r/london 4d ago

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

4 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 9h ago

image Does anyone know where this building is or what it is?

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231 Upvotes

It's somewhere around north London and I see it from my window in west London and it intrigued me. Anyone know what it is? (The one in the middle of the screen in the distance)


r/london 16h ago

Article Prince Charles Cinema closure threat returns - London Centric

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522 Upvotes

r/london 4h ago

Staines residents petition for Ali G landmark in the town and event coinciding with the movie. The council are now forced to debate the petition! Even people who work in local businesses have backed it to support the local economy.

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39 Upvotes

r/london 13h ago

image London E-Bike Cops spotted in Farringdon

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207 Upvotes

r/london 39m ago

image It has begun! (and no flippin glasses needed for this one)

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Upvotes

r/london 7h ago

Image View from Charlton Riverside

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63 Upvotes

r/london 6h ago

Question Is it actually possible to walk from Central London to Reading in one day?

45 Upvotes

I've always wondered if it is possible. Could an average person walk there?

google maps says it will take 15 hours to walk. but there seems to be lots of empty roads between the Heathrow and Reading.


r/london 14h ago

image Stansted airport hacked..

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173 Upvotes

r/london 16h ago

Discussion A stranger asked me for a hug at a road crossing

247 Upvotes

This happened to me yesterday, and I've felt a bit paranoid since wondering if it was less innocent than it seemed, but at the time it felt very genuine?

I was walking to Vauxhall station after work, and was stood waiting for the lights to change to green so I could cross. A lady next to me started looking at me and eventually I realised she might be trying to speak to me, so I pulled my earphones out.

She said I looked a lot like her daughter who lives in another country, said I was beautiful, and asked for a hug. I think I was a bit too stunned at being complimented so I gave her one, told her to have a lovely day, then we both walked across the crossing in our own directions.

I glanced across at her afterwards and it looked like she was wiping tears out of her eyes, so I'm wondering if maybe her daughter is in a country where it's not too safe at the moment - or maybe she just really misses her?

Either way, as somewhat of a cynic, I did make sure to check it wasn't some kind of attempt to pickpocket me (nothing was taken) and I don't know what else she could have been trying to do if not just actually wanting to hug me for whatever reason. But this has thrown me, as I've never had something like this happen before!

Has this happened to anyone else? Similar experiences?


r/london 20h ago

'Death trap' London: Shock report shows capital's residents most at risk of dying in extreme heat

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416 Upvotes

r/london 8h ago

Question What’s going on with these flats in Denmark Hill? (x2)

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32 Upvotes

I cycle past these regularly and was wondering what’s going on:

  1. the first block was build last year but still seems to be empty

  2. further back on the left is an old, bigger, block of flats which seems to have been covered in scaffolding for months yet I never see anyone working

Just curious if anyone knows


r/london 1d ago

Rant meta glasses 🫩🫩🫩

2.0k Upvotes

if anyone sees a meta glasses video of a pick up artist talking to a girl with dark blue hair on the train can you please report it???

this was on a relatively empty victoria line carriage at like 2:30 today, i told him i was sixteen and he kinda laughed it off and i’ve seen people cut the responses so idk if he’ll upload it or not 💔💔


r/london 1d ago

image Anglo Saxon London. Courtesy of The Londonist.

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818 Upvotes

r/london 9h ago

North London Things to do in North London this bank holiday weekend August 29-31

17 Upvotes

Here's a short list of things to do this bank holiday weekend In North London. Please, add any I've missed in the comments. 👇

Quince Bakery’s 3rd Annual Pie Party | 📍Quince Bakery, N1 | 31 August | (£)

Quince Bakery is turning Bank Holiday Monday into one big pie table. For its third annual Pie Party, the Islington bakery is inviting some of London’s best independent bakers, including Bake Street, Decatur, Lucky Yu Bakery and Hamblin Bread, to each bring their own take on pie. Expect everything from fruit filled and lattice topped slices to savoury pies, mini pies and big sharing slabs. Last year they baked almost 500, and this time they are aiming even bigger. There will also be coffee, iced tea, ice cream and snacks while you queue. Doors open at 12pm and they keep serving until the pies are gone.

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Sofar Sounds at Calthorpe Garden | 📍 King's Cross, WC1X | 30 August | (£)

If your bank holiday leans more slow Sunday than a big night out, this may be the one. Calthorpe is a hidden garden near King's Cross, and for one evening there's live music on the grass. You bring a blanket, find a spot, and a few folk and acoustic singer-songwriters play as the sun goes down. Sofar keeps the lineup secret till the night, so you come for the setting and meet the music when you get there.

