I’m that guy you described. Raised by a single mother in Peckham. To be fair, my mum did an exceptional, astounding job with me and my two younger brothers, and I fully understand her reasons for raising us on her own as it was to protect us from our dad and turning out like him etc. I come from a family where nobody before me has got involved in a criminal lifestyle or been to prison. My mother is so far removed from all of that and didn’t raise her children in a way that would allow them to even have an opportunity to get involved in that stuff. She did her absolute best and utmost. Instilled very good morals and values in me and my brothers. Extremely supportive, showed up to every parents evening, school/college open day, took us to museums and galleries on the weekends and fairs and theatre plays etc, even took us away to the seaside when possible (we grew up with very little money so everything I just mentioned was either free or on the cheap) but my point is my mum was and is an excellent, fantastic role model who is just a great example. If I’d followed her lead as I should have done, I’d have never ended up in the situation I did. The thing is, I had a lot of trouble with my identity and outside acceptance. I felt like I had to be a certain type of person as a young black boy in Peckham, especially one who had been robbed for my phone and bike etc multiple times and bullied as a child. I felt I had to prove myself and not appear vulnerable in any way. There’s so much more behind it but that’s a big part of it. If I had stayed living underneath my mum’s roof, again, I doubt I would have got involved in what I did, but I got kicked out of my mum’s due to me having extremely bad anger issues and me not having a choice but to leave. My mum was also constantly finding things in my room that weren’t supposed to be there and she was worried about trouble I’d bring to the house and how I’d influence my younger brothers, so after years of “last chances”, there was one angry outburst too many and I was shown the door. Ended up living in a hostel, still in south London, where I was surrounded by nothing but people heavily involved in crime. I wasn’t seeing my mum daily anymore, so was getting more and more influenced by those around me and didn’t have her to balance me out and keep me grounded, reminding me who I really am and how I was raised. I’d only see her every week or 2 at this point, while I was living with criminals 24/7, so the balance was fully off. Ended up getting groomed by an older individual and sent to sell drugs on a county line where I was arrested and sentenced to some time in prison, completely and totally shattering my mum’s heart into pieces. As much as I love my area and south London and London as a whole, I definitely have a love/hate relationship with it. There’s no knowing what may have happened had I grown up in a different area or attended a different school, but I’m 99% sure the outcome would probably not have been as bad. I felt like being from Peckham I was some “bad boy” and I’m really not. I was victimised for being a good boy and felt I had to prove myself to others who actually don’t deserve a second thought and whom I couldn’t care less about now, but at the time, in my young, vulnerable mind, I guess I was swallowed up by the wolves, as it were

Im from London, Tottenham and i now live in Leeds. Moving up north is one of the best moeves ive made in my life

We need a group of traditionally minded couples to intentionally settle in a cheap part of the community and slowly take it over. Establish a black middle class area, and build from the bottom up. This is how you foster a community that has the right values to be sustainable. Two parent households of well to do folk that own their home and participate in local politics. As we are at the bottom, it'd be wise to choose an area where house prices are less than £250k and build from there. Start our own schools etc etc.

It’s refreshing to hear another black person saying what I’ve been thinking since I arrived in London in 2019 (from Lisbon,Portugal) . I am 22 years old and already made my mind that London is NOT a family friendly city. Wise words my african brother👏🏾

I bought a large flat in the East End of Glasgow 15 years ago. My family thought I was insane. They’d always lived on the other side of the city until it became gentrified. I’m almost mortgage free now while rents and property prices have begun to really increase in the last few years. I worked for a while in London but kept my flat and came back in 2017. If my flat (traditional flats in Glasgow are large spacious victorian buildings) were in London it would cost around 400k. I paid 70k for it. After Covid the rent and house prices here went mad so I couldn’t upgrade to a two bedroom but in this society I am so incredibly lucky. No matter what happens I will have my home and no one can throw me out or demand an inspection. When I first started going to London in the late 90s everyone on the bus was Scottish - either going to see their family who were working there or just going back to work. Most people who went to uni with me in the 90s went straight to London. Whereas now people stay which would have been unthinkable in 90s. I recently got the bus from London to Glasgow and almost everyone had a London accent and surely this is because London is simply unliveable for even middle-class people. It’s insane to me that people would move to Glasgow as an opportunity but here we are.

My mind boggles why people focus on London to buy property. Our transport services are great so getting to London from outside will take approx 20min.

