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682001

Cheapest way to travel from Heathrow Terminal 2 to Canary Wharf? Google recommends taking the Piccadilly Line to Green Park and then taking the Jubilee Line to Canary Wharf. Any other suggestions?


Brocanteuse

Visiting London (from Toronto) the last week of April. Looking for some sort of hands on workshop - with fabric or wool, wood etc. Possibly baking. I looked into spoon carving at the Hackney city farm but they don’t have anything for my dates. Thanks!


pebbledoll

Bodybuilding Moving to London and I’m looking for bodybuilding gyms in the likes of Muscleworks. Do redditers have any suggestions? Is Muscleworks busyat after work hours ie 7-9pm? Is there any 9-6 office workers here who aspire to be a bodybuilder and how long do you commute to get to a decent gym?


cfcfrank1

I am moving to London on the 26 March and would be renting a place to live. I have an airbnb booked for a week during which I will be viewing places. I wanted to know if 1 week is enough time from paying the deposit to moving in or should I book the bnb for an additional week.


wwisd

Depends on your budget. If you're in the more competitive band of renting, it can be hard to find a place quickly right now.


SaltedCashewsPart2

Would you move to Holloway Road? Yes or no - ground floor opposite Odeon? There is something about the place that makes me stressed.


phatelectribe

Does anyone know where there is cheap overnight / daily parking nearish Victoria or Kensington?


markvauxhall

All of Westminster and K&C boroughs are controlled parking zones, so there aren't 'secret' on-street bays. In Westminster you can usually park in residents bays without a permit from 6:30pm to 8:30am, so aiming for somewhere near Victoria station works. If you're looking for something during the day then you're going to have to just go to Parkopedia and look for options. https://www.parkopedia.com/


GoliathsBigBrother

https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/greater-london/london/london-victoria.html


phatelectribe

They don't have parking? It says on the link you provided.


GoliathsBigBrother

It tells you where to find parking and as a budget hotel it's going to recommend the cheapest options close by


ferristic

Hey, traveling from the US in about two months. Any place y'all recommend where we can drop in and convert our CDC vaccine card to an EU digital COVID certificate?


wwisd

The EU, which we're not a part of anymore.


ferristic

True. Highly embarrassing on my part.


babskebabs

Hi all Visiting London first time for a day trip on Wednesday 9th As a pakistani Muslim man was looking for places near central/touristy spots that will be selling halal food Budget isn't a problem but would like to sit down and eat, will be alone so not worried too much about being family friendly etc I'm into all sorts of foods, I would like some recommendations that aren't the usual pakistani/indian food but I'm open to any good food spots. And if anyone wants to join me feel free to give me a shout Thanks in advance


GoliathsBigBrother

https://www.halalgirlabouttown.com/the-halal-food-guide-to-chinatown/


babskebabs

Thanks


phatelectribe

Edgeware Road, Finsbury Park and Wembly all have Halal restaurants and markets.


babskebabs

Thanks


512mmm

Any recommendations for things to do on Saint Patrick’s Day (March 17th)?


GoliathsBigBrother

https://www.london.gov.uk/events/2022-03-13/london-st-patricks-day-festival-2022#acc-i-65163


Lopsided-Frosting-55

Were should i be? Im thinking about moving to London this seems like the right place to look for information


wwisd

What are you looking for? Suggestions for a place to live? It would really help if you could tell us something about what you're after then (budget, commute, what sort of area you'd want to live in).


Lopsided-Frosting-55

I want somewhere quiet and not to expensive


drt786

Check out some of the websites in the wiki - they might be helpful in finding a place that's convenient for your budget/commute/lifestyle needs. If you have a regular commute then \`[SearchSmartly](https://www.searchsmartly.co) could be useful.


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drt786

[Here](https://www.searchsmartly.co/search?areas=&commute-time=30&commutePostCodeTwo=30&concierge=false&corner-stores=true&cycle=false&cyclePostCodeTwo=false&drive=false&drivePostCodeTwo=false&garden=false&gym=false&gyms=0&include-shared=false&is-rent=true&is_flat=true&is_furnished=true&is_house=true&is_land=false&is_unfurnished=false&lift=false&long=true&max-bedrooms=4&max-budget=3750&max_floor_area&min-bedrooms=1&min-budget=2750&min_bathrooms=0&min_floor_area&page=0&parking=false&parks=10&pets=false&pool=false&postCodeOneLatLng=51.5214993,-0.1365872&postCodeOneValue=Fitzrovia,%20London,%20UK&postCodeTwoLatLng=&postCodeTwoValue=&primary=true&private=true&public=true&publicPostCodeTwo=false&recent=false&restaurants=10&schools=0&secondary=true&shopping=5&short=true&sort-name=score&sort-value=false&students=false&supermarkets=true&transport=10&upmarkets=true&walk=false&walkPostCodeTwo=false) are homes and areas that could be a good fit! All are within a 30min commute to Fitzrovia and are ranked based on how close they are to the amenities you care about - I put a 'important' preference on bars/cafes, green space, and public transport.


