Best products from r/london

I agree that I'm not going to understand gangs because I'm not in the right age range, but no matter what newspapers tell you we are living in a safer, better London than in the past - there are spikes in some years and we should continue to put money towards stopping gang culture.

This is a great article from Steven Pinker

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/sep/11/news-isis-syria-headlines-violence-steven-pinker

who's book the better angels of our time is a great read about how we live in an incredibly safer world - its hard work but worth it:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Better-Angels-Our-Nature-Violence/dp/0141034645/ref=la_B000AQ3GGO_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1496274248&sr=1-1

Specifically he uses the graph half way down this page to show that we do live in a safer city and country than ever before by every possible metric

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/ng-interactive/2015/sep/11/graphic-evidence-steven-pinkers-optimism-on-trial

Anyway stay safe and away from idiots!

Peace & love!

I'll go over a few of the basic methods that we've found successful. Last week we had to fit a 4 story house with a combination homeplugs and repeaters because he refused to install wiring so we got to try out some home networking equipment.

I usually push for proper cabling, but some cases wiring is not an option.

Option 1 -
Homeplugs/Powerline. IF these work they are the best option after wiring. They don't always work, it does depend on your home wiring but generally they are pretty good. All brands have a wireless kit which includes one wired and one wireless device, this is what you probably need. And you can add more wireless points around your house if needs be.

Devolos tend to be the most reliable
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Devolo-Wi-Fi-Powerline-Starter-Access/dp/B00C5IA4TW/ref=sr_1_4?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1463659721&sr=1-4&keywords=devolo+homeplugs+wireless

Faster version - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Devolo-Powerline-Starter-Extender-Repeater/dp/B00OZDO8RE/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1463659798&sr=1-1&keywords=devolo+homeplugs+wireless

Although TP Link is a good brand and are very good value

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-LINK-TL-WPA4220KIT-Powerline-Configuration-Smartphone/dp/B00DHB2T44/ref=sr_1_2?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1463659917&sr=1-2&keywords=tplink+powerline+wifi

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-LINK-TL-WPA4530-Powerline-Extender-Multiple/dp/B019FM3FQY/ref=sr_1_6?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1463659886&sr=1-6&keywords=tplink+powerline+ac


Option 2 New router.
Don't expect miracles with a new router unless the old router is very poor. You can put a 100 antennas on one but if there's too much interference or your walls are made of concrete they won't help much. For home purposes the brand I have had most luck with in increasing range is Asus, and its what i use at home. I have an OLD dual band one which does the job, you may look to buy an AC model.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008O56HXC/ref=psdc_430579031_t3_B00DES2FQW

Option 3 - Wireless repeater.
WiFi repeaters do half the WiFi speed if they use the same channel to repeat. So you need to get a dual band one to maximise the speed (assuming your router is dual band also). If its AC speed even better. We used this model successfully in the 4 floor house and got very good speeds.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-LINK-RE355-Universal-Extender-Adjustable/dp/B01ABNLHH0/ref=sr_1_3?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1463660533&sr=1-3&keywords=tp+link+repeater


Any questions feel free to call.

Get word of mouth from friends, or even get an IT-savvy friend to take a look first so you have a bit of knowledge going into it. As an IT technician myself I'd like to think most people wouldn't take advantage, but it pays to be cautious.

Also, the guys over at /r/techsupport might be able to help, even if it's just to diagnose the issue so you know what to ask for when you get it repaired. The easiest solution though would be to back up any data on it you want to keep and send it back for repair under warranty.

If it is just dust in the fan though, just get some compressed air This kind of thing, and clean it out yourself, save yourself a few quid! There are plenty of things you can do to make it easier for the tech who takes a look at it and cheaper for yourself (computers may seem scary and complicated but most problems can be sorted fairly easily). If you want any help feel free to PM me and I'll do my best to give you some advice! :)

> From Luton Airport to South Croydon, is it better to take a cab,

Between four adults, yes. A train ticket would be roughly twenty quid each anyway, so just get a cab.

>How exactly do the Oyster cards work, in terms of limits?

It's all here, in great depth: https://tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/oyster/using-oyster/price-capping#on-this-page-1

>Would it be better to get these or Travelcards? Or would the Oyster card be more cheaper? Crayton seems to be in the travel zone 5, so with Travel cards, you'll be forced to buy 1-5 zone tickets,

Because you're staying Zone 5, but all the tourist bits are Zone 1/2, you'd be best off putting a certain amount on your oyster and let the capping do its work. Pay as you go, as explained above.

>What would be the best 'starting point' for every day? Mostly getting from Crayton to this spot, and then move about to different locations. Just so you would have something concrete to start with everyday. Considering most basic tourism happens in zone 1-2?