100% agree. We moved to the suburbs of Manchester 5 years ago. Visit London still and feel sorry for inner city people now.

I live in a predominantly middle class Asian area in London. The first thing my new neighbors asked when I moved in was whether we were renting. I don’t blame them. We do not have a foothold in London that is middle class, black and thriving. Until then, we are simply the odd couple of black faces in an already established area.

Ironically most black people do not really go to the bars and resturaunts in London. They are in London because they are afraid to be isolated if they go outside London. Also alot of of black people are quite new to the country and gravitate towards their ethnic communities for support.

Not to brag I think my parents were 30 years a head of their time even bought a house outside of London . Family and friends always had a "you live in the countryside joke" now look. Today they have sold up and enjoying their rum and sun in the Caribbean.

Hi Ely, 1st time watching you. I agree with everything you say. By the way you forgot to include Croydon. We lived in Croydon and left in 2021 precisely for all of the reasons you have mentioned. You also forgot to mention that in all of the areas you mentioned where we as black people live they are not building detached affordable housing and neither are we being lent through mortgage the opportunity to buy. What most Londoners are not aware of is house building organisations are super busy outside of London curating whole areas building with minimal crime whatever house or apartment your pocket can afford with excellent road access and the country for quiet walks when you have free time. I could go on but I have to respect your channel and the excellent message you are trying to share.

It's all fear. The father dodges responsibility out of fear of commitment. The son becomes wayward out of fear as he doesn't have a steady hand guiding him. He joins the man dem out of fear. He gives it the big big big out of fear. A father is needed so that the kids don't feel the fear every day from the mother.

I left North London a decade ago. I haven't looked back. The best decision I made for a multitude of reasons.

Where I live a three bed house is at least £500,000. In London you’d struggle to buy a house. The Housing market is a total mess, move out of London and spread your wings.

Excellent Video im white born South Woodford lived in Leytonstone first house bought in East Ham but now back in South Woodford near to Jewel in the Crown for East London Wanstead Park Epping Forest we are so lucky with other open spaces nearby Hainault forest etc.. My first house was East Ham GLC Mortage as no lenders would touch East Ham, now houses sell like hot cakes.. Then moved to where i was born and loved South Woodford got a 1 bed flat at twice the price of 3 bed terrace so not cheap but im still here 30 years later it has always felt like home good transport central line bus to Iford M11 A406. The local park 300 yards away is where pedalled my pedal car as a child..

I am not black. I am Chinese blood. I would love to embrace the idea to team up with those of similar mindset to buy up North to rebuild the community.

i grew up in croydon and so many of my peers are either waiting for their parents to die to inherit their house, they live in flatshares or they move up north. it was bad for my generation but the next generation are completely screwed. at least we had a chance to buy something away from london but i cant do what i did back then if i tried in 2024. there are SO MANY young kids growing up seeing london's wealth but it doesnt matter how hard you work you cant buy a place where you grew up anymore

Don't leave London, leave the country. Waste of time in the u.k.

I agree with this, I bought a 2 bed flat recently in manchester for a great price, I am only 24. the pro of living up north is that you can gain assets very quickly. I would have no chance if I was in the south of the country. I will probably buy more properties in the near future.

But but but where would I buy my ackee and saltfish?🤣. I have mixed feelings about black exodus to the Hebrides. Fresh air and open skies are obviously wonderful and should be standard but a sense of community is also very important. I live in Brent and shockingly our presence has declined and taken over by new immigrants. My grandson is the ONLY black child in his class and there is only one other black child in his year group. I am fortunate to live in a house with a garden surrounded by trees (they’re no longer building these types of properties in London) and there is still community and bird song so lockdown for me was a breeze. The other thing to consider is access to services. If you’re fit and young then yeah go but if you’re in need of social care resources are better in London. I worry for my grandchildren in this area and hope they move away before they start secondary school but I wouldn’t want them isolated in an area surrounded by closet racists and no black presence.

Habari my brother. I am like you, mainly raised here in uk but was born in kenya and moved to uk when 3. I also live in leyton near lea bridge. I appreciate your advice and your representation has helped me. I love my area near lea bridge but the mortgage costs are so evil. I do need to consider my future here because of this. Your wisdom shall be useful to others.

This is why the countryside is being overly built on.

Unfortunately, the London overspill into the home counties comes with its issues, that then become interwoven into the existing issues of said home counties area.

