Living in London
a.k.a. Why you should consider life in and around London!
Andy Grier
Audio Designer
(yup, that’s New York)
Quite simply, you’ll never be bored in London!
Coming from a tiny fishing town in the north of Scotland, I always imagined London as one enormous, all-encompassing belly of stuff, with everything crammed into one giant blob of city. And sure, at first glance, it kind of is. But once you actually live here, you realise London is really 32 mini-villages (called boroughs), each with their own unique identity, diverse culture, stunning sights, all underscored by a constantly changing soundtrack.
Seen that way, London stops feeling like some end-of-level boss you have to conquer, and more like a whole bunch of lands to explore, with plenty of side quests along the way. That’s where it gets fun!
You can live somewhere leafy and green like Richmond, somewhere loud and lively like Camden, or somewhere that somehow manages to be both, like Camberwell (officially one of Time Out’s coolest neighbourhoods in the world!). Whatever your flavour, London will have a version of it.
Personally, I’m huge fan of live gigs, musicals, museums, gaming and great food, and living in a city where all of that (and more) is just a quick hop on the Tube feels pretty special. Just one piece of advice: stand on the right on escalators, otherwise you’ll get the famous London side-eye of disapproval. Don’t worry, we’ve all been there!
Nathan Sawatzky
Trust & Safety Lead
(yup, neither that photo is from London)
Why I love living in London?
London is a city that has everything (except, perhaps, peace and quiet). There is incredible food, music, art, history, theatre, etc. nearby at any time or part of the city. I love that I can find food from anywhere in the world for under £10 (or for a lot more, if that’s your thing).
I love music, so going to places like Ronnie Scott’s jazz club, or the Roundhouse to see world class music is an entirely awesome quality of life improvement.
Pub culture is also a lovely part of London culture. Whether you're heading for a "cheeky pint” on your way home from work, or after-work drinks with folks from the office (and whether your drinking fine ales or beautifully crafted alcohol free beers), many-a-stories are made in any of the thousand unique pubs around the city.
As a parent, it’s amazing to see the opportunities that are available for my kids. Everything from sports, to dance, to art…
London is also an incredibly walkable city. While it sprawls out in every direction, the city centre is so easy to navigate with wide sidewalks and an increasingly large network of bike paths.
…and the weather, it’s not nearly so terrible as its reputation would suggest. The rain keeps the grass green, and summers are full of more sunny days than rainy days.
Rebecca Hanson
Data Analyst
(nope, third time isn’t the charm)
Living in London itself is nice, but if you prefer a quieter lifestyle then you might want to live elsewhere.
It’s a perfectly viable option to live outside the city and commute in, London being the most connected place to the rest of the UK. Admittedly I take this to extremes living two hours away in Leamington Spa from where I commute twice a week to our Studio.
I get the benefit of living in a smaller, thriving town where I can own my own home, and also have the benefit of ALL of London’s shops on my doorstep when I’m in the office. Christmas shopping has never been the same since!
The distance is deliberate as I like to have separation between home and work. I have my commute down to a T – I know exactly when to be at the station and where to stand on the train platforms for the best seats. My morning starts slowly as I listen to lo-fi and watch the world go by; it eases into the evening as I mull the day’s events.
My team is supportive if anything happens and I can’t make the journey in, and subsequently it makes me appreciate the office and people more when I am there. My hybrid setup gives me the best of both worlds.
Join us and
drink tea!
