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Why do people say "going up to London"

Tortle

9

Oxford is north of London, but I've often heard the expression "going up to London".

Reply 1

Knogle

16

Tortle

Oxford is north of London, but I've often heard the expression "going up to London".

They must have been the scientists who failed Geography at GCSE. :wink:

Reply 2

sjuthani

6

Coming from London, I can't ever imagine myself saying that next year. Its "going down" people! :p:

Reply 3

trina

1

I always thought everyone said 'going up to oxford' (the opposite of which is being 'sent down' i.e. expelled) which for me is also geographically wrong as I live north of oxford.
I always figured it was one of the many things we 'northerners' have to put up with when coming to Oxford.

Reply 4

F1 fanatic

16

trina

I always thought everyone said 'going up to oxford' (the opposite of which is being 'sent down' i.e. expelled) which for me is also geographically wrong as I live north of oxford.
I always figured it was one of the many things we 'northerners' have to put up with when coming to Oxford.

Yeah I agree with you. You come up to oxford, and go down when going home, everyone being from the south of course :rolleyes:

*is also from North of Oxford*

Reply 5

redshoes4

apparently it is something to do with the trains- anything going towards is up to london and anything away is down. i dont really understand it myself. but for some reason i always say i am going down to anywhere even if it is up north and this is a pretty convinient excuse for that mistake!

Reply 6

Profesh

20

That would be because the inhabitants of London only ever condescend to venture elsewhere.

Reply 7

Russell_G

i guess it's just like when people "go up (the) town" - tis just an expression..

Reply 8

pixikicks

Profesh

That would be because the inhabitants of London only ever condescend to venture elsewhere.

Heh, man. I was going to say that.

Reply 9

20083

2

Well I'll have fun Going down to Aberdeen! lol

Reply 10

anycon

11

'Going down' sounds common?

Reply 11

Knogle

16

Russell_G

i guess it's just like when people "go up (the) town" - tis just an expression..

Really? Here it's Going down town. :redface:

Reply 12

20083

2

Knogle

Really? Here it's Going down town. :redface:

And here it's "gan doon i road"

Reply 13

pixikicks

"downtown, things will be great when you're downtown".

I don't say either. If I say anything, it'd probably be "going into town", which refers to going into Central London.

Reply 14

Cirsium

19

Going down town - but that's probably something to do with the fact that for the first 18 and a half years of my life the town was in fact two miles down a hill from me

Reply 15

Crazy Mongoose

12

Bekaboo

Going down town - but that's probably something to do with the fact that for the first 18 and a half years of my life the town was in fact two miles down a hill from me

Going in'tet town.

Reply 16

LauraEnchanting

1

Profesh

That would be because the inhabitants of London only ever condescend to venture elsewhere.

I would saying going up to Oxford and coming down home to London! Although to town, I think I just say 'into' - perhaps I am odd!

Reply 17

finmath7

1

I've only heard of people saying "going down to London".
You must be hearing things...

Tortle

Oxford is north of London, but I've often heard the expression "going up to London".

Reply 18

Drogue

19

They don't. The official terminology is that wherever you are coming from, you come "up to Oxford" at the start of term, and "go down" from Oxford at the end of term. Similarly being "sent down" is being expelled. The same is true for Cambridge.

The reason is that it's not about North or South, but comes from an old hierarchy.

Reply 19

Tortle

OP

9

Drogue

They don't. The official terminology is that wherever you are coming from, you come "up to Oxford" at the start of term, and "go down" from Oxford at the end of term. Similarly being "sent down" is being expelled. The same is true for Cambridge.

The reason is that it's not about North or South, but comes from an old hierarchy.

They do say it about London too, apparently it's an old-fashioned usage. In old railway timetables "up trains" always meant towards London, "down trains" away from London, regardless of geographic direction.

I've heard quite a few old-fashioned posh people say "going up to London".

Why do people say "going up to London"

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