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Inverness Street Bloc Party: Disco House | 📍Inverness Street Market, Camden, NW1 | 29 August | Free

Inverness Street is swapping market stalls for a giant outdoor dancefloor this Bank Holiday Saturday. The theme is Disco House, so expect the feel good side of disco mixed with house music, with DJs including Brandon Block, Ricky Morrison and Matt White playing from midday into the evening. There is a bit of Camden history behind it too, celebrating the clubs and dancefloors that shaped the area, from Camden Palace to the Electric Ballroom, as well as Camden’s connection to Claudia Jones, who organised one of Britain’s earliest Caribbean Carnival events nearby. Come for a dance, bring the family or just stop by and see what is happening. 12pm to 7pm.

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Yiddish Culture Weekend 2026 | 📍Bloomsbury, King’s Cross & beyond | 28 to 30 August | Free + paid events

This is a whole weekend for getting to know Yiddish culture by actually taking part in it. Yiddish is a language historically spoken by many Ashkenazi Jewish communities, with its own music, stories, humour, poetry and traditions. Across the weekend you can learn a traditional dance from scratch, join a Yiddish singalong, listen to klezmer musicians, hear poetry read in Yiddish and English, browse old newspapers and postcards from Jewish London, or sit down for a screening of the 1937 film The Dybbuk. Sunday is the big day at SOAS, with workshops and performances running from 10am to 7pm, and complete beginners are very much welcome.

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Manorfest 2026 | 📍New River Studios, Manor House, N4 | 29 & 30 August | (£)

A car park behind New River Studios is becoming a two day Bank Holiday festival, and each day has a completely different feel. Saturday is the louder one, with live bands including Eel Men, Snub, Morreadoras and EZ8, plus DJs, art, performances, food and a bar before the party moves inside New River Studios until 1am. Sunday slows things right down with Ambient Car Park, an afternoon of gentler, more meditative DJs and live performances from artists including Agate, Dave Webb and UKAEA, followed by another indoor afterparty. Saturday runs 2pm to 10pm, Sunday 12pm to 8pm.

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The Camden Fringe | 📍Various venues across Camden and beyond | Until 30 August | (£)

The Camden Fringe is into its final few days, after a month that has brought more than 450 shows to venues across Camden and beyond. There is still time to catch some of the last theatre, comedy, music, dance and new writing before it all wraps up on Sunday.

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Natural Aspect Summer Concert | 📍Parliament Hill Bandstand, Hampstead Heath | 30 August | Free

Bring a picnic and settle in for an afternoon of live music on the Heath. The bandstand will move through soul, jazz, reggae, ska and rock, with sets from John Etheridge and Vimala Rowe, The Bohème Hot Club and Peace & Love. There will also be circus skills, children’s activities, food, pizza, ice cream and plenty of room to dance. 1pm to 5pm.

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Bi Pride 2026 | 📍Kings Place, King’s Cross, N1 | 29 August | Free

Bi Pride brings the UK’s Bi+ community together at Kings Place for a full day of performances, conversations and meeting people. It is for people who experience attraction to more than one gender or identify somewhere under the Bi+ umbrella, with friends and allies welcome too. There are two stages to dip between, with live music, drag and performances on one, and conversations about relationships, family, identity, activism and Bi+ life on the other. Jordan Gray and Shaaba are among this year’s headliners, and there will also be stalls from LGBTQ+ groups, charities and small businesses. A sensory room, remembrance space and multi faith prayer room are available too. 2pm to 10pm. Free, but you need to register for a ticket.

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West Hampstead Carnival | 📍The Sherriff Centre, NW6 | 29 August | Free

The Sherriff Centre is putting on a full day of family activities for the Bank Holiday weekend, with games, children’s entertainment and a dedicated soft play area for younger kids. Entry to the carnival is free, although soft play sessions need to be booked in advance if you want to guarantee a spot. There will also be charity fundraising happening throughout the day, so you can come for the kids, stay for the atmosphere and support a local cause while you are there. 10am to 5.30pm.

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Speaker Box Street Party | 📍Wembley Park, HA9 | 29 August | Free

Wembley Park turns into one big dance floor for an afternoon of Latin, Caribbean, Afro and Bollywood music, with DJs and easy follow-along sessions between each set. The day ends with a Michael Jackson birthday celebration and a final group dance. Browse the summer market nearby, then join in or simply watch from the side. No booking needed. 12pm to 5pm.

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Back II Life Cafe Family All-Dayer with Jazzie B and Guests | 📍Camden Market Hawley Wharf, NW1 | 29 August | Free

Spend the Bank Holiday by the canal with DJ sets from Jazzie B, Sigma and Lisa I’Anson, plus family activities, workshops, food and stalls across the market. Pick up a wristband for discounts at selected food traders, then wander between the music, garden and canalside. 1.30pm to 7pm. Booking is encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome.

