Ready. Set. London!

Andy Meddick The London Travel Podcast Guy
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Places & Travel
  • Biweekly

Ready. Set. London! is London in your headphones, led by Expat Andy - a funny, practical guide who turns confusion into confidence, crowds into detours, landmarks into neighborhoods, pubs into decoder rings, and ordinary streets into stories. Kind of like your high school history teacher with more snark, less formality. London trip planning meets storytelling. A podcast to listen to before you pack your bag.  An audio-guided London exploration experience.  Explore London through immersive walking stories, historic pubs, hidden streets, food culture, and self-guided adventures.   Planning a London trip has never been easier, or more overwhelming. We have access to infinite information, yet zero clarity. Every blog, listicle, algorithm-driven 'Top Ten' pulls us in a different direction, burying the things that actually matter under an avalanche of noise.  The hidden gem, the neighborhood that makes no sense until someone explains it, the pub that unlocks three hundred years of history through silent observation of the neighborhood, none of that surfaces in an online search.  Ready. Set. London! is your signal in the static. Your London Travel Toolkit, built by a Brit, to help you curate the trip you actually want to take.  On this London travel podcast we explore neighborhoods through everyday spaces, including pubs – revealing rhythms, stories, and hidden histories. Favoring observation over itinerary, we give you the tools to make best use of your travel time, and not return home having missed out. Nothing substitutes for a local, skilled, personality driven tour guide to help you navigate the streets in real life. However, by listening to this podcast before your walking tour, you'll be ready to focus your walking tour guide on the questions  you need answering. Ready. Set. London! Trip Planning Made Easy. Bob's Your Uncle!

  1. 2d ago

    London Tube - Going Underground Without Getting Lost Overground

    We'd love to hear from you! Planning to use the London Tube? There’s one thing you need to know before you go underground. The Tube map is a map of trains. It is not a map of London. Expat Andy learned that lesson the hard way when a perfectly sensible-looking journey from Notting Hill Gate to Hampstead Heath deposited him in…West Hampstead. Right name. Wrong Hampstead. In this episode of Ready. Set. London!, we’re going London, Decoded to discover why one of the world’s greatest transport maps can also lead visitors into one of London’s easiest travel mistakes. Why doesn’t the Tube map show you where places really are? Why can the station with the “right” name be the wrong station? Is the route with the fewest changes really the best route? And why might the Overground, a bus, or even your own two feet get you there faster? Using Andy’s Hampstead misadventure, we’ll show you how to plan the whole journey—not just the bit underground. You’ll learn how to choose the best station for where you actually want to go, check that all-important final walk, use London’s wider transport network, and plan one-way explorations that start at one station and finish at another. And if you emerge from a Tube station, look around and think: “I have absolutely no idea where I am…” We’ve got you covered there too. The London Underground is brilliant. The Tube map is brilliant. You just need to know what it is—and what it isn’t. Go underground. Explore London. Know where you’ll be when you come back up.

    London Tube - Going Underground Without Getting Lost Overground

  2. Oct 26

    Roupell Street – Circus, Scandal & Secrets Behind Waterloo

    We'd love to hear from you! Come out of Waterloo Station, ignore the London Eye, turn away from the crowds and follow me. Just a few minutes away is Roupell Street—a remarkably preserved pocket of London where workers once crowded into tiny houses, the modern circus was born nearby, a Victorian pub still guards the corner, and the family whose name is on the street produced one of the more spectacular scandals of the 19th century. Welcome to Streets of London, a new Ready. Set. London! series where we take one short London street and discover the stories most visitors walk straight past. And, naturally, there’s a strategically placed pub. Today we're exploring Roupell Street, tucked behind Waterloo Station. We’ll discover how this corner of London went from marshland to a working-class neighbourhood; meet Philip and Patty Astley, whose extraordinary horsemanship helped give birth to the modern circus; and step inside The King’s Arms, a Grade II listed pub that tells us something about how people lived when as many as twenty people could share one small house. Then things get wonderfully messy. Meet William Roupell - grandson of the man who developed the street, property heir, Member of Parliament…and forger. There’s a family fortune, a destroyed will, a replacement forged will, mounting debts, a dash to Spain, the Old Bailey and a sentence of penal servitude for life. Honestly, Netflix, call me. But Roupell Street's biggest story may simply be that it's still here. Railways transformed the neighborhood. Waterloo grew into one of Britain's great stations. The Blitz came. London redeveloped around it. Yet this little street survived. Today, people admire its brick houses, sash windows and extraordinary sense of stepping back in time. But behind all that charm is another London—the builders, bakers, blacksmiths, printers, nurses, teachers and families who actually lived and worked here. So grab your metaphorical walking shoes. We're going behind Waterloo.

