Is it safe to travel to London on my own?

[namethisbird]

what is everyone’s opinion on a lone female travelling from York to London on their own to see the Queen lying in state?

my partner and mum don’t think it’s safe which has me wondering

London is in fact safer than York

Why would you think you wouldn't be safe?
I live in (outer) London and always have. I worked in central London for 30odd years from 16, partied for decades in central London.
my children go into town regularly and have done since their early teens.
I feel lucky that we are 25mins on a train from Charing Cross.
I'm baffled as to why your family think it's unsafe.
Just apply common sense with regards to pick pockets/muggers (who are everywhere) and you will survive!

Oh and my mother in law travels from zone 3 into zone 1 (central London) for her monthly lunch club. She's 79 and thinks nothing of it - completely bonkers to be concerned about travelling to/through London!!

I agree with this - you must have led a sheltered, overprotected life. I'd think nothing of travelling overseas alone. You're an adult woman, not a child.

This attitude is pretty much exactly why my Yorkshire family never come see me.

Twenty five years and I'm still alive. It's a wonder!

I think you might be in to something there. We assumed Dragons at the end of the M1 was what kept the Yorkshire contingent at home.

Never thought that the dragons were at the top end. Would explain why I've never seen them.

Never seen a dragon in my corner of Yorkshire, maybe it's very area-dependent?

? Of course it is safe. I travelled on my own back from Edinburgh to London yesterday and the line goes through York as well. Very nice, quiet train with staff onboard to check tickets, collect rubbish and so on.

You should book yourself a seat in advance in one of the quiet carriages.

Of course central London will be really busy and they will be crowds wanting to do the same as you (pay respect to the Queen). But there will be a big police presence too.

I live in London and frankly it is as safe as any other big city. Make sure you plan your trip in advance so you know where you are going and you will be fine.

Thanks Everyone. Yes I knew I would get some of the mocking replies as I know how utterly ridiculous my question is but this is what my mum is like 🙄

booked my tickets today so I have 13 hours in London wish me luck for seeing HM the Queen at Westminster.

very very GOOD ON YOU for going ahead!!

I think you're being optimistic having a booked train to travel home on. I would have thought you will be waiting for hours to see file past.

Oh and yes- start building up to some solo trips. I have always had to travel for work, including to Central Asia and to an active disaster zone or two while pregnant. (I used to work in refugee camps). I'm not saying I recommend it neccessarily but I definitely think your horizons have been narrowed by a parent who of course loves you, but who is not allowing you to spread your wings.

Go spread your wings. Expand your comfort zone. There is so much out there.

Maybe don't start with a disatser zone. But a nice solo trip to Paris could be nice? (Or whatever else you wish to do.) :)

And enjoy your trip. I hope that you really get everything you wish out of it. xx

very safe, but I'd get a hotel room for the night as it could take several hours to queue to see the coffin and you don't want to have to leave the queue to catch the last train back to York.

Well done OP! I hope you have enough time to do what you want, even if not you will feel part of everything going on and have a good story to tell.

booked my tickets today so I have 13 hours in London wish me luck for seeing HM the Queen at Westminster

Good for you. If I were you I'd book a hotel as well, because the queues for the lying in state will be huge and you have no guarantee that you'll make your train.

Deffo book a hotel. I suggest a premier Inn, and when you are done enjoy a lovely drink at the bar, a bath, a nice breakfast and a leisurely trip home. No rush then and you can really relish a time of independence and self sufficiency.

I think the OP is being given an unfairly hard time here, some people aren't used to travelling alone and it's scary the first time you do something.

OP, well done for booking and I hope you have a wonderful time.

a nice breakfast and a leisurely trip home

A morning stroll would be nice, weather's going to be quite pleasant next week, Really relax before you go back to Yorkshire and show your DM that you survived.

It occurs to me that she might want you to keep in contact a lot if she's very anxious. Can you set firm rules around that?

@namethisbird Have a lovely time 💐

Strange how some people out of London think! I once said to a friend of my mums that I'd be getting the night bus home at around 3am and she was horrified - I had to explain that on that particular route you couldn't even get a seat, it was that busy. I always feel safe in London because there are nearly always people around. I get spooked in small towns at night because they are so empty.

Not that this is relevant as OP is talking about travelling in the day!

Please live your life and don't listen to small-town minded people.

You'll be fine.

There are a couple of areas in East London I wouldn't recommend but even there, you would probably be ok.

Take normal precautions, don't carry huge amounts of cash, and bring a bag that zips up but otherwise, just come and be part of it. We don't bite 😊

Central london is very safe. I’ve lived nearby for over 20 years, never feel as safe as I do when in centre of town.