My son will be staying and studying in London this summer and fall. Someone suggested he get an oyster card to travel the tube and busses. How and where does he obtain one.
Also, he will be staying in a private home right off the Redbridge tube stop. Any comment on the area? Grocery stores? Pubs , Food etc.

Assuming he'll be getting a travelcard (most students do, so they can move around, commute to class, etc.), when he asks for a weekly or monthly one, it'll come on an Oyster. Also, you should know that, depending on where he's studying (if it's a real university or just some kind of program or whatever), he may be eligible for a student Oyster, which is 30% off normal fares. He'll have to ask at his school to get the required form and stamp.

Your son can buy an Oyster card at any tube station.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/fares-tick...er/general.asp

http://www.visitlondon.com/tubeguru


will give you information on the resources around that tube stop.....

Redbridge is an outer London (zone 4) borough, i.e., mainly residential and commuter territory.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_...h_of_Redbridge
http://www.redbridge.gov.uk/leisure/

It should have the usual complement of supermarkets, pubs and so on, but my guess is your son will be doing most of his socialising around his college.

This is what I so like about the Fodorites. You all have so much info to share. I appreciate all the web sites and comments that you have all made. I will give these resources to DS and hopefully he will be prepared to take full advantage of his London experience. Thanks once again.

Re: Redbridge. I lived there about 10 years ago (well nearby – in Ilford)and it is archetypical essex suburbia. From memory there is only one pub (it was a Harvester place when I lived there) and in terms of shops there were only a few corner shops.

It’s basically a bunch of houses on the A12

Ilford has loads of pubs and clubs though and it’s a short bus ride, and Redbrige is on the Central line – so central London is only 20 mins away.

Things may have changed out of all recognition since I was there though.