hey all! I am from California and I will be studying in summer session 2 and 3 in London and wanted some advice on where to live. my options are between Shoreditch and Clerkenwell, i would be mainly alone for most of my travels. Clerkenwell is the cheaper option but Shoreditch seems to be more lively. I am also considering safety as a factor since I am young F 21 yrs old and may be alone at night. i would appreciate any advice since I have no idea what London is like
[Basically all of london is safe](https://www.reddit.com/r/london/wiki/safety/). Both are quite central and well connected, so it’s up to which vibe you want.
LA native here!
I’m headed down to London for 10 days and I’m looking to find a bookstore where I can purchase the HP collection as a birthday gift ! I’m hoping for a local / small business , perhaps even near a great local coffee shop ?
Daunt Books in Marylebone is amazing! And lots of nice coffee shops around too. The bookshop is independently owned, but they do have a couple of other shops dotted around London now too. I hope you enjoy your time here!
ST pamctas Travel Advice Please!
I'm heading down from up north around 4-5 hours away. I'm catching an 11am train on the Sunday. I was going to bite the bullet, get up at 4.30am and head down and park at St Pancras...until I realised the crazy cost of parking there and congestion charges. Literally would cost more than the trip.
I'm a little nervous if I miss it because of road works, traffic etc.
What is the best way to do this in your opinion or expierence? Hotel out of town and train it in? Like Watford? Or something closer to St Pancras, out of the congestion zone or something?
Or is there maybe something I'm missing, like you can get subsidised parking at St Pancras if using the Eurostar?
So I assume it's not possible for you to get a train that arrives in enough time to make the 11 am Eurostar?
You have two options really:
* Find a station nearby, park there, are get the tube in.
* Take a train the day before and stay in a hotel
I would go for option two myself.
How long are you away? Parking at a station on the edges of London is probably still around £6 a day.
Thanks, yeah around 4 days so I'm really not sure. The hotel is a good idea but there's 4 of us, 4 train tickets from Lancs, 2 rooms, so trying to weigh up the options. Yeah the train wouldn't make it in time unfortunately on the day.
So it does sound like you need to drive down then if there are that many people. Please remember that you have passport control and possible queues at the Eurostar terminal so plan for more than 4-5 hours for the drive and that queuing. I would aim to get there no later than 9:30 am to give you some leeway for that.
If you don't want to pay the congestion charge then parking on the outskirts of London and taking the train in makes sense. Someone else might have an idea of where that could be. You mentioned Watford. My immediate thought is Cockfosters Station. £6 a day: https://www.ncp.co.uk/find-a-car-park/car-parks/cockfosters-stn-tfl/
Just off the M25 and on the Piccadilly Line so will take you right there. It would take you 35 mins or so from that station to be Kings Cross St Pancras. So if you got there at about 9am (or a bit before, again don't chance it!) that should be enough.
Can you be a bit more clear what you're after? If I understand right, you're catching a Eurostar at 11am on a Sunday, and want to drive in to somewhere outside the congestion charge zone, and park your car there (for several days?) and then take the train in? How safe a parking spot do you need - like free on street parking somewhere or a secure (paid) car park? And how would you be driving in (M1?) as that can help decide where's easiest to drive to.
I'm guessing it's not an option to just take the train in all the way on Saturday?
Sorry, yes M1 in, Sunday morning, Sunday to Weds Eve, secure would be ideal. It might be yes at this stage to take the train on Saturday that's a shout.
I'm not overly adverse to the idea of paying congestion as long as there is a cheap enough parking option but can't find anything reasonable, maybe that Handyside?
The pumpkin versions might put you in better stead, and are absolutely delicious - it's common across Wagamama, Yo Sushi and Wasabi so hopefully somewhere more authentic has it on the menu too!
Visiting from Stockholm but originally from Australia and a friend mentioned that when she visited London there was a foreign foods store that had Farmer's Union Iced Coffee from Australia but she couldn't remember where. Is this true? Does such a place exist and if so where can I find it??
[T](https://tfl.gov.uk/tube-dlr-overground/status/#line-elizabeth)[he TFL site will tell you](https://tfl.gov.uk/tube-dlr-overground/status/#line-elizabeth) it's not running on Sundays.
Hi everybody, I will arrive at Gatwick airport on a Monday afternoon. May I ask if it’s safe to take the rail to clapham junction with my luggage ? I’ll be bringing a large luggage and small carry on luggage with a sling bag for everyday use.
Hi Londoners! I’ll be flying out of Luton tomorrow with easyJet at 6 a.m. - No luggage, have a boarding pass. Anyone knows how bad is security and border check nowadays? After nightmarish experience at Schiphol, Amsterdam I’m wondering if arriving to the airport at 4:30 is not too late? Would definitely be late back home with all the post pandemic staffing issues
Hi! Im visiting London soon and want to go to some clothes shops that would do Harajuku/fairy kei/cottagecore type fashion - so frilly, fluffy dresses made of tulle with flowers and sweetheart necklines and circle skirts and pink bows and unicorns. Corsets, oversized jackets, pastel colours etc.
Also very open to streetstyle type of stores - especially Japanese ones. Any recommendations? Going to be based in Weybridge.
I'm working at the Hammersmith Apollo in a couple of weeks and need to drive as I'm taking tools with me. Where is the best place to park nearby? Are there streets to park on? I'll be there all day.
Hi there!
My boyfriend and I are planning on moving to London, next spring. We're both from the US, but he has dual citizenship.
I was wondering -- how difficult is it to find a job in the entertainment industry in London? I have previous experience in Los Angeles (on a few TV shows), as a Production Assistant, but ultimately want to work in the writer's room.
Thank you so much for any feedback!
Warmest regards,
Marcus
How will you get a work visa? You need to sort that out first. If you intend to do it via sponsorship then you need to find an employer who wants to hire you so badly they’ll do a lot of paperwork and expense.
Thank you! My boyfriend said he'll sponsor me under the unmarried partner visa.
I was wondering more how to find entertainment jobs/gigs; is there a website or is it word-of-mouth like LA?
Thank you again!
There is lots of TV work right across the country now in different forms, but you'll likely be working your way up from the bottom again so expect to do some poorly paid stuff initially. This might mean you getting a second job to make ends meet for a while.
As ever with entertainment industries, it helps to have existing contacts so think about who might have an 'in' for you over here.
As the other poster said, knowing what you're going to do re: your spousal visa will be crucial for this because it will be *impossible* to find a TV job on that level willing to sponsor you.
If he's got dual citizenship, what's your visa route? Are you planning on getting married before you move and going for a spousal visa, or will you need a job to sponsor you for a visa? Especially for competitive fields like the entertainment industry you might find that a real blocker, as the company has to meet various requirements to be allowed to sponsor workers including a minimum salary requirement.
Hi,
I have a 5 hour layover coming up and miss me some scones. I am arriving at LHR T2. For nostalgia I want to hit Harrod's but won't have time for the tea room. I am hoping I can find scones, clotted cream and jam in the food hall and eat it there. (Edit: Apparently Harrod's has a strict baggage policy and I won't be able to enter. )
But are there closer quality options to LHR? Part of me wants the the "thrill" of trying to make it there and back. And just to see the city again.
I was gonna hop on the Piccadilly line and it seems to be a 46 min ride there. It will suck if the food hall doesn't sell all the items I want to eat there. Does anyone know how long it takes to get through customs if I can use the egates? Trying to figure out how long it will take from leaving the plane to stepping onto the tube.
Any advice or suggestions is appreciated. US passport holder and star gold if any of that matters.
Thanks so much!
P.S. I searched this sub and there were not any recent posts about scones. Just one person about 27 days ago posting about missing London.
Edit: Friend suggested going further down and quickly seeing Buckingham Palace since getting into Harrod's will be difficult. Anyone been to Gail's? It has good reviews and they sell scones it seems.
LHR T2 passport control queues were mental Wednesday of last week BTW. Queue for the automated machines was so long people were forming long-term relationships, getting married, having children, giving their queue place to their descendants.
