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Original poster

Going to London tomorrow - what to do :(

453 replies

pinkunicornsarefluffy · 15/09/2017 11:52

Posting here for traffic, I am going to London tomorrow, train from here to Paddington, then Euston, then Watford Junction.

Having just seen the news about the bomb, I am now terrified. I rarely go to London and this is so scary. There will be 3 adults and 3 children aged 9, 10 and 13.

If we don't go, we lose £600, but what price your life or your kids life?

We are still thinking of going and doing bus or taxi from Paddington.

Has anyone got any advice on transport ?

What would you do?

OP posts:
Merrylegs · 15/09/2017 15:20

Why head back into London? Get the Bakerloo up to Harrow and Wealdstone and the train to Watford Jct from there?
(Also nearer to HP if you do feel like a taxi)

Getout21 · 15/09/2017 15:21

Pop Happy to set up a Justgiving page ;)

all eek, I feel very inappropriate now.

Kazami · 15/09/2017 15:23

I once saw a man on the tube with a strange living thing in a large carry bag. He kept speaking to this thing (like calming it down) and I could hear it making funny noises. I looked around for policeman on tube and there was none. To this day I hate myself for not having reported it.
It could've have been cruelty to an animal or something else- maybe a child. Shock

NameChangr678 · 15/09/2017 15:34

You do need to get a grip - otherwise you may as well never step outside of your house, what with all the thunderstrikes, car crashes and axe murderers.

PoppyPopcorn · 15/09/2017 15:36

Also to be honest, I think you need a new "friend" as her totally unnecessary drama stance of refusing to get the underground is fuelling anxiety.

PlainOldJosephineMary · 15/09/2017 15:38

paxillan nailed it up thread. This isn't about you. Just go and have fun.

mishfish · 15/09/2017 15:41

Security will probably be tighter than usual tomorrow so please don't panic.

missymousey · 15/09/2017 15:46

Oops, I hadn't seen the news. Clicked thinking I was going to read some top tips for days out with the kids Confused.

Personally I'm looking forward to the Scythians exhibition at the British Museum on my next visit Grin.

SadTrombone · 15/09/2017 15:50

I just crossed central London. Barring noticeable increase in police presence it felt just as it always does (ie packed and irritating!)

Cackleberry4 · 15/09/2017 15:53

You over thinking this not-much-of-a-situation
I am not trivialising what occurred today but you need to calm down. And go about your life

Youcanstayundermyumbrella · 15/09/2017 15:54

Harriet, I know the Bakerloo is above ground at Harrow. I've lived in Harrow and Watford (aren't I lucky?!). But if someone who doesn't live in London, knows little about it, and is set against the Underground in general, it seems a lot for the OP to convince them about above ground running when they are apparently so scared that they don't even want to get the mainline to Watford. It just gets complicated.

Maryof1993 · 15/09/2017 16:04

Makes me laugh about people going on about using overground or Underground which is above ground. You do realise that the bomb this morning was on a section of line that is above ground?

Youcanstayundermyumbrella · 15/09/2017 16:10

Someone who lives in the rural SW probably doesn't know that/is too irrationally worried to process it.

Original poster
pinkunicornsarefluffy · 15/09/2017 16:17

youcanstay yes, I have no idea what is tube and what isn't. The papers reported the incident earlier as being on a tube, so you think "underground", although the photos were clearly not underground.

I have been to London around 5 times in 45 years, quite often on a coach trip with no transport worries, the last time being well over 10 years ago, when we caught a bus from Oxford and we didn't use a tube. It is so totally alien to me using any form of public transport.

At the moment, I now just feel like I just want to get from A to B in the quickest format, which was our original plan. Grin

OP posts:
Maryof1993 · 15/09/2017 16:21

If you want to be pedantic, it didn't even happen on part of the tube. It was the District Line, which uses bigger trains as they don't go in deep tunnels

itshappening · 15/09/2017 16:21

I think many of us understand OP. I am also on meds for anxiety and I am sure I often say things that could offend but it isn't meant that way at all, it is the fear and anxiety talking.

