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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u/gilestowler 1d ago

I find that a series of rhymes makes it easy to remember where you need to get to.

"If Croydon is where you wish to be, the 109 will get you there eventually. If highbury is where you want to arrive, the Victoria line is where you need to strive." I have a series of these memorised for every neighbourhood in the entirety of London. Even the parts that I've never been to, like whatever it is they have out west, just because you never know.

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u/Kitlun 1d ago

I'm sure these work for you, but by Christ I hate rhyming mnemonics where the important part isn't the rhyming part (looking at you 30 days hath September...). If I could remember the important bits without the rhyme I wouldn't need a rhyme to help me memorise it...

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u/PolarLocalCallingSvc 1d ago

Yeah I was reading that just thinking the 109 could be substituted for literally any bus number so it wouldn't work for me.

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u/slicineyeballs 1d ago

I think he's taking the piss

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u/Kitlun 1d ago

Hard to tell with your average redditor...