To think DH cant come to this

I am from the north of Scotland in a little town that’s nothing like London or even Glasgow or Edinburgh. I’ve been to London quite a few times now I flew down several times on my own as a young teen to go to a camp where my uncle met me took me round London saw the sights etc prior to going to camp in Hampshire. I’d been once on holiday then I’ve been to meet friends a few times. Ive done the tube, visited museums etc but honestly it’s just too big, noisy, busy and I just don’t like it: I wouldn’t want to visit again if I’m honest.

for some reason people who live in London don’t like being told people don’t want to visit or don’t like London. But some people like nature and scenery and being outdoors, I’m not a city person. I live in a beautiful part of the country and I’m quite happy - perhaps I’m sheltered who knows. But equally if someone from w big city didn’t like where I live and it wasn’t for them, fair enough it’s not for everyone. But people are allowed to like what they like, enjoy what they enjoy and not want to visit a busy huge city if they don’t want to. Op enjoy your trip
leave dh at home though.

Why not?? I always accompany my husband on work trips! Loads of fun! I don't join in the work stuff obv but in the evenings explore the cities!

Ha ha, I’m Scottish and that’s nonsense!
I am a huge musical theatre fan. There is no comparison between a childhood waiting for whatever touring production was coming to the Playhouse for 5 nights versus the entire West End at my disposal now I live in London.

And no, the Festival and Fringe do not make up for it, much as I love them.

Clearly you’ve never been to Edinburgh if you think the festival is the only culture it has.

Edinburgh has a lovely annual festival.

But bigger cities like Manchester and Birmingham have much more year round cultural activity because of their larger population size.

Just check with HR. Women accompany their DH all the time on business trips- so why not t'other way round?

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner, but I don't get the fear that seems to grip people from outside in regards to the city and the Tube. London is like Manchester or Newcastle or Glasgow, I've never been mugged/assaulted/whatever in any of them. It's just a city, that actually, you can't really get lost in, not when there are buses, the Tube and Ubers.

People don’t visit cities to see the local population.

Birmingham has nothing on Edinburgh in terms of history and the likes of the festival.

That was my point, but you knew that.

You'll be fine in central London by yourself. If you actually want your DH there because you'd enjoy the time away more then fair enough, just check with your work that it's ok (loads of people travel with partners in my line of work and it's fine). But don't take him just because he's made you think the tube is hard and you can't manage alone. It's not hard, and you absolutely can manage on your own. I've spent many an afternoon after a work event in London just wandering around with Google maps as my guide and had a perfectly nice time.

@KatieBr it will vary depending on your own company. Ask HR to clarify, do it via email for the paper trail. My husband and I used to go to each other's working away trips all the time, it was always allowed. The one who wasn't working would sightsee in the day, then we'd meet up in the evening for dinner out, it was really lovely.

That said...your husband is infantalising you. You are a mother of children, you have grown and birthed children, and yet he is talking to you like you'd be incapable of getting on a few trains all by yourself. He needs to catch himself on.

He's either controlling or looks down on you as an incapable child, rather than his equal, as an adult, OR he doesn't want to be alone doing the parenting on his own.

If you're looking forward to some peace, and believe me, it sounds like you deserve it, just tell him it's not allowed and go on your own and enjoy every minute of childfree, husbandfree BLISS.

Birmingham and Manchester are 5x the size of Edinburgh in population terms.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/294645/population-of-selected-cities-in-united-kingdom-uk/

What a bizarre remark

Either that or he's gaslighting you

Does he think that the millions of us in overcrowded London are never going anywhere alone, during the day?!

Please tell me you're joking?

You pay the same price for the room anyway, so no issues him staying. He'd just need to pay his own meals and things. I'd absolutely do this if I was working away, so that after you can go see sights and do nice things together.

In defence of the DH, the tube can be quite intimidating for someone who has never used it before.
I hestitated for a micro second at the ticket barrier and there was tutting, swearing and pushing from the people behind.
It's what you're used - obviously kids manage every day, but it's all a bit overwhelming for your first time.
Not to mention all the MN posts about all the sexual assault and violence on the tube...
But then I walk down dark country lanes alone which is often cited as something that women never do because of the danger. It's what you're used to.

I raise you the International Festival of Arts - nothing like it in London in terms of scale or range

Because it's a lot more expensive? That seems fairly obvious.

Well the difference in cost is thousands so I guess because I don’t love him enough!

Why didn't you pay for business for him too? My partner and I always pay for the equivalent of the company paid for flight. Sometimes a mare getting seats together but at least we're in the same cabin!

How do you know what the company policy is?

What do you guys find so scary about the Tube?

Total nonsense 😆

I could have written your post myself. Almost to the year too!

I can't actually recall anyone ever bringing their partner on a work trip in all the decades I've been travelling constantly while working for various multinationals and consultancies.

Quick check with your company will answer this. My husband travel a lot with his work and they are fine for me to stay in his hotel rooms with him. I pay for my own flight if it’s abroad and I pay for my own food. He works during the day, I chill or explore and then we get to spend the evening together in a different city. Costs his company nothing and it means that he is very happy to travel away often for his work, so it’s a win for them.