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Original poster

Friend giving safety tips for London?

237 replies

breezeofqinter · 02/08/2024 16:24

Maybe I sound horrible but me and a friend are visiting our mutual friend in London tomorrow, she’s lived there for maybe a year.

Shes just text us to give us safety tips. I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve been to London, I even work from the London office occasionally.

I know she means well but aibu to find it a bit patronising?

OP posts:
Whaddo · 03/08/2024 07:48

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Amx · 03/08/2024 07:46

What were the tips?

Tulipsareredvioletsarebue · 03/08/2024 05:39

I'd frequently be emailing/texting her with "Hope you're safe hun" "Hope all is well in the big city" and "The pigeon brought us news that.... " (insert news).

DreamTheMoors · 03/08/2024 00:41

Epicaricacy · 02/08/2024 19:59

don't try to reverse it. Throw patronising comments at someone, they are entitled to laugh!

Show quote history

I’m not reversing anything.
Pointing and laughing at someone is for “entitled” 12-yr-old middle school mean girls.
You shouldn’t encourage them. Unless you’re their mother.

Ethylred · 02/08/2024 23:04

This is ridiculous Only on Mumsnet could safety in London be a subject of conversation.

DreadPirateRobots · 02/08/2024 22:50

DancingNotDrowning · 02/08/2024 22:14

I was born in London, my DC were born in London, I currently spend most of my time in Europe but still have a house in London that I stay in regularly.

when I travel to London with work our corporate travel partner sends me an email warning of the dangers of bats in London.

I travel from LHR to W1. It always make me
smile 😊

..well, now I need to know about the dangers of bats in London. WHAT ABOUT THE BATS?!? WHEN DO I GET MENACED BY THE BATS? 🦇 🦇

CrazyChefDoDoDoDoDoDo · 02/08/2024 22:49

I go regularly too. But if my friend wanted to give me some safety advice I would take it. Just reading this thread I've learnt some new techniques of pickpocketing to watch out for.

andfinallyhereweare · 02/08/2024 22:48

Lived in London my whole life, zone 2. Never given anyone safety tips- real Londoners wouldn’t even think to do that. Just say thanks 😂

Qanat53 · 02/08/2024 22:33

Sugarlily · 02/08/2024 20:10

Street crime hasn’t gotten worse - it’s gotten better. Unless you have a source for that?

I guess it depends on what the people who track “street crime” categorize theft of phones, pick pocket, mugging/theft from person or stabbing. If you think I’m going to report something from Met police, I’m not. The police in my area, have put up placards this year warning people about thieves, pick pockets. Placards on the street, by bus stops and outside tube station. A neighbor was mugged & phone stolen in 2023, I’ve seen guys on bikes/mopeds stealing phones from people’s hands. A guy searched by police with a like 15” knife in ruck sack. Also seen capture of designer-dressed glamorous woman with tote with maybe 25 phones she steals from people at street market while they are eating street food, looking at jewelry. Shoplifters an epidemic in supermarket - grab and run.

I’ve lived in same area for long time, seen all this in past 2 years.

So, if you have statistics showing a decrease in the above in London … maybe you can post it.

cathcath2 · 02/08/2024 22:32

I think, given the trouble that has been happening around the country, just take it in the spirit it was meant.

YellowphantGrey · 02/08/2024 22:26

dawngreen · 02/08/2024 18:22

My fella, and I went on holiday to London. We visited all the tourist spots, and a day after leaving for home. All the area's we visited had being bombed even the toilets. So it put us off staying there in future to be honest. But we did visit another time, and my fella needed the loo so I stood waiting for him. I noticed a sign saying about a murder at the pub/restaurant . Then my fella told me he got told off because he never noticed the chalk on the floor in the men's.

Sounds like a shit episode of Goodnight Sweetheart.

WhyAreHolidaysSoStressful · 02/08/2024 22:16

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Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

DancingNotDrowning · 02/08/2024 22:14

I was born in London, my DC were born in London, I currently spend most of my time in Europe but still have a house in London that I stay in regularly.

when I travel to London with work our corporate travel partner sends me an email warning of the dangers of bats in London.

I travel from LHR to W1. It always make me
smile 😊

EdithBond · 02/08/2024 22:05

It is patronising. Even if you’d never been to London, presumably you know how to stay safe in a city. But surely it was well-meant out of kindness and care for you. So, best to chuckle to yourself, say nothing and be grateful you have a friend who cares about your safety.

stardust777 · 02/08/2024 21:55

For me, it depends on what the advice is. I grew up in London. I've been followed twice on the same road. I was so frightened by the first incident - which happened late at night - that I rang the doorbell of a random stranger (I could see that the lights were on upstairs).

I would give specific advice to friends who visited me.

Yalta · 02/08/2024 21:54

Live in London and can’t think of a single safety tip I would give anyone that they wouldn’t do automatically in their home town.

ChickenDeChick · 02/08/2024 21:53

FFS WHAT WERE THE TIPS!!!!! @breezeofqinter

Sorren · 02/08/2024 21:47

Depends really: last week when the Tommy Robinson loons were out in force it may have been appropriate to say “avoid The Strand or Charing Cross station” for example as it was pretty lairy around there to be honest. However, it just generic and you work there then a bit odd.

Epicaricacy · 02/08/2024 21:44

Chika89 · 02/08/2024 20:45

I think that’s lovely. London is a dive. She clearly cares about you

🙄

Yourdemonsyourproblem · 02/08/2024 21:42

Unless you plan on wearing a Rolex you will be fine.

FloatyBoaty · 02/08/2024 21:39

I don’t live in London any more (did for years) but spend a lot of time there still between work and social life.

Since I left London, places that were super safe have become less so, and vice versa ofc. There are ALWAYS new scams, new tactics by pickpockets, new hotspots for Rolex snatchers/phone grabbers etc … and I’m just not there enough to stay across it in the same way. I’d be glad if my friend gave me a heads up ahead of a visit- despite the fact I’m here every other week for work too!

I’d it as a kindness- and try not be that tiresome person that has to flex THEIR London-muscles in return.

OneNimbleFish · 02/08/2024 21:39

Intell can get updated on different sections / sectors etc

MrsSunshine2b · 02/08/2024 21:36

Some Londoners believe that they live in the only big city that has ever existed. YANBU, but it's not worth a reaction beyond an eyeroll.

HavfrueDenizKisi · 02/08/2024 21:21

LlynTegid · 02/08/2024 17:12

If you were going south of the river for the first time and your other trips were to the civilised parts of London, then fair enough perhaps. Not otherwise.

WTF? South of the river has many extremely naice and expensive places. Bloody hell what's wrong with some people? Thinking London is a hothouse of no go areas as large as 'south of the river'.

Most likely to be mugged in central London imo where all the unsuspecting tourists are.

Lifeomars · 02/08/2024 21:12

I go to London now and then and I have family and friends there. Never treated it is anywhere extra dangerous from either the city I live in or others I visit.

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