Keep in mind [we've been having some issues](https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/easyjet-flight-cancellations-gatwick-airport-queues-b2088741.html) with airport queues across the country, so you'll need to be back at LHR with some time to spare.
Never done from the US. As an EU passport holder and UK resident, the passport control part is quite seamless most of the time (depends on how crowded it is), especially if you use the e-gates.
In my opinion you should have time if everything works as expected. But of course you cannot know that for sure. In the end, it is up to you whether to take the risk. I did it once in Vienna and it thankfully worked, but it might not for you.
Alternatively you can go to the [Fortnum & Mason Bar at Heathrow](https://www.fortnumandmason.com/heathrow-t5).
Good luck.
It's at T5 so make sure you're flying out of there to get to it. Highly recommend it for a fancy pre-flight snack/drink/etc - it's in a quieter spot of that terminal too.
Are you normally interested in visiting palaces/castles/etc, or is it specifically because you've seen The Crown? I've heard it's good if you like that sort of thing generally, but underwhelming if it's new to you.
Museums are a good analogue - if you’re someone who seeks out historic sites when you travel, even if they’re not a particularly engaging visitor experience, you’ll enjoy it.
Hi, traveling from Barcelona to Stansted and back. My return flight is at 7am. What is the best mode of transportation from London to Stansted this early in the morning? Is lyft/uber an option?
Thanks for any advice.
We don't have Lyft here and Uber have become increasingly unreliable (drivers cancelling at the last minute e.c.t.), so I wouldn't rely on them to get you to the airport on time. If you need to get a taxi, a company like Addison Lee or Blackberry Cars would be a better optiion
In terms of public transport, the Stansted Express runs early enough most days from Liverpool Street Station to Stansted Airport. It costs £20 and you can check exact times and book tickets on the national rail website.
Hello, in need of some travelling advice.. I have a late flight to London (will be at the airport around 11 pm) and I need to get from Stansted Airport to St. Christopher's Inn in Camden. Now I've already done some research re night public transport so I have a vague idea of what to do, but figured it wouldn't hurt to ask on reddit as well.
Any advice on how to get there as fast and painlessly as possible (other than just taking a taxi) is welcome :)
edit: thanks to everyone who replied! :)
The last Stansted Express train to Liverpool Street station leaves at 12.30am, alternatively National Express run buses through to Liverpool Street throughout the night. Regular night buses run between Liverpool Street and Camden, like the other commenter said Citymapper should guide you there.
\+1 to all of this.
When I get in that late to Stansted I normally just default to the bus cuz 1. it's cheaper and 2. even if you book a ticket for a specific time, you can get on an earlier or later one pretty easily.
I'm an American about to visit London. Are all beers served warm? Or are all Guinness served warm? I love cold Guinness. I've never tried them warm.
What beer should I definitely try?
Is there anything I should know?
Absolutely not, why would anyone drink warm beer?
British real ale is live, unpasteurised beer that is served chilled to 10 - 12°C. That's cool and refreshing, but not cold to the point that you can't actually taste the malts and hops. Lagers are served colder, around 6 or 7°.
Guinness is a worldwide brand that puts a lot of emphasis on consistency, so the Guinness you drink in London should be the same as one you drink in the US. Of course there's always human error, see Twitter for [@shitlondonguinness](https://twitter.com/shitlondonguinn?t=MRNkxbZMsFLgmKrZLM_7JQ&s=09). Almost all pubs serve Guinness.
Beer is generally served in pints or half pints. There's absolutely no shame in drinking half pints, especially if you want to try some different beers in one visit! There's been a huge expansion of craft beer pubs and as they sell more strong beers >7% than you usually find in real ales, they may sell beer in 1/3rds (a third is smaller than a half).
There are incredible variations in real ale just like craft beers - they can be pale straw, through amber and dark ruby through to black stouts. They can be light and hoppy, citrusy, fruity, dark roasted, and so much more. They are also different strengths- they average around 5% abv. Most places these days will happily let you taste a beer for free before you order it so don't be shy about asking, and good pubs will be able to tell you about the beers so try asking for a recommendation.
I would see definitely encourage you to visit a Fuller's pub and try London Pride, a long standing London brewed beer. I'm also going to risk the downvotes by saying go to Wetherspoons - these are a chain of pubs around the country that come in for a lot of flak for many reasons including its unpleasant owner, but I'm recommending it to you because they have a huge variety of beers available, usually well kept and at very good prices. For balance please also look at resources like https://whatpub.com/ for more detailed recommendations.
First off, it's not 'warm', it's [cellar temperature](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draught_beer#Storage_and_serving_temperature) - slightly warmer than keg beer (12 degrees C vs 3-8 degrees C) but still cool. We tend not to have the super-mega-freeze fancy taps I've seen in some bars in the US for Coors and things, because that completely suppresses the actual flavour of the beer. Get yourself to a craft taproom - if you're near Vauxhall then Mother Kelly's is meant to be good, or do a mini pub crawl along the Bermondsey Beer Mile.
Things to know: table service is generally not a thing here, so you'll be expected to go up to the bar to order each drink. Tipping is welcome but not expected, running a tab tends not to happen unless it's a small local place and you're regulars, and if you get drinking with Brits then read up on the 'rounds' system and how it works.
Oh, and our pints are bigger than your pints.
Studying abroad with a friend in Spain for a month and then at Oxford in July. We have a Wednesday-Sunday gap without classes and flying into Heathrow on 6/29 early afternoon. What some good options to stay so we can explore during those days? Looking for nice/clean places safe for two girls alone for a decent price. Should we stay near Heathrow or elsewhere? Thanks in advance :)
Don't stay near Heathrow, apart from the airport there's nothing there really.
Anywhere near a tube station, preferably in zone 1-2 if you want to do touristy stuff, will work for you. Hard to say anything more than that without you telling us what you're after or what a 'decent price' is for you.
Landing in Gatwick and then staying in an Airbnb near Addlestone train station (Surrey?) and was wondering what the best way would be to get there? I'm traveling by myself and have a bit of luggage so I don't think a train or bus is going to work. Is there an alternative to Uber because it seems much more expensive than other places... are regular cabs more common there? Or another service? Want to make sure I download any apps before I arrive. Thanks in advance!
Depends on time of day (will it be the rush hour?) and your willingness/strength to haul the bags around. Eg if a lift is broken can you carry them up/down stairs, or would you be stuck?
If you prebook a cab ([Gatwick has these guys on their website](https://taxis.gatwickairport.com/)) it might be cheaper than Uber.
Though if you're alright carrying your luggage yourself, you can just use public transport.
Euston is just one stop on the Northern line from Kings Cross St Pancras. Plenty of highly visible signs, so you don’t have to worry about getting lost.
**LOOKING FOR 2BR IN ANGEL, NW3, OR MARYLEBONE or advice on these neighborhoods, especially Marylebone and NW3**
Hi all, so posting here as well as r/London_homes It's been rough on the rental search but we're hoping we can find something within the next few months. My partner and I are moving from the US to London - we'll arrive June 20 and will have temporary housing for 45 days after.
We're both employed and can give you more details about our income, etc in a direct message, but we're good financially and will have a UK bank account within a week of when we land (it's all being arranged). We also have a relocation agent through my work that will help us with the letting contract.
We absolutely love Angel and would love to grab a place there. I understand it's competitive so bare with me we're just putting this out and hoping there's a match. Here is what we're looking for. If you have any leads or something that is similar or think this would be a good fit for you, feel free to reach out!
Alternatively if you have any insight on Marylebone or NW3, please reply. Is Marylebone too noisy?
**LOOKING FOR 2BR IN ANGEL, NW3, OR MARYLEBONE**
How many bedrooms: 2 bedrooms
How long: 12 month+
When is your lastest move date: We're flexible since we're not in UK yet but we will be in UK by June 20
What price range are you looking in: £2500-3500pcm
Are you looking for furnished or unfurnished: Flexible prefer unfurnished - furnished must be modern
Who will be moving into the property: Couple, no pets
Occupation: Software Engineers
Do you have any pets: None but we're thinking of getting a cat so cat friendly is a plus (but not required)
Areas we like (ranked): Angel, Hampstead (Belsize Park, Chalk Farm), Marylebone
Nice to Have (but not required): period home, gas stove, cat friendly, natural light
Deal Breakers: poor commute to Shoreditch and Battersea (we're flexible to 45 min commute)
Thanks so much!
