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AIBU?

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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:
SunSeptember · 15/09/2017 13:17

Yes but if your doing it every single day its more normal for you!

I get a bit anxious If I have not flown and been to airport for a few year, not terror threat but just - where do I go what do I do....minor fear about flying....but if I go again in the year it doesn't cross my mind,. I used to go into London daily pre ISIS terror shite and never thought about it - a few years ago I had to go to hospital appt and I had not been on tube for years and I must have looked so lost I had people coming up to me asking if I was OK Grin.

I suppose its like people used to going into a field of cows/bulls as they are famers they are not going to be as wary or scared as the townie who has not been in a field with a heard.

Ummmmgogo · 15/09/2017 13:18

sunseptember aren't you going to apologise for the offensive comment you made earlier on the thread???

expatinscotland · 15/09/2017 13:19

What to do? Erm, go. Hmm

JonSnowsWife · 15/09/2017 13:20

You'll be fine. I have so many family members that live and work in London. I also have friends that live on the outskirts of London and travel into work daily. Yes it's scary but if they all stopped doing what they were doing they'd have lost their jobs months ago.

It'll be guarded to the hilt tomorrow with armed police doe the next week or so. If anything, it's probably the safest time to go. Yes the terrorist is still on the run but it won't take them long to find him/her/them.

SusanTheGentle · 15/09/2017 13:21

My friend is now leaning towards getting a taxi from Paddington to Watford Junction. We are in a hotel there.

That's going to cost you an absolute ton and it'll be slower than the trains, presuming the trains are running.

If you don't want to get a tube at all, get a bus to Euston and you'll see some lovely sights as well.

But seriously, don't let your anxiety mess up your day out: the reasonable option here is to just go and enjoy yourself. Also HP World is BRILLIANT.

wowfudge · 15/09/2017 13:21

Just go as planned. I'd be more concerned that Euston is actual open again - should be at some point this afternoon. You've more chance of being run over by a bus in your home town than injured in a terrorist incident. If you don't go, you are letting these criminals win.

Original poster
pinkunicornsarefluffy · 15/09/2017 13:21

We only have tickets to Paddington, so need to sort travel after that, and on a thread on here, was advised to travel to Euston Square, then walk to Euston mainline , then to Watford Junction on a London Midland tube.

I have tried reading about the closure, but am just very confused and don't know what line is closed now, or what line we need, and how to get around it. I will have to let my friend sort it out I think.

The only HP tour we could get was 6.30pm and we get in at 1.30pm, so have plenty of time to get from Paddington to Watford J.

Yes taxi is looking to be expensive, quotes between £80-£120 and presumable the same again the next day! to get back again!, however I will have to go along with whatever my friend wants to do now.

OP posts:
plantsitter · 15/09/2017 13:21

Well, hmph to all you with your dreamy commutes. I don't do it any more but mine was a sweat-pit of horror.

Anyway my point was only not to be so flipping mean to the OP, telling someone they're being pathetic seldom helps them achieve their aim, as we all know as we're such good parents...

JonSnowsWife · 15/09/2017 13:21

*for the next week or so.

CamperVamp · 15/09/2017 13:22

OP - the Studio have allowed for travel disruption caused by the fire.

See here: www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/getting-here

They advise taking the Metropolitan Line to Watford, and they are running the fabulous Harry Potter shuttle bus from there. Check again tomorrow and see if it is the same, or if the line form Euston is open again.

The Metropolitan line runs on the surface, not in tunnels.

You might want to get a taxi form Paddington to Euston, but definitely do not get a cab from Paddington to Harry Potter Studios - you will, as others said, spend all day sitting in traffic and pay an absolute fortune.

Tell the other members of your group to look at the HP website for updated travel info, and proceed as best.

