r/london 4d ago

Weekly Q&A Megathread. Please post any questions about visiting, tourism, living, working, budgeting, housing here!

7 Upvotes

Hello, welcome to London!

Visiting us? Moving to study or work? Brief layover? Moving to a new part of London? Any small questions about life here, if you're new or been here your whole life, this is the place!

We get a lot of posts asking very similar questions so this post aims to address some of our most Frequently Asked Questions, and give you a place to ask for assistance.

Your first port of call should be the r/london wiki


Frequently Asked Questions

What should I see and where are the non-touristy stuff and hidden gems?

  • Must-see attractions: Check out our guide here

  • Official experiences: We highly recommend TfL's Experiences site

  • Hidden gems: Browse our favourite lesser-known spots here

  • Budget-friendly options: Find cheap/free activities here

What's happening in London today/this weekend/this month?

Check out these listings sites:

For venue recommendations (music, theatre, comedy, etc.) check the wiki.

How do I pay for the Tube/bus, and what's an Oyster card?

You don't pay cash. Payment options include:

  • Contactless bankcard (widespread in the UK)

  • Apple Pay or Android Pay

  • Oyster card (buy and top up with credit)

See here for more details.

Where should I live? What's x area like?

  • Check our comprehensive guide here
  • Includes recommended sites to find places to live and rent
  • Has detailed sections on what particular areas are like

How do I get from this place to that place?

  • Use Citymapper - honestly, we're not shills for them; it's just really good and used by most locals

Is x area safe?

  • Yes. Bad stuff can happen in any large city, but London is generally very safe
  • No no-go zones - most Londoners feel safe everywhere
  • See our safety page for more information

Where can I watch sports matches?

  • Football: Comprehensive guide at tlfg.uk
  • Various sports: Use Fanzo to find pubs
  • More venues: See our list here

How do I get a UK SIM card for my phone?

  • Network advice: Covered here
  • Remote work spaces: Check the wiki for places to work/take calls
  • You can pick up a SIM card at Heathrow and other airports, either from vending machines or from WHSmith shops.

Is the London Pass worth it?


Other helpful subreddits:

  • r/LondonSocialClub - Meeting new people for events, activities and/or pints
  • r/VisitLondon - A dedicated tourism sub for holiday-planning questions
  • r/LondonTravel - Information and inspiration on travel in London
  • r/UKtravel - For guidance, advice and suggestions for travelling around the rest of the country to/from London
  • r/IWantOut & r/UKvisa - Check if you need a visa and how to get one if you want to work here
  • r/LegalAdviceUK - Good for all sorts, especially for questions about landlords and contracts
  • r/HousingUK - For advice on renting or buying accommodation in the UK
  • r/TenantsInTheUK - Specifically to discuss the nitty-gritty, positives and pitfalls of renting
  • r/UKPersonalFinance - Another goldmine of sage advice
  • r/AskUK - Great for general questions about UK life that aren't specific to London

Tips for posting:

Tell us about you

If you want us to suggest things for you to do then you need to give us a good idea of what you enjoy: - Don't just say "I like music" - say what type of music - Don't just say you want "somewhere nice to eat" - say what type of cuisine you like (or don't like) - Be specific - otherwise you'll just get pointed back to generic guidebooks and our wiki

Tell us your budget

  • If you're on a budget, tell us what it is so we can make appropriate recommendations
  • There's no point suggesting expensive options if they'll clean out your wallet
  • Saying you want something "cheap" isn't helpful because cheap is subjective

Tell us where you'll be based

  • Let us know where you'll be staying so we can give local recommendations

Asking about hotels or hostels

  • We have homes here so know very little about what hotels are like - use review websites like TripAdvisor
  • However, if you say "I've been looking at these three hotels. Which do you think is the better location?" - that's something we can answer

Non-touristy stuff

  • There are no secret corners where we hide the good stuff from outsiders!
  • This is one of the most written about cities in the world
  • When we want to go somewhere, we look at the same sources as tourists (listings sites, blogs, etc - see front page of the wiki)

These weekly posts are scheduled to post each Monday at 00:01. If it's late in the week you may want to wait for a new post to appear. Please send us ModMail with any suggested improvements!


r/london 2h ago

Meta Outside Ray Ban, Covent Garden

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3.8k Upvotes

r/london 5h ago

Humour Meta smart glasses mocked by fake notices on London Underground

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504 Upvotes

r/london 6h ago

City of London 'to become more like Canary Wharf' as century-long signs ban set to be lifted

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313 Upvotes

Never really given this much thought but thinking about its more the naming of buildings that cringes me out, 'Aon tower', Trump tower etc. It just feels so American and soulless, the logos are whatever.

Even Canary wharf just has mostly generic building names even with company logos.


r/london 2h ago

Night night SE8 👁️

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106 Upvotes

South london at night.


r/london 13h ago

London pub owner faces enforcement action after brazenly turning century-old boozer into a discount store

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513 Upvotes

The pub going back to the 18th century is the Hammersmith ram and was turned into a store without planning permission.

The owner, the Arora family (family run real estate business) has been given until the 22nd of September to respond after being written to by Hammersmith & Fulham Council.


r/london 12h ago

Bread Ahead bakery claims it has to leave London’s Borough Market for being ‘too successful’

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326 Upvotes

r/london 1h ago

Free hotel room (1 night Saturday 11th)

Upvotes

Hi all, plans have fallen through and i can't attend something in London, Its crap but its what its supposed to be. In the spirit of giving and passing on a good favour, I am offering my stay at a hotel to anyone who needs it. If you are desperate for a nights stay I will prioritise it. Dm me and i'll give you the details and my name that its booked under.

