London Warning or Danger Tips by Mariajoy

Just in case you were considering climbing a pole or lamp post on the perimeters of Trafalgar Square on NYE (and let's face it, who wouldn't?), be warned! they have been coated with something black and slippy to deter any would-be revellers!!

Leave a Comment

There is a danger that you might just love London so much that you want to return again and again! Better start saving the pennies!!! (or at least a few hundred quid! ;-)

Leave a Comment

Single females should NEVER take unlicensed mini-cabs. Check the GLA website advice regarding taxis, and minicabs. They also provide a phone number listing licensed cab firms in your area:

"You can text HOME to 60835 and receive the numbers of licensed minicab and black cab firms in the area you are texting from. This service - the first of its type in the UK - was launched by the Mayor in September 2005.

* Text charged at 35p per enquiry plus standard text message rate. Service not currently available on Virgin and 3 mobile networks."

Black cabs in London are expensive late at night - but this really is the safer option. This statement is also taken from the website:

Remember for all private hire journeys, including in a minicab, you must always book through a licensed private hire operator - unlicensed minicab drivers commit 10 sexual assaults every month.

Leave a Comment

Website: http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/safer_travel/find-minicab.jsp

Be careful when walking the London streets in Autumn - wet leaves on the pavements can be hazardous to pedestrians and you might not have the kind of *trip* you were hoping for!

Leave a Comment

... at the Notting Hill Carnival! (Bank Holiday weekend in August)

Or even soft pump type shoes... The gutters are littered with broken glass during the carnival and with 1.5 million people in attendance it's packed and is very very difficult to avoid treading on rubbish. I heard a couple of reports of people having their feet gashed quite badly due to thoughtlessly discarded bottles. So even if it's a hot day, don't be tempted to wear open toed sandals or anything too flimsy on your feet!

The paramedics have great difficulty getting through the crowds so it could be some time before your injury can be dealt with... just take care!

Leave a Comment

This is a photo of a photo by Andrew Stuart - I saw it in the London Evening Standard tonight (Dec 07) and felt it would be a good warning to anyone thinking of Christmas shopping in Oxford Street.

This was a pre-Christmas "car-free" ie pedestrians only event (2 of these days are allowed each year) but plans are afoot to increase it to three days and over a million shoppers were there on Saturday.

Anyway... even an hour in this Christmas crush would be too much for me... I guess it depends on how bad you want something... but nothing could be worth this could it??

Leave a Comment

Website: http://www.streetsensation.co.uk/oxford/os_intro.htm

Before you park your car ANYWHERE in London.. please check the notices on lampposts all along the roads.... most are permit/ residents only... others you need to phone the number given on the notice and give your card details to make the parking payment.

The cost of having your car un-clamped is anything between £110-£130 in Southwark... but each borough will have their own rules/fines etc. Check the GLA website to find more information regarding car parking in London.

This particular car had a German 'F' (for Frankfurt??) number plate - and a sleeping bag in the back.

Leave a Comment

Website: http://www.southwark.gov.uk/YourServices/transport/parking/Clamping/

.... that you are never more than a few feet from a rat anywhere in London??

It is just bizarre that someone would throw piles of fresh meat on to a busy and popular public thoroughfare - the SOUTH BANK!!.. I mean... what were they thinking??? This is just disgusting.

The pigeons of course, just like rats, will eat anything...

Leave a Comment