To be scared of London Living?

[Teaandbiscuits35]

I’ve lived in London my entire life (bar a few years studying), I’m nearing 40 and have a good husband and healthy, happy kids. I’m pretty settled in life and the happiest I’ve been in years. But I’m scared all the time. Crime rate is ridiculously high here and there is no police presence. I’m scared when I go out and I’m scared when I’m at home. I’m on edge all the time and although I’m trying not to show it in front of DC it’s exhausting. My neighbours change frequently and are often loud and aggressive. Financially, I have no chance of moving for at least another five years. AIBU to be so scared or do I just need to accept that this is my life for the time being?

Some bonkers things are happening. Like the hideous murder at 6.30 on Upper Street. Kids were there. How will they ever get over seeing that?

But having said that, I'm not bothered personally. I don't worry about it. I just have the permanent London thing of being careful with my belongings, watching out for crazy fuckers on mopeds when I'm crossing. And inwardly cursing the bits of London I do really hate, like exhaust fumes shooting into my mouth, or grown men pissing in the street, when I see them.

But your anxiety sounds really really high, OP. Maybe because you feel you can't move now? That's tricky.

Where are the nice non - smelly bits of London? 😀

I didn't move far really. 2.5 miles away, same zone in London.

Where is this place near the North circular that's shitsville? Barnet!? Muswell Hill?!

I'm trying to move in North London. Don't let me go to Shitsville!

I assumed Tottenham Fridaygap.

Ah, yeah, fair enough. Not going to move to Tottenham. Wood Green makes me come out in hives.

But what if I’m that random one?

But what if you move to the sticks and are that random person who is run over by a tractor? You can’t live your life on what ifs

Possibly sound like the letting agent in Sex in the City here but if you’re lucky enough to have a social housing property in London, I recommend you stay there!

Wood Green has a shop called Awesome Chips. It’s a Dutch chain and the chips are indeed awesome. I live in a posh bit of N London that is a short bus ride from Wood Green and it is a very useful place when you need actual stuff as opposed to JoJo Maman Bebe outfits, vegan lunches and frapuccinos.

I notice the thing too about the weather, it seems to bring on crime or drinking, dodgy behaviour. I live in a city which has mixed parts...near me. I also noticed it with the beast from the east as well...

Those chips sound bloody lovely. But I am permanently traumatised by pounding (or, rather, attempting to slide across) Wood Green Shopping City's shiny floors as a child. I can not go back.

I can hear the piss poor 80s r'n'b now.

Friday. I read that Hermione Norris (the posh blonde one from Cold Feet) once did a stint selling double glazing from a stand in a Wood Green shopping centre when she was a struggling young actress. Can you imagine?

Mine wasn't an area of North London that had a bad reputation. It was considered a nice/family oriented area. It just got bad quickly

Oh we're way further out than Tottenham
Isn't that Zone 2?

We are more like 5/6. People who aren't local still think it's nice. 15 years ago, yes, okay. Now just the same gang shit and mugging S as everywhere else.

Just because the OP herself is unlikely to be murdered it doesn't mean she's immune to the shitty atmosphere of violence and misery..

I moved to the country from SE London about 18 months ago and haven't looked back - it honestly felt like being on holiday for the first year..

Yes, I've heard that from other people, that it's like a holiday when you move right out. I can understand that. Much as I think I'm used to it, my shoulders tense up whenever we return from holiday, due to that London rush, harassed thing.

Genuinely can’t believe that you have lived in London for almost 40 years and think this way? Surely you’d realise that these events are still fairly rare (and higher than other cities due to the size of London) and you yourself aren’t at much risk vs other demographics?

I mean I could understand if you’re worried about your children being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The neighbour issue is very annoying though. Bad neighbours can definitely ruin your home life.

I guess it depends on your area though. I live in west London and I’m quite happy here.

Did a pp say that the crime rate is higher in Yorkshire than it is in London? Could you link to that statistic please? Not disbelieving, just very surprised.