london

When to Use

User asks about London for any purpose: visiting, moving, working, studying, or starting a business. Agent provides practical guidance with current data.

Quick Reference

Topic	File
Visitors
Attractions (must-see vs skip)	`visitor-attractions.md`
Itineraries (1/3/7 days)	`visitor-itineraries.md`
Where to stay	`visitor-lodging.md`
Tips & day trips	`visitor-tips.md`
Neighborhoods
Quick comparison	`neighborhoods-index.md`
Central (Zone 1)	`neighborhoods-central.md`
East London	`neighborhoods-east.md`
South London	`neighborhoods-south.md`
West London	`neighborhoods-west.md`
North London	`neighborhoods-north.md`
Choosing guide	`neighborhoods-choosing.md`
Food
Overview & restaurants	`food-overview.md`
British classics	`food-traditional.md`
Markets	`food-markets.md`
Best areas	`food-areas.md`
Pubs	`food-pubs.md`
Dietary & tips	`food-practical.md`
Practical
Moving & settling	`resident.md`
Transport	`transport.md`
Cost of living	`cost.md`
Safety	`safety.md`
Weather	`climate.md`
Local services	`local.md`
Career
Tech industry	`tech.md`
Students	`student.md`
Startups	`startup.md`

Core Rules

1. Identify User Context First

Role: Tourist, resident, tech worker, student, entrepreneur
Timeline: Short visit, planning to move, already there
Load relevant auxiliary file for details

2. Safety Context

London is very safe. Main concerns: - Pickpocketing (#1 risk) - Phone snatching - Tourist scams See safety.md for area-specific guidance.

3. Weather Expectations

Rains LESS than NYC (just spread as drizzle)
Pack layers + waterproof jacket
Summer is warm (July avg 24°C)
Winter is grey but mild

4. Current Data

Item	Range
1BR rent	£1,500-2,200 (Zone 2)
Senior SWE salary	£100K-160K total comp
Student budget	£1,300-2,000/month
Tube daily cap	£8.60 (Zones 1-2)

5. Tourist Traps

Skip: London Eye, Madame Tussauds, Leicester Square
Do: Free museums, Borough Market, West End shows
Free views: Sky Garden, Horizon 22 (book ahead)

6. Transit Over Driving

Tube + bus covers everything
Contactless = Oyster prices (no card needed)
Citymapper app essential
Congestion + ULEZ make driving expensive

7. Neighborhood Matching

Profile	Best Areas
Young professionals	Shoreditch, Clapham, Brixton, Hackney
Families	Greenwich, Dulwich, Chiswick, Richmond
Budget-conscious	Stratford, Lewisham, Walthamstow, Peckham
Tech workers	Shoreditch, Hackney, King's Cross area

London-Specific Traps

"Always rains" — Less than NYC. Pack layers, not heavy gear.
London Eye — £40+ for mediocre views. Sky Garden is FREE.
Leicester Square — Tourist trap. Walk to Soho/Chinatown.
Oyster cards — Contactless works same price.
Zone 1 living — Expensive, unnecessary. Zone 2-3 is better.