Hi! My brother moved to London from NYC a few months ago. He is there for work and they relocated him to South Kensington/Chelsea. His bday is coming up so I’m trying to get him a gift card to a nice restaurant (not like WILDLY expensive haha but maybe £100-150 would make a nice dent in a two person bill). Any ideas? Huge thanks!!! I miss him a lot and hope this can be something nice to help him explore his new home.

I can't see how GME's ticket price was affected by the CTA glitch that hit BRK-A.
But this article claims the NYSE is reserving the power to reverse GME's trades that took place on June 3rd 2024.
Article:
Investors who purchased shares in Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway yesterday at a huge discount will see their trades canceled following a technical issue on the stock exchange.
On June 3, a data glitch led the global conglomerate’s stock price to fall to $185 a share, having previously closed at over $620,000. The drop meant a more than 99% discount on the Warren Buffett–led company.
This means a trader who snapped up just $925 worth of the stock at the rock-bottom price would now see that investment worth over $3 million today.
While it hasn’t been confirmed how many people purchased the Class A stock during the technical error—which lasted for around an hour and a half—the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) has swiftly undone all their trades.
In an update posted at 9 p.m. last night, NYSE said it would “bust” all the “erroneous” trades of Berkshire Hathaway stock at or below $603,718.30 a share.
The issue, the exchange added, is related to a problem at the Consolidated Tape Association (CTA), which provides real-time information about quotes and trades on the exchange. The CTA oversees part of the Securities Information Processor (SIP) which consolidates all protected bid/ask quotes and trades into a single data stream.
The CTA said it experienced problems with price banding which “may have been related to a new software release” on SIP. As a result, the CTA has reverted to the previous version of the software. The CTA did not immediately respond to Fortune’s request for comment.
During the blip, the NYSE placed halts on certain trades; it will now seek to determine which are erroneous and thus eligible to be canceled. The technical issue has now been resolved, it added, with all tickers trading as normal.
Traders who didn’t hop on a discounted Berkshire Hathaway stock but did buy heavily discounted shares in other brands will also be subject to having their trades struck off—with the ruling not eligible for appeal.
Other tickers that were impacted include American restaurant chain Chipotle (CMG), mining company Barrack Gold Corporation (GOLD), and meme stock darling GameStop (GME).
For Berkshire Hathaway, the good news is that its Class B Stock (BRK.B) was not impacted by the ticker problem, and its Class A stock closed at more than $631,000 a share.
Berkshire Hathaway did not immediately respond to Fortune‘s request for comment.
Costly mistakes
The Berkshire Hathaway mega-bargain is one of many hiccups experienced by various international stock exchanges—and is unlikely to be the last.
Just last week, live data from the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average disappeared from traders’ screens for around an hour, the Financial Times reported. The system then returned to normal; the cause of the outage is being investigated.
While the NYSE issue has been fixed with limited fallout, the same couldn’t be said for a LSE incident that has cost Wall Street giant Citigroup tens of millions.
In May 2022, a London trader bypassed hundreds of warning notifications to create a basket worth $444 billion.
While $255 billion was blocked from trading by Citi’s internal management systems, a basket worth $189 billion was still released to the global markets.
A total of $1.4 billion of equities were sold across various European exchanges before the trader canceled the order. Citi was fined nearly $70 million by the U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority for the oversight and related matters.
Article link (paywalled): https://fortune.com/2024/06/04/warren-buffett-berkshire-hathaway-discount-deals-canceled/

hello,
I would like to ask for some suggestions please, I am in London, UK- but moving to Australia later this year. I am currently working as a Private Chef, for the past 4 years I've worked as a freelancer for a few clients, cooking their meals at their homes on a daily basis. Other experience was working in small plates & upmarket restaurants for 11 years before moving to London.
I am getting ready to settle down with my partner and try to have a kid, then buy a house to live in in Australia. so looking to slightly pivot to a job where i wont have to work until late at night.
could you please make some suggestions on what training/reskilling and upskilling i might be able to go under so that i could have a more gainful/lucrative career going forward without having to work unsociable hours?

