So I'm moving from Vancouver to London in October on a 2 year visa and I was just wanting to see if I could get any insight into the scene there from some London pals.
I know of South Bank, and the Playstation park, and seen pictures of a couple 70's snake run looking parks, but are there any other spots people meet up at in London. I'm not expecting directions to anyone's secret marble ledge, but some decent flatground with the potential to meet some locals would be nice.
How about shops, I know of Slam City, any others I should check out? What about websites or blogs to check for contests, shows, video premieres, and whatever else to do with skating in London.
I've read hours and hours about general life over there, enough to think I have an idea what to expect and probably be completely out of touch. Any advice on places to check out, areas to look for a flat, areas to avoid, favorite pubs, which football team to start cheering for, etc. would be greatly appreciated.
Can anyone explain job finding agencies to me, we don't use those in Canada at all, so it's kinda strange to me. I'm an electrician, do I just search out agencies that deal with electricians, give them my cv and pay them to hopefully find me a job?
I'm pretty excited getting there, London has always fascinated me, and the proximity to Europe and potential for travel is awesome, I think good or bad it will be an experience worth having.
Thanks for any responses, don't know anyone there to bother with my questions so it's up to you, the internet.
Firstly, London is great; good choice. I absolutely love(d) it and intend to move back there sometime.
On the job front, I procured a job fairly quickly but that was pub work so I'm afraid I'd only be bluffing it if I could give you an accurate delineation of the job situation in your respective trade.
Accommodation - Try Gumtree, as far as I know, it's essentially used to the same degree that north americans use Craigslist:
http://www.gumtree.com/londonArea wise: Roughly speaking - east is the cheapest, west is the dearest, south and northside are very mixed. I know this is a colossal generalisation but...
Transport in London is pretty expensive and the price is time dependent. Almost every Londoner has an Oyster card - you can pick these up at any major station. Essentially it's a top-up card system and works out cheaper than single/day tickets for the Tube/bus/rail/DLR.
Sorry if I'm patronising you, as you probably will know this already, but the underground is called the Tube. The DLR - docklands light railway, runs along Canary Wharf - the financial district - the most amazing area to skate at night-time/weekend but don't even bother trying to skate there by day.
One of the stops ("Ferryhouse", I think) on the DLR hosts mile-end skatepark (but alternatively/more easily you can get the central line on the tube to "Mile-end") - probably my favourite park after Stockwell. Mile End is reputed to be one of the worse-off areas, but by and large, you've nothing to worry about. Saying that, I've heard about some really really gnarly shit going on there. And the first time I went there the park was cordoned off by police as some kid was stabbed to death, so...
Stockwell, in the southside, is where you really want to go - it's also reputed to be a bad enough area, but the thing is, the park has been there for so long, the locals (local people, not necessarily skateboarders) are well accustomed to skateboarding and there's actually a really nice, eclectic atmosphere of all ages, races. The stockwell skaters are also really really friendly. Right next to the park you can pick up cheap (by London sandards) beers and food.
Southbank is cool too, sometimes it's nice to just sit by the river and watch all the people passing - there's just a constant stream of people because of its very central location. The ledges are a bit rounded but the banks are still great and at a perfect incline. It can be a bit of a void but it's a good place to meet people and chill out.
Since I left London, I believe a fair few parks have since been built, so hopefully an actual Londoner can give you a more comprehensive description of the skating situation.
Slam is rad - friendly dudes working there and some bargains to be found. Nearby, on Carnaby street is the vans store.
Nightlife - try go to Fabric (tube: Farringdon) if you're into the clubbing thing. The West-end (Piccadilly, Leicester Square) is really shit at night-time - loads of dealers, crackheads, prostitutes and trashy/overpriced pubs/clubs so try and avoid it. At the same time, it is an experience in its own right, so do check it out. Also, and I really stress this, Camden Town is really overrated...except by the quay by day, where there are usually market stands; a great place for buying food. If you want the equivalent of London's Brooklyn, go to the borough of Hackney - Shoredtich, Hoxton, and *shudder,* particularly Brick-lane (hipster-mania.) Saying that, Brick Lane is great for a legitimate curry (there is a very prominent bangladeshi/indian community in that area) and you can also pay a visit to Rough-Trade records. Also, naturally, there is an abundance of thrift-stores in that area.
I loved the parks there - as in the more primitive definition of parks - a place where you can chill out on a bench and read a book with a squirrel by your side. There are countless parks - Hyde park being the main one. Fulham, Mayfair, South Kensington, Chelsea and Hammersmith are all fairly nice parts of the city - even to just stroll around and admire the houses, the architecture, the parks...
One of London's best features is the selection of museums/galleries - V&A, British Museum, Tate Modern and National Gallery being the main ones...all free!
If you've any queries, just p.m. me.
Enjoy your stay, London is great.
shoreditch blocks
As far as I know, these are no longer.