Should I move to London or not?

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London is fun, but I would really recommend actually visiting the area and seeing the flat first.

London is expensive, the cost of living in general will be higher - food, utilities, and other things will likely cost a bit more, even if your rent is controlled. The flat may also be smaller than your current one.

Also consider how long it may take to get support services up and running there. It is unlikely to be instantaneous and might take up to 6 months or more as you may need to be re-referred and re-assessed by the local services.

Population density is high and there is always background noise unless your flat is well insulated and on a quiet street. The air quality is an issue and can be a problem if you have any respiratory issues. Crime is higher, but for the most part, if you take general precautions you shouldn't have a problem.

However, there are more opportunities in London, not only for work but also for entertainment. There are usually more opportunities to explore your interests and find people who have similar interests. The museums are free and there are a lot of them (personally I love the science museum). Also most places will be within walking distance/tube travel so it may be easier to get around on your own.

I don't particularly like the Islington area, actually. It's a very urban, noisy part of London. I got off the Tube there once---it wasn't like I was overwhelmed, but it seemed very commercial to me, many stores, not really clean, either.

Who knows?

If he had the apartment in Bromley, I might recommend it. It's in Southeast Greater London. And has good transportation to Central London. If he's over 60, I believe he gets free bus and train fare. Transport sucks after about 23:00 or so.

Islington is sort of a rough-and-tumble sort of area, it seems to me. It might be good for young, edgy people. This guy is not the "edgy" type, it seems to me. He's probably more suited to a quieter area....Bromley is quiet, but it is not 'in the sticks."

You should check out YouTube videos of Islington. Maybe I was in the "wrong" part of Islington.

I wonder if Islington has its own Internet forum....

Wikipedia states that Islington is the "most densely populated borough" in the UK. It is said that have nice "Georgian" architecture, though.

I have heard that it's sort of an "arty" sort of place, sort of "Bohemian."

To me, Bromley seems like a relatively quiet area that, nevertheless, has good transport links to Central London.

There is a nice "village green" there.

There is also a pretty decent market area, which has rides for kids and, sometimes, bands that play marching-type music. For the most part, except for the occasional hooligan type, the market area is a safe place for people to hang out in.

There's a pretty nice theatre there, known as the "Churchill theatre," which presents plays. There's a pretty good library, and a pretty nice park next to the library.

I find it to be a relatively safe area.

Islington is an urban area. A very "citified" area.

To me, it's "almost" Manhattan. It reminds me of Sunnyside or Jackson Heights in Queens.

Not the CBD----but close to it in character.

Greenwich Peninsula is undergoing a hefty transformation which houses some nice flats but unsure how much they are going for, and they boast good views of the city whilst the general area isn't too bad, at least not like it was in the 90's. I just heard alot of americans who move here, many relocate to the regenerated areas and it's all next to the river so you always have access to the waterfront to satisfy your love of boats or whatever.

I personally don't find London to be very Autism friendly. There are just so many people these days, I find it exhausting, a total sensory overload, especially in very busy areas like Oxford Circus or Camden. The tube also annoys me when it's packed out.

I live in Surrey, just outside London and love it here. It's very peaceful, green and safe feeling. I have beautiful parks and riverside on my doorstep and if I want to go into London I can just get an overground train in. I find it a nice compromise, to be able to reach London easily but not live in the middle of it all.

It doesn't seem like you have a compelling reason to move, like job offer or to move in with a significant other. Chances are you aren't going to make any more friends in London if all you are going to do is move. More likely you will just be coping with the stress of moving and adapting to new things for a while. If you really want new friends you are better off trying to make them where you live right now than to move. You only have so much energy for social activities.

A lot of places are better to visit than to move. A lot of people move to Hawaii from the states and only stay a couple years before moving back to the states. If you want to visit places maybe you could go on group trips and perhaps find a travel friend. Around here bus trips are popular for people who don't have a lot of money. A long day trip will get you to somewhere 150 km away.

How does the cost of living in London compare to the cost of living in Liverpool?

Housing costs are much more expensive in London. Hence, council taxes are higher for those who own houses. The "council houses" in London vary widely; they can be really ugly flats in "apartment blocks"---or semi-detached homes.

Food prices---if going to Sainsbury's or whatever---about the same.

If it would be relatively easy to find someone in your current home town to swap with you later on so you could be back near your mother, home town, and social system supports again in the future if you wanted/needed to then if I were you I would definitely make the trade and try it out.

Alternatively, if it's a small town you want and it doesn't matter if it's not back where you were near your mother and assistants, then yeah, make the trade because you're right - someone else will trade with you in the future if you want.

Only you can decide if you can live far from those people in your life, though.

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