London to Munich: 10 Reasons to Move

Hey all.
I am currently living in London working for an investment bank and thinking seriously about moving to Munich. My other half lives there and its been two years( and a half) of commutting every 2 weeks and we are both fed up!
I love London and need to hear atleast 10 reasons( other thanbeing with my partner) that I should move to Munich. PLEASE HELP ME!!!

You are significantly less likely to be severely beaten in Munich vs. London.

OK, as I come from London, I would say, persuade your other half to move to London ! If you can afford to live in London, then London is far more interesting than Munich !

Oh... being able to buy some milk on Sunday, without hunting around Hauptbahnhof ! hmm... bloody laws in Germany !

London is pretty interesting I agree, but just too darn expensive!! I get good money but I still struggle at the end of every month. My other half is in engineering and we tried to get him jobs but was imppossible in London. The city is very financial services oriented.. HELP!!

@ DW - depends what side of London.

I was leaving a friends at 2am yesterday/this morning in Neuperlach, and some huge 6"6' guy built like a brick sh*t house grabbed me and started pushing me around saying that I had broken his window with a brick, and that's why I was running, nothing to do with the fact I had 2 minutes to get to the U-Bahn to get the last train.

After quickly trying to explain that he should let go of me, before I call the police, realised his German was worst than mine, so spoke to him in English, and as soon as he realised I was not German, he let me go ! most strange !!

bizzare that story!! how weird is that?? But truthfully there are weirdos on every corner of every street in in every city. Good example is Vancouver Canada. This is always voted as the world's best place to live in ( beauty quality of life weather etc) It is an amzing place.. but weirdly enough they just caught a serial killer whose been rampant for the last 8 years and uncovered 15 bodies he had hidden in one of the prettiest parks in Vancouver( which I sat in and admired..) weird huh?

Yeah agreed. Obviously to compare Munich and London directly is completely difficult, Munich a a nice small (population approx 1.25 million) city in the south of Germany, whereas London huge city in England (8million) is the capital of England, etc.

If you are not exactly aryan looking (as your name might suggest) then prepare to be stopped by the police a lot.
It might not be violent here, but it sure is boring if you compare it to London.

I would do as Pepper says and convince your partner to move to London... or you could both move to Vancouver!

EDIT: Just seen this post by you aa:
Munich's birthday party! 18-20th June 2004
and reminded me of the most obvious reason to move here:

THE OKTOBERFEST and linked to that the beer, which is the best in the world!

hmm are there beer gardens in london?

London or Munich,

I choose Munich. after 9 years doing the london rat race, Munich is a nice change of pace. Sure theres some shops I miss, and some nightlife, but munich is a far better quality of life...

10 reasons why you should move to Munich

1. Public Transport

2. Beer that tastes good

3. Pubs/Bars with real opening hours

4. Oktoberfest

5. Sunshine

6. Snow!! (and a town that is able to deal with it)

7. Great european connections

8. Lederhosen & Drindls

9. European accesilbity

10. London is only 90 minute flight away

10 things I miss from London

1. Starbucks

2. Spitalfields Market

3. The River Thames

4. Racing cars through the streets

5. The polish vodka bar in holborn

6. Good sandwich shops

7. Good Roast Beef/Lamb

8. A cosy local bar

9. Friends

10. The BBC

Think about em

You sat and admired the dead bodies?

@thejarvii - no he sat IN the dead bodies and admired them

As someone who also commutes between London and Munich this is a complete no brainer . If it wasnt for the fact that my partner would find it almost impossible to get a job in the Munich area would move to Munich full time tomorrow . The quality of life here is light years better than in London .

Yes of course there are downsides to living in Munich but compared with the grief , aggravation, expense , stress and general unpleasantness of living in London the fact that you can't go to the supermarket on a Sunday ( go skiing , cycling , climbing , sit in a beer garden , go to Salzburg etc etc instead ) is pretty minor .

My only real complaint is that I havn't found a decent curry house yet , they are all rather bland !!!