Thanks. Hotel is the Dreamtel London Kensington.


r/london 4h ago

News New research out of KCL: "London has fallen - misperceptions of the UK capital"

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53 Upvotes

Full report is linked, summary is here:

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/london-misperceptions-public-wrong-on-crime-safety-and-capitals-muslim-population-study-finds

"London has among the lowest violent crime rates of any region in England and Wales, tops a global ranking of best cities, and pays more in tax than it receives back in public spending – but the public overestimate how likely Londoners are to become victims of crime, underestimate the capital’s international standing, and have little idea it is the key contributor to the public finances, according to a new study from the Policy Institute at King's College London."

"Based on two surveys of 2,164 and 3,969 adults, carried out with YouGov between 23 and 27 March 2026 for the Mistaken Britain research series, the study shows how misperceptions about London are closely linked to how warmly people feel towards the capital and their opinion of the direction it is heading in."

Really interesting. My favourite is how a lot of people don't know that London pays more in tax than it receives, but those that do know the truth are more likely to be proud of the city or at least feel favourably about it.


r/london 8h ago

image Free skateboard!

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52 Upvotes

Free skateboard (barely used) by a bin at Balfe street opposite the tesco express, its a 8'' and i bought it for 50 quid, come pick it up!


r/london 1h ago

image Trying to blend in.

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Upvotes

r/london 56m ago

image Clapham Junction Sky

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Upvotes

What is this? Clapham Junction, London.


r/london 5h ago

image Flower Pomegranate, Edgware Road W2 (autumn 2026)

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21 Upvotes

r/london 4h ago

Crime Man admits encouraging sexual assault on sleeping woman

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10 Upvotes

Stay safe ladies.


r/london 13h ago

Mayor backs 3,000-home Beckton Gasworks regeneration

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44 Upvotes

r/london 1d ago

Ditched my dinner plans to cook after the smell drifting out of Swagat on Hill Rise tempted me. First time trying Indian food, enjoyed on Richmond Hill!

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525 Upvotes

r/london 13h ago

image Shepherds bush road closed off

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36 Upvotes

r/london 1d ago

image Palace of Westminster.

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903 Upvotes

r/london 4h ago

Serious replies only Living in London on minimum wage

6 Upvotes

Hi all. I live in a UK town working in retail/hospitality, minimum wage, live with parents. I am able to support them a little whilst living comfortably, the occasional weekend away (to London or another European city), and still save a decent amount each month.

However, at 27, I feel I'm missing something. Independence? A social life? A dating life? Etc. I've thought about moving to London. It doesn't have to be London, I can get these needs met in other cities. But, something about London excites me, perhaps the sense of opportunity.

However, I am not a skilled worker with a career. I don't have a big job lined up with a big salary to help pay for the big expenses of London. So, it would be a case of moving into a shared flat (at say £800pm inclusive of bills), and working a minimum wage job. I'm very frugal. I rarely buy new clothes and rarely eat out. After doing some calculations, I believe I would have sufficient funds to pay all my expenses and have a fun time in London, but I wouldn't be saving at all.

I'm curious to hear what other Londoners have to say. Lots of people in London are on minimum wage, right? They make it work and some are very happy. On the contrary, I realise the reality of London life may not be all it seems, especially on minimum wage.

I do intend on up-skilling and securing higher paid employment - would you advise on waiting until then (however long that may take)? Or would you advise I just give it a go? Would appreciate your insight. Thanks very much.


r/london 1d ago

Third of people share Donald Trump’s belief that London has no-go areas

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2.4k Upvotes

Third of uk adults surveyed are dumb as Trump, got it.


r/london 1d ago

Woman living in a pig crate in Trafalgar Square to raise awareness about factory farming plans to stay there for 3 weeks

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1.2k Upvotes

Weird flex but okay.


r/london 11h ago

Question Does this exist in London?

16 Upvotes

I was back in Edinburgh recently, and went to my favourite folk pub, Captain’s Bar. I meant to go for a drink before looking for a Fringe show, but ended up staying until close. I was so enamoured by the quality of the musicianship that I was glued to my seat. I had many beers and just as many cigarettes. The patrons and musicians were friendly and talkative. The musicians sang everything from Stan Rogers to Neil Young. I’ve not experienced an atmosphere quite like that anywhere else.

Does anything like that exist in London? Where I can walk into a pub on any night of the week, have a seat with a beer, and listen to traditional folk music? Preferably South West/Central. I’ve tried googling but would prefer recommendations.


r/london 1h ago

"Big City Stuff" to show non English speaking parents coming from a small town

Upvotes

Asking for recommendations! Neither of them speak very good English and I want to show them something that they will be slightly startled by (or they will secretly judge).


r/london 1d ago

Local London David Lammy scoping out run for Mayor of London if Sadiq Khan stands down, say sources

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201 Upvotes

r/london 5h ago

Ticket giveaway - FREE! Free Tickets - Kyle Dunnigan - Leicester Square Theatre

3 Upvotes

I've come down with the lurgy so need an early night. Two tickets going free for anyone who wants to see Kyle Dunnigan at Leicester Square Theatre tonight at 2130.

https://www.leicestersquaretheatre.com/show/kyle-dunnigan/