Power to you sir. You have a new subscriber. I understand what you're saying. Especially in those areas that you mentioned. However, I believe our people should aspire to live wherever they want. Whether it's Little Aston in the Midlands or Hampstead near the Heath. I agree areas where there is high crime should be avoided but the cost of a neighborhood shouldn't be a deterrent. Yes, we are disadvantaged in many things but we can succeed regardless. Our priority should be teaching our young people money habits and setting up our children by investing into assets such as ISA's for them. When I first moved to London from Birmingham as a student I was drawn to North London, Highgate because of how beautiful the houses were, the brilliant schools and the vibrant community. I now live not too far from Highgate in one of London's leafy suburbs, and my house has a garden. I wasn't born into wealth, Far from. I grew up in Handsworth in Birmingham, however, I learned good money habits in my 20s when I started working in the city. That helped me a lot. The only thing I wish is I learned these habits much younger.

I live in a town of 10k people on the south coast. We have a theatre, 4 large supermarkets in town, Tesco superstore is 15 minute drive away, cheapest petrol in the country, train station, a small high street with many charity shops where I get cheap clothing, 6 barbers, 10 pubs all different, chinese, indian, turkish, pizza takeaways, 10 minute walk down an abandoned railway line into the countryside where I can feed deer, 15 minutes to the beach, 2 minute walk to common land to run dogs, police station, fire station and medical clinic at the bottom of the road, 3 pharmacies. I can buy a decent cafe meal out for under £10. 1 1/2 hours by train to Waterloo or Gatwick. As I write this, all I can hear is the odd bird singing. But other places like the Welsh borders and towns north of Newcastle are also nice parts of the country.

I've just finished watching this excellent video - you have a new subscriber btw! I'm a Londoner that is in the process of buying a place and I'm seriously considering leaving London (again!)for more bang for my buck. I say again because I've lived in Amsterdam, Berlin, Brighton and Preston over the years for varying reasons. If one can navigate the balance between culture and battling racism, I think leaving London, if not the UK, is a great option and one which many more black should embrace - if the opportunity comes up. Would love to continue this conversation with you or see a follow up video on tis topic.

I grew up in Bromley borough and there were a lot of young black families there and black kids where out performing other ethnic groups in my school. I never felt like we were isolated or the odd ones out and most of the parents where African immigrants. I would say there can be a skewed bias of perception when we are used to just one area. I now live in Bedfordshire because I wanted to buy property and I have a much healthier work life balance as it takes much less time to get to work and I’m much closer to Wembley Stadium (30 mins) and also 40 mins to Heathrow Airport. I was also able to get a dog and we regularly go out to the Chiltern Hills for hikes. The grass might not always be greener but it can be healthier.

Another factor that may not have been considered is that many black British see living in the UK as temporary and have intentions to relocate to their home countries or countries of their parents and grandparents. Meaning that a large chunk of our community dont see buying a house and living permanently in the uk as an aspirational ambition. Actually most of the people of this mindset are professionals or what we would categorise as middle class

Also parking and driving a car in London is such a headache. Congestion charge, Ulez, expensive parking bays and limited places to park in the capital is enough pain.

Bro, you speak truth on so many levels, I grew up on a council estate in London, I left the city 2020, just as covid hit and lock down began, OMG I have not looked back (moved to MK) so many positvies, open green space, no drama parking my car or fear of getting a parking ticket, next to zero road humps (potholes a whole other issue) no traffic jams or major road works, also the recent rise of those young youth boys stealing phones from victims as they walk down the street. I'm so glad to not be invovled, unfortunately london has become a city of those that have...which further divides those living below the support line.

Thank you, Ely, for this great analysis.

Very good points! I know it is difficult for people to comprehend the idea of leaving their hometown where they were born and raised but I REALLY wish more black people would leave London. As soon as I was 18, I couldn’t wait to leave London and go to a university in the Midlands. I dropped out at the time, but I decided to stay and work for a few years as I was in no rush to come back to London. I had been in London my whole life and found it so limiting. It’s not even like I live on an estate or inner city. I live in West London, zone 4 but was tired of the crowdedness, the tube, how long it took to see friends who lived on the other side of the city, amongst other things. I loved it in the Midlands and felt myself having a more fulfilling life than I would’ve done in London. Everything was in the town centre and was a lot easier to travel to, so I went out a lot more and wasn’t afraid to go out by myself. Sure, there’s “less” to do outside of London, but unless you’re a socialite who gets bored very easily, is it really worth staying in London just to have access to more concerts, bars, restaurants & events? I would just take a train to London if I wanted to go to a specific event. If anything, it was more exciting since I made the effort for it. I really don’t feel like there’s a lot to miss out on, especially if you’re still relatively close to another UK city. When I lived in Nottingham and was friends with people who lived in quiet villages that were only 30-40mins to Notts via train! In London, it takes most people who live in the outer zones an hour to get anywhere anyway, so getting on a train is nothing really!

