To think DH cant come to this

I'd be amazed at there being a policy reason that he can't stay. The room is paid for.

But the more you've posted about him telling you the tube is too scary on your own the more I think you should say no and insist on going on your own. Sounds like it would be good for you.

Shes a bit anxious too though. Sounds more like hes supporting her and they can visit london together which sounds a rare opportunity for them.

There are lots of other places. I know plenty of people who haven't been to London, or didn't get there until adults. My parents never took us there as kids because it was a long way, and they couldn't afford it, and they weren't really happy in big cities.
There were other places closer to home that we went to instead.
I still don't enjoy the size and crowds of London. I hate the tube. I prefer smaller cities.

But nobody bat an eyelid? I have been regularly travelling with work since 1992, within multinationals and many colleagues have travelled a lot as well. I can only recall a handful of occasions when somebody has brought a spouse on a work trip. I have never known it to be banned but it is far from normal and I think in some circumstances it could look unprofessional and can sometimes provoke comments about people wanting subsidised holidays.

Well I suppose that's why OP was asking. Different companies clearly have differences in culture around it. I've been travelling for work for 8ish years and I've always known people to bring people. Not all the time, but when it does happen the most common response is "oh lovely, have you got a nice dinner/evening planned"

If you are going to a place for work and happen to be able to stay with a friend, my work will even give you £50. The understanding is you use that money to buy them dinner and expense your own. Many companies understand that travelling for work can be turned into a perk of the job at a relatively low cost to them.

I think ask them. Its likely to be completely fine especially if you meet addition costs. Hope you have a nice time OP.

Of course you are fully capable of navigating the tube by yourself, you don't need a male to escort you. Check with your company if you want him to tag along, tell him it's against policy if you don't.

I brought dh and the kids once

How could you possibly know?

It's perfect acceptable in my company and my DHs. In fact, we regularly do this.

She said she has nothing planned i.e. scheduled for the conference. I'd still be expected to be working / on emails.

Also even if it's training, I'd be expected to Network after.

No issue whatsoever. You just have to pay any difference

Perfect opportunity to share one of the greatest short stories ever. The entire text is contained in the photo below.

https://biblioklept.org/2017/11/18/happiest-moment-lydia-davis/

If DH implied I wasn’t capable and he had to help me get there - no way would he be invited!

Otherwise, it’s probably fine, check with your boss to make sure. I went to a few conferences in fancy places with DH and I just chilled during the day and we made sure my meals were paid for separately, not on his company card, and it was all good. Cheap holiday normally as we were able to travel back a bit later and his company would still happily pay for his return flight. We even stayed in the same hotel one time, just switched the booking to my name once the conference was over

Sorry if you've already answered this but are there other colleagues at the same hotel, and would you usually plan something with them on the evening? I wfh generally in another city but have gone into the London office on occasion for special events etc, and DH has sometimes joined me. I book my own hotel though and expense it so it's not a work social type thing - I think I'd be less comfortable if there's a chance of bumping into a colleague coming out of the hotel room with DH! As it is it costs absolutely no more to have two people sleeping in the room vs one, so long as you're not expensing his breakfast etc.

Very strange post. It's definitely allowed in my law firm and many take their partners on work trips.

Bloody hell, most of our trips away years were based on DH’s work trips in the UK and free hotel stays!

DH would go to meetings and I would have his lazy breakfast and then swim in the pool and then DH would finish early and we’d go out.

I travel for work but have to fly so DH doesn’t join.

Expensive enough to never have been there in your life, not once?
Always staggered at the lack of curiosity!

Um, maybe Not-London?
Lots of us are Not from London.
London is a long and expensive way away from lots of people.
Hth.

I hate London and I hate tubes. They are not the same as trains with a train I can see the world. I can see the exits and I'm not trapped underground. When I travel by train there are usually 2 or 4 options but it London their seems to be endless options. I get lost in the city I have lived next to for 30+ years and worked on for 7 years. I get lost finding my way out of a paper bag

But and a big but London and the tubes aren't that bad. I do hate them but you know it's not outside of what I can do. I have a plan A and a plan B for stations & tubes, which was needed on one trip when there was an issue with tubes out of my nearest station but the next nearest as a few minutes walk away and got me where I needed to go. I don't like being underground but it's not for long and actually sometimes the walk isn't too bad so I do that instead. The issue I have in my nearest city is I only have one station to find and whilst I can get to most places in the country from this station if I'm trying to find my way back to that station from an unknown pub after work I have only one place to aim for and can end up far away from it. In London if you get lost you will come to a train or tube station soon enough and there will be options to get where you need.

I struggle with Google maps when it moves to point in the direction I'm walking and do better if it's fixed to north.

I am very much of the belief that you take a deep breath and the do the scary thing anyway because you might just surprise yourself and not find it as scary as you feared!

I thought you said he's never been to London?

I suppose because when you are younger you do different cities on nights out, then there's concents/theatre etc. Once you have children you do historical places and then there's the interest in visiting different places. I haven't been to Whitby, but it's on my list. It's cheaper to go to Belfast though.

Covering the difference should be a given, to the point I am not even sure why people are mentioning it as it is so obvious. Nobody needs to be told not to cheat on expenses surely?

But nobody bat an eyelid? I have been regularly travelling with work since 1992, within multinationals and many colleagues have travelled a lot as well. I can only recall a handful of occasions when somebody has brought a spouse on a work trip. I have never known it to be banned but it is far from normal and I think in some circumstances it could look unprofessional and can sometimes provoke comments about people wanting subsidised holidays.

Using the tube is easy. Central London is a city centre full of shops and people not the Wild West. You will be fine. School children manage it so I have no doubt an adult can.
If you want your DH to come then speak to your work, they may be fine as long as you cover any additional costs. However, don’t let him pressurise you to agreeing to him coming along by undermining your confidence either.

My SIL goes all over the world with my brother and just pays for her flight and meals. She uses the hotel gym and pool, and goes sightseeing.

Why would London been seen differently to any major UK city?

Don’t be daft …