I agree with the idea of the 'urban cycle'. New, young professionals are happy to share a small bedsit in a bad area if it means a high salary, but at some poin

I agree with the idea of the 'urban cycle'. New, young professionals are happy to share a small bedsit in a bad area if it means a high salary, but at some point in life you have to rebalance your quality of living. That's a problem I have with London- the constant churn. Everyone is transient. Friends you make are leaving in a year or two, maybe to go abroad or to buy a house in the suburbs. Many, many of the people living here do not consider it a 'home' but a stepping stone towards their goals, and I think this contributes to a lack of community spirit and feeling of belonging. I never felt like a 'Londoner' because there never seemed to be such a thing. On the other hand, this vast diversity and anonymity is of course one of London's great strengths.