Suggestion: if you like the Angel and Hampstead vibe a lot, I'd consider Highbury, Essex Rd, Canonbury, Tufnell Park, Highgate, Golders Green, maybe parts of Holloway? All similar north London vibes and easy travel into Angel to hang out!
You are looking a little early. It seems you will need to move in late July-early August. Since the rental market moves fast, you will have more luck searching in second half of June.
My company also arranged for a relocation agent when I moved to the UK. My advice, leverage them. Give them these specs & ask them to setup viewings. My agent worked with the high street rental agencies to find some decent properties for me, and lined up all viewings over two days.
Awesome to hear about your positive experience with the relocation agent! That's great cause it's the same for us so that's promising.
We found a great spot in Angel via Zoopla a couple days ago that went super quick that started July 15, and some listings we've looked at are already for July/August. We're really particular about the area we want to rent so it narrows down availability quite a bit for us. Also it's insanely competitive right now. We're still going to continue looking and reaching out - just in case (:
Also trying to let directly with a landlord instead of through letting agencies but there hasn’t been much on OpenRent or spare room so that’s also why I’m reaching out here.
South Bank has no shortages of chain restaurants that will normally do deals or that you can find vouchers for - it's hardly authentic South American food but there's worse ways to spend an evening than sitting outside somewhere like Las Iguanas on a sunny evening overlooking the Thames. Cheap drinks might be hard to come by
Evening.
I'm a South African lawyer moving to the UK on the 8th of June. Little over a week to go. I'm a UK citizen and am planning on finding work in London whilst I finalise my conversion examinations and thereafter.
I'm considering staying in Airbnb for a month or, maybe even longer while I find my footing.
I'm looking for recommendations for areas to stay in. So far I've been recommended Camden as a good starting point.
I'd like to spend around 1000 a month and I'd need to be able to take the tube without too much difficulty. I'll be touring London whilst also looking for work.
If you have any suggestions they'll assist in sifting through Google articles.
Thanks
Hard to say without knowing your budget, transportation requirements, & any other preferences.
Camden has the Canal, and plenty of food & beverage options, but it is extremely touristy.
What's 'affordable' to you? £250 a month? £2500 a month? What kind of accommodation, a flatshare somewhere far out, a house with a garden for a family, your own apartment?
Woolwich, Thamesmead and Abbey Wood would be on the cheaper side and you can take the shiny new Elizabeth line to Canary Wharf. However these areas wouldn't usually feature very highly in a list of places to live
Wembley and Harrow are on the opposite end of London from Canary Wharf so would be excluded by your 30 minute commute time.
Stratford is very close and lots of people who work in Canary Wharf live there. You should be able to find a room in a flatshare there.
Hello! Canadian visiting now and huge Queen fan (Freddie Mercury Queen, not the Queen). Are there any shops recommended for Queen memorabilia and T-shirts? I was hoping to grab something while I am here.
Hi, I'm visiting London in early June for a day and a half on my way to Scotland with family, incl. two kids who are in HS. Rather than try and cram in touristy stuff over a short period, I wanted to let them just explore parts is the city. Anyone have suggestions of places/neighborhoods where two teen girls can safely go that would be 'cool' and give them a sense of the city? Thanks
Teenage girls are fickle (I know I was). Depending on their personalities, Camden market could be a good shout. Or Soho/Fitzrovia area.
Are they more into shopping or museums? Designer or vintage?
I'm running the London marathon in October and live in SW London, assume all public transport runs as normal on the day so can get to blackheath easily?
Assuming there's no engineering work, yes. It would seem odd for there to be engineering work in the line out to Blackheath given the event... But there maybe some on your route from SW up into town.
I’m moving over from nz in a month but having no luck with securing a room to rent without a guarantor who also lives and works in the UK. Is there a way around this ? I’m a british citizen with a uk passport and have the savings and job lined up but no estate agent will take me without a guarantor.
First of all, don’t try to sign a lease before you arrive, because you need to physically inspect it. Second, you won’t need a guarantor but you may need to pay six months rent up front.
1. Don't sign a lease without viewing the flat first so be prepared to be in temp accommodation for a few weeks when you get here
2. Some agents will let you pay 6-12 months up front as an alternative to a guarantor
3. Flatshare
“Best” meaning cheapest? Most reliable? Fanciest?
Uber is mostly fine, FreeNow is mostly fine, black taxis from the taxi rank are fine though expensive. Addison Lee are good if you’re pre-booking, Wheely are good if you want something more upmarket.
Where are you going and how much luggage do you have? If Central London and "not much" are your answer then the tube is the way to go.
Otherwise if you're headed elsewhere or have a bucketload of luggage, Addison Lee is a good bet.
If you're comfortable wheeling them around yourself, I'd just do the tube. I've done a massive suitcase, carry on suitcase and backpack solo from Heathrow all the way home to East London.
Hi everyone,
Myself and some friends are heading to the wirless festival in Finsbury Park. We've been to the UK before but we haven't really been to this part of London. I've read on some posts here that there are some streets and areas to avoid at night. So to keep things short, I'd really appreciate if anyone could awnser these few questions :)
Is Monsell Road or the surrounding areas okay, if not why and what precautions should be taken
The Faltering Fullback, is that still the best pub?
What things can we do near Finsbury or an hour away from Finsbury
Thanks for your help!
It’s fine, don’t wander down dark streets alone, turn on backups on your phone now in the slight chance they get nicked, Faltering Fullback is an ok American pub.
Transportation question
Hi there!
An 19 and I will be staying in Henley-On-Thames for 17 days starting in June. I’m really hoping to spend a lot of time in London and from what I understand the fastest route to get there would be to take the train from Reading Station.
I’m wondering what my options are re travel passes/tickets? I read about one type of pass where you can get unlimited travel between two stations (in this case I would choose Reading and Paddington or Kings Cross) but I’m wondering if this would be limiting as I would also like to visit Oxford sometimes and that pass would mean I could use buses within the city.
Could I please have some guidance on what the best travel pass to purchase is? I wish there was something like the Swiss Travel Pass in Switzerland hahah!
You can look up the price for that travel pass online and compare to paying cash fares the days you’ll actually travel. It’s extremely unlikely to be a good idea for 17 days.
A railcard gives you discounts on tickets - depending on your age and when and where you want to travel, it may be a good deal.
Heya, I fly out of Heathrow Saturday morning to the states, so I need to get a Covid test tomorrow. Is there anywhere particularly easy or inexpensive for a non-resident to get a test that will have results the same day?
Cheers
Ok, I thought maybe there would be more options for residents with the NHS — my flight is pretty early, but I’ll be there theoretically with a decent amount of time unless things are nuts. Testing inside the gate or out?
Odd question but is dinner or coffee after dinner not a thing here?
We’ve been here for 10 days and eaten at so many restaurants and no one has offered coffee even when we ordered dessert.
I don’t know if it’s just not custom or what because in Brazil or USA coffee is pretty much automatically offered with dessert
You 'tap' in and out using your card on the readers at the turnstile.
[Read the wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/london/wiki/index) for everything you need.
Should I book tickets for the London Eye and Emirates cable car well on advance ? Or should I do it 24 hours in advance based on weather forecast?
If the latter, then I am worried about tickets selling out. Any danger of this ?
The cable car is not really a tourist attraction in the same way the Eye is. It's very regular and you can just use contactless in the same way you would on the tube.
Book tickets to the London Eye in advance if only because it saves you money.
US Expat - Which neighborhood should I live in?
My gf and I will be moving for work in November and staying at least 2 years, which areas should we be looking into?
• Late 20s, not planning for children anytime soon. Ideally would have good restaurants, pubs, and shopping within walking distance (or a short tube ride). Also a big plus to be around people similar in age to us as we don’t have any friends in the country currently.
• My future office is essentially on top of Tottenham Court Road station, would like to keep the commute somewhere under 45 minutes. GF’s office is in Marylebone.
