London

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Welcome to London!

We're glad to have you here! This page is meant to help visitors find their way to our London space and around London. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to ask in #london on irc.mozilla.org, or if you happen to be around the space come talk to us. If there is anything missing that you think might help future visitors, please add it / let us know :-).

Mozilla London logo
Welcome to Mozilla London.

Space Details

Email:
TBC

Address:
101 St Martins Lane (3rd Floor)
London
WC2N 4AZ
UK
Map

About the Space

  • The space is open between 09:00 - 17:30
  • Free WiFi (login to Mozilla Guest - no password needed)
  • Conference rooms available for uses related to Open Source and Mozilla
  • Signing in is required when you enter the space on the 3rd floor
  • There are a few guidelines to follow so keep a look out for them
  • A full list of our internally bookable conference rooms is available here.

Wifi

As mentioned above there is free to everyone, but if you're an employee then you can login to any of the other wifi channels available (Mozilla, Mozilla-G, Mozilla Mobile) with your LDAP credentials.

The setup using Kubuntu isn't too obvious, here are the settings needed to make it work:

  • Security: WPA/WPA2 Enterprise
  • Authentication: Protected EAP (PEAP)
  • Inner Authentication: MSCHAPv2
  • Username: LDAP Username - should be name@mozilla.com
  • Password: LDAP password


Travelling to London

If you're coming from continental Europe, you may wish to explore the possibility of using either the Eurostar train, or choosing a flight that will arrive at the London City Airport, as both of these options will drop you conveniently close to the centre of London.

Trans-continental travellers should expect to arrive at either Heathrow or Gatwick airports. While these airports are quite distant from the city centre, both are relatively well serviced by above and underground trains, as well as bus and taxi service.

From Heathrow by train:

  1. Take the London Underground ('the tube') from the Heathrow Terminals towards the city centre (Heathrow is at the end of the line). Heathrow has three London Underground stations – one for Terminals 1 and 3, one each at Terminal 4 and Terminal 5. Heathrow Terminals 1, 2, 3 station is in the central area between the terminals, which are a few minutes' walk away via underground walkways. Terminal 4 and Terminal 5 stations are in the basements of the terminal buildings. More details.
  2. Get off at Leicester Square. Note: this station is not wheelchair accessible.
  3. Follow the Leicester Square tube walking instructions below.

Takes ~50 minutes, no connections, costs £5.30 cash, £2.90 oyster-card each way. Beware that staff will be encouraging people to buy Heathrow Express tickets, these are not what you want for the underground. Buying a topup oyster card is highly recommended. These reduce fares by up to 50% and can be refunded (including deposit) at the end of the trip.

From Heathrow by car:

This company offers fair priced car transport (much cheaper than hailing a cab from outside the airport): Heathrow Cars

From Gatwick by train:

  1. Head to the railway station outside the South Terminal (is only a few minutes away from the North Terminal by a free shuttle).
  2. Take the train to London Bridge, they come regularly (avoid Gatwick express)
  3. At London Bridge change trains to Charing Cross (overground).
  4. Get off at Charing Cross.
  5. Follow the Charing Cross tube walking instructions below.

Finding the Space

If you're travelling with a Mozilla group e.g. Work Weeks you will more than likely be staying in St. Martins Lane Hotel. We're the glass fronted building directly opposite that hotel.

If you're travelling by Tube (London underground) the closest station to the space is Leicester Square (0.1 miles, 2 mins) which is on the Piccadilly line.

From Leicester Square underground station:

  1. Leave the underground station by exit 1 (Signs to Charing Cross/St Martins Lane)
  2. First left (Sharp; down alley)
  3. Right (@dead end),
  4. Left (@ J Sheekey)
  5. Right (onto St Martins Lane)
  6. Building 101 is soon after Starbucks, but before The Duke of York's theatre.

Video of the route. Route on Google Maps

From Charing Cross underground station:

  1. When exiting Charing Cross, cross over the traffic lights and on towards Trafalgar Square.
  2. Before crossing the road directly in front of Trafalgar Square take a Right and head towards St. Martins Lane.
  3. You'll find us after the Duke of York Theatre. If you see Starbucks - you've gone too far.

