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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think we should avoid London right now?

655 replies

StayorgoLDN · 13/10/2023 09:23

Due to visit London in the next few weeks.

Anxious with Palestinian protests and so forth in the news. I don’t want to be near that with young children, and worried that it may escalate to some sort of attack.

We are not Jews, but presuming as the U.K. is supporting Israel that we’ll all be fair game ie there might be an attack/bomb somewhere prominent to send a message to gov.

Have been in London during terrorist attacks before and I’d rather avoid.

AIBU to consider rescheduling our family trip to next year?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
17
KimberleyClark · 10/11/2023 09:10

We were in Edinburgh last weekend and found ourselves at the edges of a ProPalestine March. We stood back and let it pass which took a while.

Exasperateddonut · 10/11/2023 09:01

This is a lot of drama….

Original poster
StayorgoLDN · 10/11/2023 09:00

Saverage · 10/11/2023 08:20

OP had pages and pages of advice yet still chose to take the advice of a concierge in a hotel an hour away. He probably didn't know the route march, he is nowhere near the area. It was on OP to look up the route and use some common sense.

Also the descriptions are so OTT - 'triggering' 'frightening' 'rushing at each other', riot gear, fireworks, helicopters. And yet your DC were oblivious with their hoods up and ear defenders? Which was it, a war zone or something easily screened out?

It's reminding me of Hilary Clinton's story of getting out of a helicopter in Bosnia and running under gunfire. Subsequent footage showed her getting peacefully off to a welcome ceremony.

Not sure if OP is attention seeking, daft, has another agenda of all 3.

To those visiting - look up the route march beforehand and just work around it, and stay away from Trafalgar Square.

@Saverage

I found the situation frightening and triggering because I grew up in NI and have a lot of experience with helicopters circling/police in riot gear.

Children do not have this experience therefore don’t have any expectation of threat.

They are also autistic, so have little awareness of danger and as I said had their ear defenders on and hoods up so they couldn’t see what was going on.

I believe we were just unlucky coming into the area as the dispersal order came into place and things were probably at their most contentious.

It did happen.

https://news.sky.com/story/amp/four-police-officers-injured-after-pro-palestinian-protesters-fire-fireworks-into-crowd-13000924

I was naive thinking they would be removed from the area at the end of the afternoon.

Anyway, lesson learnt.

And overall the trip was fantastic thanks to advice so cheers everyone.

OP posts:
Original poster
StayorgoLDN · 10/11/2023 08:50

Jacesmum1977 · 10/11/2023 07:51

I’m sorry but I don’t know why you went ahead with it while the protests are still ongoing.

@Jacesmum1977

Theatre tickets were over £400 and we couldn’t get them sold.

We rearranged the rest of the trip to be outside central London.

OP posts:
Original poster
StayorgoLDN · 10/11/2023 08:48

Saverage · 10/11/2023 07:28

This honestly reads like you were determined to find some drama right from your initial OP, and now you feel vindicated and wanting to dredge up your long drama thread.

@Saverage

We really weren’t and as I say there was no drama whatsoever in the area we stayed (usually a 20-25 minute drive away).

My purpose of relating what we found is to make anyone visiting aware that it isn’t just the protest march itself you have to be aware of.

There was at after 7 at night still a significant amount of people (protesters/police) around the Trafalgar Square/Charing cross area causing issues.

OP posts:
Original poster
StayorgoLDN · 10/11/2023 08:43

Saverage · 10/11/2023 07:26

I went to the theatre and out to dinner last weekend. It's easy to look up the route of the march and avoid it. Choose a tube station a little out of range and then walk to the theatre (I chose Holborn, 10 minute walk to the theatre). No need to see any of the march at all, I just saw some of the marchers dispersing, getting dinner etc. Getting an Uber that ran straight through the route, into Trafalgar Square is the worst thing you could do.

And this is very good advice. Stupidly we listened to the concierge saying to avoid the tube stations in the surrounding area.
We didn’t use the tube at all.

OP posts:
Original poster
StayorgoLDN · 10/11/2023 08:38

Saverage · 10/11/2023 07:26

I went to the theatre and out to dinner last weekend. It's easy to look up the route of the march and avoid it. Choose a tube station a little out of range and then walk to the theatre (I chose Holborn, 10 minute walk to the theatre). No need to see any of the march at all, I just saw some of the marchers dispersing, getting dinner etc. Getting an Uber that ran straight through the route, into Trafalgar Square is the worst thing you could do.

@Saverage

We followed the advice of concierge who was giving the same advice to others going out for the evening.

I’m sorry but the people causing chaos were not getting dinner at 7.15pm when we saw them.

OP posts:
beguilingeyes · 10/11/2023 08:36

Nobody is preventing people getting on and off tubes, and people were 'hanging around ' tube stations? Oh no! People at tube stations on a Saturday night, whatever next.
This is alarmist nonsense. Are you Suella Braverman?

SoRainbowRhythms · 10/11/2023 08:28

Saverage · 10/11/2023 07:28

This honestly reads like you were determined to find some drama right from your initial OP, and now you feel vindicated and wanting to dredge up your long drama thread.

