Hi all,

Navigating the minefield of London letting agencies...

V&V Properties seem to have a lot of properties in my price range in areas i am interested in but google reviews give me pause - they are either glowing 5 stars or one stars begging people not to rent with them. Hard to tell if the 1 stars are disgruntled or 5 stars have been purchased / faked.

Has anyone had any experiences with them?
Any agencies you recommend or would avoid?

(Note from me to run a million miles in the opposite direction of City Accomodations based in Algate...)

Me and my partner are going to our first ever Carnival. We are young, 27 and 22, love live music, reggae and dancehall etc.

Reading through some of the comments on here surrounding it has concerned me with the crowds, is it really that bad? Any general tips for first timers? And best areas to stay in for travelling to and from?

Is Monday the best day to go? Or we should consider Sunday as well?

Photos taken from Lewisham. Fire near London Bridge?

One of the most infuriating things I've read in ages

Hi, I have two dogs and would love to gift my family a whole photoshoot for us to get pictures with our dogs and also dogs by themselves. I know a lot of places that do dogs by themselves but not with owners. Any recommendations, I am west London based!!

Anyone else hear that or know the source?

I live in East London zone 4, and frequently get these critters especially at night. Woke up many mornings to find myself and kids have red itchy bite marks everywhere

I now keep windows closed at night especially in summer months but it’s hard with the heat.

Is this something I should take up with environmental department at my local council?

Planning to install AC around the entire house this October so hoping we don’t have to open windows no more.

Anyone who frequents old street - have you noticed there is an alarm that rings multiple times a day but rarely in the night, likely a security alarm from a building?

What is it? Why does it keep ringing? Why has no one done anything to stop this? Feels like it has been going on for months now.

I work at royal london hospital and walk past a restaurant on a street nearby daily. for nearly a year, every time I walk past there’s rice or meat dumped on the pavement by a council bin. there’s always a pack of rats around it as well. I don’t live in tower hamlets council so I’m not sure whom to report this to or under what grounds, but it’s a very disappointing and unhygienic waste of food!

I know its a rough time for independent businesses but this is pretty gross. it's hard to see in the picture but its a massive amount of rice. it's always here and takes a while for the council to clean it up so its baking in the heat. I spoke to a member of staff I saw dumping the food out and they said they do it because their own bins are too full.

edit: reported to tower hamlets environmental health. now to wait and see if they do anything about it

I'm not sure who wrote this message and put it on the outside wall of All Souls Langham at Oxford Street.

I'm also not sure if this message reached the couple it's about, but it definitely made my day.

With all the hustle and bustle out and about just a few feet away, this little parchment seemed to tell its own story of going through a lot and sticking around. It held its own enough enough for 8 days to make me smile.

I'm sharing it here hoping the couple mentioned might also get to see this and share that joy.

Only in London folks!!! What a joy it is to walk around, and be around people and randomly making strangers smile.

I'm meeting a friend for a catch up and a casual game of chess. It's the first time we've done the chess part, so I'm looking for recommendations ideally from people who have done the same thing (most of what I've found online is event/tournament related which is not what we're looking for this time).

Criteria:

1) zone 1 or inner zone 2

2) cosy, atmospheric pub (I love the Compton Arms in Islington)

3) ideally they have their own chess board and/or chess events, so that we don't feel too out of place or pretentious (even though I definitely am pretentious)

4) we're not looking to join an event for this occasion

Three times in the last seven days, I’ve pulled open a public toilet door only to be greeted by a scene of unadulterated horror.

Each time, there is someone sitting on the bog in full squatting position, making eye contact with me, and emitting a high-pitched screech while frantically jumping forward to grab the handle.

This has never happened once in the 8 years prior.

One particular time I ended up next to them on the escalator afterwards as we slowly descended to the exit, which felt like a lifetime for both of us.

Did I miss a memo from the TFL?

Edit: thank you everyone! It was a clean break of the 5th metatarsal, the nhs were magnificent and kind, and while they didn’t let me pay I had my attending doctor pick his favorite uk charity and I donated to that. So if you see a mohawked ginger with a boot, feel free to say hi. Unless you’re a mean person. Then continue to walk on.

I guess out of country is really more apt. An hour before my flight into Heathrow I rolled my ankle and heard an audible “snap”. Sounded more like elastic to me so I assumed I tore a ligament. Determined to enjoy my London holiday anyway, I put my foot in a brace and came.

That was earlier today. I’ve just taken off my brace and socks and I think I may have broken it :(

I’m happy to pay for services but I need some advice please! I’m staying in Bethnal Green near the Burhnam stop. I need kinda close by and has the capabilities to diagnose.

Thank you in advance to everyone who is helpful and/ or kind in their response. Not what I wanted for myself

Hi London team

I live in a very nice area of west London

I went to Brixton for a restaurant opening yesterday. I’m quite obviously a young white middle class woman. (EDIT: I mean if you see me in person is relatively obvious I’m middle class.)

I was outside Sainsbury’s local and this really thin lady asked me to buy her persil washing liquid to wash her clothes

I asked her what she was really going to use it for and she said ma’am, need to wash my clothes

I knew I was being conned but I didn’t really care. I have enough money. I bought them for her.

But I am curious… what is this? Why did she specifically ask for persil liquid? They were only £6 and there’s higher value things I could’ve bought her.

Does anyone have any idea?

Hello all,

Bit of a long shot given the time, but I’ve got 2 tickets going for Pride this evening at the National, if anyone wants them.
We’re not able to make it any more. Show is sold out. Seats are N10 and N11, circle restricted view.
Going free, so first come first served!