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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.

> 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 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!

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.

> https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B017I9CBPC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Ia17yb31BD6PF

These are indescribably good for the money they cost. I must've recommended these to 10+ people, and nobody has been disappointed.

They are excellent for running / gym / commuting, and the battery life is decent. Hell, they even survived a 10 minute swim a few weeks ago!

Before these, I used the Shure SE425 for years - they're really good, but wired. I replaced them with the Taotronics (at 1/10th of the price!) and they're 90% as good. Law of diminishing returns.

For the record, I also have Bose's QC35, which I use exclusively for travel. They are really good, but they're just far too bulky if you're not carrying a bag.

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.

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

I was going to post this, it is ai interesting read. Amazon link. I also hear good stuff about Dan Leno and the Limehouse Golem. .

These seem to work pretty well

Yep.

This is a good book on this kind of stuff

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

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.

>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.

Arctic MX-4 2019 Edition - Thermal Compound Paste For Coolers | Heat Sink Paste | Composed of Carbon Micro-particles | Easy to Apply | High Durability - 4 Grams https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07L9BDY3T/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_tsA0DbVTCHPXT

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

http://amazon.co.uk/Twin-Window-Fan-Do-Best/dp/B001007XSQ/

like this?

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

http://amazon.co.uk/Twin-Window-Fan-Do-Best/dp/B001007XSQ/

Have you thought about putting up a key safe?

Be safe kids.

One for the team at Shit London

I use these Taotronics on my tube commute everyday and they are fantastic for sound and noise cancelling for their price bracket- and a steal at £22.

Bluetooth Earphones, TaoTronics Bluetooth 4.1 Headphones Stereo Magnetic https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B017I9CBPC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Ia17yb31BD6PF

I know you can get it on amazon prime and a pub near Edgware Road sells Caesars and you can buy clamato juice there but can't remember it's name- sorry!

A lot of these meals are actually recipes from this book http://www.amazon.co.uk/Plenty-Yotam-Ottolenghi/dp/0091933684 which aren't overly complicated to make yourself (and are exceedingly tasty!)

Agree about the small coverage of areas - this is just rich people shit. Make it your damn self!

No habit is 'too ingrained' to change, it just takes work.

I really reccommend you read this book it changed my life.

I'm not where I want to be yet but this book set me on the right path. It's accessible, even if you have a poor attention span & don't normally read.

it's like I can read the words but they mean nothing to me

Is it this? https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/87d/Clamato-Pet-946-ml-Pack-of-3/B000YG9006/ref=pd_lpo_325_bs_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=KV2Q1FTWCR4VSR41AMBN

What the hell, clams?