London - friendly and helpful left right and centre!

[Ozgirl76]

I’m having a few days in London with my teen kids and in the last two days we’ve had;
The underground staff member who was friendly and helpful with our child Oyster cards.
Two people offering to help lift my suitcase
Teen left his phone by an exhibit at the Science museum and someone handed it in.
Teen wondered aloud about whether you HAD to get the lift at Gloucester Road or if there was another way down and a stranger said “yep there’s stairs down there if you prefer” with a smile
Friendly security guy at the Tate checking that we hadn’t left something behind (it was just crisp packets)

It’s been great so far!

Lovely! We went to London in Xmas week for the day and didn't quite achieve a long list like that, but my daughter lost her underground ticket and only realised when we were through and she was stuck on the wrong side, the nearby staff member just let her through without and trusted it was an honest mistake. Saved the day!

Don't jinx it 😉

Londoners ate perfectly nice. It’s only on Mn that they’re considered to be ogres with black snot who will snatch your phone.

I lived in London for 15 years and people on the whole were very kind and thoughtful. I saw many acts of kindness and care. Londoners don't look at each other on the tube or strike up conversations on a whim, but when people need help there is almost always someone on hand that is very willing.

I did think that just as I posted 😄

This has been my experience too. People seem to have a sixth sense for when people need help. I've always found people extremely helpful when ive had kids in tow. Its the only place I've seen a group of people carry a child in a pushchair, down a series of steps, when a lady was struggling.

Another thing that I like about London is that people tend to automatically get out of each other's way instinctively rather than barge into people or stop dead at shop entrances or at the bottom of escalators. Oh, and I like the fact that people tend to move at a decent pace rather than dawdle aimlessly

We only wipe our noses on our sleeves when tourists aren't around.

What were you expecting?!

Couldn't have put it better myself! 🤣🤣

Well if you've spent long enough on Mumsnet maybe at least a flat refusal to look in your direction even if you're on fire? 😁

The age limit for free travel on the tube is 11. Under that age you use a wide gate and the child walks through at the same time as the parent.

My sister in law, who lives in the country and is generally a bit scared /suspicious of “that London” came to visit with my niece who was 11. As she was about to use a bank card to pay for niece’s travel a tube employee stopped her and asked how old niece was. “Eleven” she said
“What’s that, ten?” said the tube lady with a wink, ushered her through for free and told her just to use the wide gates for the whole of their time in London. SIL was very impressed.

People always help anyone with a pushchair or big luggage down the tube steps.

And will give helpful directions if asked.

Just make sure you stand in the right on escalators , and don’t stop dead once you get off an escalator or through the barrier. Keep walking and then work out where to go.

That's lovely, OP. Makes a nice change from London-bashing.

PS the social contract in London is that people will be happy to help and point you in the right direction, but don't stop to chat and make long eye contact. I am guessing the people who helped you with your luggage gave you a smile when they were done and then strode off.

Yes, that's true I think, most Londoners (and Southerners) generally keep ourselves to ourselves on a day to day basis but would help someone out in a heartbeat if needed.

Well, according to some MN posts Londoners are hard faced, rich bastards who wouldn't spit on you if you're on fire. Ok, slight exaggeration I know but I've read some awful assumptions about the people of the capital on here...

Yep it's the best 🥳

Such a bizarre view of our capital city in some places. Just so odd.

Yep, London is full of good humans (and a few scumbags) - just like most places. If I see someone looking lost on the tube or on the street I'll always ask if they need a hand.

I love this. I live in London and in my toddler and baby years someone would always magically appear and lift the bottom of the pushchair up the stairs with me and then disappear into the crowd.

I get asked a lot for help, directions etc and am always happy to oblige or if I see someone looking a bit lost, with a pram using steps, I always offer. I don't think London is different to any other city in terms of friendliness. I find that older people (I am one) tend to have a little chat at the bus stop but never on the tube.

Well, Londoners are great. This is not news! I take the Tube every day, and generally everyone is kind.

That’s great. But stop leaving your crisp packets around aye.

Yes, London is pretty nice tbh. I'm a regular visitor. I've had a white man van let me out in traffic when idiot me went the wrong way (only time I've ever drove in) and I've had teens in hoodies give up tube seats for my little kids.

Staff at Tottenham Court Rd tube are amazing, and really funny too. Listen out for the camp sounding announcer. He had me in stitches one day so I went to the office in the ticket hall and told them how great he was. Had a lovely little chat with the boys there.

An older woman visiting London from Liverpool started chatting to me on the tube recently (the shock!). But she was saying the same, people don’t generally strike up conversation but people always offered to help her with her suitcase on the stairs and with directions.

The lack of chit chat is because transport is crowded and people want space. But people are generally helpful.