This hate for London is laughable. Yes, there are sh@t bits - Canning Town, Beckton, White City Estate spring to mind of the places I've been, but the good far outways the bad. It's a big city so the crime rate will be higher than Yarm... I feel safer wandering around London than Boro town centre, the tube can be a pain at times but can get you across the city in 30 mins. You can see gigs/bands every other night if you wanted to (last night I was at Jane's Addiction in a 400 capacity hall in Shepherds Bush). Richmond Park is 30 mins from me for walking to Ham, Twickenham/along the Thames, this afternoon I'm doing a 10 mile walk from Kensal Green, through Queens Park, West Hampstead, Hampstead Village, Primrose Hill, St Johns Wood, Maida Vale and back home. Been here 27 years and still finding places to go/stuff to see.