>What would be the best 'starting point' for every day? Mostly getting from Crayton to this spot, and then move about to different locations. Just so you would have something concrete to start with everyday. Considering most basic tourism happens in zone 1-2?

London Bridge train station would be a good starting point, as the trains go from South Croydon to London Bridge.


>Are there any 'preplanned' days available online (or some similar app), that give you a rough outline on where to go when, and basically just guide you through things and show you costs, etc.

I get in trouble for suggesting this but, including here, it seems like people genuinely just turn up without doing any research: buy a guidebook. Read it on the plane on your way here. There is a wealth of information written in every language about London, especially for tourists who haven't a clue what they're doing. Everything I've written above will be detailed at great length in a book that will cost less than a tenner. If this post is your only research into coming to London, you'll get into trouble very quickly. Don't rely on an app, unless you want your phone stolen out of your hand.


Budget: £600 for how long? Each, or between you?

> I'm told that good service is not to be expected. Is that true?

I think it depends on what you mean by "good service". I would say that competent and reasonably prompt service is to be expected, but if by "good service" you mean super friendly/flirtatious or otherwise especially solicitous or overly-familiar service then you will probably be disappointed.

If there are no problems with the service I will usually tip around 10% for restaurant meals (or pay the service charge, typically 12.5%, if it is already on the bill). I have occasionally left a small or no tip if the service was particularly bad. I have refused to pay the service charge on one occasion, when the waiter took each of my three courses away before I had finished eating it (despite there being a very clear cutlery-based signalling system to prevent such incidents)! I can recall no occasion when the service was extraordinary enough to merit a tip of greater than 10%, or a tip on top of an included service charge.

(By the way, speaking of table manners: fork always in the left hand, never the right, with prongs down (stabbing, not shovelling); and napkin on the lap, never tucked into your shirt. There's a lot more rules, but those two and the cutlery-together-when-finished one will be enough to get you through all but the fanciest meals without looking like an uncouth imbecile).

You don't tip the bartender at a pub, not even if buying food, but you could offer to buy them a drink (which they may accept payment for when offered but serve/consume later). This happens rarely, however, and most typically only if someone is a 'regular' at their local.

One additional bit of general advice:

I would very much recommend the Lonely Planet British Phrase Book as a basic introduction to British English for tourists/new arrivals (hint: the things you wear on your legs are trousers, not pants) as well as Kate Fox's Watching the English which is a delightful introduction to English culture from an antropological point of view (it has a whole chapter on how the English behave at the pub, including IIRC some two pages on the subtle protocol for ordering drinks at the bar) - entertaining and fascinating, even in the opinion of many of my actually-British friends.

I've used foam plugs, silicone plugs and now I've got custom ear protection. Not all for sleeping though.

• Foam - Best I used Moldex ones on a cord (someone else mentioned). I used these at manufacturing facilities for work as well. Block noise very well and are super cheap. Ok comfort. My right ear would always fall out for some reason but never my left.
  
• Silicone - Best I used were EarPeace. I use them for clubbing so noise blocking isn't that deep. Quite comfortable and about £15. Probably not good for sleeping
  
• Custom - I took the leap and bought ACS Custom ear plugs. They're ubiquitous with DJs, they are moulds with a little filter in. They're amazing for gigs or clubs. The difference in comfort is incredible compared to the other two types, I wear mine for several hours and you hardly notice they're in. Cost is about £125 and a few quid for complete noise blocking. I think they do a cheaper pure sleeping version as well.
  
  All in all, custom ear protection is completely worth it. Comfiest by a country mile and even better if you go to gigs or clubs, then you can buy the musician's version, swap the filters out with the complete blocks when you sleep.
  
  You can't price on your hearing, you won't get it back when it's gone!

I work in a popular indie bookshop that is also a bit of a tourist destination in London. if you came into my shop an asked this question, i would suggest these two new books on londons rivers: 1 and 2. Same title, but both different and very good books. Also secret london. I've been a londoner for 15 years, and my parents both are from here, but most of the places in this book i had never come across. My better half, who is training to be a city of london tour guide, and I, have been using the book to get to know our city better for the last few months. Another awesome way to look at the city is through lost london an awesome (an reasonably priced) coffee table book of historic photographs of the city, illuminating for any londoner. If you are looking for any other sort of book on the city (novel, history of a particular period, esoteric guide, etc...), let me know. It's what I do.

P.S. While i have linked to amazon above, if you can afford to, buy from your local independent bookshop! you'll miss us if we go!

First, no, this adapter won't work. It's North America to Continental Europe. We use a three prong adapter in the UK. Further, a "universal" adapter to UK costs like £5 in any hardware/discount shop.

But since you want to buy a nice gift, you want something more like this: https://www.amazon.ca/Ceptics-Hong-Kong-Travel-Adapter/dp/B01MZD5T3E/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=US+to+UK&qid=1558403633&s=hi&sr=1-5

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I hope your friend has a lovely trip here!

