diff --git a/res/css/_components.scss b/res/css/_components.scss
index a230842c77..d56f782ffb 100644
--- a/res/css/_components.scss
+++ b/res/css/_components.scss
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@
 @import "./views/rooms/_SearchableEntityList.scss";
 @import "./views/rooms/_Stickers.scss";
 @import "./views/rooms/_TopUnreadMessagesBar.scss";
+@import "./views/rooms/_WhoIsTypingTile.scss";
 @import "./views/settings/_DevicesPanel.scss";
 @import "./views/settings/_IntegrationsManager.scss";
 @import "./views/settings/_Notifications.scss";
diff --git a/res/css/views/rooms/_WhoIsTypingTile.scss b/res/css/views/rooms/_WhoIsTypingTile.scss
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..217a10be8d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/res/css/views/rooms/_WhoIsTypingTile.scss
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+.mx_WhoIsTypingTile {
+    margin-left: -18px; //offset padding from mx_RoomView_MessageList to center avatars
+    padding-top: 18px;
+    display: flex;
+    align-items: center;
+}
+
+/* position the indicator in the same place horizontally as .mx_EventTile_avatar. */
+.mx_WhoIsTypingTile_avatars {
+    flex: 0 0 83px; // 18 + 65
+    text-align: center;
+}
+
+.mx_WhoIsTypingTile_avatars > :not(:first-child) {
+    margin-left: -12px;
+}
+
+.mx_WhoIsTypingTile_avatars .mx_BaseAvatar_image {
+    border: 1px solid $primary-bg-color;
+}
+
+.mx_WhoIsTypingTile_avatars .mx_BaseAvatar_initial {
+    padding-top: 1px;
+}
+
+.mx_WhoIsTypingTile_remainingAvatarPlaceholder {
+    display: inline-block;
+    color: #acacac;
+    background-color: #ddd;
+    border: 1px solid $primary-bg-color;
+    border-radius: 40px;
+    width: 24px;
+    height: 24px;
+    line-height: 24px;
+    font-size: 0.8em;
+    vertical-align: top;
+    text-align: center;
+}
+
+.mx_WhoIsTypingTile_label {
+    flex: 1;
+    font-size: 14px;
+    font-weight: 600;
+    color: $eventtile-meta-color;
+}
+
+.mx_WhoIsTypingTile_label > span {
+    background-image: url('../../img/typing-indicator-2x.gif');
+    background-size: 25px;
+    background-position: left bottom;
+    background-repeat: no-repeat;
+    padding-bottom: 15px;
+    display: block;
+}
+
+.mx_MatrixChat_useCompactLayout {
+
+    .mx_WhoIsTypingTile {
+        padding-top: 4px;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/res/img/typing-indicator-2x.gif b/res/img/typing-indicator-2x.gif
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..86e34c7555
Binary files /dev/null and b/res/img/typing-indicator-2x.gif differ
diff --git a/res/themes/dharma/css/_dharma.scss b/res/themes/dharma/css/_dharma.scss
index 0b53202240..07da833cfb 100644
--- a/res/themes/dharma/css/_dharma.scss
+++ b/res/themes/dharma/css/_dharma.scss
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ $topleftmenu-color: #212121;
 $roomheader-color: #45474a;
 $roomheader-addroom-color: #929eb4;
 $roomtopic-color: #9fa9ba;
+$eventtile-meta-color: $roomtopic-color;
 
 // ********************
 
diff --git a/res/themes/light/css/_base.scss b/res/themes/light/css/_base.scss
index bee9157279..4c41037229 100644
--- a/res/themes/light/css/_base.scss
+++ b/res/themes/light/css/_base.scss
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ $topleftmenu-color: $primary-fg-color;
 $roomheader-color: $primary-fg-color;
 $roomheader-addroom-color: $primary-bg-color;
 $roomtopic-color: $settings-grey-fg-color;
-
+$eventtile-meta-color: $roomtopic-color;
 // ********************
 