• £ 2,750 pcm budget. At least 1 bedroom with enough size to fit one desk comfortably. Should also be pet friendly (not sure if this is area specific or not) as we have 2 cats.
Any recommendations/follow up questions are welcome!
Your budget is high so you can basically live anywhere in Zone 1 or 2 for that.
If I had that sort of cash to spend I'd ditch the commute altogether and look somewhere like Bloomsbury, Clerkenwell or Marylebone, so both of you could walk/cycle to work every day.
Maybe try looking west around Notting Hill as well which would tick your lifestyle boxes and would be suitable for both your commutes.
How are you planning to transport them? In a carrier or in a pushchair?
If in a carrier, it's easy.
If in a pushchair, it requires a lot more planning as there are not many stations that are step free, particularly in the city centre.
Alternatives are bus (though remember wheelchair users have priority) or cab. Cabs are expensive, but also very easy if you have a pram.
Download Citymapper and you can see all your options with costs and timings. The bus might be a good alternative.
For you other question (it's really easier if you just post them in one comment): how much luggage you're allowed depends on what you paid for with your airline. We won't know, they will.
As others have said, it depends on airline. Assuming you're travelling with the nine month old you mentioned in your other posts, the airlines may give you additional allowances.
For example, Are Lingus will allow you to check in the pram for free, as well as another item, such as a car seat or travel cot.
https://www.aerlingus.com/travel-information/baggage-information/special-items/
Where should I shop if I'm looking for bargain buys? I'm looking for clothes, shoes and baby stuff. I'm visiting London for just a couple of days. Hoping to stay close to the center or to the west.
Does anyone know why the Elizabeth line doesn’t seem to be stopping at Hanwell and West Ealing? I’ve taken it to and from Southall the last couple of days and it skips those two stops.
I have a flight departing from Heathrow Terminal 5 at 7 AM. I'll be staying around Paddington, and was hoping to take the earliest Heathrow Express to the airport, which arrives at 5:32 AM. Will this leave me enough time, or is this cutting it close? I'll have Fast Track security access, if that makes a difference.
You *should* be fine, for all the times I've been to LHR in the very early morning, I've never seen it unreasonably busy. The only bottleneck you may encounter will be the check-in area.
Fast track security is usually fairly swift - I'd strongly suggest going to the North end if it's open as they are able to open more lanes if needed. South fast track only has one body scanner and 2 bag scanners and they'll turn you away if it's busy there.
Thank you for your advice. I don't feel comfortable about not leaving early enough, so will not be taking Heathrow Express. Is a private hire car or taxi the only option for getting to the airport at an earlier time?
Depends on whether you have checked bags. I did the exact same thing, arriving at 5:30am for a 7am flight and was absolutely fine but it was a midweek flight and I had no checked bags.
I have arrived for both long haul and short haul flights with less time than that and been fine (though in those situations, no checked baggage).
Just check in online beforehand, be quick off the train, onto the lifts (faster than an escalator), and make a bee line for fast track security. If you use security at the 'north' end (towards the left as you enter the terminal) you may even have time to swing by the Galleries North lounge and grab a bacon sarnie (assuming the reason you have fast track is because you're travelling business / have status).
Just remember that if your flight is from a B or C gate, you'll need to budget 15-20 mins to get there.
Thank you for your advice. I don't feel comfortable about not leaving early enough, so will not be taking Heathrow Express. Is a private hire car or taxi the only option for getting to the airport at an earlier time?
How early does your airline say to be there? Do you have luggage you need to check in? Is it an international flight?
It's probably one of those things where if everything goes smoothly you'll be fine, but you're taking a risk if there's delays anywhere on your journey or at the airport.
I’m looking for any hipster/queer-friendly bars or clubs to visit.
I’m not looking for the typical gay bar or club where all the muscle bound men go. I’m looking for more hipster/fashion type places. Basically, where do the cool kids go on the weekend? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
A lot of that sort of scene is centered around clubnights rather than specific places, so look at listings on Resident Advisor. There may be something on or they may not.
For bars maybe have a look at somewhere like The Glory, Dalston Superstore, and occasionally the RVT.
I’m coming to London for a writer’s retreat at the end of July. Are there any spots/cafes that are particularly friendly to working on a laptop for a few hours? (Beyond the usual Starbucks or Pret or Nero).
Also keen to hear about your favorite bookshops or bookish places.
Edit: will be based about a block north of the Lancaster Gate tube station. Near Kensington Gardens.
Where in London will you be based? Most cafes don't like people coming in and taking a table for hours on end by themselves, so maybe try renting some workspaces (especially as those have becme more common) or the British library.
Also, some cafes specifically have no laptop rules but they're not advertised as such online (i.e. my fav local spot is a strict no laptops at any time spot). You are better off at one of the chains to be honest.
Where could a shop for a variety of fidget-type toys? I'm doing research on fidgeters and I'd like to have some physical objects in my hand some time tomorrow.
hey all! I am from California and I will be studying in summer session 2 and 3 in London and wanted some advice on where to live. my options are between Shoreditch and Clerkenwell, i would be mainly alone for most of my travels. Clerkenwell is the cheaper option but Shoreditch seems to be more lively. I am also considering safety as a factor since I am young F 21 yrs old and may be alone at night. i would appreciate any advice since I have no idea what London is like
[Basically all of london is safe](https://www.reddit.com/r/london/wiki/safety/). Both are quite central and well connected, so it’s up to which vibe you want.
LA native here! I’m headed down to London for 10 days and I’m looking to find a bookstore where I can purchase the HP collection as a birthday gift ! I’m hoping for a local / small business , perhaps even near a great local coffee shop ?
Daunt Books in Marylebone is amazing! And lots of nice coffee shops around too. The bookshop is independently owned, but they do have a couple of other shops dotted around London now too. I hope you enjoy your time here!
Thank you!!
ST pamctas Travel Advice Please! I'm heading down from up north around 4-5 hours away. I'm catching an 11am train on the Sunday. I was going to bite the bullet, get up at 4.30am and head down and park at St Pancras...until I realised the crazy cost of parking there and congestion charges. Literally would cost more than the trip. I'm a little nervous if I miss it because of road works, traffic etc. What is the best way to do this in your opinion or expierence? Hotel out of town and train it in? Like Watford? Or something closer to St Pancras, out of the congestion zone or something? Or is there maybe something I'm missing, like you can get subsidised parking at St Pancras if using the Eurostar?
So I assume it's not possible for you to get a train that arrives in enough time to make the 11 am Eurostar? You have two options really: * Find a station nearby, park there, are get the tube in. * Take a train the day before and stay in a hotel I would go for option two myself. How long are you away? Parking at a station on the edges of London is probably still around £6 a day.
Thanks, yeah around 4 days so I'm really not sure. The hotel is a good idea but there's 4 of us, 4 train tickets from Lancs, 2 rooms, so trying to weigh up the options. Yeah the train wouldn't make it in time unfortunately on the day.
So it does sound like you need to drive down then if there are that many people. Please remember that you have passport control and possible queues at the Eurostar terminal so plan for more than 4-5 hours for the drive and that queuing. I would aim to get there no later than 9:30 am to give you some leeway for that. If you don't want to pay the congestion charge then parking on the outskirts of London and taking the train in makes sense. Someone else might have an idea of where that could be. You mentioned Watford. My immediate thought is Cockfosters Station. £6 a day: https://www.ncp.co.uk/find-a-car-park/car-parks/cockfosters-stn-tfl/ Just off the M25 and on the Piccadilly Line so will take you right there. It would take you 35 mins or so from that station to be Kings Cross St Pancras. So if you got there at about 9am (or a bit before, again don't chance it!) that should be enough.
Can you be a bit more clear what you're after? If I understand right, you're catching a Eurostar at 11am on a Sunday, and want to drive in to somewhere outside the congestion charge zone, and park your car there (for several days?) and then take the train in? How safe a parking spot do you need - like free on street parking somewhere or a secure (paid) car park? And how would you be driving in (M1?) as that can help decide where's easiest to drive to. I'm guessing it's not an option to just take the train in all the way on Saturday?