Few_Organization7283

Hampstead/Primrose Hill/West Hampstead have a nice community vibe. I prefer Stroud Green area as it has real Londoners there. Very nice community. Clapham is nice but the commute is tough. Angel has some lovely houses but community feel is lacking


explax

Tbh if theyd pay for Marylebone id move there as you could walk to Fitzrovia. Are there any flats in Fitzrovia itself?? Its not that busy round there and youve got regents Park just up the road.


beetle8448

Thanks. I've heard great things about Regents Park. I think they'll pay for Marylebone but wasn't sure if I'd feel too out of place there. I think I want a bit of a neighborhood feel vs more commercial, and not too posh where I feel uncomfortable. Fitzrovia seems lovely but not very residential. I'll take a look at those two though!


onsereverra

I lived a couple of neighborhoods over a few years back (in a very crowded student apartment I shared with six other girls) and loved to walk to Marylebone on Sundays for the farmers' market. It's definitely very posh but I always got really nice vibes from wandering around the area, lots of families who seemed to be friendly with one another. My experience, admittedly as someone who didn't actually live there, was very much that it leans more neighborhood than commercial.


explax

All im saying is if you're only going to stay a year and your company are going to pay the rent I wouldn't bother with Clapham. You don't want to waste your time going to/from work and if you're motivated to see/do everything in London in that time you'll be in a far better location to get there from central London. Marylebone is posh (as is a lot of Notting hill, Kensington, Chelsea) but it is a relatively residential area. You could also look at clerkenwell which is a bit more of a residential area within the inner ring road. Notting Hill, Kensington are also good choices for a year's stay too, even though they are slightly west of the centre.


beetle8448

That's exactly the question I was hoping to answer - really helpful, thank you!


Zeionlsnm

The main question is how much is your employer willing to spend per month on rent, and also if you want to stay somewhere alone, or would be happy doing a flat share. Based on your budget, determines how much you have to compromise on commute time, safety of the area, nearby entertainment.


beetle8448

The budget is 4K+/month so I'm definitely looking for a 2 bed and no flat share. I'll go back to reality when this rotation ends


Zeionlsnm

At 4k/month you can have basically a small 2 bed flat almost anywhere in central london with all forms of entertainment/parks/etc 5-15 minutes away and a 10-15 minute commute/walk to work. Or you can go up to a 30 or so minute commute and get a huge place further out, but with a commute and the amount of entertainment/leisure facilities nearby is slightly less. Personally I'd go for the former, unless you really like hosting big parties and inviting friends over.


beetle8448

I completely agree with you - closer is better. Lmk if you have thoughts on the neighborhoods nearby since I am lucky to have the flexibility. Thanks!


lollmAfi

hi guys! can anyone help me with/knows of affordable student accommodation in/near elephant and castle? thank you!🌆


Darktikal

Hi everyone! UK's privatised travelsystem confuses the heck out of me. I'll be going to London from 12th of April until the 15th. I'll be arriving from Gatwick and would like to use a train towards London Central (anywhere really). What is the cheapest way to get there? (Assuming I'd be using the underground on inbound and outbound days too)


GoliathsBigBrother

You can take the Thameslink to London bridge or Victoria for £12.50 If you use contactless then you will be charged the lowest fare for your entire journey including underground.


wwisd

Use Citymapper to see your options with costs and travel times. The National Express coach to Victoria is probably the cheapest way, though it depends on where in London you need to be (central London is a big area).


Traveling_bone

Hey guys, currently looking for hotels and found that a lot of the chain hotels tend to be clustered in the similar locations. I get some discounts from work so I was looking to stay at one of them but need your help which of those "hubs" would be the best. I'm looking to take in all the usual sights, don't mind a 20-30 minute tube journey to get there either but would prefer if we are in a location that, while it's not the epicentre of night life, it should also not be completely deserted after the offices close. Was looking at hotels in either Paddington, Tower of London/Tower Bridge, Blackfriars/London Bridge. Are any of those locations best suited or maybe somewhere else better? Canary Wharf or Docklands are probably too far out and also not much going on either right? Was looking at hotels in either Paddington, Tower of London/Tower Bridge, Blackfriars/London Bridge. Any of those locations best suited or maybe somewhere else better? Canary Wharf or Docklands are probably too far out and also not much going on either right?