 $roomtile-name-color: rgba(69, 69, 69, 0.8);
diff --git a/src/WhoIsTyping.js b/src/WhoIsTyping.js
index 0edad8d4a5..78ca77ce5a 100644
--- a/src/WhoIsTyping.js
+++ b/src/WhoIsTyping.js
@@ -63,16 +63,16 @@ module.exports = {
         if (whoIsTyping.length == 0) {
             return '';
         } else if (whoIsTyping.length == 1) {
-            return _t('%(displayName)s is typing', {displayName: whoIsTyping[0].name});
+            return _t('%(displayName)s is typing …', {displayName: whoIsTyping[0].name});
         }
         const names = whoIsTyping.map(function(m) {
             return m.name;
         });
         if (othersCount>=1) {
-            return _t('%(names)s and %(count)s others are typing', {names: names.slice(0, limit - 1).join(', '), count: othersCount});
+            return _t('%(names)s and %(count)s others are typing …', {names: names.slice(0, limit - 1).join(', '), count: othersCount});
         } else {
             const lastPerson = names.pop();
-            return _t('%(names)s and %(lastPerson)s are typing', {names: names.join(', '), lastPerson: lastPerson});
+            return _t('%(names)s and %(lastPerson)s are typing …', {names: names.join(', '), lastPerson: lastPerson});
         }
     },
 };
diff --git a/src/components/structures/MessagePanel.js b/src/components/structures/MessagePanel.js
index bbaea617f4..1107be8464 100644
--- a/src/components/structures/MessagePanel.js
+++ b/src/components/structures/MessagePanel.js
@@ -631,12 +631,20 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
         }
     },
 
+    _scrollDownIfAtBottom: function() {
+        const scrollPanel = this.refs.scrollPanel;
+        if (scrollPanel) {
+            scrollPanel.checkScroll();
+        }
+    },
+
     onResize: function() {
         dis.dispatch({ action: 'timeline_resize' }, true);
     },
 
     render: function() {
         const ScrollPanel = sdk.getComponent("structures.ScrollPanel");
+        const WhoIsTypingTile = sdk.getComponent("rooms.WhoIsTypingTile");
         const Spinner = sdk.getComponent("elements.Spinner");
         let topSpinner;
         let bottomSpinner;
@@ -666,6 +674,7 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
                     stickyBottom={this.props.stickyBottom}>
                 { topSpinner }
                 { this._getEventTiles() }
+                <WhoIsTypingTile room={this.props.room} onVisible={this._scrollDownIfAtBottom} />
                 { bottomSpinner }
             </ScrollPanel>
         );
diff --git a/src/components/structures/RoomStatusBar.js b/src/components/structures/RoomStatusBar.js
index b4d70f3397..6502fb7c37 100644
--- a/src/components/structures/RoomStatusBar.js
+++ b/src/components/structures/RoomStatusBar.js
@@ -62,10 +62,6 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
         // more interesting)
         hasActiveCall: PropTypes.bool,
 
-        // Number of names to display in typing indication. E.g. set to 3, will
-        // result in "X, Y, Z and 100 others are typing."
-        whoIsTypingLimit: PropTypes.number,
-
         // true if the room is being peeked at. This affects components that shouldn't
         // logically be shown when peeking, such as a prompt to invite people to a room.
         isPeeking: PropTypes.bool,
@@ -103,24 +99,16 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
         onVisible: PropTypes.func,
     },
 
-    getDefaultProps: function() {
-        return {
-            whoIsTypingLimit: 3,
-        };
-    },
-
     getInitialState: function() {
         return {
             syncState: MatrixClientPeg.get().getSyncState(),
             syncStateData: MatrixClientPeg.get().getSyncStateData(),
-            usersTyping: WhoIsTyping.usersTypingApartFromMe(this.props.room),
             unsentMessages: getUnsentMessages(this.props.room),
         };
     },
 
     componentWillMount: function() {
         MatrixClientPeg.get().on("sync", this.onSyncStateChange);
-        MatrixClientPeg.get().on("RoomMember.typing", this.onRoomMemberTyping);
         MatrixClientPeg.get().on("Room.localEchoUpdated", this._onRoomLocalEchoUpdated);
 
         this._checkSize();
@@ -135,7 +123,6 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
         const client = MatrixClientPeg.get();
         if (client) {
             client.removeListener("sync", this.onSyncStateChange);
-            client.removeListener("RoomMember.typing", this.onRoomMemberTyping);
             client.removeListener("Room.localEchoUpdated", this._onRoomLocalEchoUpdated);
         }
     },
@@ -150,12 +137,6 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
         });
     },
 