All pretty good reasons, other than the fcat that I can't buy milk on Sunday( duh.. I'll just buy it on Saturday!!) and I happen not to look like the master race.. I think I''ll be fine!!! I've lived in stranger places~( like Jersey Channel Islands and Guernsey.. anyone ever heard of it???) I do think the quality of life may be better..
but thanks guys.. that was really helpful!!! I 'm over this wednesday for a week for a scouting visit...

and yes there are beer gardens in London at about 3 times the price!!!

As jaycee said, the quality of life here is miles better in all the ways that (s)he suggested. But what makes me think that you won't find it as wonderful here was your original comment that you love London.

@jaycee

Try Rama for Indian food. I've only been to the one in Ismaning (which is really yummy!), but there's also one on Arnulfstraße near Marsstraße off the tram 16 line. I don't know if they're owned by the same people, but I've heard that the one in Ismaning is owned by husband/wife, Indian/Italian couple. Half the menu is Indian and half is Italian. I've never eaten the Italian, but they make a fantastic Korma, and they're Vindaloo's yummy too. They have a great mint chicken dish as well. Mmm, and a yummy mango chicken. My favorite, though, is the Palak Paneer (I'm getting hungry now!). In fact, I haven't eaten anything there that is any less than superb.

@africanangel

Just remember that the further out from the city center you go, the further back in the stone age they go here as far is race is concerned. It's not always the case, but it's definitely something to prepare yourself for. A good friend of mine was told flat-out by more than one prospective landlord that they don't rent to Chinese people. I'd imagine the sentiment is probably the same for anyone with other than butt-white skin...

One advantage London has over Munich, the unemployment is much lower ! In Munich the unemployment is already 6.9% and climbing, where as England seems to be in general going the other way ! So pretty good here as long as you have work, or study, but looking for work can be very difficult.

I'm just finishing off another year, and after 5 years here, it will be long overdue to head back to London.

Feel the style of live here better, only because most of the time you are not working. Far more holiday and bank holiday's, which I'm guessing will change over time, particularly with the current situation in Germany, but it's good to take advantage of it while you can.

Oh.. to you comment about buying milk, it was a bank holiday here on Thursday, so coming home from work late on Wednesday really stuffed me, as all the shops were closed on Thursday, so comes Friday finally managed to get some milk, then Sunday everything is closed again !

Well as I just moved over here from London 6 months ago I should be able to add some relevant comments - although in truth my nearest town is actually Augsburg not Munich.

I moved because my wife (who is German) figured it would be a good idea and I couldn't think of any decent objections quick enough :-)

Bad news first:

1. Learning the language is a drag. I can't say its fun but its gotta be done.
2. Supermarkets are rubbish over here - nothing like the choice of even Tescos. They don't sell the semi-prepared goodies you are used to.
3. Paperwork and bureacracy is tedious - but you can sort everything with a little perserverance and german helper.

Good Stuff:

1. No speed limits on Autobahn and I've not seen a speed camera yet.
2. Proper winters with useful snow rather than just grey skies.
3. Winters are colder but more fun. The clouds seem to sit higher? In London it feels like the clouds are always about 10 feet above your head.
4. Better for kids and family - generally more to do.
5. Almost everything is better organised.
6. Awesome for sport - the choices are incredible and cheaper than London with easier access.
7. No traffic - compared to the UK. They have traffic but its super-easy compared.
8. Less aggression overall. In London you can feel the tension.
9. Its cheaper! Beer, food, clothes, rent.
10. Its different - and I reckon that a change in life is usually a good thing - makes it more interesting.
11. On the doorstep of other great countries that you can drive to.

But from what I hear the job market is dodgier over here...so even if you come with a job if you lose it you could have a problem. In London there is effectively zero unemployment - the figures lie - if you want a job there is always one to be had in London.

My wife said I could fly home any time I fancied if homesick...ummmm...well I've not been back yet so I guess I must be pretty happy here! In London I might have a "London-aggro-stress-induced" bad day once a week - over here it just doesn't seem to happen.

well I gues I'll attend the 846th Birthday festival and see if it completely boggles my mind...

You can get milk and all sorts of things at the gas stations here on sundays and public holidays. Also the milk tends to be UHT pastuerized and lasts fora couple of months, meaning you wont have to buy it so often.

Well there are definitley speed cameras around, on some of the speed restricted parts of the autobahns anyway.