I've lived in the north of the country and London. When it comes to raising kids I think London is a dead loss, I see kids throwing up gang signs in their school uniform, lots of crime, there are no woods or fields to muck about in. Nothing like the childhood I had, swimming in open water, exploring woods, camping.

What I have found is that people are friendlier out of London.

Great talking point. I also grew up in London, I moved years ago for the same reason, and own a home that would not of been possible to obtain, if I was still living in the capital.

May i suggest that the family unit stay together. Can't be kicking our youngsters out of the house at 18. Just buy a big house togther and have a muligenerational home. Like the Indian and Jewish communities.

Why is it our black men not wanting responsibilities kids they brought on this world.

Hey bro. I can understand your perspective. London is after all a mega city. I think mega cities like London, New York, Paris, Los Angeles, etc tend to be areas where black ppl will often either find real upward mobility (upper middle class+) or will end up in an endless cycle of poverty. Because these cities by their nature are often set up to be the epitome of "the haves and the have nots." Either you're rich or you're poor. Rarely in-between, at least in current times. With all that said, I think for me personally, I still prefer to live in a city. Not mega cities of 10 million+ people but a midsized city that will provide great opportunities for upward mobility and a decent balance of cost of living. I think the reason black people (anyone really) have historically been drawn to cities is for opportunities. And even if I had children, the reason I would choose to raise them in cities/suburbs over rural areas is because I don't want them to be isolated. I've seen what rural isolation has done to my youngest siblings and I simply wouldn't want that for my own hypothetical children. Also I don't know how the U.K is set up, but here in the U.S. rural areas tend to actually be poorer than the "hood" of the inner city many times, even with the homeownership rates being higher in rural areas. These are very desolate places with few resources. They have been left behind. This is why even now, there's more migration from rural areas to cities than the other way around. But of course at the end of the day it is really on a case by case basis and what the needs of the family are. I don't think rural areas are necessarily bad. But generally I'm more inclined to believe that life is just easier in the city/suburbs than it is in rural areas, even accounting for cost of living, traffic, noise, etc. Also my views on homeownership have greatly changed. Because what I do for a living is to assess the damages of homes caused by natural disasters. I travel all over the U.S. and I see time and time again how 1 storm or 3 inches of flood water can financially destroy a family who is "middle class" on paper. I see how insurance companies find ways to not pay out for damages and instead put that burden on the federal government. It's mindboggling. And to be honest, I'm not in a rush to own a home anytime soon. Dare I say that it is cheaper to rent (even in the long run) than it is to own.

Remember folks if you leave London for another city don't bring your baggage with you. Learn to live like the locals, else you'll just be recreating the same problems you tried to get away from.

I am from America and I got tired of living in a concrete jungle. I moved to Tanzania Africa in 2020 and I love this place

Thank you for producing this level of content; I have always championed to our people the exact thought processes. I have always wondered why more of our people do not understand the clear advantages of moving out of London, especially if the economics of living in London do not allow them to purchase a home, as well as, provide a more advantageous living environment for our children. Please, please, keep up the content.

My parents brought their council flat in southeast London in the 1980s both of them worked and had 3 kids They sold their home in 2000 and moved out of London Now that flat is worth a lot more I still live in the southeast in Kent the house prices are not much better here either the house prices go from £300 thousand to a million and you need a a £40,000 deposit A lot of people don’t have that kind on money even if you both work And the crime is now moving out of London now even in kent I’m afraid this is down to the government doing nothing about law and order It’s easier to get a job in London and to travel to work at least in London you can get the underground a bus or a train You are stuck with transport outside of London unless you drive and and there are not many jobs they are miles away Kids are not much better up here they smash everything up as well as the stabbings are not that up here where kids are concerned this is a problem crossed England not just London I’ve been up here 25 years and still find it hard to adapt as they hate anyone from London especially when they hear you are from There

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and wisdom. God bless 🙏🏽

London not for family people.

