U.K. and Ireland - Public WiFi in Catford London

Hi,

I read the other reviews about WiFi for central London. We'll stay in Catford area of London and I'm wondering whether there are specific places in Catford that have free or public WiFi. This is for our use of netbook.

Thanks.

Possibly available in Catford Library (http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/LeisureAndCulture/Libraries/OurServices/WhoWeAre/CatfordLibrary.htm) (a public library), though nothing specifically about wifi availability is mentioned on their 'Internet access' (http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/LeisureAndCulture/Libraries/OurServices/WhatWeDo/InternetAccess.htm) page.

Otherwise, er, there's McDonald's (http://www.mcdonalds.co.uk/), which generally offer free wifi - the one in Catford is located 'round the back' on a gyratory system, presumably to catch passing traffic on the South Circular road.

Just to note that Catford isn't one of London's glamorous or trendy areas - not really somewhere where the coffee chains (i.e. Starbucks et al) set up shop (unless there's one hiding somewhere - had a v quick gander for them on the web but found nowt). Greenwich and Blackheath would be the nearest such places. Catford Bridge station does however have a decent, frequent train service into central London (and some trains call at Lewisham, where you can change onto the DLR for Greenwich).

This site is helpful for searching for WiFi hotspots - this is a search for free hotspots around Catford. As Mizter T says, this isn't an area where there's an abundance of coffee shops, etc. but there are a few around:

http://v4.jiwire.com/search-wifi-hotspots.htm?result_display=list&technology_id=0&venue_group_id=0&city_id=0&disableBrowseBy=false&type=reload&latitude=51.4451136&longitude=-0.0224724&country_id=226&state_id=0&city=&hotspot_name=&address=&zip=SE6+4SP&location_type_id=0&provider_id=0&pay_free=free&radius=20.0

There's a Wetherspoons pub (The London & Rye (http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/home/pubs/the-london-rye)) which ought to have free Wifi too.

Do you know where in Catford you're staying? There's not much in Catford proper, but surrounding areas may offer more.

This site is helpful for searching for WiFi hotspots - this is a search for free hotspots around Catford. As Mizter T says, this isn't an area where there's an abundance of coffee shops, etc. but there are a few around:

http://v4.jiwire.com/search-wifi-hotspots.htm?result_display=list&technology_id=0&venue_group_id=0&city_id=0&disableBrowseBy=false&type=reload&latitude=51.4451136&longitude=-0.0224724&country_id=226&state_id=0&city=&hotspot_name=&address=&zip=SE6+4SP&location_type_id=0&provider_id=0&pay_free=free&radius=20.0

Though I'm ever so slightly bemused by the second entry it brings up - "De Vere - Cameron House" - which is supposedly located in "Loch Lomond Dunbartonshire, Balloch, England, United Kingdom" (?!), but the map has it on Dowanhill Road, a residential sidestreet in Catford, and furthermore one that doesn't appear to host any hotels or lodging houses at all! There's an area of Glasgow called Dowanhill, but I'm not sure that really explains the muddle...

The first entry, the Ladywell Tavern (http://www.timeout.com/london/venue/17815/ladywell-tavern), seems like quite a decent pub in what I dare say is a bit of an oasis for such establishments, but as its name suggests it's up the road in Ladywell as opposed to being in Catford.

There's a Wetherspoons pub (The London & Rye (http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/home/pubs/the-london-rye)) which ought to have free Wifi too.

I don't think I'd registered that Wetherspoons pubs offered wifi - though I suppose that befits what is the McDonald's of the pub world. Enter under the expectation of being being drawn into conversation by a somewhat sozzled red-faced old boy about the evils of, well, pick any one of the Daily Mail's top 20 things that are causing the end of civilisation as we know it - well perhaps less a conversation, and more the audience of a passionate if somewhat incoherent diatribe.

Still, like McDonald's, they do sterling service in providing lavatory facilities to a great many non-customers...

Thanks for all good info. I will obtain the address where we will stay in Catford ... and post here later.

Thanks for all good info. I will obtain the address where we will stay in Catford ... and post here later.Is that so we can all pop round for a cup of tea? :)

Do you know where in Catford you're staying? There's not much in Catford proper, but surrounding areas may offer more.

... will follow up with this question.

Is that so we can all pop round for a cup of tea? :)

Sure, tour guides are welcome. :)

Do you know where in Catford you're staying? There's not much in Catford proper, but surrounding areas may offer more.

We will stay at Arran Road London SE6 2NL ... if this is any help for a nearby place from SIM card and/or laptop broadband.

It is, but see post on the Salisbury thread for shops there - there's loads.

Lewisham Centre will be your nearest shopping area, but I'd struggle to recommend it for much.