    Roupell Street – Circus, Scandal & Secrets Behind Waterloo

  3. Oct 19

    Plan Your London Trip Better - Less Stress, More London

    We'd love to hear from you! What if the best way to experience London isn’t to see more—but to start noticing more? In this episode, Expat Andy reveals a new direction for Ready. Set. London! and five ways we’re going to explore the city: Streets of London, London Decoded, The London You’re Standing In, Pub With a Past, and Why Is That There? Because London isn’t a checklist. A street you nearly walked past could contain centuries of stories. The Tube map can send you somewhere completely different from where you thought you were going. The famous landmark you came to photograph may be only the beginning of the neighborhood worth exploring. And that odd green hut, dragon, windmill or mysterious object hiding in plain sight? There’s probably a very good reason it’s there. From avoiding bad itineraries and decoding London’s geography to discovering historic pubs, overlooked streets and the wonderfully peculiar details most visitors never stop to question, this episode is about learning to read London rather than race through it. Five themes. One city. And a lot more reasons to stop, look around and ask: Why is that there? Welcome to the next chapter of Ready. Set. London!

    Plan Your London Trip Better - Less Stress, More London

  4. Oct 12

    The Red Bull, Peckham - Victorian Tile Masterpiece at Risk

    We'd love to hear from you! Think Peckham isn't worth the trip? Think again.  In this episode, Expat Andy uncovers one of London's most remarkable hidden treasures: The Red Bull, home to an extraordinary Victorian tile mural depicting Shakespeare's Henry VIII. Discover how this historic masterpiece survived years of neglect, why it's now at risk, and why this overlooked corner of South London deserves a place on every traveler's itinerary. Along the way, you'll uncover fascinating stories of William Blake, Thomas Tilling, rooftop skyline views, and the vibrant character that makes Peckham one of London's most rewarding neighborhoods. Visit while you still can—and see for yourself why this Victorian masterpiece is worth saving.

    The Red Bull, Peckham - Victorian Tile Masterpiece at Risk

  5. Oct 5

    Winchester Day Trip From London - Kings, Cathedrals, Legend

    We'd love to hear from you! Planning a London vacation and looking for an easy, unforgettable day trip? Join Expat Andy as he travels from London to Winchester, England's ancient capital, where medieval streets, the magnificent Winchester Cathedral, King Alfred the Great, Jane Austen's final resting place, and centuries of royal history bring over 2,000 years of England's story to life.  Discover the best things to see, practical travel tips, scenic walks, great places to eat, and fascinating connections between Winchester and London's Bankside. If you're building the perfect London itinerary, this episode will help you decide why Winchester deserves a place on your must-visit list.

    Winchester Day Trip From London - Kings, Cathedrals, Legend

  6. Sep 28

    York in One Day from London - What to See, Skip and Book

    We'd love to hear from you! Can you do York in a day from London? Yes - if you know what to prioritize. This practical, independent itinerary takes you by direct train from King’s Cross to Roman ruins, Viking Jorvik, York Minster, the medieval walls, the Shambles, and a realistic return journey - without a car or an organized tour. I’ll tell you what to book ahead, which attractions to choose between, what you can see for free, where to stop for lunch or afternoon tea, and what to skip when you have only one day in York. Escape London for one unforgettable day and discover why York is one of England's most rewarding destinations.  Just under two hours by direct train, this beautifully preserved medieval city is packed with Roman ruins, Viking history, ancient city walls, cobbled streets, magnificent York Minster, the world-famous Shambles, Clifford's Tower, the JORVIK Viking Centre, the National Railway Museum, historic pubs, and Bettys for a traditional Yorkshire afternoon tea.  Along the way, uncover fascinating stories, practical travel tips, and the best walking route to experience the city's 2,000 years of history. Whether you're planning a London vacation, building the perfect UK itinerary, or searching for the best day trips from London, this episode is your complete guide to making the most of a day in York.