I am British Pakistani descent with a multi cultural background but i totally understand what you mean doe

We moved out of London when we got married almost 30 years ago. We have never regretted our decision. It is the reason why we own our home, the mortgage of which we have paid off. Thanks for sharing this

I just don't find that anywhere outside London that I've lived has the same 'something' that London has . For all it's faults i still think it's a great city. I totally understand however that as a black man your experiences will have been different and if you feel it's best for you I wish you all the luck in the world.👍

Stayed in London for nearly 5 years. I've relocated to the North (Yorkshire) and haven't looked back. There's so much more to offer this way up, especially Manchester, Leeds, and Liverpool.

Same here. We moved to the Midlands 6 years ago and bought a 3 bed home, ensuit master, and a huge garden for less that £200k.

Great video. Like many others have said community is important when moving. I'm looking to move to Cardiff in a years time and would like to meet like minded black people. For me it's important being close to a train station as it's easier to communte to near by towns that have things my community is lacking

well said, brother. I moved to gravesend during lockdown. verrrry different to London!! 😊

unfortunately, we are at the bottom of the food chain. our race do not have the togetherness which other races have. In the western world, we are exposed to a society, a community, segmented groups or individual who like to compete with an ego or arrogance self importance (they are amongst us), that has created a huge drift from what really matters and it hurts. As a young African man, everything I do refers back to my roots all simply because our race seriously comes from uniqueness, purity and love of our gene, spiritualism, morality and natural attributes. the housing market is a different ball game simply because of the expose we get from spending money on unnecessary items most of the time rather than investments and building a hierarchy for inheritance to be passed down the bloodline. another expose is the entertainment industry, the actors, music artists and many others who turn the blind eye to not set an example and demonstrate whats actually possible when you have the finance injected into the right places. Stormzy is an ambassador atm but many big black household names need to be held accountable, this an issue within itself because black folks fail each other within trusting one another with money. Lastly, false narratives and how we are portrayed to be, the past is a past for a reason and in order to move forward as a community in London, we need to look out more for one another and support each other when those around us fuel/encourage dishonesty, violence, hatred and cursing.

Good topic brother! 🙏 Hungarian and subscribed! 🔥 Keep going

London has its draw. Beautiful really. I was born there. But grew up in Ashford, Kent. It is cheaper elsewhere.

I’m with brother. I used live in Thornton Heath I moved to Chester 3 years ago I have not regretting

The biggest problem with African immigrants who have been in UK for a long time is that you dont embrace your identity and culture. African culture is so rich when it comes to family values, respect, hard work, confidence, perserverence etc . When you raise your children to embrace this western black british culture of children running around like headless chickens they are likely to end up confused and in prison. Teach your children excellence not victimhood mentality. In the UK if you apply yourself and workhard the doors will open . Get involved in children school work, understand what they are currently doing in school! Wake up, and be proud of who you are!

Great video Ely! Keep 'em coming!

I grew up in north London, including Tottenham and Wood Green. I'm desperate for more green spaces and a better quality of life. I can't afford a house here in London. So it's really interesting to hear your commentary and I like your insight a great deal, thank you.

I have mixed feelings about living outside of London, as a brown person would struggle to find my Caribbean food 😩 I love the countryside ( which I grew up in as a child) but moved to London as a teenager. And I visit the countryside often, but living in london, I like seeing my people around me.

I moved out of Walthamstow to the suburbs of Cheshire 30 years ago......... best move I made. London has nothing.

Nearly all black people here are dual nationals and the majority no doubt have properties in their land of heritage which many flit back and forth to. The native White British people without houses have no properties abroad hence the fact that the vast majority of street homeless are White men as are the vast majority of those who die on the streets. If the situation were reversed there would be endless outrage and the government would be building houses to get the people off the streets, as it is they are now giving new properties to those who have illegally crossed the Channel in small boats. As regards social housing people should have to contribute for a certain number of years in taxes before they are eligible to join the waiting list and then should go to the back if the que. Arguably no one who chooses to remain a dual national should be eligible.

i grew up in leyton, we sold the house and its currently worth 850 thousand smh

My man has moved the family out of London can’t wait to pack my bags a smell the fresh air

We moved out of London 13 years ago when we realised that raising a family in London is really not easy. London is a nice city to visit, and it's even a great place for people with no kids. But it's not a livable place long term.

