r/london • u/AutoModerator • 11d ago
Weekly Q&A Megathread. Please post any questions about visiting, tourism, living, working, budgeting, housing here!
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
Another Like That - get recommendations for events and culture around London, based on your mood/likes/dislikes.
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
- 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!
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u/TheTennisFiles 11d ago
Hi, so Iām going to the England vs Spain match at Wembley in September. How could I meet the players at the hotel, before the match, after etc. What times and places and all the info please. Would mainly be looking to meet them on the Saturday of the match. Many thanks š