What would stop you travelling to/from events etc. alone?

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Friend has proposed a London get together for a group of us that met as young people in our hometown. The distance to travel into London varies from 20-60 mins. 3 of the group live in our hometown and would normally travel together by train to any London based meets by direct fast train. Only one of the 3 can make it this time and she’s said she can’t travel by train or drive up on her own and her partner can’t accompany her that day so won’t come this time.

It’s got me wondering whether this is something other women worry about. I’m not single, but often travel to visit friends or family and when DH has had spells of working abroad, I’ve flown out to join him for a few days.

How many of you don’t like to travel alone?

The only thing that would stop me is the shitty unreliable train service. I went out for a birthday meal in Kent last night, supposed to get a train back to London at 22:45- I get to the station and it’s cancelled. No explanation, no staff around. No other train back to London from there. I did manage to pick my way back home through another route but it took twice as long and I’d probably have had less wine if I knew I’d be buggering about so much getting 3x different trains and getting home at 1:30 am 🫠 was just lucky my phone was fully charged so I could work it all out, because there was absolutely no one around to help. So I wasn’t feeling unsafe, just pissed off, but I did have to wait around at a couple of very dark and quiet smaller stations so I can see how someone would be wary of committing to something and having that happen again.

Is this a London thing? I don't feel this way myself but I have met quite a few people who see London as a very dangerous place to visit.

I'm fine with travelling alone, by whatever means of transport. The one thing I do these days is make sure I'm wearing shoes I can walk (or run) in if anything goes wrong.

I love travelling alone! Driving, flying, bus, train hire car, whatever!
So much less annoying than being with someone else.

Well, you know this woman, and we don't, so surely you're in a better position to answer the question of why her partner being unable to accompany her is the clincher here? Nothing as my life currently is would stop me travelling alone, though the time I had to take a train journey in my 20s with a heavy cast on my leg after an ankle break needed pins isn't exactly a highlight in my memories. I lived in London for ten years -- it's not the fiesta of violent street crime that some Mners appear to think it is. I frequently go away by myself, which I adore.

I should add its daytime arrival and return. Although might be dusk on the way back.

I love travelling alone!
However, saying that I'm travelling over 200km to London next month to visit my son, with the afternoon rediscovering my favourite parts of London, and I haven't travelled solo around London for more than a decade!
I'm a bit anxious about the tubes/contactless/travelcard/all the walking, but that's more a post menopause, post cancer anxiety thing.
I'm looking forward to it!

I know, it's unreasonable, I just worry it will go through twice/not at all/I'll be fined 😀

💯 this tbh!

First time she’s had to travel alone. The others have always been with her before

I like to think I don’t mind travelling alone but haven’t had the opportunity for a few years. If I was invited to something in London I’d be super excited and super nervous at the same time, but I’d tell myself to put my big girl pants on and go.

It’s like everything, depends on what you’re used to. I hadn’t driven in large cities very much until this summer, when I had to help DD1 find a flat. About a dozen trips into town later and I’m weaving in and out of the traffic with the best of them!

i know women like this and find it sad. It must be so limiting to be unable to go,places alone. I’ve travelled abroad alone and started coming into London alone as a teenager. In the last few years I’ve spent a lot ,ore time going out and about myself and love it. I can do what I want, if I want to amble about being all dreamy or if I’m bored I can do what I feel like without worrying about someone else. In many ways I find it much more enjoyable!

I can't think of anything that would stop me. I go to London alone often - and stay there alone too.
I might worry that your friend is in a coercive relationship, tbh.

You’ll have a wonderful time. You won’t be fined, don’t worry. Just remember to always tap out with the same card even if the gates are open. At stations without a gate there will be a machine with a yellow circle on. Just do what everyone else does.! And use the same bank card all day as there is a daily cap so you won’t be charged more once you reach it. And buses in central London are quite frequent and strangely fairly empty in zone 1. The tfl website is pretty good, there are bus maps that I find really helpful for getting about. It can be more restful than the tube if you don’t mind it taking a little longer. Have fun!

I travel internationally alone.

I can't imagine what it must be to be an adult who is yoo scared to travel in the UK by themselves.

How sad.

Ok, only one of the 3 who could make the chosen day. The day has significance for the person choosing it. The other 2 have family commitments. We meet quite often and have been friends since our youth. Yes, we are close.

No, I think it’s more that she doesn’t like solo travel. More that she can get a day off work and he can’t and doesn’t like traveling alone.

Just to say it’s not me reporting posts.

I'm with others - I would feel quite sorry for an adult who can't travel alone! I drive, fly and train alone all the time, I can't imagine limiting myself that way.

What happens if she has to travel for work? A lot of people have over an hour commute for work, and often travel to different countries etc. Has she never had to do this?

How terrible for her! Do she doesn’t go groceries shopping, to work or friends nearby? Never had a weekend away by herself. I’d feel sorry for her.

Goodness it wouldn’t cross my mind not to travel alone.

I feel quite sad for her. Is she usually an anxious person?