I've been struggling hard to find a permanent job. Decided to hop onto this subreddit and though I'd present you fine folks directly with an adaptation of the format provided in one of the pinned post. How did I do, and what other improvements can I bring to it?
https://preview.redd.it/s1an4wrjhk4d1.png?width=888&format=png&auto=webp&s=da958739cd3fa56c2706b0ee16aa241acc2c0cc5
Here's the old version for comparison:
https://preview.redd.it/u200dfa6ik4d1.png?width=1557&format=png&auto=webp&s=9e9f32e3a1d799ed99be630335b963c1ddf6eaf6

Hello,
I will be buying a 3 bedroom semi-detached in a town further to London than I appreciate. It's in Sittingbourne. I love the house and I'm sure it'll appreciate over the years. However, all my friends and family are based in London, everything I'm used to is, unfortunately, in London. Sittingbourne will not offer the same lifestyle that I'm used to. In some ways, I think it'll be okay as I can just get a train back into London but when I think of my day to day life there.. there is nothing to do as far as I'm aware. Just shops, pubs a few restaurants and that's it.
I am anxious about being bored and forking out money every few weekends to go into London.
I'm now considering looking for houses closer to London. Rochester, Strood, Rainham, I'll even consider Basildon, Grays, Tilbury, Purfleet. This will mean I'd be going for a smaller 2 bedroom, but I'll have peace of mind as I'm more familiar with these areas and know that getting from there to anywhere in central London will not take more than 35-45mins.
Door to door journey from Sittingbourne property to my house in London 2hrs-2hrs10mins.
Door to door journey from 2bed in Northfleet to my house in London 1hr 20mins
I have no idea what to do. I just want to make the right decision. What do you all think?

Heading to Paris next week with my gf and 18-year-old son. Itinerary review and recommendations?
We’re from the U.S. and hitting London - Paris - Amsterdam for just over 2 weeks. In Paris, we’re staying near the Batignolles district. It’s our first time in Paris.
In Paris we’re doing a lot of typical tourist stuff. Seine River Dinner Cruise (private), Notre Dame Cathedral, Panthéon, Luxembourg Gardens, Rue Mouffetard, Latin Quarter's nightlife, Eiffel Tower (private), Catacombs (small group), Montmartre District and Sacre Coeur (small group), Louvre Museum tour (private).
We are also taking a day to go see Normandy & Omaha Beaches and surrounding areas. Although, we're debating canceling this as it is 3+ hours each way by car.
Anything on this itinerary you would add or subtract? We’d also like to get out and party a bit. See where the locals hang out and see some cool nightlife. Everything listed is really during the day, most of which is at our own pace.
Furthermore, restaurant/pub recommendations are appreciated. Also, will my son be ok using his U.S. Driver's License or does he need to carry his passport to have a glass of wine? Thanks!
UPDATE: Sorry, we will be in each city for 5 days. So Paris for 5 days, one of which is totally gone going to Normandy (if we don't cancel).
Day 1: Check into hotel in the afternoon. Seine River Dinner Cruise @ 7:30pm then explore on our own.
Day 2: Day at Leisure in Latin Quarter & Beyond -
10am: Private Eiffel Tower Tour
*The rest is all on our own:
1:00 PM - Lunch at a Local Bistro in Latin Quarter
2:30 PM - Visit the Panthéon
4:00 PM - Stroll through the Luxembourg Gardens
5:30 PM - Explore Rue Mouffetard
7:00 PM - Dinner at La Petite Périgourdine
9:00 PM - Evening Explore
Day 3:

Catacombs Special Access Tour 12:30PM

*They are recommending shopping in between but not really our thing.

Montmartre District and Sacre Coeur Small Group 5PM

Day 4:
Normandy D-Day Small-Group Day Trip with Omaha Beach, Cemetery & Cider Tasting (debating canceling)
Day 5:

Skip-the-Line: Louvre Museum Masterpieces Fully Guided Tour 10:30AM

Afternoon & Evening At Leisure in Paris

Day 6: Depart for Amsterdam

The Best Free WordPress Page Builder: MaxiBlocks

Table of Contents

1. Free WordPress Page Builders
2. Benefits of Using Page Builders
3. Popular Free WordPress Page Builders
4. Comparison of Different Free WordPress Page Builders
5. Step-by-Step Guide
6. Tips and Tricks for Maximizing Creativity
7. Examples of Stunning Websites
8. Frequently Asked Questions

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Library of Pre-Built Elements

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Responsive Design

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Regular Updates and Support

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Popular Free WordPress Page Builders

MaxiBlocks (100% Free)

MaxiBlocks stands out as a completely free WordPress page builder with no locked blocks or domain limits. The only upsell is more templates. It provides a comprehensive set of features including a rich library of designer templates and customization options, allowing users to create stunning websites without any additional costs.

Elementor

Elementor is known for its user-friendly interface and extensive library of widgets. It has a large community and many third-party add-ons to extend its functionality.

Beaver Builder

Beaver Builder is another popular page builder that offers a simple and intuitive drag-and-drop interface. It comes with pre-made templates and a responsive design.

SiteOrigin Page Builder

SiteOrigin Page Builder is a flexible tool that allows for a high degree of customization with its row and widget styles.

Brizy

Brizy offers a minimalistic design interface with real-time editing and a vast library of pre-designed blocks.

Gutenberg

As the core WordPress editor, Gutenberg is integrated into WordPress itself and provides a block-based system for creating content.