Agreed, loved Rivers of London. I've read the sequel Moon Over Soho as well. I think I liked the first one better bit it was still good :). Pick up a signed copy from the Waterstones in Covent Garden, that's where the author works / worked. Their London book section is quite good as well.

I happen to collect Londony books, way hey!

Mark Mason's Walk the Lines is pretty great. Guy takes on the task of walking the Underground routes overground. The book has lots of Underground and general London facts and stories.

Paul Talling's London's Lost Rivers and Derelict London are nice to just pick and look through every now and then.

Ackroyd's Biography is great, but for something a bit lighter there's I Never Knew That About London.

Get the Time Out Book of Country Walks - lots of good options and it was written for just the question you have.

They also do a really good book of walks in London, which is a brilliant way to see the city that will make you better informed than most Londoners.

Going for a walk + pub lunch is always a good way to pass the time and clear your head. My favourite is probably Hampstead Heath combined with lunch at The Wells.

You can also do day-long hikes by train from London. My favourite is around Boxhill (albeit a bit heavy-going). There's an awesome Time Out book of day walks from London, which you can either buy here or access for free online here. Always check train times and pub hours before you go - the book was written a few years ago and some of the lunch pubs have sadly closed down.

Its a bit old, and some of the content is probably a bit out of date now, but I enjoyed London Under London:A subterranean guide by Richard Trench and Ellis Hillman. As well as underground railways it talks about underground rivers, tunnels, etc.

Not sure if its out of print or something as the Amazon link shows it as around £30-£65, but it looks like they have a bunch of near-new/used copies at more sensible prices.

Also post in the stickied thread at the top of the subreddit, where you'll have a really helpful first post with lots of links to our wiki. You'll find a guidebook helpful too - something like Lonely Planet London and the Pocket edition for quick reference while you're out and about. You'll probably find most of your questions (how to get around, how to see the big sights, what to do/not do about tipping etc) are answered in there.

I've used these, they work pretty well and are quite easy to setup.

I moved here 8 months ago from Australia, and work for a tech company in the city - nothing related to your area of study I'm afraid.

After you get here I'd be happy to introduce you to one of our many excellent drinking establishments and natter about how everything's different to back home.

I can even lend you a copy of Watching The English http://www.amazon.co.uk/Watching-English-Hidden-Rules-Behaviour/dp/0340818867 which I was given by a french coworker after I arrived.

You really need to get a guide book for this sort of thing. Here's why:

London is 5 times the size of Sacramento in terms of area, and 20 times the size of Sacramento in terms of population. There are over 300 languages spoken here. London has had an underground train network for over 150 years because the roads were too crowded for private transport in the 19th century; in the last ten years a congestion charge for private vehicles was introduced and it can still take an hour to drive 5 miles in London.

The University stuff I can't help you with. But for the love of god, GO AND BUY A BOOK. Start here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lonely-Planet-London-Travel-Guide/dp/1742208738/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1411985492&sr=1-3&keywords=london

Anywhere really! Just search USB condom on your favourite website. These are the ones that I'm using and they work great!

Yep.

This is a good book on this kind of stuff

https://www.amazon.co.uk/London-Under-Subterranean-Guide/dp/0719552885

Agreed! Few products have earned my loyalty as much as these - I use them for paintings and pictures and even after several years, they come off with no issue

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Command-Picture-Hanging-Strips-Removable/dp/B00OI6F67O

I bought one of these a week or so ago -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Effective-Catcher-Disposable-Attractant-Suitable/dp/B004OJBGYC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1527582002&sr=8-4&keywords=fly+trap&dpID=51Eh87ULqTL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

It is now full with hundreds of dead flies. Extremely satisfying, highly recommend it. Make sure you hang it outside though because it smells.

So, we just got an AirCon unit and this thing has been amazing:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07CCMZ3FD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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It's a seal that goes around the window. You can still open and close the window... but it should stop the huge birds coming in!

>https://www.amazon.co.uk/Effective\-Catcher\-Disposable\-Attractant\-Suitable/dp/B004OJBGYC/ref=sr\_1\_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1527582002&sr=8\-4&keywords=fly\+trap&dpID=51Eh87ULqTL&preST=\_SY300\_QL70\_&dpSrc=srch

I'll get one and hang it outside the window. Thanks for the advice!

This Timeout book has some really nice walks in it and they are all designed to be accessible by train in around an hour from London.

If you want to go out by train for the day, Time Out published a book of walks you can easily get to in the home counties by train. GPX Downloads available here

I do not own and have never read this book for the obvious reason that I live here, but I've never felt let down by another Lonely Planet book so I suspect it's good.

Grab yourself one of https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00T0DW3F8/ to guarantee it, or a data only cable.

This is the one we have and have been on a bunch of the walks from