To feel slightly traumatised by trying to navigate around London?

[theeverydaydancer]

OK. I'm a 32 year old, reasonably intellegent mother of one. I went on a nice day trip on my own yesterday to London to see something at the Barbican, a venue I had never been to before. I am from the provinces, could probably be described as a bit bumpkinesque, particularly after trying to navigate my way round the public transport system etc. I got wobbly legs going down the big escalators to the tube (they are so high I had to really psyche myself up to get on it!), and had to ask about 10,000 people directions just to get there and back to Victoria Station, couldn't really read any of the maps etc. I felt like a lost 8 year old. Is this reasonable at my age to be so hopeless? Or is London notoriously difficult to get around?

I hate to say it, but it's you.

London is quite easy to get around - IF you don't have trouble with map reading. There are loads of maps in the tourist areas, lots of signs, colour coded underground lines etc.

just an unfamiliar place. Worry not.

its not difficult but if you're not used to the basic busyness of the place it can be overwhelming. Also the above ground maps at the stations are sometimes hard to orient with where you ACTUALLY are. Well done for doing it though - I have a friend who actually won't do it on her own and I always am a bit - its just following signs really. Hope you enjoyed your day.

I find London really easy to get around, and I'm also from the shires. The tube maps are really clear, and everything is well signposted.

Sorry OP - next time take a taxi!

You need to learn how to read a map :-)
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Failing that googlemaps on your phone will give you a walking route and directions.

I dont think you chose a good place to go and see tbh.

I don't think London is difficult to get around. The tube is fairly straightforward, there are maps and signs everywhere etc. In fact, in 2011 it was voted 'easiest city in Europe to navigate'! Linky

Anywhere new is hard though!

Sorry, it's not London, it's you. It's a bit hectic if you're not used to it though.

Take taxis next time

I have 2 great apps on my phone that are invaluable

Nearest Tube
Tube map delux

Nearest tube lets you stand in one place and slowly turn around to show the direction and distance to the nearest tube whichever way you are facing.

Tube map delux lets you enter your start point and destination and tells you what line and direction to take, now many stops, where to change, when the next trains are and how long it will take. Also shows and avoids engineering works. Brilliant.

I don't think it's difficult to get around.

But if you aren't used to the busyness and people then those things can overwhelm you and paralyse your map reading skills. Just practice a bit more and you'll soon be a pro

I've lived in London 30 years, and the Barbican area still foxes me. My husband says the same thing, and he's lived in London all his life, has a good sense of direction, and has to drive a great deal in and out of London as part of his job. I'd try a different area before writing off your ability to find your way around London

Blimey. I have been going to the Barbican for 35 years and I still get lost.

london on the run up to christmas isn't the best time to visit for the first time you would get used to it the more you do it. but it is crazily busy and the tubes do take some getting used to. what did you see at the barbican?

As other posters have said, it's not hard but it can be overwhelming if you're not used to it, so don't beat yourself up. My 11 & 13 year old DC jump on and off escalators with ease - they've been doing it all their lives, it's harder to be blasé when you're older.

And get yourself a smartphone with gps maps - sorted.

Well, I live in the Scottish Highlands and I find Inverness, in the Christmas rush, unbearable so have to say YANBU. London would finish me off!

YANBU. It's not that I think London is difficult to navigate per se, just that when you live in the sticks as I do it's surprising how intimidating the cities become.

I moved from a city to the countryside a few years ago and when I had to cross a main road in a city recently it was mentally far more of a big deal than it used to be; I'm just not used to traffic on roads these days!

Maybe it was the hustle and bustle of London in the lead up to Christmas that had you confused. I am a Londoner now happily living in a Shire and those escalators always petrified me.

I do find things clearly signposted though and can get from A-B fine. Maybe use a smatphone AP infuture instead of map reading.

I went to London with 6mo DD and was dreading it as couldn't use the tube due to pram, luggage etc. Then I found the Citymapper app - what a revelation! Was able to navigate v easily using buses and it even told me where to get off the bus. Just type in where you want to go and it gives you all the transport options plus costs.

I'm not exactly a bumpkin but was a bit intimidated by doing public transport with a small baby but it was fine

First couple of times I was like you OP, but I soon got the handle of it. It helps once you know where the tall landmarks are in relation to one another - they serve as good reference points.

I go regularly now for work and have had the luxury of a spare couple of hours here and there to just walk around - it's by doing that you realise that (for example) it's a bit bonkers to get the Tube from Waterloo to Covent Garden (or indeed the Barbican). Tube stations are a bit of a safety net as well though - I know that in central London if I really do get lost, I won't ever be too far away from a magic portal that will eventually deliver me to Paddington and the train home

My biggest problem was not wanting to look provincial (I couldn't give a stuff these days) so I'd stride purposefully trying to look like I knew where I was going and get horribly lost in the process

There are some good apps for navigating your way around - I'd also recommend playing with Google maps at home.

Oh lord yes of course it's Christmas. Not that it's ever quiet in the daytime in London but some periods are more hectic than others

I think what threw me yesterday was that it was indeed very very busy. Also the circle line from Victoria to Barbican was severely delayed so I was advised to go a different route and ended up at Liverpool street. Time was ticking and I was panicking I was going to miss the concert. It was there that I found the signposts confusing and all the people I asked seemed to not be sure where it was or gave me directions but I was probably a bit frazzled so wasn't able to think properly. It took me AGES to find it and then when the concert (London Symphony Orchestra with Evgeny Kissin) ended, I was then worried about how the hell I was getting back and was angsty about catching my bus back home from the coach station. I did manage it all though. It wasn't my first time to London on my own and to be fair I've never been lost before.

The business of Christmas is compounded by the fact that most of the people you could ask are as lost as you are. The ones who know where they're going aren't the ones you can stop - they're striding too purposefully (although of course they might just be pretending, like I used to do )

It can be difficult if you're not used to it. However there is always a tube station nearby and infant sometimes it's quicker to walk!

The escalators are fine as long as you stand on the right!

*infant? Infact.

London can be daunting. We went last week and was nervous before going, but it was okay. I don't like the tubes much either, and would rather avoid them. Next time, you'll be more confident as you know what to expect,