Comparison of Different Free WordPress Page Builders

MaxiBlocks

Pros:

• 100% free with no locked blocks
• Extensive library of templates and design elements
• Responsive design with six breakpoints
• Live visual editing
• Clean HTML and CSS code for fast loading times

Cons:

• Newer tool with a smaller community compared to others

Elementor

Pros:

• User-friendly drag-and-drop interface
• Extensive widget library
• Large community support

Cons:

• Limited features in the free version
• Can slow down website loading times

Beaver Builder

Pros:

• Responsive design
• Pre-made templates
• Excellent support

Cons:

• Limited modules in the free version
• Less modern interface compared to others

SiteOrigin Page Builder

Pros:

• Highly customizable
• Robust community support

Cons:

• Steeper learning curve
• Less intuitive interface

Brizy

Pros:

• Real-time editing
• Extensive pre-designed blocks

Cons:

• Relatively new with fewer online resources
• Limited community and support

Gutenberg

Pros:

• Built into WordPress
• Simplifies the design process

Cons:

• Limited features compared to other builders
• Potential compatibility issues with some themes and plugins

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Use MaxiBlocks

Installation and Activation

1. Go to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to Plugins > Add New.
3. Search for MaxiBlocks.
4. Click Install Now and then Activate.

Creating Your First Page

1. Go to Pages > Add New.
2. Open the Gutenberg editor.
3. Click the '+' button to add a new block.
4. Choose a block from the MaxiBlocks section.
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Using Designer Templates

1. Click the '+' button in the Gutenberg editor.
2. Navigate to the MaxiBlocks section.
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5. Preview and publish your page.

Tips and Tricks for Maximizing Creativity with MaxiBlocks

1. Explore All Settings: Take time to explore all the settings and customization options available.
2. Use Pre-Built Templates: Start with pre-built templates to get inspiration and a head start on your design.
3. Customize to Your Brand: Adjust colors, fonts, and layouts to reflect your brand's identity.
4. Add Interactivity: Use the interaction builder to add interactive elements like buttons and animations.
5. Balance Design and Performance: Ensure your website remains fast and responsive by optimizing images and using caching plugins.

Examples of Stunning Websites Built with Free WordPress Page Builders

1. Ismet - A Los Angeles-based restaurant with an intuitive and simple website.
2. FullyRaw - A lifestyle brand with a well-organized and bold website.
3. Industrial Jewellery - A London-based jewellery designer with a clever home page design.
4. Girlboss - A professional network with a clean and modern website design.
5. Fat Choy - A vegan Chinese-American restaurant with a visually appealing website.

Frequently Asked Questions about Free WordPress Page Builders

Selecting the Best Free WordPress Page Builder for Your Blog

The best page builder for your blog depends on your specific needs and comfort level with the tool's interface. MaxiBlocks is a great choice due to its extensive customization options and 100% free access to all features.

Do You Need to Know HTML to Use a Drag-and-Drop WordPress Page Builder?

No, most drag-and-drop WordPress page builders are designed to be user-friendly and do not require HTML knowledge.

How SEO-Friendly are WordPress Page Builders?

WordPress page builders generally include SEO-friendly features that help optimize your landing pages for search engines.

Impact of Page Builders on Website Performance

While page builders
can potentially slow down a WordPress site due to their added scripts and codes, the actual impact on performance depends on how you use the builder. It's important to optimize images, use caching plugins, and minimize the use of unnecessary plugins to maintain a fast and responsive site.

Theme Compatibility with WordPress Page Builders

WordPress page builders typically work well with most themes. However, it’s advisable to check compatibility with your specific theme to ensure smooth integration.

How Can I Learn to Use My New Page Builder?

Start by watching tutorials, reading documentation, and experimenting with the builder on a test site. Join online communities for additional support and inspiration.

How Can I Download a WordPress Page Builder?

You can download a WordPress page builder from the WordPress plugin directory. Navigate to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress dashboard, search for the page builder, and click Install Now.

What is a Standalone Plugin?

A standalone plugin operates independently and doesn’t require any other plugins to function. Many WordPress page builders, like MaxiBlocks, are standalone plugins.

What is the Best Drag-and-Drop WordPress Page Builder?

The best drag-and-drop WordPress page builder depends on your needs. MaxiBlocks stands out for its 100% free access to all features, making it a top choice for many users.
By leveraging MaxiBlocks, you can create stunning, professional websites without any coding knowledge, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable design experience.

