Friend giving safety tips for London?

I was mugged age 17 on Richmond Green at 7am !

That's a ''Nice'' area.

Putting my self in your friends shoes - The emotional need they have is to express that they care about you and they able to communicate this to you.

If they offer their opinion / views naturally I wouldn't think anything of it.

There are a lot of crap things happening right now that maybe is causing them to feel more cautious / keen to keep you safe.

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.

I think as London is so heavily used by Tourists, it attracts lots of more naive people who are out of their home zone and therefore more trusting.

Anywhere wealthy looking people are going to congregate, is ripe for exploitation by pick pockets especially.

Paris, Rome ,Madrid or Amsterdam {Or any other heavily touristed area} is no different in this regard.

Transport hubs where people are 'distracted' are prime spots.

Oh yeah, pickpockets. I lived in london for several years before my boyfriend was pickpocketed right under our noses. It was kind of astonishing how they managed it. Does warrant a warning to be fair.

Very patronising. I have lived in London all my life and I still get well-meaning people stopping me to give me advice, sometimes on the street where I live! My best recommendation for unsolicited advice of any kind is to nod, smile, say thank you, then ignore.

It’s kind of patronising imo but the kind that should be overlooked because she means well, much like from your mum. It’s endearing.

Keen to know what the advice is! I’m in London all the time and am totally desensitised to it.

In the past I have warned people about this.
Or leaving bags on restaurant tables.

Tube and 'Tourist' markets are rife with pick pockets, always were.

Definitely patronising. You're a competent adult - of course you don't need "safety tips", and London iis no different to anywhere else. I would be quite cross, tbh.

I lived in London and [A nice part] but still warned my friend when she was visiting about pick pockets.

She was on the train at Earl's Court, and felt a jostle {I'd warned her about this, as this was how I was pick pocketed, jostled by two men on a very empty station {Hammersmith}

She grabbed the jostler, {a child} and said ''MY PURSE!!... astonishingly a woman called back ''Your dropped your purse, Lady'' and handed it back to her, and friend let go of the child. Seems the child was sent out to steal, and the purse would be handed back to those behind her.

I actually watched a woman being ''pick pocketed'' on the Tube..It was crowded, a man was leaning heavily onto her whenver the train swing round a bend.

I thought he was being sexually provocative with her, and I glared at him...he glared back.

When he got off the train, the poor woman said ''I've been robbed''...her tickets, passport , money had gone.
He'd had his hand down her bags which were on her knee, hidden by his ''jacket''.

Padlock any cases, and wear a money belt.

Don't look too 'flash'- no fancy jewellery or watches.

You think someone caring about you is patronising? Please tell her that. Please tell everyone that loves you that.

Just thumbs up or love heart it.
She means well. Even if it's all stuff you know she took the time to show she cares.

Maybe she's scared herself so presumed you are too. Could be you can help her more than she helps you though.

Well what did she say? It's hard to comment about whether it's patronising without knowing what the tips were.

Can you share the tips?

Tbf when I said to friends, the first time they went from Liverpool, tube etiquette, they didn't believe me. It was funny watching them get shoved the right side that they were told they had to be etc.

Unless the friend lives on a really, really rough estate, you don't need safety tips for either. And you'll be with the friend on said theoretical rough estate anyway.

I don't live in a posh area, and I can tell you which pub locally the dealers hang out in, sure. But the worst thing that would happen to you if you innocently wandered in there and ordered a pint anyway is some funny looks. And Zone 1 is a heavily policed tourist playground that is populated literally 24/7.

Reminds me of the first time I went to London alone. I was 17 and going for a University Open Day. I was "Country Mouse" as I lived in a very rural area.

The advice my Dad gave to me as we waited for the train was that if I should get lost or need any help I should always approach someone in a uniform. It didn't matter what the uniform was, just so long as they were wearing one!

I agree with PP, this is probably driven by her own anxiety.

Though I must say when I see tourists with their phones out held loosely in their hands on street corners I do have to stop myself from warning them about an obvious target they would be for phone snatching...

When my 17-year-old gives me driving advice, I give him the side eye and say,' Thanks I'll bear that in mind' my inside voice is saying go fuck yourself '. It works pretty well

I think my answer would depend on what the safety advice was, and what your plans are for the weekend.

So if you’re planning to be in central London/covent garden in the daytime versus staying with your friend in a zone 2/6 spot that she has local knowledge of.

I live in London and it wouldn’t occur to me to send safety tips, yeah it’s patronising but only you know how she meant it… also want to know what they are.

That’s so patronising. Please share the “tips” so we can laugh at them.