This may come as a surprise to many, but London has been named the most desirable place to work in the whole wide world. This was something I discovered many years ago from a survey (the name of which escapes me). At the time, one in six people surveyed said they would prefer to work in the nation’s capital. I say this may come as a surprise, especially because London, the United Kingdom’s financial capital, has long been associated with work-related stress issues, like ‘burn-out’ and long working hours. On the other hand, London has much to offer regarding employment benefits, like London weighting, for instance.
Many years ago, for family reasons, I relocated from the north to live in London. Initially, everyone discouraged me with the usual “people aren’t friendly in London” or “I couldn’t live in London, it’s too fast.” Soon after my arrival, one person even advised me to return north, claiming I would not make it in London. However, I survived the ‘unfriendliness’ and ‘fast living’ and took full advantage of the opportunities available. After being shouted at a couple of times, I learnt to stand on the right side of the escalators. Although I wasn’t approached to take part in this survey, had I been, my response would be the same.
Now, not only is London the best place to work, but it also comes out on top as the greatest city in the world. Period. For the tenth year in a row! I have always felt that about London. What I have always said is that London is a place of opportunities and whilst I admit that I haven’t lived in all the cities in the world, the opportunities available in London are hard to beat. But don’t take my word for it. Take the word of Oxford Economics, an advisory firm that assesses economic, environmental, and political factors, science and technology, the arts, and educational attainment to create its Global City Index. They looked at a whopping 1,000 cities across the globe, awarding each of them an overall score out of 100, and London came out on top. Even emissions intensity was a factor. It’s lower than elsewhere. And its diversity in all its forms is the envy of the world.
London is also ranked as one of the world’s best cities to explore on foot. I can vouch for that. I have been to a few cities around the world, and getting around to explore on foot was not as accessible as being in London. Did I mention the public parks?
But of course, London is far from perfect. The report pointed out that the capital’s largest weakness is high housing spending. Nevertheless, Oxford Economics said that London is set to remain a top global city for years to come.
Much as I love to roam and ramble across the United Kingdom’s green and pleasant land, in terms of living and working, I can’t help but quote Lord Kitchener’s song, London is the place for me. Especially in the summer, when it’s mega!
