Cancel holiday to Cornwall due to riots?!

[ShouldICancel]

I've name changed for this as I feel quite silly even asking this! We're meant to be in Cornwall from this weekend for 7 nights and DH is saying we'll have to wait and see what happens with all the riots. For context, we're brown, but not Muslim (I say this because I know Muslims are being sadly targeted :( )

At first I thought DH is overly cautious (which he tends to be) and needs a reality check, but having said that, for the first time in almost 18 years I've felt a bit unsafe in the UK, so maybe I'm the one who needs a reality check.

While most of the news has focused on the riots in the north, I wanted to check with those in South (especially Cornwall) if you've seen any issues? Would it be safe to travel? My parents will also be joining us, but they will be travelling by train from Paddington. I'm hoping the train journey is safe. My parents don't live in the UK and are just visiting over the summer, so they do sometimes stand out more than me, DH and the kids.

TIA!

I’m in St Ives at the moment and I think it’s a nice escape from the terrible things going on in cities and large towns. I can’t imagine you’d have any trouble here, feels very peaceful and you’re more likely to be bothered by a few loud middle class people than knuckle draggers. I know which I’d prefer to put up with .

No way should you let their behaviour alter, your plans, that way they have won. It's awful that the hate filled minority have made you feel this way

Hi OP I live in Cornwall.

I am avoiding large towns and cities, especially Plymouth as there are riots planned there but I have not witnessed or experienced any racist abuse so far.

I think you will be absolutely fine and will hopefully feel much safer down here than other places in the UK.

I cannot believe this is happening in 2024 🥲

Absolutely this. I find myself hiding my Jewishness and worrying about my children revealing it to the wrong person. I walked past the protestors in London the day after October 7th and was shaking worrying they’d be able to ‘tell’ from my facial features (!) but I guess it’s even scarier when you have brown or black skin as you can’t choose to hide when necessary (not that any one ever should!!!)

and yes the weird thing is that in this instance it’s the far right yobs but the people marching alongside Hamas flags and chants calling for an antifada were the far left. Both ends of the extremes horrible examples of fascism in their own right.

We are watching history repeat itself.

We can’t let these people stop us living our lives. You have every right to live in peace and enjoy your holiday.

Hi - Speaking from Cornwall, there is no trouble or even talk of trouble here. The raft race was a bit noisy Saturday and that is as hectic as it gets. We r North Cornwall in Wadebridge

Please don’t cancel your holiday, must be awful that your family have to worry about this but you can’t let them win!

@Grammarnut I’m also in the midlands. Live in the East mids but not far from West Mids. There was trouble in Tamworth yesterday, Holiday Inn was targeted, lots of damage. There have been protests and arrests in Leicester and Derby too.

i no live in Cornwall and this is crackers! You need to worry about the seagulls and bad traffic but not riots!

We live on the coast outside of Newcastle. It has never occurred to me there would be riots here.
However, I can imagine idiot teenagers on metros through North Shields and Wallsend, Byker and Walker making rude remarks and feeling safe to do so.
I've been in our local small town today - Whitley Bay, and Tynemouth and even along in Byker and everything was as per usual.

Don’t be so dismissive and so quick to just write off these worries. I’m white british and I’m absolutely shocked at the scenes we are seeing. I sadly can believe it having grown up in an area with many of these views.

I don’t think Cornwall will have the same issues but maybe stick to touristy areas.

You'll be fine in St Ives.

They wont come into St Ives.

it is so crowded in summer it will be the slowest of riot action ever - one car on a road will block any action and the fiesty gulls will shit on their heads.

As a potential “hateful Reform voter” and married to one (who, incidentally, reads the Guardian), I can assure you that plenty of us visit Cornwall in August, and manage to disguise ourselves as perfectly reasonable and ordinary people. You’d be surprised at just how many people you think of as nice, are really hateful underneath all that banality 🙄

It’s absolutely awful that you’re feeling like this !!
Those people are racists !!! Makes my blood boil !
im sure in most parts of the uk you should be ok ! Big hugs 🤗 x x x x x

I completely understand your feelings but even in Manchester where we live the riots were v contained to one small area and the rest of the city went on in the normal diverse, inclusive and supportive way it always has. It's sad to Northern cities being written off as dangerous, ignorant and racist when 99.99% of us are anything but.

The only thing attacking you in St Ives will be the seagulls x

Why “bizarrely the far left”? The far left are just as much extremists as the far right, they just have better PR and “nice” people on their side.

There is a riot going on in Huddersfield West Yorkshire, I'm about a 20 minute drive away in another town, luckily I don't need to go there. You should be safe in Cornwall, enjoy! I've been down there in April.

It's chaos in our Cornish Lidl, stocks of Rose are running low but the bakery was fully stocked.
Did spot a woman in a hijab talking to her son, she was right the pretzel buns are the best and stupidly I only got one.
We're enjoying seeing all the visitors from around the UK and the rest of the world. I hope you have a great holiday down here.
The jam goes on your scone first, cream second.

Seriously? I know we live in strange times, but riots in Cornwall and the Lake District? C’mon.

St Ives - riots - no chance! Maybe a rush on pasty's at Pengenna's. That's it.

Don't even think about cancelling OP. The journey on the train is stunning ( if long ) Your parents will love it.

Plymouth is nowhere near St Ives. Not even the same county.

Really sorry you've been caused to feel like this.

Another vote for absolutely fine. I live near there and am just travelling home from a week away and I am not concerned at all, I can't wait to get home! Have a wonderful time, the weather even looks promising!

We were supposed to be driving down to St Ives last Friday for a week but had to cancel as I have Pneumonia but I am glad if I am honest.

Being brown myself I am concerned about what is unfolding up & down the country. I’m not Muslim but that won’t matter to these people as they just see the colour of your skin.

When I was in my teens 30 years ago my family was on the receiving end of the National Front’s hate. So I know how frightening it can be and I have protected my children from racism but this what is happening now is really worrying.

Only yesterday when my husband and daughter were coming back from taking the dog for a walk some idiots passing by in a car threw a rock at my husband which just missed his neck and we live in a nice area. These thugs are emboldening others who normally wouldn’t say boo to a goose. They wouldn’t have tried it in person as the dog would have sprung into action.

OP, I would just be more aware of your surroundings. If your gut tells you something is off listen to it. I doubt you will have any issues as everyone is so welcoming but there is always 1 who isn’t. I hope you have a lovely holiday.

No it's not crackers.

The OP and her family are people of colour and may be mistaken for Moslems and she's worried they may face some hostility, which is understandable in the current circumstances.

Don't be so dismissive of other people's real concerns.

It's not that the OP would be in danger in Cornwall, but the journey down could be a problem.

I'm certain parts of the UK the thugs are stopping cars to check if people are white. Dragging brown people out of cars and trashing the cars and attacking them. My husband despite being English certainly wouldn't pass the white test. I wouldn't want him to drive in the UK right now or be alone.

If you can stick the motor ways I think it's fine but if you have to drive through cities it might be a problem.

I live in Cornwall. It's fine. Yes some people can be a bit insular, but generally we're a friendly bunch and your business would be very welcome.