Flights: £600
Hotels: £500-£600
Food, transport and shopping: £500-£600
Interests: architecture, photography, food, cute shops/cafe
First time in Japan and it's something I dreamed about since I began studying the language at a young age. I finally managed to go after years of waiting for the right time! I realised that the "right" time wouldn't come so I booked the tickets 2 months in advance and off I went! Link to my plan that I made 2 months ago.
Hotel reviews

• Forest Hongo by unito ❤️ - Very friendly staff and cleaner who I exchanged conversations with. Free laundry, ironing and microwave on 1 floor. A bit far from station but I enjoyed the walks. Quick and easy check in and check out.
• APA Hotel Midosuji Honmachiekimae Higashi ❤️ - High level of service from staff, very big and comfy bed, convenient location, family mart and 7-eleven 1 min away, fav hotel, express check out (enter your card in the box).
• Hotel Excellence Kyoto Ekimae 😞 - Very meh compared to other hotels, non-existent staff, room was right next to the noisy main road. Luckily it was only for 1 night.
• First Cabin Capsule Hotel (Kansai Airport) £40/night - Separated by gender, very clean and spacious rooms. Very convenient as it's located in the airport with lots of amenities. Hard to sleep if you're a light-sleeper like me but good to experience capsule hotels at least once.

Tokyo 🌆 (4 days)

As I was very sleep deprived and jet-lagged after a 16 hr flight, I didn't enjoy Tokyo as much as I thought I would. I'm not neurodivergent but even I was very overstimulated from all the constant sounds from shops/adverts and colours from the buildings. The stations were a bit stressful to get around with all the crowds but google maps was SO useful by stating which section of the train to get on and which exits were the best. I did really enjoy Harajuku and Shibuya because of the cute shops. Akihabara was a let down but maybe more because I'm not the right audience for all the "toy" shops. Another fascinating thing was that nobody jaywalks, unless it's night time in a quiet street.
Teamlabs Borderless ❤️ exceeded my expectations and I liked how calm and chic the Azubadai Hills area was in general! Definitely go early because the noisy tourists and kids running around can affect how immersed you feel. Loved the Shinjuku area as the streets were more spacious and there were lots of nice shops to go to. Asakusa area was fun to visit with the Sensoji Shrine and stalls. I highly recommend the Kura Sushi chain if you want to try conveyor belt sushi.
Did not expect to see a man peeing in Omoide Yokocho at around 5pm in broad day light but now I know how it got it's nickname as Piss Alley.. apart from that, the streets were very small with lots of nice lanterns and tiny bars which were nice to look at at night but as it was full, we couldn't go into any.

Osaka 🍡 (5 days)

Loved my time here as a foodie and lover of street lights. The massive billboards with the food displays was lovely to see all lit up at night. Places I recommend are Okaru for okonomiyaki, any food stalls with a queue for takoyaki, Kushikatsu Daruma for skewers. I also visited the Pokemon centre, Ghibli store and Nintendo stores, fulfilling my childhood dreams. There are so many cute gacha machines around which made my inner child so so happy.
Dotonbori and Shinsekai ❤️ at night was really gorgeous with the lit up billboards. I really felt the city come to life at night. We also saw Hozenji Temple which was very relaxing amongst the busy streets. Osaka Castle and Namba Yasaka Shrine were also worth visiting! I also visited Cat Cafe Mikazuki and the owner was very sweet, explaining everything in her best English until she realised 日本語でおk

Kyoto ⛩️ (2 days)