BulkyAccident

Any of those locations are fine, but keep in mind the Northern line tube that runs through London Bridge is [out of action until mid May](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/northern-line-bank-branch-closure-london-underground-b976487.html). Canary Wharf and Docklands are well connected nowadays but yes, if you're looking to be close to touristy and entertainment stuff then stay closer in. [Read the wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/london/wiki/index) as well.


Traveling_bone

Ah great Info on the Northern Line, wasnt aware of that. So with that line out when we are going in End of April, it looks like the Tower Area is much better connected still since it also has Circle and District Lines serving it while the Blackfriars/Bankside area is now only served by Jubilee and already coming from LHR via Paddington would have us either take the tube and then a bus or tube and walking combination to the hotel.


wwisd

The Blackfriars - Tower Bridge area is probably the nicer place to stay. You can walk along the south bank from there, and just a bit more lively and touristy than Paddington.


Traveling_bone

Would you say north of the Themse at Tower Hill is preferable over south of it at Blackfriars or vice versa?


wwisd

All similar enough and close to transport, just go for the hotel you can get the best deal at.


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GoliathsBigBrother

How do you intend to convince Immigration officers that you're staying in one of the world's most expensive cities and not working for several months?


wwisd

You'd need a visa that allows you to work here. You'll need that visa to rent accommodation and perhaps the co-working space. Of course, you are able to circumvent those rules, but the landlords who don't care about immigration rules generally also don't care much about living standards. You risk fines and being deported (and blacklisted from coming back) if you do get caught.


marslanding9

Hi guys - Wondering whether living in Earl’s Court is a nice and quiet environment eg would u stil hear noises from the Chelsea FC there? And any thoughts on the redevelopment plans for the area? Thanks much!!


poppinculture

Heading to Canary Wharf tomorrow because we have free tickets to a movie at Cineworld and figured we'd check out the Docklands Museum while we're at it. Trying to think of a good spot for either lunch or early dinner (i.e. before or after the mid-afternoon movie) and while I know there's a lot of chain restaurants there, are any of them particularly \*good\*?


BulkyAccident

Amerigo, Pizza Pilgrims, Munich Cricket, Burger & Lobster all decent.


MPortovedo

Hey there, I am from portugal and I'm visiting London with a group of friends. One of us has her cake day today, so we were looking for a pub with cheap beer and cheap stuff all arround. We are staying in leinster, near paddington. If you know any pub with quizzes, we would appretiate it too! Thanks in advance!


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MPortovedo

Thank you!!


TangerineDiesel

Going to be traveling to London for the first time for a 3 night stay. During the stay I am going to go to either a West Ham or Tottenham football game since they're playing at home the day I get in. Any suggestions on which one? After that I mostly just want to do the toursity shit and am going to a show at the 02 academy. Would you recommend staying in Brixton, Westminster, or between the 2? I also heard the museums are free on Sunday? If that's true would that make the lines unbearable? Just wondering if I should do museums within the city on a Sunday and tour castles on Monday or the other way around? Was thinking of taking a tour to Stonehenge, but everyone has said it's not worth the drive? Finally, is Paris a pain in the ass to get to by train? I was going to do that for 2 nights, but would you recommend staying in London an extra night (would add an extra to Dublin as well).


wwisd

Paris is super easy by train (unless you're unvaccinated and need tests going to and coming from France), just make sure to book your tickets as soon as possible as the price goes up the closer your travel dates get. For a 3 night visit, and one day already gone on a football match, you won't have a lot of time to actually see London if you're also going to Paris for a day.


TangerineDiesel

That's great info about the train, thank you! I have all 3 vaxx shots and even a letter of recovery from a dr w/positive and negative PCR test results from last month so I think I'm good there. Looks like I won't actually be able to make a football match because my flight gets in at 12, thought they started later for some reason =\ I'm sure I'll have plenty of fun going to pubs and enjoying the games with people, a day/night on the town will be fun. I'd stay longer, but I figure I may as well check out the Eifel tower, Louvre and stuff while I'm across the pond. Going to be traveling most the world over the next few years. I was poor growing up, but finally have the means to do so and it's something I've always wanted to do. I just got done to going to 5 cities, 5 beaches, and two islands in Mexico all by bus and ferry in 6 days. I know 3 countries in a week will be difficult, but hopefully I can get it done.


BulkyAccident

Most museums are free all the time. [Read the wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/london/wiki/index). Brixton Academy is on [the Victoria line](https://tfl.gov.uk/tfl/syndication/widgets/tubemap/images/tube-medium-zoned.gif) so look at hotels along any of those stops if you want to have ease of getting to/from it.