Great video and I'm really pleased that our people are having these discussions. How can we take these ideas forward?

Lived in London until June last year. Commuting in London would take 2-3 hours every day, a lot of stres and money. A nice city but too packed. Moved to Chesterfield and I'm happy about this.

I bought a flat 30 years ago in Walthamstow on a single persons wage, earning an average salary. I sold it 12 years later for four times the original price. If I wanted to buy it back today, I couldn't afford it! It is now 11 times the original price, and I wouldn't even want to live there.

Have you ever heatd of the phrase 'white flight'? All i know is my mum and dad did that from central london in the late fifties and i wish they hadn't.

Bro you spoke my mind. I grew up in walthamstow. We probably same age mate and everything you saying is exactly my thoughts. I moved to high wycombe in 2018 once married, now live in aylesbury and haven’t looked back. Im scanning less, im smiling with people more and i feel way more content with my children growing up here. I left my area just at the right time because since then crime has hotted up, markhouse road/st james steet/marlowe rd/mali strip are just madness now. Shootings are very common now

I purchased a house in another city because buying in London in 2022 was impossible for me as a solo first-time buyer.

I grew up in Barbados in their suburbs...I never ever considered buying a house/flat in London that didn't have a garden and parking. That rules out 95% of "black areas" In fact I never lived in "black" areas despite being black. I lived in North Harrow and Mitcham at first. Plenty of green spaces. Due to my marriage breakdown, I rent in a flat on the edge of Putney Heath, Richmond Park, Barnes Common and Wimbledon Common. I have 2 bicycles and nothing pleases me more than cycling around SW south of the river...No matter what snobby North Londoners say. Lol! I'm currently child-free and I see no reason for me to buy a house in London in my 40s. I'd rather get an investment property in Barbados which I live in and run as holiday, short term and long-term lets from. I've always liked suburban life far enough away to escape the city but close enough if you want some city excitement. I had to live 6 months in West Hamstead/Kilburn and I absolutely hated it....I'd go for a run to Primrose Hill but there was nowhere else with green space. I could never live in a concrete jungle As Bob Marley said. I also know that I would be bored out of my mind in the countryside so I prefer the suburbs.

I agree overall but with all this far-right nonsense, I’m glad to be living in London around my own people and other communities that we outnumber the racist rioters. I like to step out and see loads of people like me and that my children aren’t the only black children in their class or year. I also like that I don’t have to drive miles to buy my African/Caribbean food and black hair products. I own my house may I add.

For someone who is anticipating to work in London but wants to live outside London what areas would you suggest in terms of commute time and safety?

I've been saying this for a while. Black people need to think laterally to succeed. There is life outside London and outside the cities.

My father bought house in Stratford Newham East London in 1989 for 40K now the same house cost 780K

For a blackman to succeed to overcome the barriers to success is itself a miracle You need family income to succeed which black people don't have

I need to be around other Black families. If I was a self hating Black man who didn’t care about my Black culture and legacy. i would find a white woman have mixed Europeanised non Black kids and live in the country.😂

Sounds like a Jamaican..haha.....words like " rude boy" Jamaican phrase😂😂😂😂.....But i agree with you....I dont live in London, but my family tells me about it.....I am heading back to Jamaica via Africa and this will influence my chikdren and my little grandson......We have vast resources in Africa, we really need to start and build there and that will bring change as a back up to Westernized societies.......I live on the outskirts of suburbs in the USA, my quality of life is very good.....

Now you are speaking proper English, coming through eloquently. Yu are respected at work, and your videos receive likes. Please do a video to analyse the ignorant attitude of African people shaming their fellow people who try to improve their English. Also mention that the White man simplified English when they first came to Africa by teaching us to pronounce every word as it is spelt. This has affected us a lot, and elders have carried it over through generations. We need you to break the spell. And mind you: most Africans don't even speak their mother tongue.

We moved to Coventry from London. A lot better.

Leyton leytonstone way expensive

I wonder if many of the problems I hear Black Britons having is due to living in large, dense (global) cities, and not primarily due to cultural, social problems inherent among peoples of African descent.

Interesting videos thanks

Moved from affluent part of London, to Bedfordshire for a bigger home as our family grew and because of the usual concerns crime, bought a 3 bd semi for less than £200k (10yrs ago), loved the open spaces cheaper housing, people there are super friendly non pretentious, just didn't like the area and local transportation links were dire 2 buses p/h. Moved abroad for some years returned back to the Uk rented in Tandridge, nice area, however dealt with racist micro aggressions, viewed umpteen houses in Kent decided to buy in London and I'm very happy, Prefer London to outside London for sure...