This. OP was determined to find a problem for every solution from the off.

I've been central every weekend since the protests began and don't recognise any of this. It's very easy to avoid.

Saverage · 10/11/2023 08:20

OP had pages and pages of advice yet still chose to take the advice of a concierge in a hotel an hour away. He probably didn't know the route march, he is nowhere near the area. It was on OP to look up the route and use some common sense.

Also the descriptions are so OTT - 'triggering' 'frightening' 'rushing at each other', riot gear, fireworks, helicopters. And yet your DC were oblivious with their hoods up and ear defenders? Which was it, a war zone or something easily screened out?

It's reminding me of Hilary Clinton's story of getting out of a helicopter in Bosnia and running under gunfire. Subsequent footage showed her getting peacefully off to a welcome ceremony.

Not sure if OP is attention seeking, daft, has another agenda of all 3.

To those visiting - look up the route march beforehand and just work around it, and stay away from Trafalgar Square.

Westfacing · 10/11/2023 08:18

For anyone coming to London for the theatre tomorrow - have a look at the official route map of the march and you'll see it's nowhere near the theatre district. Nor the Cenotaph for that matter.

F-a11gKbwAAD5bp (900×900) (twimg.com)

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F-a11gKbwAAD5bp?format=jpg&name=900x900

Ramalangadingdong · 10/11/2023 08:12

Saverage · 10/11/2023 07:26

I went to the theatre and out to dinner last weekend. It's easy to look up the route of the march and avoid it. Choose a tube station a little out of range and then walk to the theatre (I chose Holborn, 10 minute walk to the theatre). No need to see any of the march at all, I just saw some of the marchers dispersing, getting dinner etc. Getting an Uber that ran straight through the route, into Trafalgar Square is the worst thing you could do.

This.

Ramalangadingdong · 10/11/2023 08:11

MBeat · 10/11/2023 08:01

Ok, well I was in the area and used the tube and apart from seeing people leaving it was fine. I went through charring cross and Leicester Square (which is always insane, it was just busy). I heard a small group walking chant free Palestine but they were walking and not interacting negatively with any anyone, if everything there got the odd wave and thumbs up. They weren’t thugs, more students.
I would not however have dreamed of travelling in a car on a weekend in London! It’s madness.
The only big thing was police vans parked In Trafalgar and that was lively, very easy to avoid though

Edited

I agree. You don’t need cars in Central London. I don’t recognise OP’s description of Central London - I go into the centre a couple of times a week and haven’t had any of these problems. Very strange. And would seem alarming to people from outside London. Please be assured you have nothing to fear - apart from the normal precautions that come with being a visitor to any big city.

MBeat · 10/11/2023 08:01

Ok, well I was in the area and used the tube and apart from seeing people leaving it was fine. I went through charring cross and Leicester Square (which is always insane, it was just busy). I heard a small group walking chant free Palestine but they were walking and not interacting negatively with any anyone, if everything there got the odd wave and thumbs up. They weren’t thugs, more students.
I would not however have dreamed of travelling in a car on a weekend in London! It’s madness.
The only big thing was police vans parked In Trafalgar and that was lively, very easy to avoid though

Jacesmum1977 · 10/11/2023 07:51

I’m sorry but I don’t know why you went ahead with it while the protests are still ongoing.

Saverage · 10/11/2023 07:28

This honestly reads like you were determined to find some drama right from your initial OP, and now you feel vindicated and wanting to dredge up your long drama thread.

Saverage · 10/11/2023 07:26

I went to the theatre and out to dinner last weekend. It's easy to look up the route of the march and avoid it. Choose a tube station a little out of range and then walk to the theatre (I chose Holborn, 10 minute walk to the theatre). No need to see any of the march at all, I just saw some of the marchers dispersing, getting dinner etc. Getting an Uber that ran straight through the route, into Trafalgar Square is the worst thing you could do.

Original poster
StayorgoLDN · 10/11/2023 07:24

@beguilingeyes

FYI we priced the tube for the duration of time we were there and for four people and the amount of travel we were doing Uber was cheaper.

OP posts:
Original poster
StayorgoLDN · 10/11/2023 07:22

beguilingeyes · 10/11/2023 07:12

I don't understand why anyone would advise you to avoid the tube. It's far cheaper, faster and quieter than travelling on the surface. You'll never get stuck for half an hour anywhere and going to the theatre you'd be nowhere near Trafalgar Square. Similarly no police, riot or otherwise or helicopters.
Travelling by car/bus in central always takes forever in busy times and I never do it.

@beguilingeyes

Because protesters had been preventing people getting on and off and were hanging around the stations closest to where we were going.

We saw this for ourselves whenever we got out of the theatre.

Which is why we walked some distance in the opposite direction and ordered an Uber.

OP posts:
beguilingeyes · 10/11/2023 07:12

I don't understand why anyone would advise you to avoid the tube. It's far cheaper, faster and quieter than travelling on the surface. You'll never get stuck for half an hour anywhere and going to the theatre you'd be nowhere near Trafalgar Square. Similarly no police, riot or otherwise or helicopters.
Travelling by car/bus in central always takes forever in busy times and I never do it.