I regret not staying here for longer. Walking around the quiet streets of hilly Arashiyama is something I'll never forget. There's a really nice 7-eleven I found with space to sit down and eat. I wish more konbini's had this too. As it rained on the first day, I didn't get up to much except Nishiki Market where they had lots of food and souvenir shops! I managed to squeeze a lot in the next day. The Kyoto City Bus made sightseeing so easy.
Got up early to see Kinkaku-ji/Golden Temple which was an architectural masterpiece. I loved taking photos. Despite lots of school trip crowds and some rude chinese tourists, there were areas that were very zen and peaceful. After that I saw the Ryoanji Rock Garden, which was very calming. After being so overstimulated in Tokyo, I needed this break so much.
Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama 20 min up-hill hike was hard but worth it when I saw the cute baby monkeys. Lots of families seemed to enjoy this place and it just brightened my day. There were rules we had to follow and people were quite sensible and respectful when going near them or feeding them.
The highlight was Togetsukyo Bridge ❤️ which was so serene and beautiful. I loved walking down the main road with all the cute souvenir shops and food stalls. I had a lovely dango here too and admired all the people walking in their beautiful kimonos. For the first time in this trip, I didn't feel annoyed by all the tourists because I could see how excited they were, sharing this experience in Japan, just like me.
After that I managed to pop by Gion in the afternoon to see the Hokan-ji Temple which was nice but a bit underwhelming as the streets were very small and crammed with people trying to get the same photos.
Thoughts and tips:
-Using an e-sim from Airalo was very quick to install and saved a lot of hassle. I also used a digital Suica on my iphone to pay for transport which was very quick and easy. At the end of my journey, my suica refused to accept money which was annoying but I managed to buy tickets at the machines. I used Monzo for all payments at the konbini but cash was required for shrines and restaurants/bars so always have cash in hand- at least £50-80. I didn't have any fees when getting cash from 7-eleven ATMs.
-Don Quihote had some cool stuff but it was so overwhelming with hundreds of people in there. I liked Loft and other shopping centres around the cities more. I luckily went to Japan with only 1/4-1/2 of my luggage full so all my souvenirs fit! There are elevators in stations so didn't have a problem with carrying luggage around.
-Please don't be the cringey tourist that says "arigato" to strangers as it's too informal. Use "arigato gozaimasu" as that is the standard way. Also if you're a man, please don't go on the women-only carriages or sit on the women-only seats on the JR trains as women can get very uncomfy. I saw male tourists doing these things.
-Coin lockers were SO useful and there are plenty around stations. There are no bins in Japan so I would try and eat things at the konbini and throw it away there or take it back to my hotel. The only people on trains who were talking really loudly were- you guessed it- tourists.. Most locals were very quiet on public transport as there are signs everywhere to not be a nuisance to others. Women carriages were very useful during busy times.
-Being able to speak Japanese made things so much easier as people relaxed around me and were very friendly. I didn't feel as anxious being alone in a country on the other side of the world. The level of English isn't great so knowing basic phrases is a must in Japan.
-The quality of service in Japan is high. Shop attendants will greet you every time, the bus driver announces every time the bus is about to move so you don't fall, the hotels give free amenities.
-I appreciated how well-dressed everyone was, especially in Shinjuku and Harajuku area where they really showed their individuality through their fashion. People in general were dressed better than in London, even the middle-aged men were rocking suits. Not a single hoodie and tracksuit in sight (unless it was styled up).
-I loved how useful and cheap the Yamato takkyubin service was. My hotel didn't have it but they directed me to the nearest Family-Mart 2 min away and they sent it to my hotel in Osaka. I was nervous leaving my luggage but when I saw it the next day, I was so relieved! Will definitely use this again especially as it was only £11.
-As the yen was weak against the pound, I ended up buying a lot of stuff and was surprised at how cheap konbini food was for the quality. I got the katsu sando at least once every day for a bit. It was so good!! Lawson's karaage-kun was also delicious!! I also got a bit obsessed with the Wonda Cafe au lait. As a solo traveller, the konbini was a life-saver for eating out. Most of the time I met my friends for dinner but a lot of places have seats for solo diners on the bar area.
This trip was everything I wanted for a holiday and I'm already planning my next trip. Next time, I'll definitely spend longer than 10 days and spend more time in nature or less touristy areas. Some places: Kamakura to see the trams by the beach, Nikko and Wakayama for waterfalls, see Mount Fuji, private onsen somewhere.

My wife and I moved from North London (Finsbury Part) to Bromley a couple of months ago. We moved because we were planning on starting a family soon!.
We love our house and the street we live on (it's wonderful having neighbours you can be friendly with) but one thing we're really missing after having moved out here is the London food. Even though Bromley is Zone 4, the lack of tube in South London means it feels half-London and half-Kent.
Honestly most of the restaurants around here are just your typical British chains, cafes and chicken shops. I heard somebody say this before I moved and it is what it feels like: a chippy, a curry house, a bad Italian & a bad Chinese!
Does anyone have recommendations for good meals/takeawyas in these parts? We know you can get a good (if expensive) roast at the Bull's Head in Chislehurst, and the Giggling Squid does some great Thai food, but we're longing for:

• good Sushi; Iro Sushi is... fine
• good Italian; the best we can do around here is Pizza Express, which is as reliable as ever but a little boring
• good Indian food; we've been to a couple but it's old-school British-Indian (you know, where they have bright red Tikka Masala)
• good Turkish food. Extra bonus points if they have lahmacun
• anything else you can think of that's interesting

Honestly it may just be that I'm crap at finding places. I've tried Google maps and the like, but I've been burned by going to places rated 4.5☆ and then having really disappointing meals.

Hi, I'm planning a trip to London soon and really want to try a classic roast with specifically Yorkshire pudding as one of the sides. I'm staying near Buckingham palace, but anywhere in London would be great. I've done some research and places like Toby Carvery , but a bit far out for my travel plans. Does anyone have recommendations for pubs or restaurants in central London that serve roasts with Yorkshire puddings on weekdays?
Thank You!

Hi, I'm planning a trip to London soon and really want to try a classic roast with specifically Yorkshire pudding as one of the sides. I'm staying near Buckingham palace, but anywhere in London would be great. I've done some research and places like Toby Carvery , but a bit far out for my travel plans. Does anyone have recommendations for pubs or restaurants in central London that serve roasts with Yorkshire puddings on weekdays?
Thank You!

