1st-time London visitors seek fun, culture and bikes.

Oh! Found out where we're staying! On the south bank, near the Stockwell tube stop. Anybody know what's cool in that neighborhood?
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Best thing about Stockwell is leaving it! Brixton, just down the road is good for a night out and you've also got Clapham on your door step (but only worth going if you like hanging out with Real Estate agents!).

Go to St James's park, and if you're lucky you'll see a pelican feed itself a duck

Ha! Love to see that

YouTube - The Original Pelican Eats Pigeon

Oh, and what main roads are good/bad for biking on? Around here there are roads that are notoriously bad for cycling. (Traffic, rude drivers, bad hills, etc.) Got any tips on where to ride and where to avoid riding? Does the city publish a map of recommended bike routes? If so, is it actually useful?

Another question: Tea dances: People actually have afternoon swing dances? This sounds fabulous. Where's good (And not too expensive...) near Stockwell?

What?? You did the Dragon Ride? Why didn't you mention it........?! ;-)

I did. You might have been in Paris:
http://www.londonfgss.com/search.php?searchid=540489

Oh! Found out where we're staying! On the south bank, near the Stockwell tube stop. Anybody know what's cool in that neighborhood?

South Bank isn't anywhere near Stockwell, actually it's quite far away (nearest's Waterloo).

if it is Stockwell, you got pretty much an excellent bike shop nearby; Brixton Cycles, I sometime cycle all the way from Wimbledon (a bit of a long way) just to even have a butcher.

Remember to wear your backpack against your chest. Not only keeping valuables insight and away from those dirty thieves, also doubling as a stab vest. For Stockwell: The first thing to purchase in London is CS spray or a taser device: head to Soho, under the cover of dark.

Best of luck with Stockwell. Note the only interesting thing is an over-hyped shooting and most of the article is dedicated to nearest places.

About the whole 'stabbing' thing in London;
there are 8 millions people in London, 14 millions in the county of London, now the number of kids that has been murdered in knife-related incident are about 100 (or even 50, something between those number), it's very sad, and shouldn't have happen but it's still a very very small number.

it's not an epidemic, newspaper always made it sound like it is.

Put it simply, Washington D.C. alone have more murder than the entire United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.

I think you're well placed in Stockwell if you're doing London on bikes.

Stockwell's very much my daily rolling territory. I love it as part of a zone including Camberwell, Clapham, Brixton, Vauxhall Bridge (and all that lies beyond (Westminster and famous London is just over the river - West drinks is about 9 miles)), Battersea Park and OF COURSE, most significantly of all, it's no more than two or three miles to London's notorious South Drinks.

And as edscoble says, how wrong can you go with Brixton Cycles on your doorstep?

...it's not an epidemic...

I beg to differ. I have been stabbed 8 times in the last two weeks alone.

yeah but 4 of those was you trying to chop onions.

And as edscoble says, how wrong can you go with Brixton Cycles on your doorstep?

Well you could find yourself stung by the stupidly high prices that silly UK taxes cause Brixton Cycles to have.

Well you could find yourself stung by the stupidly high prices that silly UK taxes cause Brixton Cycles to have.

How else do you get "free" health care, school... it is money you'll spend anyway.

Well you could find yourself stung by the stupidly high prices that silly UK taxes cause Brixton Cycles to have.

oops a daisy... JDB done gone all negative..

oops a daisy... JDB done gone all negative..

Stung, its far to early in the morning for posts to be grammatically correct or making any sense at all.

yeah but 4 of those was you trying to chop onions.

and the other four is simply papercut from co-worker.

is that what he told you ed? I heard the other four were from slashing the price of that bike you're pickin' up tomorrow... ;D

Only things in Stockwell are Roberto and Brixton Cycles.

South Bank isn't anywhere near Stockwell, actually it's quite far away (nearest's Waterloo).

if it is Stockwell, you got pretty much an excellent bike shop nearby; Brixton Cycles, I sometime cycle all the way from Wimbledon (a bit of a long way) just to even have a butcher.

Sorry, seem to have my terminology wrong. I was under the impression that anything south of the river was the "South Bank." Stupid yank moment.

However, I'm missing the bit about the distance between Stockwell and Waterloo being far. It's only 3 miles or so, right? I guess coming from the land of sprawl gives a different perspective on distance? I live over a mile from the nearest subway station here and that's considered extremely close.

Remember to wear your backpack against your chest. Not only keeping valuables insight and away from those dirty thieves, also doubling as a stab vest. For Stockwell: The first thing to purchase in London is CS spray or a taser device: head to Soho, under the cover of dark.

Hmm, do remember that we have this thing here in the states called the "second amendment of the constitution." It allows lots of stupid people to buy lots of guns. I'll just be glad to ride through a big city and not have to worry about being shot at. I think more people get killed crashing into cars on their bicycles in Atlanta than who get knifed in London. Oh yeah, and speaking of murder rates, I grew up in DC. If I don't carry pepper spray/a taser in DC, Atlanta, or Chicago, is it really necessary in London? I know I'm going to stick out a good bit and be a tourist and all. But I'm hoping I can pass a little bit as long as I keep my mouth shut. :-P

I think you're well placed in Stockwell if you're doing London on bikes.

Stockwell's very much my daily rolling territory. I love it as part of a zone including Camberwell, Clapham, Brixton, Vauxhall Bridge (and all that lies beyond (Westminster and famous London is just over the river - West drinks is about 9 miles)), Battersea Park and OF COURSE, most significantly of all, it's no more than two or three miles to London's notorious South Drinks.

And as edscoble says, how wrong can you go with Brixton Cycles on your doorstep?

Sounds good! I'm excited to check out the local bike shops. Does Brixton Cycles carry Condor? I want to check out that wild steel track frame they make. I think they call it the "Paris?" And can somebody please centrally list the locations, days and times of all the drinks get-togethers? We want to try to make it out to at least one.

Nothing to say, just thought I had better stop dfunk from getting Connect Four

Nothing to say, just thought I had better stop dfunk from getting Connect Four

Thanks. But I was done, actually.

And can somebody please centrally list the locations, days and times of all the drinks get-togethers? We want to try to make it out to at least one.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=102018849781943482616.00044bdd439eb52e42331&ll=51.517716,-0.112267&spn=0.203386,0.367699&z=12

Look for the cocktail glass for drinks:

And dollar sign for shops:

Remember to wear your backpack against your chest. Not only keeping valuables insight and away from those dirty thieves, also doubling as a stab vest. For Stockwell: The first thing to purchase in London is CS spray or a taser device: head to Soho, under the cover of dark.

I did forget to add, this advice is primarily for Spanish, and occasional Italian, tourists who wear backpacks adversely. I imagine this stems from the laid back culture were crime has only got so far as pick-pocketing.