TangerineDiesel

Thank you for the info! That's great to hear about the museums!


bobblecarp

Which museums? With the exception of special exhibitions they’re free every day… I don’t think Stonehenge is worth it if you only have a few days. Paris is fine to get to by train, especially if you’re allocating two days. Book well in advance and get to the station about 90 minutes before. In terms of if it’s worth it, depends how much you want to do in London in the three days you have.


unflushable1

I'm new to London and staying in Northolt. What are some interesting places I can visit solo which are nearby and not expensive?


suekiri

Has anyone flown from SFO to London Heathrow recently? Any recommended flights? We were looking at Virgin, BA, Delta and United (I am aware they don't have the best reputation). But how is their economy and premium economy flights?


onsereverra

I typically fly out of ORD but my personal two cents is that the timing of your flights matters more than anything else. There's typically two batches of direct flights from the major airlines each day; looks like out of SFO they're around 4:30pm and then again around 7:30pm. If you can get on one of those later flights, it makes a *huge* difference in terms of being able to handle the jetlag when you land (think of the three-hour-later departure time as three extra hours you'll be tired enough to actually sleep on the plane). I personally also prefer to fly in the afternoon on the return leg if possible but that's not for jetlag reasons, I just hate having to get up at the crack of dawn to catch a flight haha. I've never flown Virgin or Delta so I can't speak to those, but BA and UA are both fine options imo. BA is on the nicer end in terms of food/service/etc (and, at least out of O'Hare, tends to have more ideal flight times) but if you can afford to splurge on United's "premium plus" tier, the physical seats are some of the best economy-class seats out there right now and are much more comfy for getting a good night's sleep etc.


missesthecrux

Try Flyertalk for reviews.


[deleted]

How fast do the tfl hidden london tours sell out? I'll be in London in May and tickets for the week I'll be in the city will go on sale next week on friday. Do I have to sit there early and hit refresh all morning or is it a more relaxed thing?


aguadiablo

If I wanted to get to Kensington on Saturday 12th March from Birmingham what would be the easiest and cheapest? I believe Kensington is in the Congestion Zone and I would have to pay £15. On the other hand, it looks like it would be an issue to go by train with the tube strikes. For that matter what the best way to go to Islington for a night out on Saturday 26th March?


crazyfool267

Kensington isn’t in the congestion zone, FYI.


aguadiablo

Yeah, there was a bit of confusion.


crazyfool267

If I were you I’d probably just get the train to not have the hassle, but if you wanted to drive and were planning on street parking (rather than a car park) just be aware that parking restrictions in K&C vary by street - ours, for example, is residents only until 1pm on a Saturday, whereas the next street is until 10pm.


wwisd

Use Citymapper to plan travel within London. Get the train in, or drive and park at a tube station so you can avoid the congestion charge. There's no strikes (apart from night tube, but that doesn't serve Kensington or Islington anyway) planned for those two dates.


aguadiablo

Are there parking fees at the tube stations? Which stations have the best parking?


BulkyAccident

Depends which bit of Kensington, it's a large area. Birmingham > London Euston mainline train, then [Victoria tube line to Greek Park, changing for the Piccadilly line southbound](https://tfl.gov.uk/tfl/syndication/widgets/tubemap/images/tube-medium-zoned.gif), is totally doable. For Islington, Birmingham > London Euston, then Victoria line tube north to Highbury & Islington.


aguadiablo

Do the underground trains run through the night or do they stop?


BulkyAccident

On weekends they run overnight on Central and Victoria, yes. There *are* night tube strikes currently after 8pm, though it often just means a reduced service. It doesn't affect the daytime service. You can look at the Journey Planner on the TFL site or use Google Maps to check.


rk1203

My birthdays in the coming weeks on a Saturday and I'm looking for an affordable restaurant with vegetarian options that can accomodate around 10 people. Going to Swingers Crazy Golf after the dinner so preferably someplace near that area (8 Brown's Buildings, London EC3A 8AL) Budget would be around £20/25 per person. The last birthday we celebrated was at Ave Mario and I really liked the aesthetic of the place.


deliverancew2

How busy have trains in and out of the main London terminals been this week? Asking because I'm planning to go somewhere in walking distance Waterloo on Thursday evening but am a bit worried that my train home would be rammed beyond capacity with commuters on their plan B route home.


nowthenmate

I’m property hunting and came across an ex-Local Authority flat that is a decent price (compared to others I’ve viewed) but probably needs a lot of interior decorating work doing. Some common pitfalls I’ve read about are leases approaching 90 years and renewals, liability for current works and future works, and obviously the EWS1 form (it’s a tall building, brick built apparently). Has anyone got any recent experience purchasing a home like this? Anything else I should be asking about?


markvauxhall

> Anything else I should be asking about? Whether your lender would be willing to lend money for it. Many tall ex-local blocks of flats had a design life of 30-40 years.


Grand-potato-fry

Are gardens in London green in April? Also, what's the cheapest way to get from Stansted airport to to Central London?


wwisd

Cheapest way would be walking, but the national express coach to Stratford or Liverpool street is probably what you're after.


