Going to London tomorrow - what to do :(

[pinkunicornsarefluffy]

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?

If your anxiety is bad then don't go.
But don't pretend it's about what happened thismorning.

Can the other adults take your children so they don't have to miss out?

Is there another route fro where you are to Watford Junction that isn't via Paddington?

The reaction to stay away from places where terrorist attacks have occurred is very knee jerk.

Look at the big picture - the murder rate in Orlando is 7.5 times higher than that in London (sorry to be depressive, the stats were easiest to find). If we stop going to London, surely we should stop going there too? Violent crime in many of the popular holiday resorts is higher than in London and families don't think twice about visiting them. Yes, the attacks are shocking, but don't let the high profile nature stop you from enjoying your plans.

Go and try to relax.

Please, just go as normal. There will be some residual disruption on the tube, but other than that do try to enjoy it.

A lot of London can be walked to if you don't want to use the tube. There is a good website called walkit that will plot routes for you.

I've a close family member up there today as they are every day. I sent a message to check that their colleagues were ok, other than that I'm keeping half an eye out for any breaking news and they will finish their day as normal.

I posted up-thread to say that the man East Coast line (Euston to Watford) is closed all day today between Euston and Milton Keynes due to a fire in Harrow.

You'll need to check to see if it's reopened before you travel.

See www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/sep/15/trains-london-euston-milton-keynes-cancelled-huge-fire-in-harrow - they're having to rebuild a wall by the train track, expected to take all day.

Check www.londonmidland.com/travel-information/live-information/service-disruption for updates.

I'd also check Trainline and see if there's any alternative route to get to Watford.

the number of people killed in terrorist attacks in the UK in the last decade pale into a very small number compared with those killed during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s and even 1990s.

Not to mention the 1940s!

Train from Euston to Watford Junction must be much quicker than a taxi, surely? If you get a taxi, be prepared to spend a lot of time sitting in traffic.

Actually, now I'm looking at a map, surely you don't need to go to Euston at all? You could take the Bakerloo Line from Paddington and switch to the London Overground en route.

Sitting in London now - get a grip!

I just saw the Harry Potter bit. I hope you do go and I hope you have a lovely day.

i would chck the euston line as there was a fire this morning an its shut down for repairs

also th point about the buses-if you have a travelcard thats fine if not u need to use contactless cards individually on the bus they dont take cash

tubes still do

bookworms is right about the fire. It's a bloody pain in the arse.

I understand your fear but you really are safest straight after one just happened as there will be far more security,
We had to fly on September 13th 2001 (the airspace was closed on the 12th) and I was really nervous but it was fine. Loads more security which was actually very reassuring.
You aren't silly for feeling nervous and I am sure lots of Londoners feel nervous, just don't let the fear stop you.
Hope you have a great time

Myself and millions of other people live in London. What to do we do? Carry on with what we have to do.

If your anxiety would prohibt your enjoyment then maybe reassess.

It's natural to feel worried after an incident like this. It's too easy to start having catastrophic thoughts such as "what if that had been our train".

The fact is that in the days after these attacks security will be massively increased. People will be much more vigilant so the likelihood of another attack is greatly reduced. In some ways it will be the safest time to travel, even though that seems bizarre.

It's down to you whether you feel confident enough to continue with your plans. There's no right or wrong way to behave, you need to make the choice that's right for you and your family.

No trains from Euston to Milton Keynes today.

You'll be fine. I often find my anxiety about these things is quashed when I see millions of other people just getting on with it.

bookworms thanks for the advice about the line closure. It is stuff like that that totally throws me, because I have everything planned and now it has to change. This is why I am going with friends, so that I am not responsible for everything.

and there was no intention to dripfeed, it didn't even occur to me to mention the anxiety in my original post, as I live with it every day. I mentioned it afterwards to explain why I react differently to things, after some people said that I was being hysterical or ridiculous.

I am currently on a bus, just got off a packed tube. FGS come, you are very welcome. Certain you will be fine.

Get a grip.

I live here and i wont be stopping getting the tube.

how melodramatic do you need to be to even consider cancelling?!?!?!?

This is why these sort of threads get such an irritated response I guess; you are making our daily lives into an optional trip.

Quite.

plantsitter I have a dream of a commute - 45 mins door to door, always get a seat. Usually listen to a podcast whilst planning or unwinding from a busy day. Definitely not stressful, sorry!

...about the line closure. It is stuff like that that totally throws me, because I have everything planned and now it has to change.

pinkunicorns, see my post above re the Bakerloo Line. If you have through tickets from your home station to Watford J., they should be equally valid by that route.

Also, as pp have said, check www.tfl.gov.uk to see if there are any engineering works on your route tomorrow.

That cab will be three figures though, do you realise that ?

Rest of the country: PANIC!

Londoners: Is my train going to be late? No? Moving swiftly along.

You'll be fine.

My dear you and yours will be fine ,just be more aware of your surroundings (as most people are when in a large town or city)Also you will see a lot more police/security personnel on the ground if you have any doubts or think you have seen some thing out of the norm go to them and voice your concerns they will be more than happy to hear what you have to say.But above all enjoy your time out.............

OP i should have said i once posted a thread like this feeling the same, after the london bridge attacks. At the time i was feeling very low and bad and everything, even normal every day life posted a threat or that's what it felt like

I still went. And it was fine. Reassuringly normal. i was glad i did i felt so
proud of myself at the time - seems silly now that i feel so much better - and i genuinely believe it wasn't the start of me getting a grip on my anxiety. There is no cure but there are ways you can try to stay on top of it and actually doing the "scary" thing actually helped me a lot.
However you travel, i hope you go and i hope you have a lovely day.

Once you get to London you really will see that everyone's just carrying on as normal. I hope that will help.

If you do decide to travel by tube, I'd be more concerned about making sure that all your kids know to stand on the right on the escalator!

it *was the start