If you're serious about listening in on the RT, then you're better off having a scanner, so you can pick up specific frequencies for, say, approach control for your local airport. VHF radios are line-of-sight, so you are more likely to pick up a/c transmissions than ATC, but I could imagine that this would go a long way towards improving your RT skills. I personally found that getting the RT right was one of the trickier parts of learning to fly. Best to get it licked on the ground. (Scanners are quite expensive for what they are, so I don't have one myself).
Anyhow, civil VHF is 118-137 MHz FM. London Information is 124.75 (west) or 124.6 (east). It's usually busy.
Hope this helps (this time
).
Pie
[This message has been edited by Pielander (edited 13 April 2001).]