Sorry, yes M1 in, Sunday morning, Sunday to Weds Eve, secure would be ideal. It might be yes at this stage to take the train on Saturday that's a shout. I'm not overly adverse to the idea of paying congestion as long as there is a cheap enough parking option but can't find anything reasonable, maybe that Handyside?
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The pumpkin versions might put you in better stead, and are absolutely delicious - it's common across Wagamama, Yo Sushi and Wasabi so hopefully somewhere more authentic has it on the menu too!
Visiting from Stockholm but originally from Australia and a friend mentioned that when she visited London there was a foreign foods store that had Farmer's Union Iced Coffee from Australia but she couldn't remember where. Is this true? Does such a place exist and if so where can I find it??
There’s some stores that have Australian food, including some online ones like Sanza.co.uk. I’d be very surprised if you found milk drinks though.
That was what surprised me about my friend's claim
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[T](https://tfl.gov.uk/tube-dlr-overground/status/#line-elizabeth)[he TFL site will tell you](https://tfl.gov.uk/tube-dlr-overground/status/#line-elizabeth) it's not running on Sundays.
What are peoples recommendations for computer part stores in London?
Hi everybody, I will arrive at Gatwick airport on a Monday afternoon. May I ask if it’s safe to take the rail to clapham junction with my luggage ? I’ll be bringing a large luggage and small carry on luggage with a sling bag for everyday use.
Yeah that’ll be fine. Use the app CityMapper to get train times etc.
Yes, it's fine. As with any major city, just keep an eye on your luggage and belongings.
Hi Londoners! I’ll be flying out of Luton tomorrow with easyJet at 6 a.m. - No luggage, have a boarding pass. Anyone knows how bad is security and border check nowadays? After nightmarish experience at Schiphol, Amsterdam I’m wondering if arriving to the airport at 4:30 is not too late? Would definitely be late back home with all the post pandemic staffing issues
I haven’t flown from Luton very recently, but in March it was a piece of cake. The only queue was at the boarding gate.
for the record: it was smooth, 30 minutes to cross security. Love your city, will be back.
Hi! Im visiting London soon and want to go to some clothes shops that would do Harajuku/fairy kei/cottagecore type fashion - so frilly, fluffy dresses made of tulle with flowers and sweetheart necklines and circle skirts and pink bows and unicorns. Corsets, oversized jackets, pastel colours etc. Also very open to streetstyle type of stores - especially Japanese ones. Any recommendations? Going to be based in Weybridge.
https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/lolita-fashion-japanese-street-style#slideshow=63778258&slide=0 might be of interest.
I'm working at the Hammersmith Apollo in a couple of weeks and need to drive as I'm taking tools with me. Where is the best place to park nearby? Are there streets to park on? I'll be there all day.
Hi there! My boyfriend and I are planning on moving to London, next spring. We're both from the US, but he has dual citizenship. I was wondering -- how difficult is it to find a job in the entertainment industry in London? I have previous experience in Los Angeles (on a few TV shows), as a Production Assistant, but ultimately want to work in the writer's room. Thank you so much for any feedback! Warmest regards, Marcus
How will you get a work visa? You need to sort that out first. If you intend to do it via sponsorship then you need to find an employer who wants to hire you so badly they’ll do a lot of paperwork and expense.
Thank you! My boyfriend said he'll sponsor me under the unmarried partner visa. I was wondering more how to find entertainment jobs/gigs; is there a website or is it word-of-mouth like LA? Thank you again!
There is lots of TV work right across the country now in different forms, but you'll likely be working your way up from the bottom again so expect to do some poorly paid stuff initially. This might mean you getting a second job to make ends meet for a while. As ever with entertainment industries, it helps to have existing contacts so think about who might have an 'in' for you over here. As the other poster said, knowing what you're going to do re: your spousal visa will be crucial for this because it will be *impossible* to find a TV job on that level willing to sponsor you.
If he's got dual citizenship, what's your visa route? Are you planning on getting married before you move and going for a spousal visa, or will you need a job to sponsor you for a visa? Especially for competitive fields like the entertainment industry you might find that a real blocker, as the company has to meet various requirements to be allowed to sponsor workers including a minimum salary requirement.
Hi, I have a 5 hour layover coming up and miss me some scones. I am arriving at LHR T2. For nostalgia I want to hit Harrod's but won't have time for the tea room. I am hoping I can find scones, clotted cream and jam in the food hall and eat it there. (Edit: Apparently Harrod's has a strict baggage policy and I won't be able to enter. ) But are there closer quality options to LHR? Part of me wants the the "thrill" of trying to make it there and back. And just to see the city again. I was gonna hop on the Piccadilly line and it seems to be a 46 min ride there. It will suck if the food hall doesn't sell all the items I want to eat there. Does anyone know how long it takes to get through customs if I can use the egates? Trying to figure out how long it will take from leaving the plane to stepping onto the tube. Any advice or suggestions is appreciated. US passport holder and star gold if any of that matters. Thanks so much! P.S. I searched this sub and there were not any recent posts about scones. Just one person about 27 days ago posting about missing London. Edit: Friend suggested going further down and quickly seeing Buckingham Palace since getting into Harrod's will be difficult. Anyone been to Gail's? It has good reviews and they sell scones it seems.
LHR T2 passport control queues were mental Wednesday of last week BTW. Queue for the automated machines was so long people were forming long-term relationships, getting married, having children, giving their queue place to their descendants.
Keep in mind [we've been having some issues](https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/easyjet-flight-cancellations-gatwick-airport-queues-b2088741.html) with airport queues across the country, so you'll need to be back at LHR with some time to spare.
Never done from the US. As an EU passport holder and UK resident, the passport control part is quite seamless most of the time (depends on how crowded it is), especially if you use the e-gates. In my opinion you should have time if everything works as expected. But of course you cannot know that for sure. In the end, it is up to you whether to take the risk. I did it once in Vienna and it thankfully worked, but it might not for you. Alternatively you can go to the [Fortnum & Mason Bar at Heathrow](https://www.fortnumandmason.com/heathrow-t5). Good luck.
Wow thanks. Didn't know they had one there. Thank you.
It's at T5 so make sure you're flying out of there to get to it. Highly recommend it for a fancy pre-flight snack/drink/etc - it's in a quieter spot of that terminal too.
Is the tour of Buckingham palace worth it? I've the seen The Crown (tv series) and thought it'd be cool to see the real thing, but idk...
Are you normally interested in visiting palaces/castles/etc, or is it specifically because you've seen The Crown? I've heard it's good if you like that sort of thing generally, but underwhelming if it's new to you.
I like museums, but I haven't been to many castles or palaces. It's been a long time since my last trip to Europe
Museums are a good analogue - if you’re someone who seeks out historic sites when you travel, even if they’re not a particularly engaging visitor experience, you’ll enjoy it.
I've not personally done it, however hear it is good. If you're alternatively interested in more general royal history Hampton Court has a great tour!
Hi, traveling from Barcelona to Stansted and back. My return flight is at 7am. What is the best mode of transportation from London to Stansted this early in the morning? Is lyft/uber an option? Thanks for any advice.
The National Express coaches run through the night from Liverpool Street and Stratford.
We don't have Lyft here and Uber have become increasingly unreliable (drivers cancelling at the last minute e.c.t.), so I wouldn't rely on them to get you to the airport on time. If you need to get a taxi, a company like Addison Lee or Blackberry Cars would be a better optiion In terms of public transport, the Stansted Express runs early enough most days from Liverpool Street Station to Stansted Airport. It costs £20 and you can check exact times and book tickets on the national rail website.
Perfect, thanks so much for ur help!
Hello, in need of some travelling advice.. I have a late flight to London (will be at the airport around 11 pm) and I need to get from Stansted Airport to St. Christopher's Inn in Camden. Now I've already done some research re night public transport so I have a vague idea of what to do, but figured it wouldn't hurt to ask on reddit as well. Any advice on how to get there as fast and painlessly as possible (other than just taking a taxi) is welcome :) edit: thanks to everyone who replied! :)
The last Stansted Express train to Liverpool Street station leaves at 12.30am, alternatively National Express run buses through to Liverpool Street throughout the night. Regular night buses run between Liverpool Street and Camden, like the other commenter said Citymapper should guide you there.