@5:39, I lived in London my whole life and still do. I wish we wouldn’t generalise London. I live in the Lewisham - Greenwich area. Until redevelopment, within a short skip and stone, you large green spaces. Even now, I have Greenwich park, Blackheath, Hilly Fields, a large Green space and a river (used to be bigger), all near me. I am sorry for those who live in those type of London places you described, but it does not represent my part of zone 2 and 3. Ps. Of course crime and so on exists, but I struggle to relate to these rough and tough London stories outside the so called estates areas.

What about those who dont live london dont have london wages? House prices will be lower but so are wages. What are the solutions for them?

True the people with all the cash actually live outside London , London is it's own State now in 2024 , Lincolnshire is a better place to live cheap housing , good jobs and easy going people no gang violence like London , it seems when people live in Cities they become uncivilised 😢

Interesting video. Speaking as someone who has always lived in Hampshire, its always exciting to go into London, everything is right there - all the conveniences, public transport, sights and experiences and amazing places to visit - but after a day or two im glad to leave for the fact that in comparrison its noisy/ busy /fast paced and condensed, which when youre young perhaps isnt an issue but im 48 and I just know I would struggle in those surroundings. On the flip side someone who has always lived in London may struggle with the lack of infrastructure / amenities / entertainment outside of London in comparrison.

I think Black people will have to reorganise and act strategically in order to stem the tide. Platforms like yours may aid in that endeavour.

The problem is the change in demographics some of the boroughs you mentioned were very 'nice' areas. Im 62 and see how boroughs have changed especially those areas now more predominantly black. There was 'white flight' as they called it. People and businesses moved out and black food shops, hair salons, nail bars moved in along with the gang culture. I moved out with my sons years ago and it was the best thing i ever did. Some of these boroughs are now very sought after to live and socialise in by non black people but as soon as they're ready to raise a family and settle down they move out to the leafy suburbs.

Ive considered moving out of london yrs ago....i just want a cute studio. Can't afford it in London. Alot of black people are just in london for the vibes. Ask them what else they get outside of London, they can't tell you.

What cities would you suggest for a black person looking to move from London?

I left London for Kent 2 years ago after 21 years and I do not miss one thing about it. The pace of life, the cleanliness, the countryside. People forget that a minute amount of people really make it in London and most of the business is sown up. The rest of us a just fodder living in what are becoming hugely expensive, filthy, crime ridden no go areas. I drove through Walthamstow for the first time in 10 years a while ago. OMG what used to be a vibrant diverse busy area is now just nothing!

I am born and raised in Yorkshire. I work in my hometown i meet many locals and over the past 6-7 years the amount of accents not from here has gone up exponentially. Its still a free country for now, but as a local i would rather the southerners stayed down there and stopped inflating local house prices and causing my cost of living to go up indirectly. Just another part of the massive changes this country is going through and i do not resent anyone trying to get a better standard of living. But where do the Northerners move to get a better life... The Highlands? Outer Hebrides maybe?

We as black people need to change our mindset. Instead of having the mindset of moving out of London because you can’t afford it. How about we work on ourselves and develop our mind which will develop our wealth which will lead to more than enough buying a house in London. By thinking you need to move out of London for cheaper houses your not facing the problem your running away from it . Moving out of London due to environmental reasons like violence and crime is a total different story because not everywhere in London is like this. We black people we need to dream big risk more and be relentless , fearless!!.. ps if I had a choice I’ll leave the country completely 😂

We need to build more houses, we need to build starter homes and we need to build bungalows for older couples to move into and free up family homes.

You could not have said a better thing. The time is now before everyone discoverer the possibilities.

Avoid Midlands,and in particular Coventry. As Asian man I faced lots of racism in Coventry . Returned to London in 2017, after spending 7 yeas in Coventry.

I think BP can do well in London, but its going to require an inquisitive and often talented mind. You need to know people. Other areas in England may be cheaper but thats not necessarily a good thing, especially if raising kids in areas where they are an extreme minority. No where is perfect of course and all have pros and cons. Im curious to know if people are actually considering moving to their parents country, in a realistic way?

I'm from London and I moved out to Surrey. I have no regrets!