Exactly my experience (apart from living up north, which I'm considering). So far I've gotten round it by living an hour and a bit out of London, and going in

Exactly my experience (apart from living up north, which I'm considering). So far I've gotten round it by living an hour and a bit out of London, and going in every so often to meet likeminded people and enjoy the capital, knowing that the cost of travelling there / eating out / staying is _far_ less than I'd pay if I lived there.