Useful London Apps, Websites and Hacks: Food, Discounts, Transport, Fitness and Tickets
Useful London Apps, Websites and Hacks: Food, Discounts, Transport, Fitness and Tickets
Introduction
London gets much easier when you know the right apps. Some help you save money on restaurants and groceries, some rescue you when transport goes sideways, and some make it easier to book a class, find a last-minute theatre ticket or plan a day without opening ten tabs.
This is a practical list of apps and websites worth keeping on your phone if you live in London, visit often or are planning a short trip.
Quick note: deals, delivery areas, partner lists and app rules change. Always check the current terms in the app before paying. Later, some of these links can be swapped for affiliate links.
Quick List
| Service | Best for | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| EatClub | Restaurant discounts up to 50% | Spontaneous lunch or dinner |
| Too Good To Go | Surprise bags of surplus food | Cheap bakery, groceries and meals |
| Oddbox | Fruit and veg boxes | Cooking at home and reducing food waste |
| ClassPass | Fitness, wellness and beauty bookings | Trying different studios without memberships |
| Citymapper | Getting around London | Tube, bus, walking, cycling and train routes |
| TfL Go | Official transport status | Checking disruptions and accessibility |
| National Rail | UK train trips | Day trips from London |
| TodayTix | Theatre tickets | Rush tickets, lotteries and last-minute shows |
| OpenTable / TheFork | Restaurant bookings | Finding a table quickly |
Food, Restaurants and Discounts
EatClub
EatClub is an app for restaurant discounts, often up to 50% off the final bill. It is especially useful when you want a spontaneous lunch or dinner without planning days ahead.
How it works: restaurants post last-minute offers for times when they want to fill spare tables. You claim the offer in the app, eat as normal and the discount is applied through the app. You usually need to link a card. A useful detail: the restaurant does not see that your final charge will be lower than the bill.
Use it when:
- you want to try a new restaurant without paying full price;
- you are flexible on time and neighbourhood;
- you are looking for a weekday lunch or early dinner;
- you do not need a very specific Saturday-night reservation.
Check before using:
- whether the discount includes drinks, service charge or set menus;
- minimum spend and offer window;
- that your payment card is active in the app;
- whether you need to claim inside EatClub rather than booking elsewhere.
Official information: EatClub UK. EatClub describes itself as a last-minute restaurant deals app with offers up to 50% off the bill.
Too Good To Go
Too Good To Go is a food rescue app. Cafes, bakeries, supermarkets and restaurants sell surplus food that would otherwise go to waste.
This is not classic delivery and it is not a normal menu. You buy a surprise bag, then collect whatever that specific place has left. Sometimes it is a brilliant pastry haul, sometimes groceries, sometimes something more random.
Use it when:
- you are near a good bakery, cafe or supermarket at the end of the day;
- you want cheaper breakfasts, snacks or groceries;
- you are happy with a surprise;
- you like the idea of reducing food waste.
Check before using:
- pickup windows are usually strict;
- the contents are not guaranteed;
- it is not ideal for allergies or strict dietary needs;
- popular places sell out quickly.
Official information: Too Good To Go UK. The service describes itself as a marketplace for surplus food.
Oddbox
Oddbox delivers fruit and vegetables that might not otherwise reach shelves because of size, appearance or surplus supply. It is a good option if you cook at home and like having produce arrive weekly or fortnightly.
Use it when:
- you cook at home regularly;
- you want fewer supermarket runs;
- you are happy to plan meals around what arrives;
- you like rescued produce and less food waste.
Check before using:
- delivery availability in your postcode;
- box size, so you do not receive too much;
- whether you will actually cook before things spoil;
- whether the current box format lets you choose or exclude items.
Official information: Oddbox.
Restaurant Bookings: OpenTable and TheFork
OpenTable and TheFork are useful for finding restaurant availability by time, neighbourhood, cuisine and reviews. TheFork sometimes shows restaurant discounts, but terms vary by venue.
Hack: if a restaurant looks fully booked on one platform, check its own website, Instagram or another booking platform. Restaurants do not always release every table to every service.
Fitness, Wellness and Beauty
ClassPass
ClassPass lets you book fitness classes, gyms, wellness and beauty appointments through a credit system. In London, it is useful for reformer pilates, yoga, boxing, barre, gym sessions, massages, facials and lots of other studios without buying a separate membership everywhere.
Use it when:
- you want to try different studios;
- you move between several neighbourhoods;
- you are not ready for a membership;
- you want short-term fitness options during a trip.
Check before using:
- popular time slots may cost more credits;
- late cancellation and no-show fees can apply;
- rules differ by studio;
- if you go to one studio constantly, a direct membership may be better value.
Official information: ClassPass and ClassPass London.
Transport and Navigation
Citymapper
Citymapper is one of the easiest route-planning apps for London. It compares Tube, buses, walking, cycling, trains and mixed routes clearly.
Hack: do not only look at the fastest route. A route that takes five minutes longer but avoids a stressful interchange can be much nicer.
TfL Go and the Official TfL Website
TfL is the official source for the Tube, buses, Elizabeth line, Overground, DLR, river services, fares and disruptions. TfL Go is useful for live status and accessibility.
Hack: for most visitors, contactless card or phone payment is the easiest option. Oyster is not always necessary, especially if you already have a contactless card without bad exchange fees.
National Rail
National Rail is essential for UK trains: Oxford, Cambridge, Brighton, Bath, Canterbury, Windsor, York and other trips from London.
Hack: always check weekend engineering works. A perfect weekday train route can turn into a Sunday bus replacement service.
Trainline
Trainline is convenient for comparing routes and buying tickets. Before buying, it can still be worth comparing the price with the train operator or National Rail.
Events, Theatre and Tickets
TodayTix
TodayTix is useful for West End shows, theatre tickets, rush tickets and lotteries, especially if you are flexible on date, seat and show.
Dice
Dice is good for concerts, club nights and smaller live shows. It is useful when you want something less touristy.
Eventbrite
Eventbrite helps you find talks, pop-ups, markets, networking, workshops and community events.
Maps, Lists and Planning
Google Maps Lists
Google Maps is not just for navigation. The best way to plan London is to save restaurants, cafes, museums, shops and routes into separate lists.
Hack: create lists like “London coffee”, “London dinner”, “Rainy day”, “Want to try” and “Near home”. When you are in a neighbourhood, the map instantly shows what is nearby.
Wanderlog
Wanderlog is useful for multi-day itineraries when you want a map, schedule and notes in one place.
Money and Everyday Admin
Splitwise
Splitwise is useful when travelling with friends or sharing costs: rent, dinners, tickets, groceries and taxis can all go into one running balance.
Wise and Revolut
Wise and Revolut can be useful for multi-currency spending, transfers and expense tracking. Fees, limits and terms change, so check them before relying on either for a trip.
How to Use This List
You do not need to download everything at once. For a first London trip, start with Citymapper, TfL Go, Google Maps, Too Good To Go and EatClub. If you are staying longer, add Oddbox, ClassPass, TodayTix and Splitwise.
The best setup is simple: have the apps ready, but do not plan every minute. London works best when you have a Plan A, a Plan B and a few good apps for when it rains, your restaurant falls through or you suddenly want oysters, pilates or a half-price dinner.