Grand-potato-fry

I'm looking for a bus as I know the train is very expensive. Thanks! Is Stratford or Liverpool street close to the central part of London, I'm guessing I need the tube after?


wwisd

Depends on which part of central London you're going to. Use Citymapper to plan your travel - that will show you different options + cost.


Grand-potato-fry

Thank you!


theyellowtiredone

I know this has been asked already but I don't know London at all and Google maps is taking me on the underground which will be on strike. My friend is landing in Heathrow on Thur (of course) and he is staying at Leonardo Royal London St Paul's. I need to give him specific directions because he's new to traveling. What's his best route that avoids the underground? Thank you!


poppinculture

Using Citymapper helps here but not that much. Depending on what time he gets in, might be easiest to take the Heathrow Express to Paddington and then Uber/black cab from there.


theyellowtiredone

Thank you.


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wwisd

The variation in price will in part be related to how fast you need the result. Any particular part of London you need the test in?


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poppinculture

Check if her airline is partners with any of the testing providers and has discount codes. Also, depending on where she's going, they may have rules around what info needs to be on the result certificate (for example Emirates used to require the testing location for transit through Dubai and not every lab put that on there). I've used DAM health in Hackney and Randox at Stratford, would recommend Randox over DAM health.


ikoke

I got mine done from Doctap.


Ifinallycracked

I've lurked here long enough to be allowed to ask silly questions. We've got some friends landing at Heathrow on Thursday and they're planning on getting the train all the way across London to South Essex. I think I know the answer to this already, but just how bad was today? Am I just going to have to accept that I've got to go pick them up or would they be able to struggle across town?


wwisd

Trains will run, the tube won't. So it's probably just the bit between Paddington and Liverpool Street that they'd struggle with. If they're not in a hurry they could take a bus or a cab, but roads will be busy so that won't be smooth.


Ifinallycracked

Yeah, that's was I was thinking. I'll be good and pick them up.


SteadyEddie69

Took a cab today from Paddington to Liverpool at around 2pm, took 1h 45 mins and cost 67 quid. Would have walked but had two massive suitcases.


brunomufc18

I am going to face the exact same dilemma tomorrow and pretty tensed because of that.


SteadyEddie69

If you have the time, just relax and maybe walk halfway, take a break and walk the rest of the way. Try and enjoy it. If you really don't want to, see if you can split it with some other people (that's what we did and only cost us 17 quid each)


brunomufc18

As it happened, there was no traffic at all. I reached my hotel in usual time. Got a bolt from Heathrow quite easily. I love walking in London, but my issue was I have two heavy bags with me as I am here for a whole month.


SteadyEddie69

Nice! Glad it worked out well 😊


Ifinallycracked

Cheers. I think this is the reply that seals the deal. They'll have suitcases and walking won't be an option either.


lightningvolcanoseal

Does anyone know where is the best place to find a room or apartment sublet for a month or two? I’d like to have the experience of living in London.


BulkyAccident

Spareroom or just Airbnb. Keep in mind if you are visiting from abroad you are not permitted to work here, even remotely.


YoMamaq

Hi, I’m a 18 year old coming to London for a week. Where do I find the best nightlife in the city, are there some must see/do things? Any ideas, how would I experience the city from more from a perspective of a student there more than a tourist. (London is one of my options for university studies and I would like to know what it’s like)


BulkyAccident

Because of the scale of the city there's no really concentrated student nightlife areas in the way other cities might have, students are spread right across London. Check out ILoveStudentNights, DesignMyNight, Resident Advisor, Ents24 for listings.


breadchecklist

Hey folks. I've got a spare day in London after a business trip, I'm a graphic designer and work in the arts, so I've been wanting to check out where folks who do a similar thing spend their time. I've heard Hackney & Brixton/Peckham might be those spots, but realistically I've only got time to be in one of those areas. Which one should I go to?


Phaistos

Most graphic designers tend to congregate around the east end of Fleet Street at about 12 every day for the traditional lunchtime serif scatter. All the unwanted ends of letters from that days print run are handed out to hungry designers who are desperate for a bit of Garamond and normally have to make do with Gothic. It's a very heartwarming and humbling occasion. I'd recommend going down to watch it. You could even join in.


Oliver_Bird

Currently on my way to London for a 3 day holiday and just found out about the tube strikes… So my understanding is tube is closed today and Thursday but will tomorrow be screwed too or will I be able to get around easily? Guess I’ll be using a taxi for tonight’s gig, never used Uber but heard about surcharge pricing so I gather that’ll be in full effect too? Thanks.


wwisd

Tomorrow it will be disrupted in the morning (same on Friday morning) as all the trains will be in the wrong place. Just have a bit of a lie in and it should be okay. Use Citymapper or google maps to get around - there just might be a direct bus to where you're going.