    York in One Day from London - What to See, Skip and Book

  7. Sep 24

    York In A Day from London - Up Next!

    We'd love to hear from you! Next Monday’s episode of the Ready. Set. London! podcast has us taking that Day Trip from London you’ve all been waiting for!  We’re going to York! Say it ain’t so! Can you do York in a day from London?  What stations and what trains do you need to take?  How much does it cost?  How much of York’s layers of history, incredible sights, and food, can you realistically do in one day?  How much do you need to hold back for a future visit?  We don’t hold back and neither should you! Our answer to York in a Day from London, is a whole-hearted, Yes! Do it! The Ready. Set. London! Way.  Live on all podcast platforms and our website readysetlondon.com Monday September 28. 2026. Catch up on all our Day Trip From London episodes at readysetlondon.com Just one more of our summer break sessions left – and that’s, drum roll.. Winchester, City of Kings, Monday October 5, 2026! You’re welcome!

    York In A Day from London - Up Next!

  8. Sep 21

    A Mayfair Tour - Shoppers & Sightseers Kept Happy

    We'd love to hear from you! Shopping or sightseeing in Mayfair and looking for something more than luxury shop windows? This self-guided London walk begins near Bond Street and follows the less obvious side of Mayfair - a buried river, a surviving mews pub, Georgian squares, American wartime history, old clubland, and the monumental finish at Hyde Park Corner. Along the way, Expat Andy takes you to Avery Row and The Iron Duke, Mayfair’s last surviving mews pub; explains how the Tyburn Brook disappeared beneath the street; and reveals the overlooked stories behind Albemarle Street, Berkeley Square, Grosvenor Square, Shepherd Market, Apsley House and Wellington Arch. It is a perfect audio companion if one person in your group wants to browse Bond Street while the other wants London stories, architecture, local history, a traditional pub stop, and a route that makes the whole neighbourhood make sense. Start: Bond Street station Key stop: The Iron Duke, 11 Avery Row, Mayfair Finish: Hyde Park Corner / Wellington Arch Best for: Visitors who want to add hidden history, a characterful pub and a more memorable walk to a Mayfair afternoon. Ready. Set. London! helps you plan London by place—and understand the stories hidden in plain sight.

    A Mayfair Tour - Shoppers & Sightseers Kept Happy
See All (42)

Trailer

About

Ready. Set. London! is London in your headphones, led by Expat Andy - a funny, practical guide who turns confusion into confidence, crowds into detours, landmarks into neighborhoods, pubs into decoder rings, and ordinary streets into stories. Kind of like your high school history teacher with more snark, less formality. London trip planning meets storytelling. A podcast to listen to before you pack your bag.  An audio-guided London exploration experience.  Explore London through immersive walking stories, historic pubs, hidden streets, food culture, and self-guided adventures.   Planning a London trip has never been easier, or more overwhelming. We have access to infinite information, yet zero clarity. Every blog, listicle, algorithm-driven 'Top Ten' pulls us in a different direction, burying the things that actually matter under an avalanche of noise.  The hidden gem, the neighborhood that makes no sense until someone explains it, the pub that unlocks three hundred years of history through silent observation of the neighborhood, none of that surfaces in an online search.  Ready. Set. London! is your signal in the static. Your London Travel Toolkit, built by a Brit, to help you curate the trip you actually want to take.  On this London travel podcast we explore neighborhoods through everyday spaces, including pubs – revealing rhythms, stories, and hidden histories. Favoring observation over itinerary, we give you the tools to make best use of your travel time, and not return home having missed out. Nothing substitutes for a local, skilled, personality driven tour guide to help you navigate the streets in real life. However, by listening to this podcast before your walking tour, you'll be ready to focus your walking tour guide on the questions  you need answering. Ready. Set. London! Trip Planning Made Easy. Bob's Your Uncle!

Information

  • Creator
    Andy Meddick The London Travel Podcast Guy
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Ready. Set. London!
  • Show Website
    Ready. Set. London!

You Might Also Like