Route on Google Maps

Accessing the space:

  • We're on the third floor of the building - just ask building security to let you up (they are here Mon-Fri until 7pm).
  • Employees: The doors and lifts work on a different pass system to the Mozilla badges, We have some temporary access cards available for the building - ask Shannon Clayton for one.

Travelling around in London

If you are spending the day in London or plan on moving on from us at any time here are some useful travel links to help you on your way:

The Great British Summer

The UK has a bit of a reputation for poor and unreliable weather but don't let this stop you from coming down. Just take a look at BBC Weather or Met Office weather and see if you need an umbrella or sun screen.

Hotels

Directly opposite the space:

In-expensive Hotels:

  • Premier Inn: There are 6 of these within roughly 1 mile from the space and Leicester Square they cost between £125 - £175 Per Night (depending on how far in advance you book)
  • Travelodge: There are 5 of these within 1 mile of Leicester Square. Rooms Cost between £49 - £89 Per Night (depending on when you book)
  • Holiday Inn: There are 4 of these within 1 Mile of Leicester Square. Rooms cost between £100 - £140 Per Night depending on when you book)

Car Hire

Smoking Policy

Pursuant to both the Health Act 2006 (c 28), and the tenant agreement of 101 St. Martin's Lane, smoking is not permitted anywhere on the building premises - this includes the common areas as well as balconies and other attached outdoor spaces. If you want to smoke head on out to St. Martins lane and over to near the Duke of York. This is where our no-smoking area ends.

Employees

For employee specific content (building access cards/maintenance contact numbers etc): https://intranet.mozilla.org/London_Office

Our meeting room names: a history of British television comedy

Dad's Army

A sitcom set in World War II, a bumbling and mostly incompetent division of the Home Guard usually ends up blowing up an innocent farmer's tractor while trying to defend Britain from the Nazis.

Fawlty Towers

A tired and frustrated Hotel owner/manager, played by John Cleese, treats all of his clients with thinly veiled contempt.

Red Dwarf

Three million years after a disaster that wipes out the crew of Jupiter Mining Corporation's Red Dwarf, the ship's computer releases Dave Lister from stasis. He is the last human being. For company he has a hologram of his dead bunkmate, a fashion obsessed lifeform that has evolved from his cat, the ship's deranged computer, and a self-deprecating service mechanoid.

Yes Minister

This sitcom is based around the battles betwee a Government minister and his Civil Service staff member who seemingly tries to scupper every attempt to pass legislation.

Food and Drink

London has a full range of culinary experiences ranging from some of the best restaurants in the world through to terrible tourist traps. This is an incomplete guide to some of the eateries in the vicinity of the office. If you have a particularly good — or bad — experience elsewhere, please add it to the wiki to help future Mozillians.

Coffee

  • Notes - about a minute's walk down St Martin's Lane, this is the closest good coffee shop to the space. Be warned - you aren't going to get a bucket of coffee, like you may from Starbucks - but it's going to be well worth it. If you plan on visiting a few times, or there are a bunch of you then it may be worth getting a loyalty card - 1 free coffee for every 8 stamps.
  • Monmouth Coffee ( [1] ) providers of the office coffee beans, this has excellent espresso and pours. Tiny, quite busy, has communal tables in the back.

Bars and Pubs

Close to the space

  • The Harp - Quaint little bar usually overflowing with local workers having a pint after work. Very convenient to the space. (Covent Garden, 47 Chandos Place)
  • The Bedford & Strand - Just a couple of blocks from the space is this fairly unpretentious wine bar which is often not too busy either. Great selection of European wine and cheese and meat plates to go with or a meal if you please. (3 minutes, 1A Bedford Street WC2E 9HH)
  • Ship and Shovell - This tiny pub spans two side of an alleyway and I once saw Kristin Scott Thomas there. (5 minutes, 1-3 Craven Passage WC2N 5PH)

