London/UK versus Los Angeles/Southern California (pros and cons, living in)

[califantastic]

What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in London/UK versus Los Angeles/Southern California?

I live in Southern California on the coast south of Los Angeles. I am considering some job opportunities in London. I have been to London twice but only for a couple days.

Below are some of the pros and cons as I understand them. Please add to this list the pros and cons of these two areas as you see them.

I am single, no kids, work in investment management, and love traveling. Thanks.

London/UK

Pros
* Financial capital of the world
* Incredible job opportunities (at least for financial services)
* Excellent proximity to the rest of Europe
* History, culture, character
* Cool British people
* Good public transportation

Cons
* Weather
* Cost of living
* Overpriced, low quality restaurants
* Flat, lacks natural beauty (at least right in London as I recall)

Los Angeles / Southern California

Pros
* Weather / year round outdoor sports
* Scenic beauty / beaches / mountains / open space
* Lots of great, inexpensive restaurants offering a wide variety of cuisines

Cons
* Traffic / lack of public transportation
* Cost of living
* Somewhat isolated (only other countries you have fast access to are Mexico and Canada)

What other pros and cons would you add to these lists?

[destinedtodave]

That seems like a pretty good assessment but how long ago were you in London? I ask because the restaurants here have had a bit of a renaissance in the last decade or so. I won't argue with it being overpriced but gastronomy is a big thing in London now. Not to say it compares with Paris but I think the options have greatly improved.

[califantastic]

Last time I was in London was a couple years ago. I remember eating at an excellent Thai restaurant and perhaps the worst Chinese "restaurant" I have ever been to. Both were quite expensive. Most everything else was mediocre but perhaps I did not pick the right restaurants.

[tonrob]

Originally Posted by califantastic

Last time I was in London was a couple years ago. I remember eating at an excellent Thai restaurant and perhaps the worst Chinese "restaurant" I have ever been to. Both were quite expensive. Most everything else was mediocre but perhaps I did not pick the right restaurants.

As a visitor maybe you didn't. I shudder at some of the places visitors from the UK will go to over here if they don't have local knowledge.

If you're having any kind of assistance with job visa/move etc. then you should just do it!

P.S. I made the move in the opposite direction 3 years ago as I fancied a change and had a job that would allow me to do that. I still miss London though!

[destinedtodave]

Originally Posted by califantastic

Last time I was in London was a couple years ago. I remember eating at an excellent Thai restaurant and perhaps the worst Chinese "restaurant" I have ever been to. Both were quite expensive. Most everything else was mediocre but perhaps I did not pick the right restaurants.

hmm could be. The thing is, there is cheap cuisine all over the place but its just not obvious to the tourist eye. There's plenty of cheap Indian, Thai, Brazillian, and of course British food (mainly in pubs) scattered around. Brick lane has very cheap curry and ethnic cuisine. Did you eat at a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown? I go there often and am never let down-under 10 pounds for the whole shebang.

I know LA is pretty cosmopolitan but I think you'll find that London is more so. I mean 300 languages are spoken here. The one thing lacking is alot of good Mexican food-the ones here are obviously trail behind the ones in LA.

Considering there are great food options in both cities I'd imagine it boils down to which lifestyle you prefer-driving around in the sun or taking the tube in cold weather. Also, if you want to see alot of Europe, London is a great launching point-you can get to Paris or Bruxelles in a little over 2 hours by train.

Good luck on the decision

[ian6479]

Originally Posted by califantastic

What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in London/UK versus Los Angeles/Southern California?

I live in Southern California on the coast south of Los Angeles. I am considering some job opportunities in London. I have been to London twice but only for a couple days.

Below are some of the pros and cons as I understand them. Please add to this list the pros and cons of these two areas as you see them.

I am single, no kids, work in investment management, and love traveling. Thanks.

London/UK

Pros
* Financial capital of the world
* Incredible job opportunities (at least for financial services)
* Excellent proximity to the rest of Europe
* History, culture, character
* Cool British people
* Good public transportation

Cons
* Weather
* Cost of living
* Overpriced, low quality restaurants
* Flat, lacks natural beauty (at least right in London as I recall)

Los Angeles / Southern California

Pros
* Weather / year round outdoor sports
* Scenic beauty / beaches / mountains / open space
* Lots of great, inexpensive restaurants offering a wide variety of cuisines

Cons
* Traffic / lack of public transportation
* Cost of living
* Somewhat isolated (only other countries you have fast access to are Mexico and Canada)

What other pros and cons would you add to these lists?

I think your assessment is about right. London restaurants are not low quality though. You will certainly pay more than in the US but London now has an excellent offer of high quality food from all over the world. The traffic is also terrible in and around London (not as bad as southern california) so thats a frustration you won't escape, but the public transport will get you anywhere, although the London transport system is now the world's most expensive.

London is a great city, and if you can afford a decent standard of life there then go for it. You can always go back to LA. I am considering a move to southern california... fancy a swap??

[destinedtodave]

Also keep in mind that if you want to drive in central London you're going to have to contend with the congestion charge. And traffic is not that much better than in LA but the difference is that blows LA out of the water in public transit. Not only the great coverage of the tube but the busses are extremely frequent.

[tonrob]

Originally Posted by ian6479

I think your assessment is about right. London restaurants are not low quality though. You will certainly pay more than in the US but London now has an excellent offer of high quality food from all over the world. The traffic is also terrible in and around London (not as bad as southern california) so thats a frustration you won't escape, but the public transport will get you anywhere, although the London transport system is now the world's most expensive.

London is a great city, and if you can afford a decent standard of life there then go for it. You can always go back to LA. I am considering a move to southern california... fancy a swap??

While London's transportation might seem expensive, it depends on how and when you use it. For all its faults, the Oyster Card is really convenient and a money-saver, and the fare-integration is (almost) seamless. For convenience it certainly beats my two closest big cities - I'll take it over New York or Boston's sytems any day.

[chilaili]

I think London is a bit like New York: why do you even need a car to get around? The Tube is SO convenient. Not cheap, true, but hugely extensive and fairly easy to use once you get used to the colours of the map . The worst part of the Tube is the rush hour and trains getting stopped because of "something on the line", but I would never drive into London unless there was a Tube strike.

And petrol is now at £5/gallon!

[califantastic]

Those are some good points. London is a real city where you don't need to own a car. Los Angeles is a collection of adjacent suburbs where you absolutely need a car. Also London is a lot more cosmopolitan than Los Angeles. From what I have heard it is impossible to find high quality authentic Mexican food in London. If this is no longer true please let me know.

Are there any other major differences are there between Los Angeles and London?