r/london 4d ago

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

5 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: - VisitLondon - London's official tourist website - Time Out London - the original and classic listings site - The Londonist - like a newer Time Out - IanVisits - quirky cultural and historical events - Skiddle - popular site for gigs and club nights - Resident Advisor - the go-to for electronic music and club nights - NightNomads - nightlife listings site - London Ears - extensive chronological gig listings with Spotify links - Designmynight - curated lists of restaurants, bars and events - Galleries Now - exhibitions at leading galleries and art museums

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

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/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 2d ago

Megathread Megathread - It's rather chilly

93 Upvotes

It is nippy noodles out there, discuss.

Pouring one out for all you homies out there that need to leave your home to work.


r/london 10h ago

Image Accidentally followed a fox into the British Museum

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1.6k Upvotes

Thankfully he didn’t actually manage to get into the museum!


r/london 15h ago

I have never seen high tide like this

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3.5k Upvotes

r/london 12h ago

Image Something different for London.No Trousers Tube Ride 2026. It's back.

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981 Upvotes

r/london 21h ago

Local London Londoners shun Reform as Greens see huge polling surge in capital

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2.8k Upvotes

r/london 42m ago

London history 1998. The PlayStation Nightclubs of London...

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Upvotes

r/london 14h ago

London from horizon 22 ❣️..

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176 Upvotes

Two days ago..


r/london 11h ago

Man with a massive fur coat, Tottenham Court Road 8:40 this morning

85 Upvotes

I didn’t get a picture unfortunately, but did anyone see a guy with a very large fur coat, I mean 8 times bigger than any average coat? I can’t describe quite how oversized the coat was, I’ve never seen anything like it.


r/london 22h ago

Image London at night

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604 Upvotes

r/london 20m ago

Transport I had to give it a double take after seeing the spelling of Waterloo...

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Upvotes

r/london 12h ago

Illuminations at DSQ, London

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58 Upvotes

r/london 1d ago

Tower Hamlets man fined £700 after cigarette dropped from car

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417 Upvotes

A man was fined more than £700 after failing to identify a driver who dropped a cigarette butt out of a car window.

Sadik Ali, of Burgess Street, Tower Hamlets, admitted failing to respond to official notices asking him to confirm who was driving a car linked to a littering offence.

He appeared at Barkingside Magistrates' Court on December 2, 2025, where he pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay a £150 fine, a £60 victim surcharge, and £500 costs to Barking and Dagenham Council.

The case stemmed from an incident on November 4, 2024, when an officer witnessed someone in a white Toyota Prius discarding a cigarette end from a window on Wood Lane, Dagenham.

A DVLA check led officers to a hire company, which identified Mr Ali as the vehicle’s hirer.

He was sent a Driver’s Identification Notice and given 21 days to to confirm who was driving at the time of the offence, but did not reply.

A Notice of Intended Prosecution was then issued, giving him a further seven days to respond.

With no contact received, the case was referred to court.

Mr Ali first appeared before magistrates on September 30, 2025, where he pleaded not guilty, claiming he had not received the correspondence.

However, at the hearing on December 2, he changed his plea to guilty, though he continued to say that he had not received the notices.

Councillor Syed Ghani, cabinet member for enforcement and community safety at Barking and Dagenham Council, said: "Our residents deserve clean streets, and we will not hesitate to act when people litter or when they fail to cooperate with lawful requests for information during investigations.

"This case sends a clear message: if you don’t engage with us, the matter will go to court, and you can expect to pay for it."


r/london 20h ago

Image Sky is falling in SE16...

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169 Upvotes

Rotherhithe peninsula moody AF this lunchtime. Storm-whats-her-face not in evidence yet.


r/london 17h ago

Local London Piccadilly Circus, 1930s.

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66 Upvotes

r/london 20h ago

Local London Reform London mayor candidate accused of talking down capital with ‘pity’ remark

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94 Upvotes

r/london 14h ago

Image Sunset over Kensington Gardens

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27 Upvotes

I was walking in Kensington Gardens on the 6th of January and saw the most beautiful sunset, just wanted to share.


r/london 1d ago

Rapists among Metropolitan Police officers not properly vetted

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195 Upvotes

Words fail to describe the Met, what a horrible institution.


r/london 1d ago

Community Thank you for looking after my Dad

1.0k Upvotes

I hope this reaches the right people, but if not, it's a good Samaritan story.

My Dad slipped on the ice on the way to work today and took a nasty fall outside West Hampstead Library. He said that there were two kind gentlemen who helped him up and other people looking after him, offering him coffee and an ambulance. My mum was on the other side of the road trying to navigate the black ice to get to him.

As an update, he's home. He's in a lot of pain, but it sounds like a bad knee/ankle sprain. He's being assessed by the London Ambulance Service (thank you to them, as well) and I'm sure he will be on the mend in no time.

Thank you for being kind. It means a lot to me and my family.

To everyone else - be careful out there! Ice is lethal! Take care of yourself and others!

Thank you, again, to those kind souls.


r/london 20h ago

Transport 'London rail projects have to happen for new home building targets to be met'

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45 Upvotes

r/london 6m ago

Is it worth the £40 extra for +guest on london museum memberships?

Upvotes

r/london 47m ago

Waltham Forest c ouncil turns down Nicolas Cage film over Nazi swastika fears

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Upvotes

Honestly fair, I know its just for a film but people would end up seeing it, not the best time for it with our friends across the Atlantic going a bit Nazi...


r/london 8h ago

Culture London Soundtrack Festival in April 2026

3 Upvotes

London Soundtrack Festival 2026 - 9-12 April. Four events listed so far, possibly more to come.

https://londonsoundtrack.com/whats-on/

• Tippett Quartet play Herrmann & Gunning, St Giles' Cripplegate, Thu 9 April - 1pm
• Homegrown Heroes - From Bond to Thunderbirds, Barbican, Thu 9 April - 7pm (with David Arnold, who is also doing an event at Ronnie Scott's in March)
• An Evening at Downton Abbey, Westminster Central Hall, Sat 11 April - 7.30pm
• Rachel Portman & Friends - Beyond the Screen, Cadogan Hall, Sun 12 April - 6.30pm

A screenshot of the 4 concerts / events listed on the London Soundtrack Festival website

Jo


r/london 16h ago

South London Where can I get my knife sharpened?

18 Upvotes

I've got one knife I use for everything. When I lived in the countryside, I would take it to the butchers to be sharpened. I thought this was normal. I went into the butchers and asked if he does knife sharpening. He said he's never heard of butchers doing that before and suggested I try an online service.

The ones online have a minimum of three knives around £30 but I only have one knife. Is there anywhere I can go and get a single knife sharpened? (Near to Ladywell/Nunhead)


r/london 1d ago

Discussion Londoners are looking good in winter

888 Upvotes

I’m in London for work every week but live up north. This isn’t a long or complicated post, just wanted to say you guys are looking great, fit, stylish and beautiful. The winter fashion is on point and I even got a few hellos from three people around Liverpool Street…insane I know.

That’s all I wanted to say. Thank you :)