How do Londoners who live downtown afford to do so?

People will share for longer. It's now pretty rare for single people to rent on their own in London and couples spend longer living in rented accommodation before buying (if they can buy). Flats once occupied only by students become flats occupied by young graduates. read more

There isn't really such a thing as "downtown" in London. There are different centres for different things. The main financial centre is "the city" or "the square mile", which is the original City of London, based on the Roman foundation. read more

Of my friends who are still living in London, they are the ones who bought their first place more like 15 years ago, but still live a "smaller" lifestyle than they would if they've joined those of us who moved out. read more