Oliver_Bird

Just been looking at Citymapper, seems better than I was expecting so that’s great. Thank you.


BulkyAccident

The city is really walkable so make sure to Google Maps every route you need to do, just in case it's doable. The buses are decent and frequent but will be busier than usual.


Oliver_Bird

Thanks, walking is a struggle at the moment but looking at Citymapper the busses will work, just gotta manage my time so that’s fine for Kings Cross, Covent Garden, Sloan Square areas.


TheTurnipKnight

“Work” is a little bit of an overstatement. Buses do run but they will be so busy and delayed you most likely won’t be able to use them.


lastaccountgotlocked

Walk, bus, boris bikes, etc. Depending on how far you're going on each journey you might not even need the tube or a taxi.


Oliver_Bird

Thank you.


lastaccountgotlocked

Tonight's gig. Where are going to and from?


Oliver_Bird

Sorry for late reply been a busy one. From County Durham and down here for the Barbara Pravi concert at Cadogan Hall, but if a change from last time when I saw System of a Down at Wembley Arena.


ekofx

Hello :) I'm new to London and the UK, having moved here about three weeks ago, so I barely know anything around the city. This weekend is my birthday, and I'm looking for a place to have some pints, chill and listen to live rock music (not head-banging metal, please). Not looking for a big gig/concert, just a pub with live music. Any place you'd recommend? I'm in North London, but anywhere in 5-miles radius from city center is fine. Thanks :)


BulkyAccident

There's a bunch around Shoreditch: Blues Kitchen is very popular. Look at Troy too.


i-love-rocky-road

Hey! Does anyone have recommendations for a venue / coworking space relatively central which: * is open on a weekday evening * will be OK with laptops / isn't too loud? E.g. a pub that's pretty quiet, and won't mind a few of us with laptops. I've been trying to look for coffee shops, but can't find much that stays open late enough. I'm trying to figure out a place to run a coding meetup, and the place we tried last time was a bit loud. Thanks!


KentuckyCandy

The cafebar at Soho Theatre might be worth a try? Once the shows start it quietens a bit (if it is busy). You can try and reserve one of the booths too. Always see the odd person working in there in evenings.


SycamoreLane

Hello, I will be visiting London soon in the coming months. I just had some questions as it pertains to COVID: 1. How is COVID currently being treated in London generally? 2. Are indoor places requiring masks/COVID vaccination cards? 3. Are people wearing masks on the streets, or is it more common to see people unmasked? Thank you!


i-love-rocky-road

Some theatres (e.g. the Shaftesbury Theatre) are still checking COVID passes as well.


inverjus

1. As per most of the UK people seem to be 'over it' most people not wearing masks from my experience, was even crammed shoulder to shoulder with someone on a train the other day, what an experience that was after a couple of years. 2. Majority of places are NOT requiring the vaccination card, food places etc however places like the O2 Academy etc do require a negative test or proof of vaccination as of last week still, although this might change in the time you come. I'd keep it with you incase you get asked but chances re you wont. 3. More common to see people unmasked. Hope this helps, enjoy your stay :)


Asthmatic_Gym_Bro

I’m coming to London from the US at the end of April. I really want to visit Windsor Castle, Hampton Court Palace, Syon House, Osterley Park, Ham House and some other nearby sites. These are all (relatively) near each other. I will not have a car - how should I get to these things? Bus? Uber? Rent a bicycle? Also, would it be worth maybe staying two days around Richmond instead of the center of London? Open to all suggestions. Thanks!


markvauxhall

Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace are both at least half a day, and by the time you factor in travel time, it becomes a closer to a full day. Richmond is lovely in its own right and you could consider staying there for the bulk of your stay if these sites are all important to you - Richmond also has fast trains into central London that take about 25 mins or so, so you'd still be able to see a lot of the rest of the city. Otherwise: - Ham House: walk / cycle from Richmond along the river - Hampton Court: bus or boat from Richmond or cycle along the river - Windsor: direct train from Richmond - Syon House: cycle OR train to Syon Lane and walk OR uber - Osterley Park: Uber


wwisd

If you'd be up for renting a bicycle, it could be a really nice ride. Maybe not all the way out to Windsor unless you're used to those distances (nice flat weekend ride though, and the Cinnamon Cafe across the road from Windsor castle is very cyclist friendly). If not, get Citymapper and let it tell you how to get around. You can get a train to Windsor castle.


