The joy of having a brisk 15 minute walk through old street and shoreditch has now been replaced by a bus ride, 30 minute tube and then a 10 minute walk .... It's long, unpredictable, sweaty and yes I am generally already stressed before I get to work. Is this really the way life should be?
On the tube you see people who have been doing this everyday for years and will continue to do so, but why? Is it purely an economic thing? Everyone says no one can afford to live in central, that's not true just you can't live anywhere nice! Is having a lovely flat in zone 4, which you never see cause you are always travelling REALLY worth it?
I have lived in zone 3 before and to be honest, it is fine. You get a community, which you don't in central. You have little high streets and shopping centres that are much more enjoyable than Oxford street. And if you live close to a station your commute can be a lot quicker and easier than places further in.
The commute is part of city life whether you like it or not... My tip is live on the London overground - at least that way you are in air conditioned environment.
