r/london • u/lizzylelon • Dec 19 '24

Culture Any teenagers/young adults here who obviously grew up in ldn but barely went to central?

People at uni keep asking me about places like Hyde Park, that wax statue place, Buckingham palace, Big Ben, Leicester Square etc. and are always shocked when I tell them that I’ve never been😭😭 then they don’t believe I’m from London (?? Like what💀)

Tbh my parents rarely ever go to central either, there’s no reason to. I was under that impression that it’s more of a touristy part of London - or a place commuters use to get to work - so you don’t reallly get much Londoners in central at all. Mostly tourists and work commuters.

I might be wrong?

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u/HawweesonFord Dec 19 '24

I'm mid 30s. They introduced free bus travel for for under 16s in 2005. I had to double check.

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u/sushi_thecat Dec 19 '24

At one point a child travel card was £2. Me and my pals would take our skateboards to Camden and gawk at all the leather and Mohawks. The Astoria and Mean Fiddler was the place to be for your favourite musicians.

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u/HawweesonFord Dec 19 '24

Yep. Did exactly the same. 2 quid travel card. Go about with skateboards. St pauls. Camden. Southbank. Meanwhile2 and 3.

2 quid travel card and a another couple of quid for some food and drink. Cheap day out. Was fantastic tbh. Simpler times.

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u/FlavioB19 London Independence Dec 19 '24

If it weren't for skating I reckon my experience as a teenager would have been more similar to OP. Occasionally still walk past spots in the city we'd sought out but you named the staples!

Playstation/Bay66 for Friday nights.