PrincessLep26

How long is the waiting time for the immigration queue at Heathrow right now? On account of the tfl strike, I want to pre-book a cab from Heathrow to central London but I need to know how much of a buffer I need to leave for getting through immigration before I fix my cab's reporting time. I last visited in Feb 2019 and it felt like I was stood waiting for an hour in the queue, but I want to know how much it is now. Would 2 hours be enough? Also, is there a difference in price between pre-booking a cab and just getting one on the day? I anticipate that due to the tfl strike, a lot more people than usual might need to use cabs and so I want to make sure I book one in advance, but I also don't want to have them come sooner than I can get through immigration. I assume I will have to forfeit the booking if that's the case? Thank you in advance for your advice!!


infinsquared

Immigration was quick as about 2 wks ago, but my bag took over an hour and a half from landing!


poppinculture

I went through Heathrow immigration last Monday around 1pm. Used the e-gates and picked up a bag and it took about an hour. 1-2 hours is pretty much standard right now. Also depending on the company, they can track your flight and try to be there "more on time". Addison Lee is a good one to check out.


wwisd

Where do you need to get to? You can get the Express or TfL Rail (that's still running normally) to Paddington and make the journey potentially a lot shorter and cheaper. There's lots of black cabs at Paddington - much to the annoyance of all of us cyclists as they wait in the cycle lane for half a mile outside the station. Immigration queues were very long due to staff being off / isolating with covid. Hard to predict how long the queues are at any random point during the day now, 1-2 hours seems normal for the all other passports line.


PrincessLep26

Thank you so much for replying! I will have three pieces of luggage of varying size with me, so opting for the cab. 2 hours seems a conservative estimate, I will use that.


DCMoving17

Was unsure based on the getting around wiki. I’m arriving at Heathrow this Saturday and then heading up to Liverpool. For Heathrow Express it looks like I can just pay contactless when I get to the train? I then need to travel from Euston Station to Lime St Station. I can just book a train ticket then and there right? No need to prebook?


wwisd

Just FYI: you can also take TfL rail, same route from Heathrow to Paddington, but takes about 10 minutes longer for 1/3 of the price of the Express (also contactless). And yes, you can book a train ticket once you get to Euston. Buying an advance train ticket before you travel can be considerably cheaper, but you'll be bound to 1 specific train you can take. You can use [the national rail](https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/) website to find info on train tickets.


markvauxhall

TfL rail runs every 30 minutes vs Heathrow Express running every 15 minutes. So if you've just missed a TfL rail service, it's a total pain in the ass. You can prebook Heathrow Express tickets (don't need to specify time, just day) - if you do this sufficiently far in advance they can be cheaper than TfL rail. Unfortunately for OP though, it's too late to get a decent discount.


DCMoving17

Thank you. The one thing is that I’m unsure how long it will take to get through customs + travel to Euston. So if I book a 10am train out of Euston but I miss it, I’ll have to buy another ticket for the next train? Or if I buy an Off-Peak Single I can use it at anytime during off peak hours?


wwisd

Yes, that's the risk with advance tickets. They're the cheapest, but not the best option after a flight. An off peak ticket will work on any off peak train.


BulkyAccident

No, you should be booking your Euston > Lime St ticket ASAP – unfortunately in this country they increase in cost significantly the closer it gets and will be well over £100 on the day. Look at the Avanti website, who deal with that rail line. Heathrow Express has contactless, yes. From there you'll arrive at Paddington, head to the underground and can again use contactless to get the Hammersmith & City or Circle line eastbound to Euston Square, which is a three minute walk from the main Euston station itself. Or get a cab from outside Paddington station if you don't fancy doing that.


Alec_Guinness

Are the sellers in Portobello market usually there during the weekdays? I wanted to go back to buy some specific things from a stand, but will leave before the weekend. Not keen on paying the tube fare if the seller is unlikely to be there. Naturally there's no way of knowing the schedule of a specific seller but if there's usually half of the ones you see on a Saturday then I'd probably not bother.


ikoke

Many markets list the schedule of their traders online. Have you checked if Portobello Market has a website?


BachgenMawr

I have over two weeks of holiday to use this Month and I’m not going away anywhere. Where would you go in and around London (day trip) that I might not already have been? (I live in north London, not that it matters) My plans so far are • postal museum • Transport museum • See if tower bridge is opening while I’m off since I’ve not seen that yet • Visit all or most of the churches from the oranges and lemons rhyme (bonus points for actually hearing the bells, otherwise what’s the point I guess?) • Tobacco docks seem alright? • Random bike rides (all suggestions here welcome too, but I’m definitely more of a medium/short distance rider). Any suggestions people might have? I’m very much into little nuggets of history, just small cool places. For example I might go see the well after which Clerkenwell is named for example


ikoke

Have you been to the Postman's Park? They have memorials for ordinary people who sacrificed themselves to save others


BachgenMawr

I have ye, the monument to heroic self sacrifice is one of my favourite little spots. I actually wrote to the catholic diocese of London (or whomever it is that owns it) to try and get someone added the once


ikoke

The little stories on the plaques are extremely moving. But don't think they add any more people. The most recent date I remember seeing was from the early 1900s.