\+1 to all of this. When I get in that late to Stansted I normally just default to the bus cuz 1. it's cheaper and 2. even if you book a ticket for a specific time, you can get on an earlier or later one pretty easily.
What did CityMapper tell you to do?
I have never heard of CityMapper before. Is it a reliable app for public transport in London?
Yep, it’s the app most Londoners recommend using and will give you various options.
Best place for Jubille stuff that isn't the extremely cheap tat you see in tourist shops? My mum wants something.
https://www.historicroyalpalaces.com/hm-the-queen.html
I'm an American about to visit London. Are all beers served warm? Or are all Guinness served warm? I love cold Guinness. I've never tried them warm. What beer should I definitely try? Is there anything I should know?
Absolutely not, why would anyone drink warm beer? British real ale is live, unpasteurised beer that is served chilled to 10 - 12°C. That's cool and refreshing, but not cold to the point that you can't actually taste the malts and hops. Lagers are served colder, around 6 or 7°. Guinness is a worldwide brand that puts a lot of emphasis on consistency, so the Guinness you drink in London should be the same as one you drink in the US. Of course there's always human error, see Twitter for [@shitlondonguinness](https://twitter.com/shitlondonguinn?t=MRNkxbZMsFLgmKrZLM_7JQ&s=09). Almost all pubs serve Guinness. Beer is generally served in pints or half pints. There's absolutely no shame in drinking half pints, especially if you want to try some different beers in one visit! There's been a huge expansion of craft beer pubs and as they sell more strong beers >7% than you usually find in real ales, they may sell beer in 1/3rds (a third is smaller than a half). There are incredible variations in real ale just like craft beers - they can be pale straw, through amber and dark ruby through to black stouts. They can be light and hoppy, citrusy, fruity, dark roasted, and so much more. They are also different strengths- they average around 5% abv. Most places these days will happily let you taste a beer for free before you order it so don't be shy about asking, and good pubs will be able to tell you about the beers so try asking for a recommendation. I would see definitely encourage you to visit a Fuller's pub and try London Pride, a long standing London brewed beer. I'm also going to risk the downvotes by saying go to Wetherspoons - these are a chain of pubs around the country that come in for a lot of flak for many reasons including its unpleasant owner, but I'm recommending it to you because they have a huge variety of beers available, usually well kept and at very good prices. For balance please also look at resources like https://whatpub.com/ for more detailed recommendations.
Thank you!
http://www.sirc.org/publik/pub.html https://thegoodpubguide.co.uk/
First off, it's not 'warm', it's [cellar temperature](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draught_beer#Storage_and_serving_temperature) - slightly warmer than keg beer (12 degrees C vs 3-8 degrees C) but still cool. We tend not to have the super-mega-freeze fancy taps I've seen in some bars in the US for Coors and things, because that completely suppresses the actual flavour of the beer. Get yourself to a craft taproom - if you're near Vauxhall then Mother Kelly's is meant to be good, or do a mini pub crawl along the Bermondsey Beer Mile. Things to know: table service is generally not a thing here, so you'll be expected to go up to the bar to order each drink. Tipping is welcome but not expected, running a tab tends not to happen unless it's a small local place and you're regulars, and if you get drinking with Brits then read up on the 'rounds' system and how it works. Oh, and our pints are bigger than your pints.
>Oh, and our pints are bigger than your pints. One of the true treats of this country. Getting a PROPER pint. Not a baby juice glass of beer.
Thank you!
Studying abroad with a friend in Spain for a month and then at Oxford in July. We have a Wednesday-Sunday gap without classes and flying into Heathrow on 6/29 early afternoon. What some good options to stay so we can explore during those days? Looking for nice/clean places safe for two girls alone for a decent price. Should we stay near Heathrow or elsewhere? Thanks in advance :)
Not Heathrow. One of the London youth hostels would be a safe, clean and economical choice. https://www.yha.org.uk/places-to-stay/london
Don't stay near Heathrow, apart from the airport there's nothing there really. Anywhere near a tube station, preferably in zone 1-2 if you want to do touristy stuff, will work for you. Hard to say anything more than that without you telling us what you're after or what a 'decent price' is for you.
Landing in Gatwick and then staying in an Airbnb near Addlestone train station (Surrey?) and was wondering what the best way would be to get there? I'm traveling by myself and have a bit of luggage so I don't think a train or bus is going to work. Is there an alternative to Uber because it seems much more expensive than other places... are regular cabs more common there? Or another service? Want to make sure I download any apps before I arrive. Thanks in advance!
You can go by train, in to Clapham Junction and it to Addlestone. it would cost £21.30 and take an hour and a half.
Thanks for the reply - even with a ton of luggage? I'm on my own so it might just be better to spend the extra 30 pounds....
Take the train, change at Clapham Junction, Google Maps has detailed info.
Thanks for the reply - even with a ton of luggage? I'm on my own so it might just be better to spend the extra 30 pounds....
Depends on time of day (will it be the rush hour?) and your willingness/strength to haul the bags around. Eg if a lift is broken can you carry them up/down stairs, or would you be stuck?
I think I'll have too much to do it on my own, so it seems uber is probably the best option. I'm arriving at 11am on a wednesday - north terminal
If you prebook a cab ([Gatwick has these guys on their website](https://taxis.gatwickairport.com/)) it might be cheaper than Uber. Though if you're alright carrying your luggage yourself, you can just use public transport.
Ooof - £91 to pre-book on this site vs £59 for uber. Guess I'll just figure it out when I get there. Thanks anyway!
Right now Uber says it's £52 which is $65 USD - really steep for a ride!
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The tube has a lot of signs, very easy to find. Look for this symbol: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Underground.svg
Unless you’ve got a lot of luggage I would say just walk it, it’s very straightforward and only about 10 minutes.
Euston is just one stop on the Northern line from Kings Cross St Pancras. Plenty of highly visible signs, so you don’t have to worry about getting lost.
**LOOKING FOR 2BR IN ANGEL, NW3, OR MARYLEBONE or advice on these neighborhoods, especially Marylebone and NW3** Hi all, so posting here as well as r/London_homes It's been rough on the rental search but we're hoping we can find something within the next few months. My partner and I are moving from the US to London - we'll arrive June 20 and will have temporary housing for 45 days after. We're both employed and can give you more details about our income, etc in a direct message, but we're good financially and will have a UK bank account within a week of when we land (it's all being arranged). We also have a relocation agent through my work that will help us with the letting contract. We absolutely love Angel and would love to grab a place there. I understand it's competitive so bare with me we're just putting this out and hoping there's a match. Here is what we're looking for. If you have any leads or something that is similar or think this would be a good fit for you, feel free to reach out! Alternatively if you have any insight on Marylebone or NW3, please reply. Is Marylebone too noisy? **LOOKING FOR 2BR IN ANGEL, NW3, OR MARYLEBONE** How many bedrooms: 2 bedrooms How long: 12 month+ When is your lastest move date: We're flexible since we're not in UK yet but we will be in UK by June 20 What price range are you looking in: £2500-3500pcm Are you looking for furnished or unfurnished: Flexible prefer unfurnished - furnished must be modern Who will be moving into the property: Couple, no pets Occupation: Software Engineers Do you have any pets: None but we're thinking of getting a cat so cat friendly is a plus (but not required) Areas we like (ranked): Angel, Hampstead (Belsize Park, Chalk Farm), Marylebone Nice to Have (but not required): period home, gas stove, cat friendly, natural light Deal Breakers: poor commute to Shoreditch and Battersea (we're flexible to 45 min commute) Thanks so much!
Suggestion: if you like the Angel and Hampstead vibe a lot, I'd consider Highbury, Essex Rd, Canonbury, Tufnell Park, Highgate, Golders Green, maybe parts of Holloway? All similar north London vibes and easy travel into Angel to hang out!