Bayern 1
Bayern 2
Bayern 3
Bayern 4
um... Bayern umm. 5?

I'll shut up now.

You only live once
You can always go back
You know you wanna
You know your gonna
Just Do It

Which is a bad thing, not a good thing, as it tastes horrible. (You can get fresh milk though, don't worry.)

You'll enjoy the Munich Birthday thing here whatever I reckon. The germans know how to throw parties and fests when beer is involved. Which is why I'll be back for the Oktoberfest. But it doesn't give you any idea of what living here is like.
I'll be happy to visit munich again the future. Beautiful place with great beer. Would never live here again though!

Gotta go with jml.
After all with all that commuting you're in as good a position as any of us to judge the pros and cons of this one.
You're just asking for little pull in the "right" direction but the push has got to come from yourself.

@Pepper


Was he from london

@ gus1933gus

No he definately was not from London.

Just to prove a point or two see

http://www.guardian.co.uk/britain/article/...1238143,00.html

@Jaycee
That article says it all... the quality of life here really sucks! I've more or less decided now. Its a long term decision but here I come!! Thanks for your input guys, that article just sealed the deal..

Just fuck it. Give it a try, also why are you letting people on a forum run your life?

Get a grip, man!

I really don't understand all these comments about not being able to buy fresh milk on a Sunday/public holiday. There are enough bakeries and gas stations where you could get it...

@inflatable woman
I doubt your comment that I am letting people run my life. Some advice for you, in life it pays to hear all points of view,including those from strangers. Quite honestly I really had already made up my mind by the time I joined this forum, I just wanted to get feedback...get it?

You should have set up a poll, so that we could vote. Like a cheapy crappy version of big brother.

STAY IN LONDON
MUNICH IS PRETTY, SAFE AND BORING AS ALL HELL...

Finally, someone agrees with me!!!

It seems the worst thing we can come up with is that you may struggle to get fresh milk on a Sunday and so may have to put up with UHT Pasteurised milk in your breakfast tea.

i've allways believed the word boring reflects more on you than a place.
if you dont like munich leave. maybe your boring. i certainly never stop finding interesting things to do. start stamp collecting , i find nothing more exciting than taking my predecimal difinitive commonwealth collection down to a beer garden and discussing denominations with a knowing local

@gus wars have been started for lesser things... thinks boston thinks tea leaves

Depends what you want from a place I think. I'm not the a hiking, mountain climbing fan, otherwise I'd love it here. The things I'm into aren't really interesting and "happening" here. Also it's all in comparison. Munich is less boring than Garching, Berlin is less boring than Munich. usw.
I'm actually beginning to think about things I'm going to miss here:
beer, beer gardens, pubs open late, clubs open even later, cheap prices...
But they are all beer related, at least when I'm back in England I'll drink less

big c

you sound like you've been exiled for spitting at the queen or something.
make a list of ten things about munich you llike and post it. would interest me. surley you like to ski/snowboard?

Things I like about Munich (in no particular order):

1. The beer. (both Helles and Weissbier and variants)
2. The beer gardens.
3. It's near the mountains.
4. It's beautiful in summer and winter.
5. It has nice impressive building on big long roads with Tors.
6. Lots of attractive (if arrogant) girls.
7. You can stay out in bar and then clubs til 10am. (Although this is not exclusive to Munich)
8. The oktoberfest and other smaller volksfests.
9. I can safely get drunk with a whole pub of people and not expect some twat to try to hit me for no apparent reason.
10. The public transport is reliable, comfortable and clean.

Like I've said before, Munich is a great village for a holiday.
Come here in summer and enjoy the beer gardens, go into the countryside, the lakes, the mountains, the bavarian villages etc.
Come here in winter and you can be and hour or two from the slopes and then back to Munich for apres ski.
Come here for Oktoberfest and have a beery great time.
Wonderful!!!

Living here is another matter. There are too many aspects of everyday life (which you prob. wouldn't experience on holiday, or notice or let bother you) I don't like or that annoy me.
But I wouldn't be coming back in September for a week if I hated it that much.

Just a city not suited to my current self!

I'll bite...