Flights: £600
Hotels: £500-£600
Food, transport and shopping: £500-£600
Interests: architecture, photography, food, cute shops/cafe
First time in Japan and it's something I dreamed about since I began studying the language at a young age. I finally managed to go after years of waiting for the right time! I realised that the "right" time wouldn't come so I booked the tickets 2 months in advance and off I went! Link to my plan that I made 2 months ago.
Hotel reviews

• Forest Hongo by unito ❤️ - Very friendly staff and cleaner who I exchanged conversations with. Free laundry, ironing and microwave on 1 floor. A bit far from station but I enjoyed the walks. Quick and easy check in and check out.
• APA Hotel Midosuji Honmachiekimae Higashi ❤️ - High level of service from staff, very big and comfy bed, convenient location, family mart and 7-eleven 1 min away, fav hotel, express check out (enter your card in the box).
• Hotel Excellence Kyoto Ekimae 😞 - Very meh compared to other hotels, non-existent staff, room was right next to the noisy main road. Luckily it was only for 1 night.
• First Cabin Capsule Hotel (Kansai Airport) £40/night - Separated by gender, very clean and spacious rooms. Very convenient as it's located in the airport with lots of amenities. Hard to sleep if you're a light-sleeper like me but good to experience capsule hotels at least once.

Tokyo 🌆 (4 days)

As I was very sleep deprived and jet-lagged after a 16 hr flight, I didn't enjoy Tokyo as much as I thought I would. I'm not neurodivergent but even I was very overstimulated from all the constant sounds from shops/adverts and colours from the buildings. The stations were a bit stressful to get around with all the crowds but google maps was SO useful by stating which section of the train to get on and which exits were the best. I did really enjoy Harajuku and Shibuya because of the cute shops. Akihabara was a let down but maybe more because I'm not the right audience for all the "toy" shops. Another fascinating thing was that nobody jaywalks, unless it's night time in a quiet street.
Teamlabs Borderless ❤️ exceeded my expectations and I liked how calm and chic the Azubadai Hills area was in general! Definitely go early because the noisy tourists and kids running around can affect how immersed you feel. Loved the Shinjuku area as the streets were more spacious and there were lots of nice shops to go to. Asakusa area was fun to visit with the Sensoji Shrine and stalls. I highly recommend the Kura Sushi chain if you want to try conveyor belt sushi.
Did not expect to see a man peeing in Omoide Yokocho at around 5pm in broad day light but now I know how it got it's nickname as Piss Alley.. apart from that, the streets were very small with lots of nice lanterns and tiny bars which were nice to look at at night but as it was full, we couldn't go into any.

Osaka 🍡 (5 days)

Loved my time here as a foodie and lover of street lights. The massive billboards with the food displays was lovely to see all lit up at night. Places I recommend are Okaru for okonomiyaki, any food stalls with a queue for takoyaki, Kushikatsu Daruma for skewers. I also visited the Pokemon centre, Ghibli store and Nintendo stores, fulfilling my childhood dreams. There are so many cute gacha machines around which made my inner child so so happy.
Dotonbori and Shinsekai ❤️ at night was really gorgeous with the lit up billboards. I really felt the city come to life at night. We also saw Hozenji Temple which was very relaxing amongst the busy streets. Osaka Castle and Namba Yasaka Shrine were also worth visiting! I also visited Cat Cafe Mikazuki and the owner was very sweet, explaining everything in her best English until she realised 日本語でおk

Kyoto ⛩️ (2 days)