You know what, I think tomorrow is going to be a great day for you. Every bit of anxiety you do feel will be that much more satisfaction you'll feel at the end of the day knowing that you did it and you didn't let your anxiety win. You can put on a confident, calm front for the children. You can be reassured that so many of us of here have said we would do the same. Come back and tell us how you got on!

singingpinkmonkey · 15/09/2017 16:22

I think people are being a bit hard on you OP.

Anxiety is a horrible thing to deal with. That being said, you should definitely still go and have a good time.

Smile
SinglePringle · 15/09/2017 16:31

OP I do your journey loads.

Best Route (if Mainline Euston to Watford Junction running)

Tube / Cab Paddington to Euston.
Head to (probably but check the board on main concorse) platforms 8-11.
You want the FAST TRAIN that will be going further than Watford Junction (Milton Keynes / Birmingham / various other final destinations).
Watford will probably be the 2nd stop after Harrow & Wealdstone (very occasionally, the train stops at Wembley before Harrow and sometimes Bushey after Harrow / before Watford).
This train takes approximately 18-25 mins depending on stops mentioned above.
Get off Watford Junction, turn left out of main entrance and you'll see the HP stewards to the left at the front of the bus stops.

If fast Euston - Watford not running, then you need the London Overground (always platforms 8-11).

This train stops at eleventy million places but Watford Junction is the final stop (NOTE: not Watford High St!! This is the penultimate stop. Don't get off here if on the London Overground!).
This train takes approx 50mins.
Exit exactly the same as above.

Next choice
Circle, Hammersmith and City, Metropolitan line Tube from Paddington to Baker St. Change on to Metropolitan line to Watford Metropolitan Statio (you may need to change at Harrow - same line but there are branch lines so check final destination on front of train).
There is a cab office to right of station.
Get cab to hotel (probably around £6).
Most of Met Line to Watford is above ground (but starts off underground for around 5 stops from Baker St).

Or get cab from Paddington to Baker Street and then continue on Met line as above.

There are always staff at the barriers at the entrance to the platforms. They'll direct you to the best train from Euston.

Paddington68 · 15/09/2017 16:32

We can get from Paddington to Watford on the tube, no trains between Watford and Euston due to a fire currently, but could be fixed by tomorrow.
Come to the most beautiful city in the world. We are all still here.
Watford is ok too, or are you off to see Mr Potter?

MrLovebucket · 15/09/2017 16:34

While I'm very pleased that so many people living/working in London aren't phased by this, I hope it doesn't creep over into being blasé. Perhaps a bit more vigilance would have resulted in this device being spotted before it detonated.

Too many London travellers go on autopilot, bury their faces in papers or close their eyes and clamp on some headphones. That might explain why nobody noticed a bag being abandoned by one of their fellow passengers. A bit more awareness of our surroundings might be a good thing in this day and age.

MrLovebucket · 15/09/2017 16:37

@Kazami

Shock reading that has proper creeped me out!

Hopefully he was just a ventriloquist practicing his latest act

mydogisthebest · 15/09/2017 16:40

I can understand the OP being anxious about travelling in London if they are not used to doing so. I can't really understand being anxious because of a terrorist attack.

As many others have said, the chances of being killed or injured by a car is far higher. Even if we all sat in our houses too scared to go anywhere we could die by choking on food, falling down the stairs, a car crashing into the house etc.

Me and DH are going to London tomorrow and Sunday for the Open House weekend. It never crossed our minds to cancel our plans

AccrualIntentions · 15/09/2017 16:40

If you want to put it in terms of 'what cost your kids lives' - what would you do for your children's freedom? Freedom to catch trains and buses, clothed how they wish, to visit what they wish and read the books as they wish.

^This

And it must be really tough suffering from anxiety but your children will be missing out on so much if you don't feel able to take them to cities and sights.

plantsitter · 15/09/2017 16:40

I think most Londoners are pretty vigilant. A bit more not being a terrorist would really have stopped it wouldn't it.

IndependentMum · 15/09/2017 16:41

I don't think OP is being over dramatic, I think it's normal to feel apprehension after today's events. I agree with other posters though to still go, but be vigilant as ever, we can't let these people control us and also like many have said it's probably going to be safer too. I'm off to London next weekend and fully intend to enjoy it. Hope you have a good time pinkunicorn!