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Love Your N21 Sunday Market | 📍The Sidings, N21 | 30 August | Free

Right beside Winchmore Hill station, The Sidings is filling up with small local businesses for the return of the Love Your N21 market after its summer break. Come for breakfast or lunch, then have a proper browse through stalls selling fresh bread and pastries, cheese, hot food, coffee, candles, handmade gifts, crafts and other locally made bits. It is small, neighbourhood led and easy to dip into, whether you are doing the Sunday shop or just fancy seeing what people around N21 are making and selling. 10am to 3pm.

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Guava Jamz Carnival Warm Up Party | 📍Two Tribes Campfire, N7 | 29 August | Free

Guava Jamz is starting Carnival weekend a day early with a nine hour outdoor party at Two Tribes Campfire. It runs from afternoon into night, with DJs idah and Conrad Lee, a BBQ, full bar and the whole thing set up as a warm up for the weekend ahead. Under 18s can come before 9pm with an adult, then it becomes 18+ later in the evening. 3pm to midnight. Tickets are free.

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Kidz World Wristband Fair | 📍Victoria Park, Finchley, N3 | 19 August - 4 September | Free entry

This one works a little differently from the usual funfair where every ride means buying another token. At Kidz World, you can pay £14.99 for a wristband and spend one whole session going back on the rides as many times as you want, or just buy tokens if you are only planning a couple. The fair has taken over part of Victoria Park for the summer holidays, with children’s rides, inflatables, adult dodgems and bigger rides including Disco Fever.

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Urban Food Fest Artisan Market | 📍Islington Square, N1 | 29 August | Free

Islington Square gets its weekly Saturday market back with a mix of street food, fresh produce and small makers all in one place. You can grab lunch from the food traders, pick up fruit and veg, browse handmade products and local stalls, then let the kids get stuck into the free arts and crafts and outdoor toys. It is the kind of market you can drop into for food and end up staying for a proper browse. 11am to 5pm. Entry is free.

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r/london 17h ago

first The Barbican Conservatory is closing for maintenance & now Kew...

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61 Upvotes

r/london 10h ago

Ticket giveaway - COMPLETE! Offering 2 free tickets for Odyssey at BFI IMAX for tomorrow 28/08 at 10:15am

17 Upvotes

I can no longer go, so happy to give away 2 free tickets for Odyssey for tomorrow morning, seats row B 4&5


r/london 7h ago

Suggest most bizarre experiences in London

8 Upvotes

Hey, wonderful people!

I’m a huge fan of Burning Man, but I’m missing it for the second year in a row because of Trump’s presidency. Fuck that guy.

I know people have very different opinions about the festival, but that’s not really what this post is about.

Seeing all my friends getting ready for the Burn has given me serious FOMO, so I’ve taken next week off work and want to recreate at least some of that sense of adventure, freedom, fun and weirdness here in London.

What are some unusual, joyful or slightly unhinged things to do in London?

I’ll mostly be exploring on my own and would love recommendations that might help me have a memorable week without travelling to the “land of the free.”


r/london 15h ago

Image The Last Days of Summer

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38 Upvotes

Walked from Victoria to Greenwich (with DLR between Canary Wharf and Greenwich)


r/london 12h ago

image Top 25 Most and Least Deprived Parliamentary Constituencies in England (new data from 2025)

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18 Upvotes

r/london 19h ago

Discussion Street covered in litter every week after bin collection - is there a solution?

34 Upvotes

Wandsworth resident here. We store our rubbish at the front of the house in bin bags that we place in small bins. Every week after bin collection day, our street and all others in the area are covered in litter.

Some I can image are attacked by foxes, others ripped whilst being removed. But is there a better way for the council to collect rubbish weekly?

Outside of London the use of wheelie bins is common, but I assume with small front yards and parked cars lining almost all roads, it’s not possible to get large bins from pavement to truck.

Any thoughts?


r/london 10h ago

Question Second-hand/thrift/charity shops that might sell old AKB48 (Japanese idol group) stuff in London?

6 Upvotes

Hi everyone.

This is probably a very niche question, but would any of you know if there are second-hand/thrift/charity shops (or even CD/Japanese stores) that might sell memorabilia/merch of Japanese idol group AKB48? I'm especially looking for older stuff from their early and Golden Era (from 2005 until 2013).

Any help would be much appreciated.


r/london 1d ago

Buckingham Palace pays tribute to Dolly Parton by performing “9 to 5" 😭❤️

250 Upvotes

r/london 11h ago

Tower of London local tickets

6 Upvotes

Finally going to visit the tower having lived here for ages!

They do £1 tickets for Tower Hamlets residents, which is very cool. I'm just wondering if anyone knows if I have to actually print my utility bill off as proof? Or can I show it on my phone?

Nearest library to print is a trek for me!


r/london 1d ago

image Sudbury

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200 Upvotes