Unlock London one sentence at a time
By Antonis Kazoulis
Do you know what Londoners like to read about? London. Whether it’s on the train, the bus, or the corner coffee shop, the residents of this melting pot of a city are in an unofficial race of discovering as much as they can about the Big Smoke.
So where will you get all of this precious information from? We have done the dirty work for you and we give you the best free sources of exploration you could ever ask for. From the latest openings of bars and restaurants to celebrity interviews and to-do lists, you’ll be transformed to a living, breathing encyclopaedia of London’s social calendar. You’re welcome.
Time Out | Free Weekly Mag
Time Out magazine
If London had in ID card, Time Out would be it. Capturing the pulse of the city, this famous city guide offers you the best food and drink, events, activities and attractions in London. Available outside major tube stations on Tuesday, the printed edition gives you a deep dive into all the major shenanigans going on in town. You name it, they write about it. For those of you that don’t fair well with print, they also have a website.
Type: Events, Attractions & What’s on in London
Where to find it: Available every Tuesday morning at most tube and train stations within zones 1 and 2, and at larger stations within zones 3-5
ES Magazine | Free Weekly Mag
ES Magazine Free Weekly Mag
The Evening Standard magazine is another great way of familiarising yourself with London life. With evergreen content like “My London” and “Grace and Flavour”, ES magazine gives you longer feature articles that are personal and enjoyable to read. Their selection of topics is varied and continuously interesting with London being the glue that holds everything together. It is available for free outside major tube stations on Thursday and Friday but also have a website.
Type: Lifestyle
Where to find it: Available from Thursday afternoon till Friday until Friday night within zones 1 and 2
Foodism | Free Monthly Food & Drink Mag
Foodism Free Mag
If you ask Londoners to describe themselves, the word foodie will pop up more often than not. This is exactly why a magazine named Foodism seems to be fitting if not necessary. With long reads, restaurant guides, reviews, recipes and more, this is your go-to place for all things food in the capital. They’re out every other month at the moment, on a Tuesday and Wednesday. You can check out the list of stations it’s available at on their website.
Type: Food & Drink Magazine
Where to find it: Available every other month, on a Tuesday and Wednesday at most stations in Zones 1-2
Stylist | Free Weekly Mag
Stylist Free Weekly Mag
Fashion, travel, people, ideas, beauty, books and well…life really is what the Stylist is all about. Even though the title may lead you to believe it’s a women’s only read, you’ll be surprised at the unisex nature of the topics covered. With content that’s so varied and intriguing, this publication will most definitely find its way to your heart. Here is their website as well.
Type: Lifestyle
Where to find it: Available on Tuesday evening and Wednesday mornings at central tube stations
NME | Free Weekly Mag
NME Free Magazine
New Musical Express (NME) is a British music journalism magazine that will give your working week the sweetest tune of them all. Covering everything in the world of music such as the latest news and reviews, along with videos and galleries, plus band features, this is the way to keep up up with all things music. There is also a digital edition on their website.
Type: Music
Where to find it: Available on Fridays at central stations, universities and music venues
Free NewsPapers
Metro | Daily Newspaper
Type: News, Sport, Showbiz
Where to find it: Available from Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays) on many public-transport services across London
City AM | Daily Newspaper
Type: Latest UK and World business and finance news
Where to find it: Available every morning from Monday to Friday at central stations in and around London
The Evening Standard | Daily Newspaper
Type: News, Sport, Showbiz
Where to find it: Available every evening from 4 pm, Monday to Friday at central stations in and around London