-    onRoomMemberTyping: function(ev, member) {
-        this.setState({
-            usersTyping: WhoIsTyping.usersTypingApartFromMeAndIgnored(this.props.room),
-        });
-    },
-
     _onSendWithoutVerifyingClick: function() {
         cryptodevices.getUnknownDevicesForRoom(MatrixClientPeg.get(), this.props.room).then((devices) => {
             cryptodevices.markAllDevicesKnown(MatrixClientPeg.get(), devices);
@@ -199,7 +180,6 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
     // indicate other sizes.
     _getSize: function() {
         if (this._shouldShowConnectionError() ||
-            (this.state.usersTyping.length > 0) ||
             this.props.numUnreadMessages ||
             !this.props.atEndOfLiveTimeline ||
             this.props.hasActiveCall ||
@@ -213,10 +193,7 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
     },
 
     // return suitable content for the image on the left of the status bar.
-    //
-    // if wantPlaceholder is true, we include a "..." placeholder if
-    // there is nothing better to put in.
-    _getIndicator: function(wantPlaceholder) {
+    _getIndicator: function() {
         if (this.props.numUnreadMessages) {
             return (
                 <div className="mx_RoomStatusBar_scrollDownIndicator"
@@ -250,49 +227,9 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
             return null;
         }
 
-        if (wantPlaceholder) {
-            return (
-                <div className="mx_RoomStatusBar_typingIndicatorAvatars">
-                    { this._renderTypingIndicatorAvatars(this.props.whoIsTypingLimit) }
-                </div>
-            );
-        }
-
         return null;
     },
 
-    _renderTypingIndicatorAvatars: function(limit) {
-        let users = this.state.usersTyping;
-
-        let othersCount = 0;
-        if (users.length > limit) {
-            othersCount = users.length - limit + 1;
-            users = users.slice(0, limit - 1);
-        }
-
-        const avatars = users.map((u) => {
-            return (
-                <MemberAvatar
-                    key={u.userId}
-                    member={u}
-                    width={24}
-                    height={24}
-                    resizeMethod="crop"
-                />
-            );
-        });
-
-        if (othersCount > 0) {
-            avatars.push(
-                <span className="mx_RoomStatusBar_typingIndicatorRemaining" key="others">
-                    +{ othersCount }
-                </span>,
-            );
-        }
-
-        return avatars;
-    },
-
     _shouldShowConnectionError: function() {
         // no conn bar trumps unread count since you can't get unread messages
         // without a connection! (technically may already have some but meh)
@@ -440,18 +377,6 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
             );
         }
 
-        const typingString = WhoIsTyping.whoIsTypingString(
-            this.state.usersTyping,
-            this.props.whoIsTypingLimit,
-        );
-        if (typingString) {
-            return (
-                <div className="mx_RoomStatusBar_typingBar">
-                    <EmojiText>{ typingString }</EmojiText>
-                </div>
-            );
-        }
-
         if (this.props.hasActiveCall) {
             return (
                 <div className="mx_RoomStatusBar_callBar">
@@ -483,7 +408,7 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
 
     render: function() {
         const content = this._getContent();
-        const indicator = this._getIndicator(this.state.usersTyping.length > 0);
+        const indicator = this._getIndicator();
 
