Culture: London Cockney Rhyming Slang
Cockney rhyming slang is not a language but a collection of phrases used by Cockneys and other Londoners that originated in the East End of London. A true Cockney is someone born within the sound of Bow Bells. (St Mary-le-Bow Church in Cheapside, London). However the term Cockney is now loosely applied to many born outside this area as long as they have a "Cockney" accent or a Cockney heritage.
The Cockney accent is heard less often in Central London these days
but is widely heard in the outer London boroughs, the London suburbs and
all across South East England. It is common in Bedfordshire towns like
Luton and Leighton Buzzard, and Essex towns such as Romford.
Rhyming Slang phrases are derived from taking an expression which rhymes with a word and then using that expression instead of the word. For example the word "look" rhymes with "butcher's hook". In many cases the rhyming word is omitted - so you won't find too many Londoners having a "butcher's hook" at this site, but you might find a few having a "butcher's".
Some slang expressions have escaped from London and are in popular use throughout the rest of Britain. For example "use your loaf" is an everyday phrase for the British, but not too many people realise it is Cockney Rhyming Slang ("loaf of bread: head"). Classic British television shows such as Minder, Steptoe and Son, Porridge, Only Fools and Horses and even the ever popular Eastenders have done much to spread Cockney rhyming slang throughout Britain and to the rest of the world.
Modern cockney slang that is being developed today tends to only rhyme
words with the names of celebrities or famous people. For example, "We're going for few Britney's/Britney Spears", meaning "beers". There
are very few new Cockney slang expressions that do not follow this
trend. The only one that has gained ground recently that bucks
this trend is "Wind and Kite" meaning "Web site".
Here, we are going to celebrate the wonder that is cockney slang from A to Z. Kicking off with expressions that begin with the letter A.. Have fun working them into your everday vocabulary!
Example: I will have to meet you around the back of the sheds A La Mode because I ain't got no Arthur Ashe and I need your Anneka Rice - can you Adam and Eve it?!! Totally Adam and the Ants!
Able and Willing = Shilling
Abraham Lincoln = Stinking
Acid Trip = Rip
Acker Bilk = Milk
Adam and Eve = Believe
Adam and the Ants = Pants/Plants
Adrian Mole = Dole
Advice from Mother = Rubber (Contraception)
Ace of Spades = Aids 
Airs and Graces = Faces/Braces
AJ Hackett = Jacket
A la Mode = Code
Albert Hall = Ball
Al Capone = Telephone
Al Caponed = Stoned
Al Pacino = Cappuccino
Alexei Sayle = Email
Alf Garnet = Barnet (hair)
Ali G = Pee
All Night Rave = Shave
Alligator = Later
Ancient Greek = Freak
Andy McNabs = Crabs
Andy Pandy = Brandy/Dandy
Ann Boleyn = Gin
Anneka Rice = Advice
Ant and Dec = Cheque
Anthea Turner = Earner
Apple = Sistine Chapel
Apple Bobbing = Robbing
Apple fritter = Bitter
Apples and Pears = Stairs
April Fools = Pools/Stools
April Showers = Flowers
Artful Dodger = Lodger
Arthur Ashe = Cash
Arthur Conan Doyle = Boil
Arthur Fowler = Growler
Arthur Scargil = Gargle
Auntie Ella = Umbrella
Auntie Nelly = Telly
Austin Power = Shower