Further from the space but of interest

  • Princess Louise - This pub’s interior has been restored to its Victorian era state and is possibly one of the prettiest pubs you’ll visit in London. (15 minutes, 208 High Holborn WC1V 7EP)
  • Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese - This maze of underground rooms serving as a pub was rebuilt after the great fire of 1666 and was believed to have existed since 1538. History: Britain has it. (25 minutes, 145 Fleet Street EC4A 2BU)
  • Graphic Bar - This bar in Soho stocks 180 types of Gin and serves their gin mixes in paint tins..! (15 minutes, 4 Golden Square)
  • Fernandez and Wells - Small wine bar, suitable for groups of two or fewer. (20 mins, Lexington St)

Chain restaurants

Unfortunately London is rife with mostly average tourist-trap chain restaurants which is a shame because in-between them and with a bit of local knowledge you can find far better food in London.

However there are a few ‘safe’ chain restaurants that offer medium range food for medium range price if you’re happy with such compromises. The other benefit of these are that they can often accept large groups at short notice. If you really have to, our recommendations for these are:

  • Pizza Express - Ubiquitous chain favoured by middle class families, offering a reasonable selection of thin-crust pizza and pasta dishes.
  • Wagamama - Fusion Japanese. Not recommended if you are anywhere near china town.
  • Nando’s - I have nothing nice to say about this, so maybe someone else could try?
  • Jamie’s Italian - Reasonable chain Italian owned by the celebrity chef. Does a selection of pasta, meat and fish dishes but not pizza. Should always have some tables for walk ins (and booking isn't possible on a Friday evening or Saturday), but it's popular so you should be prepared to wait. (2 minutes, 11 Upper St Martin's Lane, WC2H 9FB)

Stay away from: Steak & Co, Bella Italia, Angus Steakhouse, Prezzo, Spaghetti House, All Bar One, Masala Zone, TGI Fridays

Chinatown

Why would you go to an average chain restaurant when the London space has Chinatown on its doorstep? London’s Chinatown is more Hong Kong-style due to British-Hong Kong historical relations so the food may be a bit different to your SF local. While not nearly as big as San Francisco’s it’s still a good place to get a meal. Try these few:

  • Tokyo Diner - a top lunch choice for London Mozillians, this is a popular Japanese restaurant serving a large selection of unpretentious dishes at reasonable prices. (2 Newport Place, WC2H 7JJ)
  • Plum Valley - More modern style Cantonese dim sum (8 minutes, 20 Gerrard St W1D 6JQ)
  • Abeno Too - Osaka-style Okonomiyaki, a Japanese omelette with your choice of fillings (4 minutes, 17-18 Great Newport Street WC2H 7JE)
  • Koya - Japanese Udon noodles. Just a note to Californians that Udon is not like Ramen.. it’s better! (10 minutes, 49 Frith Street W1D 4SG)
  • Young Cheng - Dim sum and also famous for Lobster noodles (5 minutes, 22 Lisle Street WC2H 7BA)
  • Dumplings Legend - Dim sum, and fantastic Peking Duck. Prime-location in Chinatown, but very good (15-16 Gerrard Street London, W1D 6JE)

Burgers

With the emergence of a fashion for street food, upmarket burger joints have been growing like a mold across London. Despite, or perhaps /because/ of the wealth of choice, the topic of which are acceptable is a topic of much debate amongst London Mozillians.

  • Five Guys - American import and reportedly favoured by president Obama. However very few people leave to oval office for careers as food critics, and perhaps with good reason. There seems to be general agreement that the burgers are flavourless and the fries are over-salted. Also, for reasons best left unexplored the interior decor gives the impression that you are eating in a public urinal (1-3 Long Acre, WC2E 9LH).
  • Gourmet Burger Kitchen -
  • Shake Shack -
  • Byron - People disagree about the quality of the burgers, but the Oreo milkshake remains a popular choice.
  • Meat Market - Tucked away in the streets behind Covent Garden, this is an outpost of the London street food mini-empire that started with the "MEATwagon" burger van. Good selection of burgers, with the patties medium rare and juicy. The dead-hippie fries are practically a meal in their own right. (The Deck, Jubliee Market Hall Tavistock Street, WC2E 8BE)
  • Patty & Bun - Not near enough to the space for lunch, but if you are out and about a better burger than you will find anywhere in the Covent Garden area. Delicious, thick, medium-rare meat in a variety of inventive flavour combinations, sandwiched in a toasted brioche bun. (54 James Street, W1U 1EU)

