Why is everything so expensive in 'rip-off London'?

Question

I don't live in London, so im definitely not a mug...lol

Answer 1

Because life's expensive in major cities.  Do you think it's better in NY, LA, Hong Kong, Paris, Rome, etc.?

Answer 2

I live in London and have to say that the prices are fairly similar to where I'm originally from - Aberdeen in Scotland.  In fact, fruit and veg and clothes are cheaper because they don't have to pay for the transport to get them up to Scotland.  If you shop well, using local markets you can eat very cheaply.  If you mean drinks - again use your local bars rather than heading for Leicester Square.  Obviously the rent and running costs of buildings in the centre of London are going to cost more than somewhere in the countryside so they have to recoup their money somehow.  If you think something is too expensive - don't buy it.

Answer 3

A few people here are suggesting that places like Rome are even more expensive than London.....

.... I saw an article in the paper last Sunday that was comparing tourist venues across the world's major cities, and, of course it was 'rip-off' London that came out as most expensive.

One point they mentioned was the so-called 'free' access to museums, which starts to seem nonsense when you look at the number of exhibitions that are on where you have to pay a entry fee.

Answer 4

London has been affluent for centuries. Its simply the result of market forces (if they pay it, we will charge it) combined with the fact that the worlds richest people and companies do tend to have a base in London and are able to pay the inflated prices for things such as property and other luxury items. So you could say why is London so desirable because its when a place is desirable people want to go there to visit and/or live/work and are willing to pay a premium. The cheapest areas are the least desirable and that is called capitalism.

Answer 5

Because mugs like u and me just pay what ever we are asked.

Answer 6

commercialisation mixed with inflation, causing prices to rise

Answer 7

Cos the tourists will pay it.

Answer 8

Because its a tourist trap, trap bieng the right word, however if you have a shop in London the busniess rates and taxes you have to pay are extortionate, so the owners have to pass it on to the customer, even if you only have a barrow licence!

Answer 9

It isn't depending on what you are doing. Avoid little obvious tourist stores for shopping- go to stores more geared at locals- they will be more affordable.

Food can be cheaper if you go in groceries (Sainsburys, Tesco) and buy things you can carry around while on the go.

Get an Oyster Card for the Tube & Bus. (This includes the famed red double deckers)

The "sightseeing" double buses are a rip off, and you can't see and hear all you would want anyway.

There are many podcasts and websites that you can download self guided walking tours from. Travel books can tell you what you want to know and you can see just as much if not way more walking or on the upper deck of the regular bus.

Museums and most art galleries are completely free.

Many of the major sights are free or very cheap or FREE. There is no charge to walk along the Thames, walk across Tower Bridge, look at Big Ben and Parliament (outside), Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, Picadilly Circus.

There are small fees for Westminster Abbey & St. Pauls, but not much.

Students can get into see most shows for 20 pounds (that even with conversion back to American dollars is cheaper than broadway)

The UK has tons of safe hostels for pretty cheap. hostelworld.com gives great rating and info- book in advance though they book up in heavy travel seasons way in advance.

There are travel books focused soley on free things to do in London forget exact titles but you can find them- even regular London travel books will tell you what to do for cheap.

Save money for the few expensive things that are worth it such as the London Eye, the inside of Tower of London etc.

It can be done- I went to London, York, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dublin, Cork, Blarney & Galway last year- spanning a month nd a half- for about $2000

If you plant to go to more than one destination in The UK buy a Brit Rail pass while in America (or other home country) they give deals if you buy as a tourist and have the pass sent to your home before you go. If going to continental Europe or Ireland you can get a Eurail pass along the same lines.

Traveling is what you make it.

Answer 10

- All of major cities are super expensive. Rome is probably more expensive than London, and many of us remember when Rome was a relative bargain. European tourism has almost doubled the price of a Manhattan hotel room in the last few years. Madrid used to be fairly cheap.

-  People are finally starting to go to Buenos Aires, Argentina for vacations. It is one  the last European style cities that you can afford to visit on a budget.

Answer 11

cos everyone goes there, so business want to make lots of money.

I went for 1 night a few weeks back, and the day afte ri got back i spent a week in scotland. The night in London, cost way more than the week in scotland

Answer 12

to keep all you poor people out [joke] i live in London 10 bucks 5 quid a gallon gas its crazy, food bills are mad and don't get me started about parking its no fun anymore.