         return (
             <div className="mx_RoomStatusBar">
diff --git a/src/components/structures/RoomView.js b/src/components/structures/RoomView.js
index 2d9443efb8..12af0eceac 100644
--- a/src/components/structures/RoomView.js
+++ b/src/components/structures/RoomView.js
@@ -1613,7 +1613,6 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
                 onResize={this.onChildResize}
                 onVisible={this.onStatusBarVisible}
                 onHidden={this.onStatusBarHidden}
-                whoIsTypingLimit={3}
             />;
         }
 
diff --git a/src/components/structures/TimelinePanel.js b/src/components/structures/TimelinePanel.js
index 44d14cd7cf..f5dc6c7ef4 100644
--- a/src/components/structures/TimelinePanel.js
+++ b/src/components/structures/TimelinePanel.js
@@ -1154,6 +1154,7 @@ var TimelinePanel = React.createClass({
         );
         return (
             <MessagePanel ref="messagePanel"
+                          room={this.props.timelineSet.room}
                           hidden={this.props.hidden}
                           backPaginating={this.state.backPaginating}
                           forwardPaginating={forwardPaginating}
diff --git a/src/components/views/rooms/WhoIsTypingTile.js b/src/components/views/rooms/WhoIsTypingTile.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9d49c35d83
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/views/rooms/WhoIsTypingTile.js
@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2015, 2016 OpenMarket Ltd
+Copyright 2017, 2018 New Vector Ltd
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+import React from 'react';
+import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
+import sdk from '../../../index';
+import WhoIsTyping from '../../../WhoIsTyping';
+import MatrixClientPeg from '../../../MatrixClientPeg';
+import MemberAvatar from '../avatars/MemberAvatar';
+
+module.exports = React.createClass({
+    displayName: 'WhoIsTypingTile',
+
+    propTypes: {
+        // the room this statusbar is representing.
+        room: PropTypes.object.isRequired,
+        onVisible: PropTypes.func,
+        // Number of names to display in typing indication. E.g. set to 3, will
+        // result in "X, Y, Z and 100 others are typing."
+        whoIsTypingLimit: PropTypes.number,
+    },
+
+    getDefaultProps: function() {
+        return {
+            whoIsTypingLimit: 3,
+        };
+    },
+
+    getInitialState: function() {
+        return {
+            usersTyping: WhoIsTyping.usersTypingApartFromMe(this.props.room),
+        };
+    },
+
+    componentWillMount: function() {
+        MatrixClientPeg.get().on("RoomMember.typing", this.onRoomMemberTyping);
+    },
+
+    componentDidUpdate: function(_, prevState) {
+        if (this.props.onVisible &&
+            !prevState.usersTyping.length &&
+            this.state.usersTyping.length
+        ) {
+            this.props.onVisible();
+        }
+    },
+
+    componentWillUnmount: function() {
+        // we may have entirely lost our client as we're logging out before clicking login on the guest bar...
+        const client = MatrixClientPeg.get();
+        if (client) {
+            client.removeListener("RoomMember.typing", this.onRoomMemberTyping);
+        }
+    },
+
+    onRoomMemberTyping: function(ev, member) {
+        this.setState({
+            usersTyping: WhoIsTyping.usersTypingApartFromMeAndIgnored(this.props.room),
+        });
+    },
+
+    _renderTypingIndicatorAvatars: function(limit) {
+        let users = this.state.usersTyping;
+
+        let othersCount = 0;
+        if (users.length > limit) {
+            othersCount = users.length - limit + 1;
+            users = users.slice(0, limit - 1);
+        }
+
+        const avatars = users.map((u) => {
+            return (
+                <MemberAvatar
+                    key={u.userId}
+                    member={u}
+                    width={24}
+                    height={24}
+                    resizeMethod="crop"
+                />
+            );
+        });
+
+        if (othersCount > 0) {
+            avatars.push(
+                <span className="mx_WhoIsTypingTile_remainingAvatarPlaceholder" key="others">
+                    +{ othersCount }
+                </span>,
+            );
+        }
+
+        return avatars;
+    },
+
+    render: function() {
+        const typingString = WhoIsTyping.whoIsTypingString(
+            this.state.usersTyping,
+            this.props.whoIsTypingLimit,
+        );
+        if (!typingString) {
+            return (<div className="mx_WhoIsTypingTile_empty" />);
+        }
+
+        const EmojiText = sdk.getComponent('elements.EmojiText');
+
+        return (
+            <li className="mx_WhoIsTypingTile">
+                <div className="mx_WhoIsTypingTile_avatars">
+                    { this._renderTypingIndicatorAvatars(this.props.whoIsTypingLimit) }
+                </div>
+                <div className="mx_WhoIsTypingTile_label">
+                    <EmojiText>{ typingString }</EmojiText>
+                </div>
+            </li>
+        );
+    },
+});
diff --git a/src/i18n/strings/en_EN.json b/src/i18n/strings/en_EN.json
index d0b34296bf..713d6a9cba 100644
--- a/src/i18n/strings/en_EN.json
+++ b/src/i18n/strings/en_EN.json
@@ -202,10 +202,10 @@
     "%(widgetName)s widget modified by %(senderName)s": "%(widgetName)s widget modified by %(senderName)s",
     "%(widgetName)s widget added by %(senderName)s": "%(widgetName)s widget added by %(senderName)s",
     "%(widgetName)s widget removed by %(senderName)s": "%(widgetName)s widget removed by %(senderName)s",
-    "%(displayName)s is typing": "%(displayName)s is typing",
-    "%(names)s and %(count)s others are typing|other": "%(names)s and %(count)s others are typing",
-    "%(names)s and %(count)s others are typing|one": "%(names)s and one other is typing",
-    "%(names)s and %(lastPerson)s are typing": "%(names)s and %(lastPerson)s are typing",
+    "%(displayName)s is typing …": "%(displayName)s is typing …",
+    "%(names)s and %(count)s others are typing …|other": "%(names)s and %(count)s others are typing …",
+    "%(names)s and %(count)s others are typing …|one": "%(names)s and one other is typing …",
+    "%(names)s and %(lastPerson)s are typing …": "%(names)s and %(lastPerson)s are typing …",
     "Failure to create room": "Failure to create room",
     "Server may be unavailable, overloaded, or you hit a bug.": "Server may be unavailable, overloaded, or you hit a bug.",
     "Send anyway": "Send anyway",
diff --git a/test/components/structures/MessagePanel-test.js b/test/components/structures/MessagePanel-test.js
index e7176e2c16..0a51cb8918 100644
--- a/test/components/structures/MessagePanel-test.js
+++ b/test/components/structures/MessagePanel-test.js
@@ -26,11 +26,13 @@ const sdk = require('matrix-react-sdk');
 