Original poster
StayorgoLDN · 10/11/2023 01:53

@Crapsummer2023

Last weekend we were in central London. Tickets were booked for the Saturday night, several hundred and couldn’t sell so had to go!!

Did as concierge advised, avoided tube and took an uber. We got out of it because we had sat in it along Pall Mall/far side of Trafalgar Square for well over half an hour barely moving.

It was 10mins until the show started and we felt it was safer to get out and move along the back of Trafalgar Square than continue on and be
a) very late (despite leaving 1 1/2hrs ahead of time).
b) driving through the middle of where the protest crowd/police appeared to be rushing at each other with the fireworks going off.

My advice again to anyone considering a theatre break at the moment would be to book for any other night than Saturday and ideally be staying away from Trafalgar Square but within walking distance of theatre say 20-30 mins.

We were purposefully an hours walk away and needed transport. However I had thought the police would clear the area of protesters following a march - clearly not!!

Personally the riot police, helicopters etc was frightening and triggering and it wasn’t the atmosphere I wanted for a break away, so we will be avoiding more trips until things calm down.

OP posts:
Crapsummer2023 · 09/11/2023 23:18

StayorgoLDN · 08/11/2023 09:58

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to post to say thanks for all the help - we went in the end but rearranged the trip so that we mainly stayed in towns visiting attractions outside Greater London.

We did go in for a night and stayed in South Kensington as we had theatre tickets booked for the Saturday night which we couldn’t rearrange.

The show was top class and highly enjoyable. However, we weren’t able to enjoy the rest of the night due to the protests unfortunately.

To be able to get to the theatre we had to leave an hour and a half ahead!!! This meant we did not have time for a nice meal as planned and had to grab something small quickly in the hotel.

Even with this the traffic was crazy and we almost missed the start of the performance.

Trafalgar square was impassable.

Police cars everywhere, lines of met officers in riot gear. Protesters were firing fireworks into the air, at crowds and at police. Helicopters overhead. All very triggering.

We had to get out of the cab, bypass the police and go along the back of Trafalgar Square at speed to make it in time for our show/avoid the crowds of people at the front.

Kids thankfully had ear defenders on and hoods up so oblivious to issues.

Whenever we got out there were still problems at Charing Cross with protesters.

We walked in the opposite direction to Trafalgar Square and eventually got an Uber. By the time we got back to the hotel it was nearly midnight.

(To the lady with autistic son who suggested Ubers - THANK YOU! Made our trip so so much easier)

South Kensington, museums and so on were fantastic and no issues whatsoever.

However, my advice would be to anyone wanting to go at the wkend to see a show right now - if you can postpone and go at a later stage do so.

The added 2 1/2 hours of hassle and having to walk through a situation verging on being out of control was not ideal whenever you are there to have fun and relax.

What date did you go if you don’t mind me asking?

T1Dmama · 09/11/2023 23:02

Glad it was ok. You did well to still go x

Original poster
StayorgoLDN · 08/11/2023 10:04

Ps before anyone says you could have just used the tube - we were advised by concierge not to do so due to the protesters blocking people at stations in and around theatres… as well as to leave an extra 45-60 mins earlier 🙄

The following day we walked everywhere and it was amazing.

OP posts:
Original poster
StayorgoLDN · 08/11/2023 09:58

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to post to say thanks for all the help - we went in the end but rearranged the trip so that we mainly stayed in towns visiting attractions outside Greater London.

We did go in for a night and stayed in South Kensington as we had theatre tickets booked for the Saturday night which we couldn’t rearrange.

The show was top class and highly enjoyable. However, we weren’t able to enjoy the rest of the night due to the protests unfortunately.

To be able to get to the theatre we had to leave an hour and a half ahead!!! This meant we did not have time for a nice meal as planned and had to grab something small quickly in the hotel.

Even with this the traffic was crazy and we almost missed the start of the performance.

Trafalgar square was impassable.

Police cars everywhere, lines of met officers in riot gear. Protesters were firing fireworks into the air, at crowds and at police. Helicopters overhead. All very triggering.

We had to get out of the cab, bypass the police and go along the back of Trafalgar Square at speed to make it in time for our show/avoid the crowds of people at the front.

Kids thankfully had ear defenders on and hoods up so oblivious to issues.

Whenever we got out there were still problems at Charing Cross with protesters.

We walked in the opposite direction to Trafalgar Square and eventually got an Uber. By the time we got back to the hotel it was nearly midnight.

(To the lady with autistic son who suggested Ubers - THANK YOU! Made our trip so so much easier)

South Kensington, museums and so on were fantastic and no issues whatsoever.

However, my advice would be to anyone wanting to go at the wkend to see a show right now - if you can postpone and go at a later stage do so.

The added 2 1/2 hours of hassle and having to walk through a situation verging on being out of control was not ideal whenever you are there to have fun and relax.

OP posts:
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