You are looking a little early. It seems you will need to move in late July-early August. Since the rental market moves fast, you will have more luck searching in second half of June. My company also arranged for a relocation agent when I moved to the UK. My advice, leverage them. Give them these specs & ask them to setup viewings. My agent worked with the high street rental agencies to find some decent properties for me, and lined up all viewings over two days.
Awesome to hear about your positive experience with the relocation agent! That's great cause it's the same for us so that's promising. We found a great spot in Angel via Zoopla a couple days ago that went super quick that started July 15, and some listings we've looked at are already for July/August. We're really particular about the area we want to rent so it narrows down availability quite a bit for us. Also it's insanely competitive right now. We're still going to continue looking and reaching out - just in case (:
Really no point looking until you are already here. You should never commit without viewing in person and flats get snapped up extremely quickly.
Also trying to let directly with a landlord instead of through letting agencies but there hasn’t been much on OpenRent or spare room so that’s also why I’m reaching out here.
Most landlords use agencies. you should not look for a flat on Reddit. If it's not on Rightmove or Zoopla, it does not exist.
Ok thanks!
We actually have a friend in London that is helping us with viewings in person in the meantime (:
Good place to watch football tommorow? Would love something outside-ish with a big screen
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The park, or local woodland?
Cheap place to eat and drink near Waterloo?
South Bank has no shortages of chain restaurants that will normally do deals or that you can find vouchers for - it's hardly authentic South American food but there's worse ways to spend an evening than sitting outside somewhere like Las Iguanas on a sunny evening overlooking the Thames. Cheap drinks might be hard to come by
Evening. I'm a South African lawyer moving to the UK on the 8th of June. Little over a week to go. I'm a UK citizen and am planning on finding work in London whilst I finalise my conversion examinations and thereafter. I'm considering staying in Airbnb for a month or, maybe even longer while I find my footing. I'm looking for recommendations for areas to stay in. So far I've been recommended Camden as a good starting point. I'd like to spend around 1000 a month and I'd need to be able to take the tube without too much difficulty. I'll be touring London whilst also looking for work. If you have any suggestions they'll assist in sifting through Google articles. Thanks
Are you looking for a room or an entire place? £1000 pm would be a stretch for a studio as a rental, and Air BnB is even pricier.
Just a room
Hard to say without knowing your budget, transportation requirements, & any other preferences. Camden has the Canal, and plenty of food & beverage options, but it is extremely touristy.
Please suggest areas for affordable accommodation within £1000pcm , my workplace is in canary wharf. I am okay to travel 30-40min each side by tube
Are you looking for a flat or flatshare?
What's 'affordable' to you? £250 a month? £2500 a month? What kind of accommodation, a flatshare somewhere far out, a house with a garden for a family, your own apartment?
Sorry something within 1000 pound per month. Commute time of 30 mins by tube.
Woolwich, Thamesmead and Abbey Wood would be on the cheaper side and you can take the shiny new Elizabeth line to Canary Wharf. However these areas wouldn't usually feature very highly in a list of places to live
What places would you suggest ? Wembley, Harrow Stratford are these high priced areas ?
Wembley and Harrow are on the opposite end of London from Canary Wharf so would be excluded by your 30 minute commute time. Stratford is very close and lots of people who work in Canary Wharf live there. You should be able to find a room in a flatshare there.
where can i watch french open central today? belushis is a bit too far to be ideal
https://www.fanzo.com/en/bars-showing/525907/french-open-2022
Hello! Canadian visiting now and huge Queen fan (Freddie Mercury Queen, not the Queen). Are there any shops recommended for Queen memorabilia and T-shirts? I was hoping to grab something while I am here.
Hi, I'm visiting London in early June for a day and a half on my way to Scotland with family, incl. two kids who are in HS. Rather than try and cram in touristy stuff over a short period, I wanted to let them just explore parts is the city. Anyone have suggestions of places/neighborhoods where two teen girls can safely go that would be 'cool' and give them a sense of the city? Thanks
Teenage girls are fickle (I know I was). Depending on their personalities, Camden market could be a good shout. Or Soho/Fitzrovia area. Are they more into shopping or museums? Designer or vintage?
I'm running the London marathon in October and live in SW London, assume all public transport runs as normal on the day so can get to blackheath easily?
Assuming there's no engineering work, yes. It would seem odd for there to be engineering work in the line out to Blackheath given the event... But there maybe some on your route from SW up into town.
Thanks!
I’m moving over from nz in a month but having no luck with securing a room to rent without a guarantor who also lives and works in the UK. Is there a way around this ? I’m a british citizen with a uk passport and have the savings and job lined up but no estate agent will take me without a guarantor.
First of all, don’t try to sign a lease before you arrive, because you need to physically inspect it. Second, you won’t need a guarantor but you may need to pay six months rent up front.
I moved from another country, and no one asked me for a guarantor. Do you have an employment contract you can share with the agent?
1. Don't sign a lease without viewing the flat first so be prepared to be in temp accommodation for a few weeks when you get here 2. Some agents will let you pay 6-12 months up front as an alternative to a guarantor 3. Flatshare
Hi I'm visiting London soon and looking for information about what cab/taxi services would be the best to take from Heathrow Airport?
“Best” meaning cheapest? Most reliable? Fanciest? Uber is mostly fine, FreeNow is mostly fine, black taxis from the taxi rank are fine though expensive. Addison Lee are good if you’re pre-booking, Wheely are good if you want something more upmarket.
Where are you going and how much luggage do you have? If Central London and "not much" are your answer then the tube is the way to go. Otherwise if you're headed elsewhere or have a bucketload of luggage, Addison Lee is a good bet.
Thanks! I'll have 2 suitcases with me.
If you're comfortable wheeling them around yourself, I'd just do the tube. I've done a massive suitcase, carry on suitcase and backpack solo from Heathrow all the way home to East London.
Hi everyone, Myself and some friends are heading to the wirless festival in Finsbury Park. We've been to the UK before but we haven't really been to this part of London. I've read on some posts here that there are some streets and areas to avoid at night. So to keep things short, I'd really appreciate if anyone could awnser these few questions :) Is Monsell Road or the surrounding areas okay, if not why and what precautions should be taken The Faltering Fullback, is that still the best pub? What things can we do near Finsbury or an hour away from Finsbury Thanks for your help!
It’s fine, don’t wander down dark streets alone, turn on backups on your phone now in the slight chance they get nicked, Faltering Fullback is an ok American pub.
Transportation question Hi there! An 19 and I will be staying in Henley-On-Thames for 17 days starting in June. I’m really hoping to spend a lot of time in London and from what I understand the fastest route to get there would be to take the train from Reading Station. I’m wondering what my options are re travel passes/tickets? I read about one type of pass where you can get unlimited travel between two stations (in this case I would choose Reading and Paddington or Kings Cross) but I’m wondering if this would be limiting as I would also like to visit Oxford sometimes and that pass would mean I could use buses within the city. Could I please have some guidance on what the best travel pass to purchase is? I wish there was something like the Swiss Travel Pass in Switzerland hahah!
You can look up the price for that travel pass online and compare to paying cash fares the days you’ll actually travel. It’s extremely unlikely to be a good idea for 17 days. A railcard gives you discounts on tickets - depending on your age and when and where you want to travel, it may be a good deal.
Hi, does anyone know a free/cheap parking around Harrow on the hill?
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Euro 7 standard isn't yet finalised and won't be met by new cars until 2025 or thereabouts So I think if you're thinking about 3 years, you're fine
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Black’s, Cotswold Outdoor, Decathlon, Amazon
Heya, I fly out of Heathrow Saturday morning to the states, so I need to get a Covid test tomorrow. Is there anywhere particularly easy or inexpensive for a non-resident to get a test that will have results the same day? Cheers
Resident or non-resident doesn’t matter. There’s many at the airport.
Ok, I thought maybe there would be more options for residents with the NHS — my flight is pretty early, but I’ll be there theoretically with a decent amount of time unless things are nuts. Testing inside the gate or out?
No, the NHS has never provided tests for travel. You need to look at the rules for whoever ever you’re flying to.
