The crime rate in London in 2022 was 95 crimes per 1,000 people – 20 per cent worse than the UK average of 79.52 per 1,000 people, according to crimerate.co.uk. Although it is worth noting that on many metrics London is much safer than most global cities, and the recent suggestion by mayoral candidate Susan Hall that London is “under siege” with “criminals ruling the streets” is, frankly, tosh.
The people quoted above are just a few case studies, and I am sure that despite its modern-day challenges, London continues to dazzle many newcomers. It remains, in this ex-resident’s opinion, the best city in Europe when it comes to sightseeing, culture and green space – a position I hold firm having visited all but three of the 27 EU states (feel free to challenge me below the line if you so wish).
But despite my love for the city, I do think that Samuel Johnson’s “tired of London” quote could benefit with a few tweaks. For future residents who manage to find somewhere to live within the M25, or indeed foreigners planning a tour of the capital, I suggest Paul Theroux’s follow-up, written two centuries later in 1986, might help to manage expectations.
“A person who is tired of London is not necessarily tired of life,” he wrote. “It might be that he just can’t find a parking place, or is sick of being overcharged.”
Source link : https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/united-kingdom/england/london/tired-overpriced-london-cost-of-living/
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Publish date : 2024-03-18 03:00:00
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