brazilian sushi place on the 39th floor with astounding views? Yes, can do. Some of the best Chinese dumplings and Korean barbecue joints in the world? Right here. American, Taiwanese, Pakistani, Greek, Spanish, Mexican, and so on and so forth. Not to mention the plethora of Indian diners at every corner.

Adding to the immense selection of restaurants, you get the absolutely amazing food markets. Borough Market, Camden Market, and Spitalfields are some of the best attractions the city has for foodies. Want to buy wholesale? Billingsgate and Smithfield will fill your fridge with fresh fish and meat for a bargain, given you manage to wake up early enough.

Finally, you do get renewed, flavoured, and tasteful options of that traditional British food in most pubs. No kidding. Just give it a try.

If there is something worth eating out there, you’ll find it in London.

Public Transport

As I've mentioned above, it is expensive. However, in exchange you get the most efficient, practical, and fast public transport network in the world.

This is not an overstatement. In any modern big city, the underground (or subway) is the key element of public transport. Let’s take a look at the contenders.

NYC? Absolutely dirty, unsafe at night, with last-century paper tickets. Paris? Slow, small area covered, and be careful with that carnet in your pocket. Tokyo and Seoul? Try using your credit card: not accepted, even by the ticket machines.

While the Tube is modern, fast, safe, and clean(ish), covers a massive area, and accepts everything from any card to smartphone/watch pay, no tickets needed. Just tap in and tap out. iPhones can open the Tube barriers even on dead batteries.

Finally, who doesn’t like that lovely “Mind the Gap” with their morning coffee?

Options

"Why, Sir, you find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford." — Samuel Johnson.

I couldn’t agree more with Dr. Johnson above. By the way, that quote is 243 years old.

World-class museums. Pubs. Restaurants. Festivals. Shopping malls. Cinemas. Shows. Music. Fashion. Theatre, lots of theatre. Forests (yes, I kid you not). Sports. Villages. Parks. Markets. Events, more than you will ever be able to count. Anything you might want to have or do.

Let's not forget travel. London is the city with the highest number of airports, 6 in total, with lots of low-cost options. A bit stressed of city life? Hop on a 2-hour flight for a quick break anywhere in Europe.

Simply put, London has everything.

Culture

Saving the best for last, this is what I like the most about London: the modern, advanced, and open-minded culture.

British culture obviously plays a huge role here, and there is a lot to admire. The UK is a modern, democratic, and free nation. Brits respect others, have a sharp sense of fairness and community, yet care for individual freedoms. There is no tolerance for corruption, in politics or day-to-day life. Bureaucracy is low, and that is a very important factor for me. Inefficiency is rarely tolerated. Personal beliefs rarely play a role in public life. People are seen as equals, and leaders, be politicians or managers, are openly questioned without fear of retaliation. Work culture is professional, yet welcoming. Obviously, it is not all sunshine and rainbows, but I perceive the UK decades ahead in terms of society’s maturity when compared to the average nation.

On to London, the most striking cultural characteristic is the cosmopolitanism. Nowhere else in the world you’ll find so many different people from so many diverse places. This melting pot of cultures creates opportunities to learn, experiment, feel, listen, and see different aspects of the globe, right there in your neighbourhood. The combination of all those cultures emerges as a unique and overarching London culture, one that accepts, embraces, and celebrates all the diversity in the world.

Perhaps because of the above, London is widely considered a very tolerant place, likely the most open-minded city in the world. It is where a gay couple feels safe when holding hands in the street, or where mosques, churches, and synagogues stand side by side. Racism, bigotry and misogyny are considered abominations by most and actively opposed by citizens, companies, and government.

All that creates a safe environment where everybody feels mostly welcome, regardless of origin, race, gender, beliefs, or ideologies, where one can be truly free to be whatever one wants to be. And that, I dare say, is beautiful.

Finally,

This is the opinion of a single person and, as you’ve probably noticed, I truly believe London is the best place in the world. I only wished there would be a more professionally-made ranking that could show just how great this city is.

Oh wait. There is: https://www.bestcities.org/rankings/worlds-best-cities/

I rest my case.