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'''[http://www.rampart.co.nr/ rampART]''' is a squatted social center in [[Whitechapel]], east London. This place isn't a residential squat, but they do have a "crash room" for visitors. They make it clear that it is not a tourist hostel so you needn't bother them unless you are interested in getting involved with their project for some time while you're there. To stay, you need to contact them well ahead of time. If nothing else, it's a great place to meet squatters and find a place to stay. They also have free internet!(As of last month rampART was evicted by the police and is no more.) Interestingly, the new place at Bowl Court Road that was squatted a few months ago has already been evicted (August 2008).
The '''[http://www.squatter.org.uk/ Advisory Service for Squatters]''' is helpful for people that are planning to find a place to live and cannot really help you find a place to crash. It's located at the Freedom Bookstore in Whitechapel and is another great place to meet squatters as well as get online for free. The address is Angel Alley, 84b Whitechapel High Street, Whitechapel, London, England, E1 7QX. (Tel. 020-32160099)
For more info on social centers in London, check out [http://www.socialcentresnetwork.org.uk/ Autonomous London].
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<map lat='51.491738177580345' lng='-0.28118133544921875' zoom='16' view='0' float='right' />
* '''Where to''': ('''''[[West (England)|The West (London)]]'''''), [[Reading]], [[Swindon]], ('''''[[South West England|The South-West]]'''''), [[Bristol]], [[South West England|Devon]], [[South West England|Cornwall]],
* '''Directions''':
Get the Underground to Gunnersby tube station''(District Line)'' or the main line station at Kew Bridge. (Alternatively, the Overground Stop South Acton doesn't have barriers, but is a kilometer further away.) Both stations are on the Chiswick High Road (A315 - one west and one east of the roundabout) along which you walk 500m to Junction 1 of the M4. You want the Esso petrol station that is on the corner of the slip road onto the motorway heading west. There is a lay-by nearby with a sign saying M4 west.
* '''Last verified''': 20th February 2011: I frequently frequentlly hitch from this spot, works well, and rarely wait more than half an hour. Wait just before the bus stop as this is where people generally stop. / Verified in July 2013, got lucky and the second car on that Esso petrol station took me until Bristol.
Heading for '''Cornwall''', it is much easier hitching the M4 and changing to the M5 in [[Bristol]] than trying to hitch the M3 through [[South West England|Dorset]].
** '''Option 1: Mottingham'''
** '''Cost of public transport''': One train ticket ''from zone 1'' (approximately £3.50 off-peak) or take the Jubilee line to North Greenwich, and from there, the 161 bus to Mottingham. (Mottenham train station doesn't have barriers...)
** '''Last verified''': July 2013
** '''Directions:''' The train to Mottingham Station (Zone 4) departs from ''Charing Cross Station'' (Zone 1) through ''Waterloo East'' (Zone 1), ''London Bridge'' (Zone 1), ''New Cross'' (Zone 2) and ''Lewisham'' (Zone 2) stations on its way to ''Dartford'' or ''Gillingham.
=== Squatting ===
London has such used to have an abundance of [[squat]]s , but it has recently become more difficult. While it is still legal to squat commercial property (warehouses, offices, shops), it is illegal to squat residential buildings (if you admit you are doing this to the cops, you might be sentenced to jail time.) For all information on squatting in the UK: the '''[http://www.squatter.org.uk/ Advisory Service for Squatters]''' is helpful for people that are planning to find a place to live and cannot really help you shouldnfind a place to crash. It't ever have s located at the Freedom Bookstore in Whitechapel and is another great place to pay meet squatters as well as get online for accommodationfree. Having The address is Angel Alley, 84b Whitechapel High Street, Whitechapel, London, England, E1 7QX. (Tel. 020-32160099)That being said that, most there are still a good couple of squats all around London. Most squats are places where people live and go about their normal business, so don't expect too much from them. Perhaps it would be good to find some friendly squatters by word of mouth or on [http://www.couchsurfing.com couchsurfing] or similar. Don't worry about the negative connotations associated with squats. They generally aren't crackhouses or scabies-infested punk hangouts. People of all types squat in London and their homes are usually very nice. They are especially helpful if you're planning to stick around for a while, but can also be great if you're just passing through. [[User:Zac Stewart|Zac]]<small><sup>[[User talk:Zac Stewart|talk]]</sup></small> ended up with a squat to sleep in on his first night, and in [[Mayfair]] of all places! There is a strong community are still some remnants of squatters especially squatting communities in the north east of North London where a new group has been set for resistance and solidarity. The , North East London Squatters Network are having meetings , and South London. If you want to meet some people, go to the practical squatting nights taking place every month as well as a mailing list etcweek (alternating): http://www.squatter.org. uk/for-new-squatters/practical-squatting-nights/For more infoon social centers in London, get in touch with the '''check out [http://www.hackneysocialcentresocialcentresnetwork.blogspotorg.comuk/ Hackney Social CentreAutonomous London]''' .. (unfortunately this Generally though, it has now been evicted)become harder to track squats down or just pop up, as there are fewer, and more and more evictions, which means less space.This should in no way discourage you, however!
== Eat ==
In the UK, the term for eating food that would otherwise be thrown away, is called skipping. Lots of people do it, all from people that come from poor countries and see all the food that goes to waist, to people that are political in there way of living. Many people, especially in the squat scene live totally out of food from the bins...
Plenty of places throw out food at closing time. Always check the bags out front of '''Pret a Mangers''' and '''Benjy's''' at 5-7pm. If you feel up to it, you can even go inside when they are closing shop and explain that you're homeless and pick out all the food you want instead of getting it off the sidewalk. Feel no shame, you're helping to curb wastefulness!(That being said, Pret a Mangers doesn't give any food to random people, just to "charity".)
The '''Coffee Republic''' on Great Marlborough Street near the Oxford Circle and Carnaby Street is reported to put out garbage bags with totally normal food--boiled potatoes, sandwiches, etc. every evening around 8pm on weekdays and 7pm on weekends.
The sandwich company "Eat" throw away lots of stuff everyday all over town. Have a look in there bins or outside the shops on the street.
The bakery 'Paul' in Blackfriars and Paddington throw out a lot of cakes, all extremely luxurious and scrumptious. From Blackfriars station walk up the main road, and Paul's will be on your right after a few minutes.
If you are into Sushi, try one of the many Wasabi places in the city when they close at 9pm or 9.30. They always leave food outside, and there are always loads of people picking it up, but you'll get some if you're on time.
The most luxurious place to skip is always Waitrose. Places like Sainsburys, Marks and Spencers(generally difficult to skip!), Tesco and so on have a marking system on their packed food that says when the food should be thrown away and when it should be eaten before. The gap between this days are often two days and you can still have it more or less a week more depending on what it is.Most bins are secured by fences, cameras, etc. Don't mind them too much, it is rare that they'll call the cops on you as long as you don't "destroy property".
Good places to try in Hackney are E.A.T. Pret, Iceland, supermarket metros or locals and markets.
=== Cheap ===
