London: Free newspapers and magazines for every day of the week
If you’re on the hunt for information about what to do in London or looking to catch up on the latest news, travel, style or beauty ideas, then you’re in luck. There has been an explosion of quality free publications in London (and across the UK) over the last few years.
In addition to the more common free newspapers handed out on the tube, Cheapos can now get their hands on all sorts of other literature without spending a penny. It’s common knowledge for Londoners, but visitors to the city are often none the wiser. So here’s a quick run down of the city’s free publications available to you:
Daily Newspapers
Metro and City AM are free morning newspapers handed out at Tube stations from Monday to Friday. Metro is available nationwide, while City AM is London only and has more of a financial and city focus.
The Evening Standard accompanies most Londoners home in the evenings and is handed out at tube stations from 4 pm, Monday to Friday. Look out for the ES Magazine, which comes with the paper on a Friday and contains lots of London-centric weekend lifestyle reading.
Magazines
Tuesday: Time Out
The absolute staple for Londoners, Time Out has been going since 1968 and its success has been such that you can now find it in other destinations such as New York, Barcelona and Melbourne. It started out life as a paid for publication, but in September 2012 became free. A bitter sign of the times for the publishing industry, but on the plus side – great news for Cheapos!
The magazine is totally London-centric, including everything from features with musicians, book reviews, neighborhood focuses and, of course, extensive entertainment listings for the week ahead. Pick one up at tube and rail stations in zones 1 and 2 on Tuesday mornings, or at museums, cinemas and theaters across the city – see a full list of distribution points here.
Wednesday: Stylist
One for the ladies – Stylist is the hugely successful younger sister to Shortlist Magazine (see below). Distributed at tube stations on Tuesday evenings and Wednesday mornings, pick up a copy to get your weekly fill of beauty, fashion, travel and lifestyle news for free.
Thursday: Shortlist
The original publication from award-winning publisher Shortlist Media, this weekly mag is aimed at a predominantly male audience, with the latest gadgets, health, tech, sport, fashion and grooming advice, but the excellent journalism and quirky features make it a good read for women as well. Pick up your copy on Thursday mornings at tube stations.
Friday: Sport
Sport-lovers can get their fill of news, interviews and analysis, as well as a look at upcoming events with this free sport-themed publication. Distributed at tube stations every Friday morning, it’s an informative and lighthearted read to welcome in the weekend.
Monthly magazines
A relatively new kid on the block, Escapism is the UK’s first free glossy travel magazine and it’s doing a good job of rivaling the more established paid-for titles. While the content mainly serves as inspiration for your next trip, UK-based exhibitions and news are also featured in the magazine and accompanying website. The features are well written and the photography is great; a nice little pick-me-up on a drizzly London morning. Find Escapism at most zone 1 and 2 tube stations, as well as at UK airports and Eurostar terminals on the first Wednesday of every month.
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