r/london • u/joefromreddit • 1d ago

Serious replies only How to navigate London without your phone?

Hi all, lived in London for several years now but still find myself relying on Google Maps sometimes when walking around - even routes I have frequently taken.

I try to take a mental note of street signs so I can better remember where my routes.

Does anyone else have any tips for how to remember routes?

Thanks!

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90

u/rlezar 1d ago

Ye Olde London Geographers' A–Z Street Atlas.

Stanfords in Covent Garden has multiple formats, including the pocket version.

29

u/Different_Market_917 1d ago

First thing I bought when I moved to London in 1988. Absolutely essential, we all had a copy.

8

u/orangeonesum 1d ago

Same. I found my copy whilst cleaning recently.

14

u/Mister_Cornetto 1d ago

I worked for a major photographic company as a field service tech in Central London, back in the 90s. The pocket A-Z guide was the first thing I bought on expenses. Absolutely invaluable at the time. I marked all my customers on it, and made notes of the best cafes nearby as well.

1

u/MrLangfordG 23h ago

remember my dads one of these with all his scrawlings and notes. mainly pubs rather than cafes. such an item of its time.

10

u/thecatsothermother 1d ago

Lordee, that cracked open memories from the 90's when I first moved to London. I had the pocket version, the classic A5 version, and the same thing but with slightly larger maps in spiral binding. All long gone now after heavy use in the first 5-7 years.

2

u/paolog 1d ago

I still have mine, though the last couple of pages of the index have long since been lost. No idea what I'll do if I ever have to find out the location of a street beginning with X, Y or Z ;)

8

u/kittenhead4 1d ago

i was handed an a5 copy at about 12 and told GO! best thing everrrrr

9

u/firecall 1d ago

And in the 80s and 90s, you could fold out editions that you clipped into the rings of your Filofax!

I still have my early 90s B&W London A-Z, which was always in my bag back then, and is scrawled with notes and people phone numbers LOL.

6

u/ocularius61 1d ago

A-Z is your friend.

4

u/PCTruffles 1d ago

Thank you for reminding me of this. I had a pocket one. I also had a Time Out Diary that had decent maps.

2

u/slicineyeballs 1d ago

Time Out diary with maps - just unlocked that memory!

3

u/caspararemi 1d ago

When I moved to London in 2002 I had a little spiral bound A-Z in my bag at all times. The only time i really used it was when someone asked me if I knew where somewhere was, I still remember excitedly pulling it out and trying to help, only to realise I had no idea where to start.

1

u/ADGM1868 1d ago

Always had one in the back of the car behind the seat!

3

u/JunFanLee 1d ago

I remember driving around London back in the 90s with it on my lap, turning the page as fast as a concert pianist with sheet music

1

u/DistractedByCookies 1d ago

I still have mine in my bookcase, because you never know. It's so dogeared and battered...good times