We will stay at Arran Road London SE6 2NL ... if this is any help for a nearby place from SIM card and/or laptop broadband.

Looking at this map (http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=51.43674555239199~-0.020673522190310933&lvl=16&dir=0&sty=c&eo=0&where1=SE6%202NL%2C%20London&form=LMLTCC), the 'superstores' on Bromley Road include a Currys/PC World and Comet - some electrical superstores which will probably have broadband dongles, albeit they'll probably do their best to upsell you something you don't really need.

However, the nearest newsagent looks like it's plastered with posters (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=SE6+2UN&ll=51.437638,-0.018861&spn=0.002006,0.004549&gl=uk&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=51.437798,-0.018925&panoid=l07Ua-OkKJdUSvxnsIv7RQ&cbp=12,229.07,,2,0.57) for cheap international calling, so would be a good bet for a SIM card.

Looking at this map (http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=51.43674555239199~-0.020673522190310933&lvl=16&dir=0&sty=c&eo=0&where1=SE6%202NL%2C%20London&form=LMLTCC), the 'superstores' on Bromley Road include a Currys/PC World and Comet - some electrical superstores which will probably have broadband dongles, albeit they'll probably do their best to upsell you something you don't really need.

Best bet is probably to get one of Three's MiFis. I bought one for our trip to London this month and it was fabulous. £72 for the MiFi and 3 GB of data -- more data available for £10 for 1 GB or £15 for 3 GB. Given that we were in a bunch of places without good wi-fi (and that we had two laptops, two iPhones and an iPad -- all of which can share the MiFi) we ran through our 3 GB in the 2.5 weeks we were there. (We were in the checkin line at Heathrow with 6 MB left.)

Not sure if Currys/Comet sell them, but there's a Three store on Lewisham High Street. Beware though -- they don't take non-chip-and-PIN credit cards, so you'll need cash. (Similarly, in order to top up by credit card you need a UK credit card, but you can get around that by buying a voucher in a store instead. Almost anywhere will sell those.)

For places in England (and/or France) that are limited in taking credit cards, do they take traveler checks?

Almost certainly not (in fact, personal cheques are rarely accepted in shops in the UK now). Travellers cheques usually have to be cashed at a bank or bureau de change.

It's rare for somewhere in the UK not to take credit cards. In France, it can be more difficult, as there has been a reliance on the local "carte bleue" system (a now Visa/MC compatible debit system). Most European cards are OK, but some non-chip cards can be flat out refused.

To be clear, Three takes credit cards. But they must be chip-and-pin, according to the assistant I spoke to. So American cards won't do. (She insisted that this applies to all Three stores -- and the fact that their online topup requires the card to be British supports that statement.)

In the UK, almost all vendors take credit cards, and almost all of those will take non-chip-and-pin cards (sometimes with a little grumbling). Most of the exceptions are in vending machines such as railway ticket machines. Three is an outlier.

So American cards won't do. (She insisted that this applies to all Three stores.
Three is an outlier.

My comprehension from what you have noted:
American cards (Visa, Master Card, and American Express) are mostly okay in UK and may not be so in France (Normandy ... small towns?). Is this correct?
What is it mean “Three”? I have no idea.

Are there many bank ATMs of “VISA” and “PUSE” available in England and/or France?

Thanks.

Beware though -- they don't take non-chip-and-PIN credit cards, so you'll need cash. (Similarly, in order to top up by credit card you need a UK credit card, but you can get around that by buying a voucher in a store instead. Almost anywhere will sell those.)

So European cards are chip-and-pin credit cards where as American cards are not. Can I purchase a European card like a cash card ... with a debit amount?
What is a "voucher"? Is it being treat similar like a traveler check?

I have traveled to Italy, France, and Spain in ’99, ’04, and ’08. The ATMs, American cards, traveler checks were simple then. Have things changed?

'Three' is a mobile telephone network; they are probably the best choice for buying cheap wireless internet access.
You can buy them at a few places but they also have their own stores, including one in Catford. An alternative place to buy is Argos who will stock a variety of choices for different mobile networks (the items they sell are all listed on their website at argos.co.uk and you can check online what stock they currently have in their Catford store).

All uk cards now have a chip on them and you need the pin to use it. If your card does not have a chip on then it will usually be accepted at shops and restaurants with signature and possibly ID. but there are some exceptions (such as 'Three' stores mentioned, apparently).

You should generally have no trouble using them in ATMs; I think all ATMs in the UK accept Visa.

Your mobile internet may need to have money added to the account. You probably will not be able to do this directly from your credit card but you can go into a store and ask for a 'voucher'. You pay the store and they give you a voucher with a code which you enter onto your account to have the money added.