I regret not staying here for longer. Walking around the quiet streets of hilly Arashiyama is something I'll never forget. There's a really nice 7-eleven I found with space to sit down and eat. I wish more konbini's had this too. As it rained on the first day, I didn't get up to much except Nishiki Market where they had lots of food and souvenir shops! I managed to squeeze a lot in the next day. The Kyoto City Bus made sightseeing so easy.
Got up early to see the Golden Temple which was an architectural masterpiece. I loved taking photos. Despite lots of school trip crowds and some rude chinese tourists, there were areas that were very zen and peaceful. After that I saw the Ryoanji Rock Garden, which was very calming. After being so overstimulated in Tokyo, I needed this break so much.
Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama 20 min up-hill hike was hard but worth it when I saw the cute baby monkeys. Lots of families seemed to enjoy this place and it just brightened my day. There were rules we had to follow and people were quite sensible and respectful when going near them or feeding them.
The highlight was Togetsukyo Bridge ❤️ which was so serene and beautiful. I loved walking down the main road with all the cute souvenir shops and food stalls. I had a lovely dango here too and admired all the people walking in their beautiful kimonos. For the first time in this trip, I didn't feel annoyed by all the tourists because I could see how excited they were, sharing this experience in Japan, just like me.
After that I managed to pop by Gion in the afternoon to see the Hokan-ji Temple which was nice but a bit underwhelming as the streets were very small and crammed with people trying to get the same photos.
Thoughts and tips:
-Using an e-sim from Airalo was very quick to install and saved a lot of hassle. I also used a digital Suica on my iphone to pay for transport which was very quick and easy. At the end of my journey, my suica refused to accept money which was annoying but I managed to buy tickets at the machines. I used Monzo for all payments at the konbini but cash was required for shrines and restaurants/bars so always have cash in hand- at least £50-80. I didn't have any fees when getting cash from 7-eleven ATMs.
-Don Quihote had some cool stuff but it was so overwhelming with hundreds of people in there. I liked Loft and other shopping centres around the cities more. I luckily went to Japan with only 1/4-1/2 of my luggage full so all my souvenirs fit! There are elevators in stations so didn't have a problem with carrying luggage around.
-Please don't be the cringey tourist that says "arigato" to strangers as it's too informal. Use "arigato gozaimasu" as that is the standard way. Also if you're a man, please don't go on the women-only carriages or sit on the women-only seats on the JR trains as women can get very uncomfy. I saw male tourists doing these things.
-Coin lockers were SO useful and there are plenty around stations. There are no bins in Japan so I would try and eat things at the konbini and throw it away there or take it back to my hotel. The only people on trains who were talking really loudly were- you guessed it- tourists.. Most locals were very quiet on public transport as there are signs everywhere to not be a nuisance to others. Women carriages were very useful during busy times.
-Being able to speak Japanese made things so much easier as people relaxed around me and were very friendly. I didn't feel as anxious being alone in a country on the other side of the world. The level of English isn't great so knowing basic phrases is a must would make your experience a lot more enjoyable.
-The quality of service in Japan is high. Shop attendants will greet you every time, the bus driver announces every time the bus is about to move so you don't fall, the hotels give free amenities.
-I appreciated how well-dressed everyone was, especially in Shinjuku and Harajuku area where they really showed their individuality through their fashion. People in general were dressed better than in London, even the middle-aged men were rocking suits. Not a single hoodie and tracksuit in sight (unless it was styled up).
-I loved how useful and cheap the Yamato takkyubin service was. My hotel didn't have it but they directed me to the nearest Family-Mart 2 min away and they sent it to my hotel in Osaka. I was nervous leaving my luggage but when I saw it the next day, I was so relieved! Will definitely use this again especially as it was only £11.
-As the yen was weak against the pound, I ended up buying a lot of stuff and was surprised at how cheap konbini food was for the quality. I got the katsu sando at least once every day for a bit. It was so good!! Lawson's karaage-kun was also delicious!! I also got a bit obsessed with the Wonda Cafe au lait. As a solo traveller, the konbini was a life-saver for eating out. Most of the time I met my friends for dinner but a lot of places have seats for solo diners on the bar area.
This trip was everything I wanted for a holiday and I'm already planning my next trip. Next time, I'll definitely spend longer than 10 days and spend more time in nature or less touristy areas. Some places: Kamakura to see the trams by the beach, Nikko and Wakayama for waterfalls, see Mount Fuji, private onsen somewhere.

Small thing to get irritated by but why is always so overdressed? Apart from that period when he was into running he’s ALWAYS in a suit, sometimes even a waistcoat. Even when not at the restaurant he’s at home in his suit 😅. Even for a restaurant that isn’t exactly depicted as being in Mayfair in London he’s over dressed.

For many years me and many others have wanted a GTA set in London. Obviously, GTA 6 is going to be set in Florida but Rockstar could create a spinoff called GTA London or just develop GTA VII in London/UK.
My ideas for GTA London

• Have the whole of Greater London, with the surrounding areas including Essex and Kent (for beaches and smaller towns) as well as having areas such as Reading and Brighton, making the map fairly large.
  
• Create a very realistic London and surrounding area. This would be everything from street design to public transport and entertainment spaces. There would be many landmarks and skyscrapers built.
  
• Have many more public and walkable spaces, including many more shops and restaurants. They could add theatres, museums and gallery’s too.
  
• Have many airports including Heathrow, Gatwick and City. As well as ports etc
  
• For the story mode there is a lot too explore. They can develop one character on the current street life in London - roadmen. And develop another character from organised crime in London currently. And then develop an old mob member, someone of the Kray era, or along those lines. This would be very dynamic and allow for a great story line.
  

I am curious as to what other people think. I believe that GTA London would be very interesting and different to the other GTA games.

