Is London really that bad? What do you experience daily (in real life) that makes you think such?

Mate, I've lived here for decades. So, for me it is a complete shit hole. That said, if you're a Yank coming for a visit, and you have money, you WILL love it. Don't expect to meet any Londoners though. I dropped off my better half at Heathrow the other day and on the train home I helped an American family with directions. The look of relief on their faces when they heard me speak. Which is ironic as, 1, I'm a cockney and 2, we speak a totally different language from you lot. But they understood me and I wasn't trying to rob them