 const MessagePanel = sdk.getComponent('structures.MessagePanel');
 import MatrixClientPeg from '../../../src/MatrixClientPeg';
+import Matrix from 'matrix-js-sdk';
 
 const test_utils = require('test-utils');
 const mockclock = require('mock-clock');
 
 let client;
+const room = new Matrix.Room();
 
 // wrap MessagePanel with a component which provides the MatrixClient in the context.
 const WrappedMessagePanel = React.createClass({
@@ -45,7 +47,7 @@ const WrappedMessagePanel = React.createClass({
     },
 
     render: function() {
-        return <MessagePanel {...this.props} />;
+        return <MessagePanel room={room} {...this.props} />;
     },
 });
 
diff --git a/test/components/structures/TimelinePanel-test.js b/test/components/structures/TimelinePanel-test.js
index ea62d427bc..01ea6d8421 100644
--- a/test/components/structures/TimelinePanel-test.js
+++ b/test/components/structures/TimelinePanel-test.js
@@ -82,6 +82,8 @@ describe('TimelinePanel', function() {
         sandbox = test_utils.stubClient(sandbox);
 
         room = sinon.createStubInstance(jssdk.Room);
+        room.currentState = sinon.createStubInstance(jssdk.RoomState);
+        room.currentState.members = {};
         room.roomId = ROOM_ID;
 
         timelineSet = sinon.createStubInstance(jssdk.EventTimelineSet);