I love it! Mind you I lived in London till I was 20. I just do what everyone els in london does and that is don’t worry about the idiots zooming around your trailer with no room to get back in! Just look out for number 1 down there. When your blocking the road trying to reverse into a side street and people are giving “hand gestures” don’t get worked up smile at them or even blow them a kiss as that really winds them up! It can be a great laugh just don’t take it too seriously or worry about it. I agree that people not from London or those that haven’t driven in London before might find it a bit daunting and even frightening but it’s not that bad if you know how to deal with it. 
londonerupnorth:
I love it! Mind you I lived in London till I was 20. I just do what everyone els in london does and that is don’t worry about the idiots zooming around your trailer with no room to get back in! Just look out for number 1 down there. When your blocking the road trying to reverse into a side street and people are giving “hand gestures” don’t get worked up smile at them or even blow them a kiss as that really winds them up! It can be a great laugh just don’t take it too seriously or worry about it. I agree that people not from London or those that haven’t driven in London before might find it a bit daunting and even frightening but it’s not that bad if you know how to deal with it.
Is the right answer,you’ve just got to get your " London Head " on and go for it.
Us tipper drivers have no problems driving in london
The day after I passed my driving test my Dad sent me to London in the van, I was saying I dont need a map I will do an auto route print off and follow it, wondered why every one in the office was laughing at me, next day I found out why they were laughing it certainly was an education lol. At my last job I done London regular and I sort of enjoyed it but again it was only in a van but I am lucking forward to doing it in something bigger.
If they wind you up when you are trying to carry out a manouvere, then just stop, count to ten slowly and then carry on.
I lived there for thirty eight years and passed three driving tests, car, HGV3 and HGV1. Took class one test via Marble Arch and Hyde Park Corner, passed first time.
newmercman:
The place is full of immigrants with no idea how to drive, mums in 4x4s with no idea how to drive, every other kind of ■■■■■■ in a car with no idea how to drive I actually enjoy running through the middle of London, like ROG, in my case especially at rush hour, the crumpet is worth sitting in traffic
As any bus driver knows it’s actually better for the crumpet before rush hour going by the rule that they look better as teenagers than 30 something career women do 
Hi mknutjob, whats the matter with east ham, there’s all of our multi cultural friends living there, but dont stop and ask for directions because the english moved away some time ago, anyway it saves driving all the way to the middle east. Bill S.
Really dont have a problem with the traffic, cyclists,pedestrians or streets you have to drive down then reverse into alley ways when there are parked cars everywhere…just that l dont know London at all…my knowledge is get on the Train to paddington then get in a taxi 
So basically i am teaching myself where everywhere is in London One thing i have noticed…no roundabouts…l have turned into side roads and reversed back into the main road to turn round many times… 
Carryfast:
newmercman:
The place is full of immigrants with no idea how to drive, mums in 4x4s with no idea how to drive, every other kind of ■■■■■■ in a car with no idea how to drive I actually enjoy running through the middle of London, like ROG, in my case especially at rush hour, the crumpet is worth sitting in trafficAs any bus driver knows it’s actually better for the crumpet before rush hour going by the rule that they look better as teenagers than 30 something career women do
I’m going through a ■■■■ phase at the moment, so I’ll stick with rush hour 
That is one of the dangers of London the woman, you look so hard then bang straight into a bus lol not happened to me yet but come close. Maybe thats why im looking forward to going again
Regularly have 5 or 6 drops in London on a double decker, hate london with a vengance! but, it’s part of the job. try getting around with a 16’ trailer, even the north and south circular are no go areas in places. Of course the planners don’t give a ****, “your a driver, find your way!” OK, so when my MPG is down to about 5MPH, and I am taking 45 minutes to get from one drop to another when a direct route would take me 10 minutes, better not try starting any “fuel efficiency Incentive scheme”
when I go anywhere within the M25, my entire driving attitude changes, you have to be far more agressive, not dangerously, less polite, and not to think too much about causing inconvienience to other road users. I often let out a blood curdling scream in the privacy of my cab when I’m sitting at traffic lights, it helps relieve the stress, keeps my blood presure down, and prevents me from lumping some prat in a BMW with a large tyre iron!
truckerjon:
Regularly have 5 or 6 drops in London on a double decker, hate london with a vengance! but, it’s part of the job. try getting around with a 16’ trailer, even the north and south circular are no go areas in places. Of course the planners don’t give a ****, “your a driver, find your way!” OK, so when my MPG is down to about 5MPH, and I am taking 45 minutes to get from one drop to another when a direct route would take me 10 minutes, better not try starting any “fuel efficiency Incentive scheme”
when I go anywhere within the M25, my entire driving attitude changes, you have to be far more agressive, not dangerously, less polite, and not to think too much about causing inconvienience to other road users. I often let out a blood curdling scream in the privacy of my cab when I’m sitting at traffic lights, it helps relieve the stress, keeps my blood presure down, and prevents me from lumping some prat in a BMW with a large tyre iron!
You don’t mention taking breaks whilst within M25, that is another problem to overcome.
truckerjon:
you have to be far more agressive…
Having lived in both Leicester and London when I was younger, I have to say you have to be “agressive” in London as a pedestrian as well as on the road. People barge you and shove you, particularly on the tube and bus. You just have to look out for yourself. Not very nice but there you go. The only time anyone ever spoke to me, let alone made eye contact with me was a few days after the 2005 bombings when my bus was deleyed by a security scare. Still love London though - would recommend anyone to experience it once in their lives!