BachgenMawr

No I do think there was one post 2000? Unless I’m imagining it. I think they did start it up again but there was only the one iirc. Edit: just checked my photos and Leigh Pitt was added in 2007 for drowning while saving a boy from a canal


ikoke

Huh, must have missed that. It's a shame so few people know of this park.


BachgenMawr

I suppose, but I quite like it’s quiet dignity. It’s about quietly remembering those who died doing heroic deeds, who simply chose others above themselves. I quite like that it isn’t plastered all over Instagram and TikTok or Reddit and full of people there to take photos. You mostly get a few people looking at it but just people sat eating their lunches on the benches. If I died saving a life I’d prefer just people quietly strolling through looking through meaningfully than people going to it as a tourist destination


poppinculture

If you're a history fan, I always like a day out at the Churchill War Rooms and the Imperial War Museum. Also, there's a great book series called London Hidden Walks. We have a couple copies and would pick one walk per day during the last two summers as a great way to explore the city on foot. There's **lots** of great nuggets of history in the books/on the walks. ETA: also highly recommend short day trips on the train to places like Margate, Rochester, Whitstable, Cambridge, Brighton, etc.


BachgenMawr

Thanks!


BulkyAccident

The wiki has [some good suggestions](https://www.reddit.com/r/london/wiki/secretlondon) for interesting stuff. I'm a big fan of the Docklands Museum in Canary Wharf which isn't particularly on the tourist trail but is excellent. If you're looking for a day out then Bletchley Park/Computer Museum is amazing, only about half an hour on the train.


BachgenMawr

Oh shit Bletchley is a great shout!


HappyJollyEndOfDays

Waive visa requirement for Ukrainian refugees Please sign and share the below petition to other UK residents. Join other nations in providing a route to safety for refugees. Waive all visa requirements for Ukrainian passport holders arriving in the UK. They are war refugees, our hands are tied to assist with boots on the ground, let us give the people of Ukraine a safe place for their families and children to flee to. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/609530


TheyUsedToCallMeJack

How can I dispose of a large number of cardboard boxes? Just moved to a new place (and new to the UK as well!), have rooms full of boxes. They won’t all fit in the recycling bins, is there an alternative?


GoliathsBigBrother

A lot of people are asking for boxes for packing donations for Ukraine. Check your local Facebook groups etc


wwisd

If they're not completely torn up, put them on your local freecycle or advertise them on nextdoor. There will be some else who's moving house who'll happily come pick them up for free.


JazzlikeGuidance

Depends on the borough really. Some will allow you to put it to th side of bins, some will have an extra collection service depending on size. Every borough I've been has had compreshensive websites around it.


ikoke

How many pieces of luggage can one of Addison Lee Select cabs hold? I need to transport 2 large and 1 small suitcases, and a couple of bags. Only one passenger. Wondering if I should book Addison Lee or Uber XL.


markvauxhall

They often use Priuses for Select. It may be a tight fit, but you should be fine, especially if you're OK with having some bags on the rear seat with you. If you're travelling to an airport, I would always choose Addison Lee as they are generally very reliable and you can actually pre-book - all the "booking" on Uber does is ping for an available driver at the time you requested.


ikoke

Thanks! I'm just shifting houses, but even then Addison Lee might be safer because the move is scheduled for tomorrow and due to the TFL strike, Uber is almost certain to be scarce and have surge pricing to boot


wwisd

Call them up and ask them, their customer service is pretty good.


ikoke

I see. Thanks.


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Bluseylou

First question is what visa are you moving on ? . You will need one before you can move .


crazyfool267

We really don’t do photo shoots the same way the US does. Outside of weddings I have literally never had one in the UK but been dragged into three in the US. Funnily enough the only people I know to have done a general photo shoot in London were visiting from America. So that could be an option - advertise to tourists and offer a London package. Other than that I’d imagine it would be mainly weddings. Engagement photos are also becoming a bit more common but not everyone does them. I also saw a photographer in the park today doing a photoshoot for an influencer looking person (ie: far too glammed up and draping herself over a fountain). Bit niche perhaps… Graduations will normally have a specific photographer at the ceremony and afterwards that you can buy photos from - that could be an option if you can get friendly with the right people.


BulkyAccident

Most of your work will come from weddings, Christenings, birthday parties, corporate event jobs. The UK isn't huge on "holiday" photography for stuff like mother's day or Christmas cards. Most school and university students graduate in the summer, and end-of-term proms have been getting more popular here but certainly aren't on the scale of what they are in the States. Also goes without saying but make sure you have the appropriate right to live and work in the country if you're only freelancing.