To be in two minds about going to London this Friday.

[katedan]

I have never been one to bow to the terrorists and change my plans, was in London the day after 7/7 but we have booked to go to winter wonderland with the kids this Friday and since the horrible events in Berlin I am feeling very nervous about it and wonder if I am being irresponsible to be taking the kids to London at such a high threat time. AIBU?

YABU and irrational and are the definition of someone who bows to terrorism

YRBU. London in the 70s. Now THAT was scary!

YABU - people live in London ya kna. With children and jobs and everything. And Winter Wonderland is overpriced hell. Good luck trying to get home too... I'm a daily London commuter and I've yet to get on a train that isn't late, cancelled or broken at the moment.

DD and I went to Oxford Street last year on the 23rd , it was really quiet.

Winter Wonderland OTOH, is rubbish.
We've been 3 times, most recent time was 3-4 years ago, it was mad busy, muddy, loads of buggies to trip you up.
Queues were horrendous (they went on 3 rides but 99% of the time was queues) and its £££.

But, I travelled in London every day for work after the Canary Wharf bomb in 1997 (IIRC).
You just get on with it.

Yeah I agree with all the Londoners ( I'm also one ) who say don't do it for your sanity alone! Sod terrorism here the travel alone will be horrendous. To put in perspective many years ago when we first moved here we got a bus home which included going past Hyde park.... The journey would have usually taken 40 mins. I stopped looking at the clock after TWO HOURS. This was the week before Christmas.

Dont do it!!!

I'm bringing DD into work with me on Friday. She loves coming in and they will have a Father Christmas etc. I've no intention of cancelling, I see no need to worry and panic her. We live and I work in London, we simply cannot live our lives worrying about it or we would never leave the house.
The security generally (at stations etc) and especially at events like WW are high. I understand your apprehension but you will be absolutely fine.

We went on Monday morning. We live the other end of the central line so it was a straightforward journey. It was me and 3dc under 8. I carried the 3yr old in a sling so I had 2 free hands on the escalators etc (and so I knew I could move quickly if necessary) I took normal precautions like taking a photo of each dc on my phone (for id purposes) and wrote my mobile number on their arms in case we got separated.

We arrived at 10:20am and walked straight in. I didn't have a bag so got waved through, but other people were waiting about 30 seconds. It was a good atmosphere.

They went on rides until the circus started. We had pre booked tickets. When we came out of the circus at about half 1 it was much busier. There were queues as we left. We had something to eat and were on the tube back at half 2. We got seats and it was fine. The dc enjoyed it.

I've rambled a bit, sorry. I cancelled a trip to Disneyland after the Paris attacks so I understand being scared. But I regret doing that. Life has to go on.

I'm a Londoner. And wouldn't take my kids to central London over Christmas. Too busy and.......winter wonderland is naff.

Yanbu because winter wonderland is an overpriced hellhole. HTH.

YANBU, you doing something you now realise you won't enjoy doesn't mean that the terrorists "don't win" - FFS

It's an expensive day out, if you're not going to enjoy it, make a plan B that you will all enjoy somewhere nearer to home!

YANBU.

IMO it's never unreasonable to feel this way, its actually quite sensible to be so aware.

I think I would go, but just be very aware of your surroundings

Not because of terrorism but bear in mind that as well as everyone not working doing panicky last minute Xmas shopping it is also Mad Friday when most office workers etc pack up for Xmas. Can be a bit lairy as many people spend most of the day in the pub. Tomorrow would be better if you can change.

Same decision we oldsters made at the height of the IRA violence - don't let the terrorists win

I'm taking my DD to WW on Friday and am not worried about terrorists.

I'm more worried that it'll be crap now! Although we have Nutcracker tickets and are both looking forward to seeing the show.

We live in Outet London, tho and obviously travel into the centre a lot.

On the train back from a work trip to London as I type - idk where winter wonderland is but have today been south bank, Soho, borough etc - everywhere v busy but in fact terrorism didn't even cross my mind until I read this... You'll be fine.

I wouldn't go to London. Have you considered Skeggy? Quiet and safe.

YANBU, you doing something you now realise you won't enjoy doesn't mean that the terrorists "don't win" - FFS
I doubt terrorists give a shit if OP goes to winter wonderland or not. But not doing something you want to do because there is a minuscule risk of being killed by a terrorist is ridiculous.

Monday was surprisingly quiet on Monday in London.

Would I go on Friday?
No. not because of terrorism but because it's shit at WW. The 10 year old begged me not to go back. Much better time at Gullivers.
Unlike Monday traffic and queues will be horrendous. Schools will have definitely broke up by then and lots of Londoners will be trying to fit everything in over the next three days.
Plus of course tourists that are coming to add to the mayhem.

YABU

I am avoiding any busy areas now until after new year. Not because of the threat of terrorism but because I cannot be doing with the crowds.

Any busy area at any time of year is a possible target, it's difficult to avoid places because of that threat. It's not unreasonable to be concerned but it's not practical most of the time to avoid crowded areas (unless you live in a rural area and never go in to cities etc).

Not reassuring but truthful: avoiding capital cities will not keep you safe from terrorism. If they were that predictable it would be easier to clamp down on.

Yanbu for being anxious . I'm just as bad and had to get counselling for it earlier this year. But I believe that our security services are on the ball and major events are safe. I still get scared but suck it up and go.

Agree with everyone - I wouldn't change my plans because of the attack; but I wouldn't even contemplate Winter Wonderland on Friday. It was bad enough in November.

But not doing something you want to do because there is a minuscule risk of being killed by a terrorist is ridiculous

She doesn't sound like she still wants to do it

What would be ridiculous is spending loads of money on a day she's not going to enjoy.. just because MN tell her she has to "not let terrorists win". That's just stupid. If the OP is going to be nervous all day, even if she tries to hide it it'll rub off on the kids and it will not be worth the time and money, and a much nicer day could have been had somewhere where the OP is relaxed.

I don't personally think the risk of terrorism is a reason to not go, but the OP is not going to enjoy it ergo i'll be a waste of money, ergo don't go!