To consider cancelling London trip?

[Anxiousannie89]

It's DH's birthday this weekend and we had booked a trip to London to celebrate.

With what happened in Manchester, we both felt a little uneasy about going but were resolved to go and "get on with our lives" and enjoy the birthday trip. Now I see that the threat level has been raised to critical meaning a terror attack may be imminent and I'm starting to think the trip may not be a great idea.

I've always had quite high anxiety about terrorism so I can't figure out whether I'm being irrational. I should also point out we would be going with our 2 year old and I worry that I'm potentially putting him at risk. I can't figure out whether cancelling the trip is a sensible move in light of the fact we'd be travelling with our young son and the threat level is critical, or whether I would be acting a bit irrationally? DH is happy to go but equally if I said let's cancel, I don't think he would mind.

What would you do?

It's up to you but just wanted to say don't be afraid.

We live and work in central London with four kids and I refuse to be scared.

I was less than a mile away from the 7/7 bombings when they happened and used to be very anxious about terrorist threats. But I'm past that now.

I'd say carry on with your life...

I would point out too, MN is not a brilliant place to ask. There is a thread knocking about somewhere with a Mum asking if it was safe for her ex to take her DD to Tunisia in June 2015. A lot of people told her to go for it and of course there was an attack. Nobody on here has a crystal ball.

I think the advice from a previous poster - Go with your gut OP and don't let anyone bully you into feeling you are "letting them win" is the best advice.

When the 2005 bombings happened my 2 children, aged 1 & 3, were about to visit London with their father and I refused to let my DC go. Deep down I knew it was unlikely and that they were more likely to be killed in a car crash but I just couldn't take the risk so they didn't go.

My DP's adult kids and their children, DP's grandchildren, were booked to go to Disneyland Paris in 2016 when there was a security alert and again even though I thought it was unlikely I didn't want them to go and luckily the parents made that choice themselves.

Mrs May has said the risk is elevated so to be brutally honest I wouldn't go anywhere near London. If you are not worried about the risk the inconvenience on the transport system is enough to put anyone off. Again, statistically, the risk is probably low, but I wouldn't travel too far from home. I know I am overreacting by the way!

I would say you should go and not let "them" win by living your life as a half life.
In reality I would cheerfully stay in the darkest south west as while I applaud the "keep calm and carry on" British attitude, I have no intention of making my family the flagship for it

Honestly OP, I feel the same. I'm supposed to be taking baby DS to meet my SILnat Westfield next week. I really, really don't want to go. I know it's irrational, but I'd much rather stay in my little rural backwater for the time being. It's not like me to feel like this, but the fact that I'm taking him has really changed my perspective on things.

Rae stay in the rural backwater! SIL can visit DN when things cool down.

I hate threads like this. 9 million of us live here - what do those people saying you should stay away suggest we should do?

Maybe listen to your Prime Minister when she says that a fresh terror attack is feared to be imminent as she raises threat level to critical and orders 5,000 troops onto the streets after attack by British-born Libyan Salman Abedi.

Was that to me, Emerald? There's no doubt it's a terrifying situation, but 9 million of us don't have the option to 'stay away'. I have to go to work, my girls have to go to school.

Of course life must carry on but there's a difference between school/work & a sightseeing/shopping trip.
Do what you feel comfy with OP.
I've got tickets to a big concert at the end of June & still plan to go. However it's just adults no kids so that makes the decision easier.

Yes Shout. It's very easy for me to say because I don't live in London so I can only say that I might avoid public transport. I don't know what I would do to be honest.

I have never been in the situation where the leader of the country I live in tells the population that a fresh terror attack is imminent. I honestly wouldn't have a clue. The only thing I do know is I chose not to travel with my toddlers to London the day after the 2005 atrocities.

I honestly haven't a clue!

if youre not in London, presumably you are somewhere else.

the next terrorist attack might be at your local supermarket- it could be anywhere

I don't really know either, Emerald. I'm going to have to have a frank conversation with my kids about what we are being told is likely to happen in the next few months, and make sure they know what to do if the worst happens and they're caught up in it. And go from there

I don't live in England Araiwa. I think the most likely thing to end my life is a car accident, cancer, heart attack or stroke.

I could be killed by terrorists in my local supermarket but it would be extraordinary and never before seen in my hometown. You are right though it could still happen.

shout that doesn't mean OP should join you

My DH has to work in London and I hate it, does not mean I'll also drag the kids up at the weekend.

I don't think she should - as with any situation, people should only do what they are comfortable with. I was just pointing out that about 1 in 8 people in the UK have no choice in the matter, which is why I don't think avoiding our capital is particularly helpful advice in the long term.

Let alone the people who live in other cities in the UK. Or anywhere, really. People are being radicalised in their bedrooms over the internet, it could happen in any town. I don't say that to scaremonger, just to try and put things in perspective.

Don't stop going to London! I work in london; I get the tube and the bus everyday and you can't let terrorists make you scared .

I think whatthefox said at 01.33 is exactly my approach.

Good luck with what you decide. I would only say that if you do cancel, make sure you have a rockingly fantastic alternative so that you all have a terrific time as a family.

I always think, what's the chance of me being in the exact spot at the exact second there's an explosion? Millions of people in London with hundreds of different tourist attractions and thousands of streets. Over 86,000 seconds in every day. 365 days of a year for terrorists to choose from. So so unlikely to be me as a victim with those reasons. Then when there is an attack hundreds of people nearby actually survive just like they did in Manchester. I will continue to take trips. Terrorists should not control us.

I am one of the 9 million that live here , have lived in London all my life

OP if you would feel uneasy all the visit then do not come to London .

Its easy for Londoners to say "Oh but we carried on" Yes because we LIVE here and/or Work here . OP does not and her worry and fear, to her, is more than justified.

Only you can decide. The risk is small and I suspect London is as safe as anywhere.

I don't really like these calls to keep going as normal because these are horrible times.

That said, I'm also a little fatalistic about these things and also think you go when it's your time. But this only works for me and not my kids.

So it was just me, I would go! But I wouldn't take the kids.

This means I am going to have lots of fights over the summer with DH about where he takes the kids

You're more likely to be killed driving on a motorway than in a terrorist attack.

If you're anxious then consider cancelling it but it's worth putting the risk into perspective.

Plus an attack could happen at any city.

Yabu. 1.5 million of us here in NI survived 30 years of the troubles.
I'm sure you will be fine.
You need to continue as you were, otherwise you would do nothing in life!