Other Restaurants Near the Space

General

  • Terroirs - Wine bar/restaurant offering small plates of French-style food, including charcuterie and cheese, for sharing. http://terroirswinebar.com/


Spanish Tapas

  • Pix (10 mins, 16 Bateman St W1D 3AH)
  • Brindisa (20 mins, 46 Broadwick Street W1F 7AF)

Fish & Chips

  • Rock and Sole Plaice (10 mins, 47 Endell Street WC2H 9AJ)

Meat

  • Bodean’s - American ribs, pulled pork, burgers and so forth to be eaten whilst watching American sport replays (10 Poland Street)
  • Pitt Cue Co - The same American BBQ style but more expensive and more exclusive is the (25 mins, 1 Newburgh Street W1F 7RB).
  • Hawksmoor - Famous steak restaurant. Hugely busy you’ll almost certainly need to book first and take your largest, most uninhibited credit card. (3 minutes, 11 Langley Street WC2H 9JG)

Indian / Pakastani / Bangladeshi

One of London's greatest culinary offerings is the wide selection of Indian restaurants. Of particular note:

  • Veeraswamy - said to be the oldest surviving Indian restaurant in the UK. Now, one of the Capital's best with a Michelin star (make sure you're ready for the bill!). (Mezzanine Floor, Victory House 99 Regent Street, London W1B 4RS)
  • Dishoom - Super authentic Bombay restaurant. Right down to only serving "local" soda pop. And only steps away from the space. (12 Upper St. Martin’s Lane, London WC2H 9FB)
  • Red Fort - the best Indian restaurant in Soho, and previous winner of TimeOut's best Indian Restaurant (77 Dean Street London, Greater London W1D 3SH)
  • Area: Brick Lane (http://goo.gl/maps/oacsF) - synonymous with Indian cuisine in London. Not all restaurants here are worthy of the address however - those of particular note: Aladin (132 Brick Lane) and Cinnamon (134 Brick Lane).

Vegetarian

Most restaurants will offer some vegetarian food, with some — such as Dishoom listed above — offering an excellent selection of meat-free choices. However there are also a few destinations that specialize in vegetarian food.

  • Food for Thought - A simple lunch/dinner cafe-style restaurant (5 minutes, 31 Neal Street, WC2H 9PR)
  • Mildred’s Vegetarian - A more upmarket sit-down restaurant. Lexington Street, Soho (15 minutes)

Lunchtime Favourites

There are a few places that are popular to get lunch, but didn't really fit into any other category

  • Spud - Baked potato with a selection of fillings that go well beyond the student staples of beans and cheese (26 New Row, WC2N 4LA)
  • Tobiko - Tiny Japanese takeaway offering either sushi or Donburi (8 Garrick St, WC2E 9BH) ‎
  • Belgo - All things Belgian. Their specialities are Moules (for people not fans of seafood, there are plenty of other options) & a huge selection of beers & ales. Well priced, but often busy, be prepared to wait 30-60 mins on peak nights if you do not have a booking. Atmosphere is pretty unique - most seating is an underground cellar/cavern, serving staff are dressed as trappist monks etc. (5 mins, 50 Earlham Street, WC2H 9LJ)

Todo

  • Fun things to do in London
  • Taxi numbers
  • Use of kitchen areas, please tidy up etc
  • Link to PDF guide for the new coffee machine
  • Links to the events calendar (Old; New)/lanyrd/eventbrite pages
  • Links to the MozLDN logo / templates for event signs (so people can print out signs for their daytime/evening events to stick up at the entrance/put on reception...)
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