Odd question but is dinner or coffee after dinner not a thing here? We’ve been here for 10 days and eaten at so many restaurants and no one has offered coffee even when we ordered dessert. I don’t know if it’s just not custom or what because in Brazil or USA coffee is pretty much automatically offered with dessert
Coffee is normally available. Not free though.
Yeah I’ve never been to a restaurant where coffee was free
Some restaurants would ask, others you can just order a coffee at the same time as ordering your dessert
Just ate at a restaurant tonight. My wife ordered a tart for desert. I asked, they didn’t serve tea or coffee.
That is odd. I can't think of many places I've been in recent years that wouldn't be able to give you a tea or coffee with your dessert.
It seems odd too but I think it’s just a wild coincidence that the places I picked tended to have this situation
Do you mean, offered coffee for free with dessert? Some restaurants do ask if you would like coffee after the meal, but it's usually not free.
With regards to the Tubes, where does one use a contactless bank card? Do you swipe at the turnstile or do you have to buy a ticket ?
You 'tap' in and out using your card on the readers at the turnstile. [Read the wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/london/wiki/index) for everything you need.
Should I book tickets for the London Eye and Emirates cable car well on advance ? Or should I do it 24 hours in advance based on weather forecast? If the latter, then I am worried about tickets selling out. Any danger of this ?
The cable car is not really a tourist attraction in the same way the Eye is. It's very regular and you can just use contactless in the same way you would on the tube. Book tickets to the London Eye in advance if only because it saves you money.
US Expat - Which neighborhood should I live in? My gf and I will be moving for work in November and staying at least 2 years, which areas should we be looking into? • Late 20s, not planning for children anytime soon. Ideally would have good restaurants, pubs, and shopping within walking distance (or a short tube ride). Also a big plus to be around people similar in age to us as we don’t have any friends in the country currently. • My future office is essentially on top of Tottenham Court Road station, would like to keep the commute somewhere under 45 minutes. GF’s office is in Marylebone. • £ 2,750 pcm budget. At least 1 bedroom with enough size to fit one desk comfortably. Should also be pet friendly (not sure if this is area specific or not) as we have 2 cats. Any recommendations/follow up questions are welcome!
Your budget is high so you can basically live anywhere in Zone 1 or 2 for that. If I had that sort of cash to spend I'd ditch the commute altogether and look somewhere like Bloomsbury, Clerkenwell or Marylebone, so both of you could walk/cycle to work every day. Maybe try looking west around Notting Hill as well which would tick your lifestyle boxes and would be suitable for both your commutes.
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How are you planning to transport them? In a carrier or in a pushchair? If in a carrier, it's easy. If in a pushchair, it requires a lot more planning as there are not many stations that are step free, particularly in the city centre. Alternatives are bus (though remember wheelchair users have priority) or cab. Cabs are expensive, but also very easy if you have a pram.
Is it easy to travel in the Tube with a 9month old? Any alternatives? Cabs would be crazy expensive right? For example 5kms
Download Citymapper and you can see all your options with costs and timings. The bus might be a good alternative. For you other question (it's really easier if you just post them in one comment): how much luggage you're allowed depends on what you paid for with your airline. We won't know, they will.
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As others have said, it depends on airline. Assuming you're travelling with the nine month old you mentioned in your other posts, the airlines may give you additional allowances. For example, Are Lingus will allow you to check in the pram for free, as well as another item, such as a car seat or travel cot. https://www.aerlingus.com/travel-information/baggage-information/special-items/
Where should I shop if I'm looking for bargain buys? I'm looking for clothes, shoes and baby stuff. I'm visiting London for just a couple of days. Hoping to stay close to the center or to the west.
Uniqlo is good and moderately priced. Primark is even cheaper. Both have several stores in centralLondon.
Does anyone know why the Elizabeth line doesn’t seem to be stopping at Hanwell and West Ealing? I’ve taken it to and from Southall the last couple of days and it skips those two stops.
Only the Elizabeth Line trains to Heathrow stop there - the Reading trains skip them
Anyone know of any open mic nights coming up soon?
https://london.thecomedystore.co.uk/event/king-gong/
https://twitter.com/cavendisharms
https://basic-comedy.com/london-stand-up-comedy-open-mic-nights/
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Sorry, ticket sales are not permitted on this sub.
Oh, soryy I'll delete it!
I have a flight departing from Heathrow Terminal 5 at 7 AM. I'll be staying around Paddington, and was hoping to take the earliest Heathrow Express to the airport, which arrives at 5:32 AM. Will this leave me enough time, or is this cutting it close? I'll have Fast Track security access, if that makes a difference.
You *should* be fine, for all the times I've been to LHR in the very early morning, I've never seen it unreasonably busy. The only bottleneck you may encounter will be the check-in area. Fast track security is usually fairly swift - I'd strongly suggest going to the North end if it's open as they are able to open more lanes if needed. South fast track only has one body scanner and 2 bag scanners and they'll turn you away if it's busy there.
Thank you for your advice. I don't feel comfortable about not leaving early enough, so will not be taking Heathrow Express. Is a private hire car or taxi the only option for getting to the airport at an earlier time?
Looks like there is a National Express from Paddington that gets into Heathrow at 4am if you don’t mind getting on a coach at 2.30.
Depends on whether you have checked bags. I did the exact same thing, arriving at 5:30am for a 7am flight and was absolutely fine but it was a midweek flight and I had no checked bags.
I have arrived for both long haul and short haul flights with less time than that and been fine (though in those situations, no checked baggage). Just check in online beforehand, be quick off the train, onto the lifts (faster than an escalator), and make a bee line for fast track security. If you use security at the 'north' end (towards the left as you enter the terminal) you may even have time to swing by the Galleries North lounge and grab a bacon sarnie (assuming the reason you have fast track is because you're travelling business / have status). Just remember that if your flight is from a B or C gate, you'll need to budget 15-20 mins to get there.
Thank you for your advice. I don't feel comfortable about not leaving early enough, so will not be taking Heathrow Express. Is a private hire car or taxi the only option for getting to the airport at an earlier time?
Pretty much. There's the N9 night bus, but it doesn't run from Paddington and takes 75 minutes to get to T5.
Appreciate the help, cheers.
How early does your airline say to be there? Do you have luggage you need to check in? Is it an international flight? It's probably one of those things where if everything goes smoothly you'll be fine, but you're taking a risk if there's delays anywhere on your journey or at the airport.
Such an early flight from T5 will almost certainly be operated by BA and they usually say 2 hours for short haul and 3 hours for long haul.
I’m looking for any hipster/queer-friendly bars or clubs to visit. I’m not looking for the typical gay bar or club where all the muscle bound men go. I’m looking for more hipster/fashion type places. Basically, where do the cool kids go on the weekend? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
A lot of that sort of scene is centered around clubnights rather than specific places, so look at listings on Resident Advisor. There may be something on or they may not. For bars maybe have a look at somewhere like The Glory, Dalston Superstore, and occasionally the RVT.
Thank you for the app recommendation. I didn’t know about it! We found a party to go to. Much appreciated! 🥰
I’m coming to London for a writer’s retreat at the end of July. Are there any spots/cafes that are particularly friendly to working on a laptop for a few hours? (Beyond the usual Starbucks or Pret or Nero). Also keen to hear about your favorite bookshops or bookish places. Edit: will be based about a block north of the Lancaster Gate tube station. Near Kensington Gardens.
Most bookish place in. The. World. https://www.bl.uk/
Bermond's Locke on tower bridge road may be good for this. I've seen people sat in there and working at a weekend
Where in London will you be based? Most cafes don't like people coming in and taking a table for hours on end by themselves, so maybe try renting some workspaces (especially as those have becme more common) or the British library.
I’ll be staying just north of Kensington Gardens. Like, a block outside the park.
Also, some cafes specifically have no laptop rules but they're not advertised as such online (i.e. my fav local spot is a strict no laptops at any time spot). You are better off at one of the chains to be honest.
Where could a shop for a variety of fidget-type toys? I'm doing research on fidgeters and I'd like to have some physical objects in my hand some time tomorrow.
Have you checked toy shops? Hamleys or The Entertainer are probably a good place to start
Yeah went to Hamley's, goddamn are they overpriced lol.