Okay, I've been following that one guy's pizza rating thread like everyone has, and I thought I'd give a little side-post to food in general in Guelph.
Background on me: I moved to Guelph 8 years ago, I used to be owner & chef of two very good restaurants (one in Toronto, one in London), but I changed paths as a life decision. However, food remains my passion in life.
I am going to rank the top 5 restaurants in Guelph. I am been basically everywhere, I love all cuisine types (I appreciate a greasy $7 burger as much as a $75 steak), so this ranking is 100% based on BEST FOOD AND BEST OVERALL RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE. A specialty restaurant (i.e. a pizza place) can (and maybe will👀) make the list if their specialty is so above all others that it deserves it. This also does not include bakeries/breweries.
So here we go, BEST FIVE RESTAURANTS IN GUELPH (DM me for any explanations. Happy to give more info😊)
5) Roy's Pizza (by far best pizza in Guelph) 4) The Fat Duck (top notch Caesar salad and better wings than you'll find almost anywhere in Ontario) 3) Baker Street Station (tuna poke nachos are amazing, sadly off the menu) 2) Bardo (never a bad bite of food ever, regardless of the menu)
1) Miijidaa (it isn't even close. Every detail of this place is head and shoulders above the rest)

Let me preface this with, I was born and raised in the 90’s on the West Coast of the States. As a kid, I played AYSO and cheered for Cobi Jones and Mia Hamm, but that was the extent of my fandom.
Back in 2020, my girlfriend, now wife who is a life-long Man U fan, told me that I needed to pick a PL team to cheer for.
For context, my wifes best friend who is from England is a generational Arsenal fan and her Husband is a Chelsea Fan. Needless to say, when we all got together, the PL was often part of the discussion. This is one of those situations where I was perfectly content cheering for my NBA and MLB teams, but understood the want for me to be more included. Initially, I picked Arsenal, because it was closest to my favorite restaurant in London, St. Johns. However, cheering for them just didn’t feel like I was cheering for a team that I felt invested in. Saying that I picked a team based on the proximity to a restaurant was a bit of a weak leg to stand on. At the end of the 2020/21 season, I decided to take it seriously and do research on every single team in the PL including those who were coming up.
During my research, there was something about Everton that I couldn’t stop thinking about. Maybe it's their historical lore, the perpetual underdog to Liverpool, the pull yourself up by your bootstraps mentality that is displayed by both players and fans. I mean, “Nothing but the best is good enough” is one hell of a club motto. During this time of research, I asked anyone I interacted with if they supported a Premier league club, and if so, who. Not a single person said they supported Everton.
Out of spite or pity, I honestly don’t know which one has more weight, so I decided to cheer for Everton.
In 2022, with relegation on the line and the sun quite literally setting on Goodison. I watched with butterflies and complete awe as DCL flew into the box head first like a bat out of hell to make it 3-2 vs. Crystal Palace. I had immediate goose bumps and felt a sense of joy that I had never experienced around this sport before. Seeing the fans storm the pitch like they just won the whole damn thing was wild. It was then that I knew that I picked the right team.
Now I find myself waking up at 4am on Saturday to watch kickoffs, and yelling in protest to point deductions and horrific ownership moves. Being a supporter of Everton is torture, and I couldn’t be any happier about it.

We’re from the U.S. and hitting London - Paris - Amsterdam for just over 2 weeks. We’re staying on the Riverbank. It’s our first time in London.
In London we’re doing a lot of typical tourist stuff. Private Black Car tour - Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus, London Bridge, the London Eye, & Tower of London.
Self guided tours - St. Paul’s Cathedral, Millennium Bridge, Tate Modern, Borough Market, Shakespeare’s Globe, Tate Britain, Westminister Abbey, Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Southbank Centre Food Market, Shopping on Oxford Street, Westminster Bridge and Embankment, Sir Winston Churchill Private Walking Tour & War Rooms, Pub Crawl.
We are also taking a day to go see Stonehenge and Windsor Castle.
Anything on this itinerary you would add or subtract? We’d also like to get out and party a bit. See where the locals hang out and see some cool nightlife. Everything listed is really during the day, most of which is at our own pace.
Furthermore, restaurant/pub recommendations are appreciated. Also, will my son be ok using his U.S. ID or does he need to carry his passport to have a beer? Thanks!

Hello everybody, I am currently doing a research for the company I work at, and our international daily rate for people who goes abroad is $500. That is supposed to cover hotel, transport and meals.
Since London seems to be one of the most expensive cities in the world, I decided to ask here, is $500 a day in London enough to cover all work expenses? Conditions-:

1. The hotel is a decent, good 3 star, perhaps a 4 star in a good deal, no luxury but no crappy place, around the city region where business usually happens.

2.Transportation to go to event/meeting place and back to hotel. Sometimes from meeting place to lunch and back as well.
3) Lunch in average restaurants, no street food, no 3 star michelin, just a decent place to have lunch/dinner, where average working people have their lunch perhaps.
Thanks in advance !