Polly Smythe
@pollysmythe.bsky.social
Reporter @londoncentric.media | stories and tips to polly@londoncentric.media | signal: pollysmythe.92
Reposted by Polly Smythe
Hate-filled fake videos about London are everywhere. We've obtained a recording of a TikToker confessing to secretly filming Londoners in their homes for clicks.
He says it's not political. He just wants to make money from far-right anger.
Read what he says: www.londoncentric.media/p/london-tik...
He says it's not political. He just wants to make money from far-right anger.
Read what he says: www.londoncentric.media/p/london-tik...
February 8, 2026 at 7:44 AM
Hate-filled fake videos about London are everywhere. We've obtained a recording of a TikToker confessing to secretly filming Londoners in their homes for clicks.
He says it's not political. He just wants to make money from far-right anger.
Read what he says: www.londoncentric.media/p/london-tik...
He says it's not political. He just wants to make money from far-right anger.
Read what he says: www.londoncentric.media/p/london-tik...
Reposted by Polly Smythe
been trying to track down Waymo's self-driving hq in London, just going to be endlessly intriguing to see how the capital copes! Could be totally second nature normal to get a robotaxi to the pub by the start of next year. www.londoncentric.media/i/185941171/...
January 28, 2026 at 2:05 PM
been trying to track down Waymo's self-driving hq in London, just going to be endlessly intriguing to see how the capital copes! Could be totally second nature normal to get a robotaxi to the pub by the start of next year. www.londoncentric.media/i/185941171/...
Reposted by Polly Smythe
This is one of the strangest and most screwed-up stories I’ve worked on. www.londoncentric.media/p/tiktok-lon...
Who's secretly filming fake TikToks inside Londoners' homes?
We tracked down the viral video account invading people's houses to spread false claims about immigrants.
www.londoncentric.media
January 24, 2026 at 6:55 AM
This is one of the strangest and most screwed-up stories I’ve worked on. www.londoncentric.media/p/tiktok-lon...
Reposted by Polly Smythe
Fire on London's Loughborough Estate this morning. Seemingly now under control per @pollysmythe.bsky.social who is there on the ground, but will focus attention on an estate we've investigated wild claims of corruption and illegal chemical storage: www.londoncentric.media/p/the-london...
January 21, 2026 at 9:35 AM
Fire on London's Loughborough Estate this morning. Seemingly now under control per @pollysmythe.bsky.social who is there on the ground, but will focus attention on an estate we've investigated wild claims of corruption and illegal chemical storage: www.londoncentric.media/p/the-london...
Reposted by Polly Smythe
Nine years ago a Twitter user was sending poetry to Sadiq Khan about London’s many cultural identities. A decade on, Reform UK’s mayoral candidate doesn’t dispute it was her old account - so what’s changed?
Our profile of Laila Cunningham: www.londoncentric.media/p/laila-cunn...
Our profile of Laila Cunningham: www.londoncentric.media/p/laila-cunn...
January 18, 2026 at 7:32 AM
Nine years ago a Twitter user was sending poetry to Sadiq Khan about London’s many cultural identities. A decade on, Reform UK’s mayoral candidate doesn’t dispute it was her old account - so what’s changed?
Our profile of Laila Cunningham: www.londoncentric.media/p/laila-cunn...
Our profile of Laila Cunningham: www.londoncentric.media/p/laila-cunn...
London Centric has obtained Reform UK's internal candidate training slides for next year's local elections.
How does the party plan to win big in London? “Don’t drink and tweet”, focus on potholes and bins, and stay off social media.
Read all here: www.londoncentric.media/p/reform-uk-...
How does the party plan to win big in London? “Don’t drink and tweet”, focus on potholes and bins, and stay off social media.
Read all here: www.londoncentric.media/p/reform-uk-...
Reform UK's leaked plan to win in London
Plus: Is this Google Map the way to unlock London's real hidden gem restaurants, are you the driver who owes Hackney council £250,000, and is the Bakerloo finally getting new trains?
open.substack.com
December 10, 2025 at 10:51 AM
London Centric has obtained Reform UK's internal candidate training slides for next year's local elections.
How does the party plan to win big in London? “Don’t drink and tweet”, focus on potholes and bins, and stay off social media.
Read all here: www.londoncentric.media/p/reform-uk-...
How does the party plan to win big in London? “Don’t drink and tweet”, focus on potholes and bins, and stay off social media.
Read all here: www.londoncentric.media/p/reform-uk-...
Reposted by Polly Smythe
Among other issues with Zipcar's model in London: Having to negotiate individually with 32 boroughs, some of which charged thousands of pounds per car. Meanwhile, Croydon council outsourced much of their employee car fleet to Zipcar and may be a bit screwed. www.londoncentric.media/p/zipcar-lon...
Why Zipcar gave up on London
The car-sharing scheme was hit by rapidly increased costs, a new congestion charge, and a lack of support from councils.
www.londoncentric.media
December 2, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Among other issues with Zipcar's model in London: Having to negotiate individually with 32 boroughs, some of which charged thousands of pounds per car. Meanwhile, Croydon council outsourced much of their employee car fleet to Zipcar and may be a bit screwed. www.londoncentric.media/p/zipcar-lon...
Reposted by Polly Smythe
Decided to provide some budget counter-programming, here’s some London transport trends over the last year. www.londoncentric.media/p/tfl-london...
Less WFH, more Lime, slower buses
What's really going on in London transport?
www.londoncentric.media
November 26, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Decided to provide some budget counter-programming, here’s some London transport trends over the last year. www.londoncentric.media/p/tfl-london...
Reposted by Polly Smythe
The brutal reality of life as an Android owner in London: First you’re shocked as you’re mugged. Then you’re humiliated as the thief returns the device. www.londoncentric.media/p/london-pho...
"Don't want no Samsung"
Plus: Scroll down to see what might be the strangest new artwork in the capital and read more on our investigations into the capital's landlords.
www.londoncentric.media
November 18, 2025 at 7:50 AM
The brutal reality of life as an Android owner in London: First you’re shocked as you’re mugged. Then you’re humiliated as the thief returns the device. www.londoncentric.media/p/london-pho...
London's thieves are burying phones in flowerbeds - it was great fun to work on this bizarre story for @londoncentric.media www.londoncentric.media/p/london-pho...
London's thieves are burying phones in flowerbeds
The police don't take much interest in returning the stolen devices when they're dug up — so London Centric decided to do it.
www.londoncentric.media
October 30, 2025 at 11:16 AM
London's thieves are burying phones in flowerbeds - it was great fun to work on this bizarre story for @londoncentric.media www.londoncentric.media/p/london-pho...