I’m sure half the people driving down the Walworth road don’t even have a licence! The amount of motors with dents and dings in them (including expensive Mercs etc) has to be seen to be believed. London is just not like anywhere else really…
Leicester is ok, apart from the amount of traffic lights everywhere, and the ring road is like something out of Los Angeles lol.
Speaking of the U.S, I have never seen such awful driving as I have in New York. Ever
bazza123:
truckerjon:
you have to be far more agressive…Having lived in both Leicester and London when I was younger, I have to say you have to be “agressive” in London as a pedestrian as well as on the road. People barge you and shove you, particularly on the tube and bus. You just have to look out for yourself. Not very nice but there you go. The only time anyone ever spoke to me, let alone made eye contact with me was a few days after the 2005 bombings when my bus was deleyed by a security scare. Still love London though - would recommend anyone to experience it once in their lives!
I’m sure half the people driving down the Walworth road don’t even have a licence! The amount of motors with dents and dings in them (including expensive Mercs etc) has to be seen to be believed. London is just not like anywhere else really…
Leicester is ok, apart from the amount of traffic lights everywhere, and the ring road is like something out of Los Angeles lol.
Speaking of the U.S, I have never seen such awful driving as I have in New York. Ever
Try Moscow! Russian drivers are the most agressive I have ever come across.you don’t leave more than an inch of space front, back or either side of your vehicle or else someone will try to force thier way into the gap.
took a taxi from Moscow city centre to the airport once during the rush hour, we undertook a police car on blue lights! drove along the hard shoulder, which is crowded with stalls selling various garden produce, swerving in and out of the various lanes, dirver then abandoned the taxi in lane one while he went into the bushes for a pee. good job i had some clean underwear in my suitcase, had to change before i got on the plane!
truckerjon:
bazza123:
truckerjon:
you have to be far more agressive…Having lived in both Leicester and London when I was younger, I have to say you have to be “agressive” in London as a pedestrian as well as on the road. People barge you and shove you, particularly on the tube and bus. You just have to look out for yourself. Not very nice but there you go. The only time anyone ever spoke to me, let alone made eye contact with me was a few days after the 2005 bombings when my bus was deleyed by a security scare. Still love London though - would recommend anyone to experience it once in their lives!
I’m sure half the people driving down the Walworth road don’t even have a licence! The amount of motors with dents and dings in them (including expensive Mercs etc) has to be seen to be believed. London is just not like anywhere else really…
Leicester is ok, apart from the amount of traffic lights everywhere, and the ring road is like something out of Los Angeles lol.
Speaking of the U.S, I have never seen such awful driving as I have in New York. Ever
Sounds exciting lol
Try Moscow! Russian drivers are the most agressive I have ever come across.you don’t leave more than an inch of space front, back or either side of your vehicle or else someone will try to force thier way into the gap.
took a taxi from Moscow city centre to the airport once during the rush hour, we undertook a police car on blue lights! drove along the hard shoulder, which is crowded with stalls selling various garden produce, swerving in and out of the various lanes, dirver then abandoned the taxi in lane one while he went into the bushes for a pee. good job i had some clean underwear in my suitcase, had to change before i got on the plane!
I love London
Second time out in an artic I had to go to the Willesden and Acton areas on multidrop and did my very first blindside too
As others have said, just adopt their attitude and perhaps the “Im bigger than you” attitude and you wont go far wrong
Oh and go with the flow and enjoy 
I don’t mind London if it’s a morning tip, I’ll head in early get tipped and then head out, most of the traffic is coming into London so the roads are pretty good, it’s when I tip in the afternoon that I dread the journey out, all roads are jammed with everyone wanting to do the same as me, get out of the zb hole 
It’s the pedestrians I love the most, they don’t seem to give a zb about their own safety, I was backing into a site in White city the entrance was tight had traffic marshalls and site labourers blocking the road and path but joe public just pushed past as the back of my trailer got ever closer to crushing them 
London is great fun. Used to run around the city with a large long wheelbased 7.5t box carrying bubblewrap which was a bit of a good way to learn. although that was at least 15 years ago.
Recently have been going into peckham and tulse hill on a regular basis. I just get inside the 25 then slow down and chill out. If you cruise at 20-25 and use all available lanes. never indicate unless you really need to. (keeps the locals on their toes) Enjoy the wondrous sights. I also use the blowing a kiss system mentioned earlier.
As said before… Go in with the right mind set and dont give a monkeys about “going in” and it can to be fun.
Someone mentioned trying to get a break in whilst inside the 25. Pull up somewhere convenient, preferably where there is room to allow traffic to pass. Put hazard lights on. lift bonnet / front grill, if its a dry day chuck a couple of mugs of water or liquid underneath. get in the Passenger seat or get on the bunk and relax for 45.
Inform police officer that help should arrive within the next half hour or so. And see if you can make it onto Sally Traffic.
ROG:
I loved driving in London, especially in the central areas - I am probably the only one who does
No, I was enjoying it as well, I was doing London mostly on 18 tonner, but sometimes on 7,5 and sprinters as well. I was there regularly when worked for agency years ago, and on my last work I was there at least once per week for over 5 months, 3 of 5 times within the charging zone…
truckerjon:
Try Moscow!
Or Istanbul.
4 lanes motorway, one big traffic jam, seven cars are going side by side, between them pedestrian (half of them are beggars and the other half try to sell you some crap), scooters, motorbikes, motorcarts etc., most of them going wrong way…
That was an experience!