10 Things I like about Munich

1) My girlfriend is here.
2) A large english speaking community so I never have to speak to the locals.
3) Lots of cycle paths everywhere, so its great for biking.
4) Nice clean streets, I love those little Orange buggys, I wanna knick one, one drunken night!
5) Cool nazi stuff all over the place. You can show it to vistors and they always go woooooooo.
6) Edelstoff
7) That fact that I live abroad makes me sound exotic when I go back to England.
8) The world cup is coming to town in two years.
9) Its in the middle of Europe which means its easy to get around to other places and see stuff.
10) I have a good job here.

10 Things I dislike about Munich

1) Poccistrasse.
2) Germans feeling they need to comment when your doing something illegal when its none of their business.
3) The locals opinion that Munich is really the "secret" capital of the world.
4) Service / Shopping
5) The polizei. The most bored police force in the world here, willing to fine you at the slightest chance.
6) Service / Shopping
7) Those twats with the bongos in the Englischer Garten.
8) Service / Shopping
9) They dont all speak English as their native tongue.
10) Tax rate is too high, and although I pay tax, I cant vote.

I know there is a lot of Service / Shopping in there, but its so awful I had to include it so many times.

fair enough

Funnily enuff, I am with Big C on this one

I don't miss the shitty pollution in London, don't particularly miss the ritual "come on then" after the pub, but theres some good fun to be had there, and I understand where Big C is coming from. Personally I think both London & Munich pale in comparison to the magnificent Barcelona. Its all just opinion. Big C is a transient member of the community who is not trying to make his life and settle down here (and lets face it, if you are even thinking of living here, it is pretty much given that you either like the place, or are just Don Riina and blinded by your womans beauty to the extent that you follow her like a brainless puppy). Coming here with even an inkling in your mind that you might stay here skews your perspective in that you try and look for good things, to comfort yourself that you made a good decision. Or maybe some people are just positive and look for the good anywhere, dunno.
I reckon Big C came here with more a "well, I have heard this city is meant to be pretty cool, so fucking impress me" attitude (sorry if I am wrong C) which changes his perspective. The stuff that would impress him does not really exist here. So its boring.

But the beer is soooo good it outweighs most of negatives - apart from the sick language. Unforgivable.

The above have nothing to do with Munich particularly as a place and 2) is not positive, so can be disregarded.


Fair enough. Munich +1

You shouldn't be in Munich if you are thinking like that.


So come here on holiday and do it once. You don't need to see it all the time.

+3


One great reason to be ashamed to be english, is comments like that. You probably voted for the UK Independence Party!

@don - pretty much!

The beer is great and I will be importing it back home!
As for the language, well I can speak it pretty well now and am hoping the rest of England keeps thinking as you do, so I have the upper hand when getting a job in England where german is required!


Spot on! Although I have found some great music here recently, the atmosphere is not what it is in other cities. People don't seem excited about music or new things. Shame really. But I'll persevere!

There a very few jobs in England that require the use of German, my gf looked. Thats the problem when so many Germans speak excellent English.

Politically, I am pro-Europe actually, just not a federalist.

I think I'm with don_riina on this one, I am only here for my gorgeous other half, so I guess I dont have rose tinted glasses.

Edit: If it was that bad I wouldnt be here.

I moved over for my other half too. Fortunately, I could speak German so didn't have problems on that front. I was also very lucky to land a great job.
I don't like beer (sacrilege, I know!) but I'm still happy here.

Germany is slowly modernizing (capitalizing) with its later opening hours and international food imports.

I'm still in culture shock after 2 years; I notice more subtle differences now between behaviours and customs.

Whenever I go back to England (maybe 2-3 times a year), I notice also differences over there. I sort of feel alienated from my own country now, yet it's less stressful for me living over there because things feel more natural, and I know more what to expect.

I know this post is kinda rambling, and not Munich-specific, but I thing the key issue is this : It's true that some countries are easier to live in than others, but it's your attitude and your will which makes it work. If you generally have a positive outlook you should have fun here. If you're slightly less open to changes and taking risks, it will be harder. I belong to the latter group, and I'm happy here at the mo. I dunno if I'd want to move back to England! The only reason would be my friends. I like living in mainland Europe so close to different cultures.

I can't see myself settling here, but I could see myself coming back here again later on in life.