To think we should avoid London right now?

As a Londoner I hadn’t thought about it to be honest.
I’ll be going through and walking around tomorrow in the centre. I’ve walked along side many a protest without trouble.
A terrorist attack is never zero.
This week I’ve been in my usual Jewish Bakeries and witnessed the Muslim majority clientele getting on well as usual with staff. No posters or signs out and people being normal. Social media is always more extreme than the reality.
I’d maybe though use Gloucester Road instead of High St Kensington if at the museums though, due to sheer weight of numbers and proximity to embassies

Was visiting all over Central London yesterday (Paddington, Camden, London Bridge Embankment, Chinatown, Soho, Oxford Street) and hadn’t seen one protest or heard any rowdiness, lots of people out and about going about their day. Felt completely safe but good grief was the tube hot considering how nice it was outside despite the off and on rain.

@BlurredEdges That must be very distressing for you and it's a terrible situation but the OP's circumstances are totally different.

Thanks. I was taking issue with the statement that everything is normal here. It really isn't for us.

I would also say that I've unexpectedly been confronted by pro-hamas protests in the past in Central London and that was well before the current horrors.

I also lived here during the ira attacks and never felt particularly unsafe.

I do now. Are you aware that multiple Jewish schools have had to close in London today because of the declaration of Jihad against all Jews today, and credible threats being made?

How do you think I felt sending my children into school today?

Just avoid any planned protests, and if you see one - avoid and go elsewhere.

It must be very stressful being Jewish in London right now .

You are being very overcautious. Statistically terrorist attacks are so rare, compared to travelling in a car - and I bet you don't think twice to drive somewhere,

I think if you’re Jewish u must being feeling the tension ! And I am so sorry for that !
Most people probably just carrying on as normal but if your gut instinct is telling u not to go then don’t go !

I’m really sorry (genuinely)

but the op is not asking a question about your circumstances. I will qualify my statement and say that majority of london (including the areas you would likely visit as a tourist) is completely as normal.

You said you're coming in the next few weeks, who knows what the perceived threat level might be like by then. To be honest I haven't felt unsafe although I am sure the Jewish communities would say differently.

From my perception things are carrying on as normal, I would just avoid the embassy area as obviously there will be protests happening there so just moved your accommodation.

These posts baffle me. You do know children live in London right? It's home to millions of people. What do you think it is, a war zone?

I was a very young child in London in the late 80s early 90s when the IRA were still around. I survived.

I live in zone 1 at the moment and haven't noticed any change in policing, visible protests or flags being flown either way. There's always a risk of an attack in London, but the chances of it involving you are incalculably small. I haven't been, and don't generally go to, any particularly Jewish or particularly Arab areas in London as part of my weekly routine though.

I do not personally feel any less safe in London compared to last week. I've lived in London for years and it just feels normal to me.

Yep, just cycled from my house in South London through South Ken, Soho, Traf Square and into my office in the city and saw nothing out of order other than a lot of rain.

I've read that there's a funny psychological quirk about humans where people closest to certain risks are actually more likely to underestimate it. People who live just downstream from dams were the example I saw. So ironically Londoners may not the best people to ask about this. Social psychology though so you'd have to take with a large pinch of salt.

BlurredEdges you got there before me. How on earth anyone can compare the two is beyond me - the seething overspilling hate aimed at Jewish embassies/Jewish communities where they've had to cancel their children's schooling for fear of violence - versus the peaceful Jewish vigils.

You couldn't make it up.

I work in central London and haven't felt unsafe or even considered whether there's an increased threat. I'm not Jewish though

It wouldn’t even occur to me to avoid it tbh! I live here and am going into town today for work. Totally up to you, but I’d say rearranging is totally unnecessary

Anywhere could be a target. I live in a town that builds nuclear submarines so we could possibly be targeted. I know Putin said he would consider it.

Well, I’m in central most days. I can’t avoid it. Nor would I.

I’m in zone 1. I can’t change my activities because of it. Personally haven’t been caught up in any protests or anything. It feels very normal but I’m just a bit more anxious than normal that something could happen I guess. I wouldn’t change existing plans but I’d be prepared for protests and things in key locations probably, around parliament or Trafalgar Square etc or by embassies.

Today is supposed to be a "Day of Jihad" across the world.

I'm Jewish and live in finchley and I can tell you that it's certainly not normal for us.

Cant think of a good reason to go to London at any time.

The meetings supporting Israel have been quiet, solemn candlelit vigils where people have stood in quiet groups and prayed, and sung mourning songs grieving for the dead.

The pro-Hamas protests have involved hurling fireworks at the Israeli embassy, attacking Jewish people and passersby, jeering at mourners, and cheering on mass murder. There have been multiple arrests for criminal damage and physical attacks.

That's probably why they're worried about one and not the other.