All will be well. Smile

Ummmmgogo · 15/09/2017 13:22

your post is so illogical it's making my head hurt!

spidey66 · 15/09/2017 13:23

SellFridges did you get your name from a fridge shop in Stoke Newington, not a department store in Oxford St? I don't think it's there any more (the Stoke Newington fridge shop, not the department store, that's still there AFAIK!)
Wink
And from that snippet of info....yes I'm a Londoner. Yes I use public transport every day. No it doesn't stop me going to work etc.
If I'm honest, I feel a bit like the pp who felt a tad insulted that the life of us Londoners going about our daily life each day is worth less than someone coming in to see a Harry Potter exhibition (or whatever it was.) Sorry, but that was my gut reaction.

pinkingshears · 15/09/2017 13:23

pink you are not hysterical and certainly not ridiculous.
Any more than I was the night before, in tears, wondering if I could 'do' it. Anxiety IS irrational, that's why it's such a bitch
And I totally get what you are saying about 'changing plans' adding hugely to any stress. I had it mapped out, literally step by step, and if a train or tube line had 'gone down' i would have found that very stressful.
But you are just as safe tomorrow as yesterday, more so in fact.
Just keep that as your quiet mantra.

Getout21 · 15/09/2017 13:24

I personally think it's fine to be nervous but really you are so much safer after an incident. Everyone will be on high alert so try & enjoy.

sonsmum · 15/09/2017 13:25

Go, you have to live your life. Anything can happen any time. The % of people affected by these incidents is very low. Changes are your journey will be nicer than normal as many neurotic people will stay away. Just be vigilent, which is applicable to all wherever you live.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 15/09/2017 13:25

London Midland tube.

The line from Euston to Watford on London Midland isn't a tube it's a 'normal' over ground train very slow though and stops at nearly all stops going that ends up in the Midlands.

bookwormsforever · 15/09/2017 13:26

OP, Euston has reopened, so you should be OK for tomorrow!

Maryof1993 · 15/09/2017 13:27

What would you do?
Stay at home, lose the £600, lock the door, switch off the electricity, gas and water to prevent the likey cause of death from electric shock, carbon monoxide poisoning or drowning. Then I'd wrap myself up in cotton wool and hope I don't starve to death from not eating

Original poster
pinkunicornsarefluffy · 15/09/2017 13:27

campervamp thanks for that info it is very helpful. So a surface train from Euston to Watford and then they will run the shuttle buses to there too.

I need to talk all of this over with my friend so we can decide what to do, but I agree the cost of taxi's will be extortionate.

OP posts:
SusanTheGentle · 15/09/2017 13:27

There's a great app called CityMapper, OP, download that and it will tell you exactly how to get to anywhere in London and takes account of closures, etc.

But seriously, don't get a cab, it's just throwing money away - you'll have a far nicer time and a quicker journey using public transport.

shoeaddict83 · 15/09/2017 13:27

oops retract my comment i thought you were talking about the stage play in central London not the studios outside of London!

Both are fab, although stage is well worth seeing.
Enjoy your day at the tour, its great fun but agree with avoiding the butterbeer - rank!

Youcanstayundermyumbrella · 15/09/2017 13:27

OP, I get that you are subject to the decisions of others, but the Met line to Watford from Euston would be SO straightforward. It's above ground, it takes under an hour, and would cost so much less. Can you try to persuade them? I wouldn't normally say this but could you show them this thread?

Alternatively, did you look at alternative routes? Without being outing, could you give us an idea of your region or originating station? I bet someone might be able to suggest a different route.

Original poster
pinkunicornsarefluffy · 15/09/2017 13:29

piglet thanks for that info, I wrote everything down and that was the train that somebody suggested as it was the quicker one, so must have got mixed up, but presumably that is now the train we need if want to avoid the tube.

bookworms thanks, was getting very confused on the notice, as not sure which trains it was referring to.

OP posts:
Maryof1993 · 15/09/2017 13:29

The line from Euston to Watford on London Midland isn't a tube it's a 'normal' over ground train
It isn't the 'normal' Overground either, which is part of London Transport. London Midland is part of National Rail.

megletthesecond · 15/09/2017 13:29

pink I get as scared as you Flowers.

You will be fine, the chances of anything happening are vanishingly small.

Fwiw I'm going into central London just before Xmas and I'm worried now. I'll go, but I won't use the tube.