Landing at London Stansted for the first time? Prepare to be underwhelmed. Yes, Stansted isn’t Heathrow – it’s the budget airline hub, and it shows. You’d expect a bit more from a city that’s supposed to be a global metropolis. Instead, you’re greeted by a dreary gray atmosphere, followed by yellowed, worn-out carpets lining the corridors. From a distance, you can hear an escalator squeaking, like it hasn’t been serviced in decades. The walls are decked out with tiles that look like they belong in a 1980s public pool. Everything looks old – and not in that trendy Wabi-Sabi way that makes imperfection cool. No, this is just neglect, and it’s not just the airport; it’s all over the city.
Gray skies? Sure, but it’s not just the weather.
We’ve all heard enough about England’s gray skies and drizzle – it’s a cliché at this point. But London itself gives off a gray vibe that goes beyond the weather. Like a lot of European cities, it feels like its glory days are behind it. The tube stations are outdated and overcrowded. Step outside, and you’re surrounded by familiar fast food chains within a 100-meter radius, mixed with “hipster shops” peddling vegan junk food, overpriced avocado toast, and overly colorful cakes and donuts. The real London charm is still there – sometimes in the pubs, brick houses, and cozy bookshops. But apart from that, you could be in any other major city in Europe or even the US. It’s all starting to look the same.
Stuck in the past
London feels like it’s been left to fend for itself. A lot of it needs a serious facelift. The rich history that should make the city feel vibrant is overshadowed by a growing sense of decline. There might not be as many homeless people as in Berlin, and it’s not as full of litter as Paris, but you can still see the signs of fading prosperity and quality of life everywhere. And London’s not alone – you can feel this vibe creeping into other European cities too. People seem to sense it, even if they don’t say it out loud. The big question is: are we witnessing a slow decline, or is there hope for a turnaround?
