To think we should avoid London right now?

[StayorgoLDN]

Due to visit London in the next few weeks.

Anxious with Palestinian protests and so forth in the news. I don’t want to be near that with young children, and worried that it may escalate to some sort of attack.

We are not Jews, but presuming as the U.K. is supporting Israel that we’ll all be fair game ie there might be an attack/bomb somewhere prominent to send a message to gov.

Have been in London during terrorist attacks before and I’d rather avoid.

AIBU to consider rescheduling our family trip to next year?

Is no one allowed to feel stressed, unless they are in an actual war zone?

I don’t think so which means most of MNs is redundant..

I would not visit London or another major city with DC today or this Saturday, due to the calls from the former Hamas leader and planned protests. I would go for work and not think of it.

@user1497207191

I agree with this is was a mess and totally chaotic.

My kids couldn’t deal with something like this at all.

We managed to cope because are from Belfast originally. We realised there were bombings before it was announced what the disruption was and went and booked a hotel in Gatwick immediately. 15 mins later everyone was screaming, running about, crying and queuing up to get accom, couldn’t get or the hoteliers had tripled prices…

Went into central a day or so later, found a London cabbie who was ex army and stuck with him for the duration of our trip - he was an absolute diamond of a man. Various things were closed off, sheets up around the buses etc. very distressing.

@duchiebun will you wind yer neck in with “oh I have Irish relatives so know everything”…. No you don’t, you didn’t live through it personally.

It is not just bombings or physical attacks, it is psychological terror and distress, panic and disruption. There are many more victims than those who actually die in these sorts of events.

My kids are autistic, and it would be very difficult for them to cope with chaotic protests or any sort of terror attack - even if they were not directly involved, due to disruption/potential changes of plan.

Of course they are. Where did I say that a Jewish poster living in London isn’t allowed to feel stressed?
But let’s get things into perspective.

I worked in the Civil Service, mostly in London, from 1979 until 2013. During that time Irish Nationalists and later Islamic Extremists were doing their stuff.

In the early days, at least until the mid eighties, there were colleagues who'd lived through the Blitz and V1/V2 raids. Many others had seen active service either in WW2 or subsequent conflicts via National Service.

If they lived with the risks you can too was the general message.

@duchiebun will you wind yer neck in with “oh I have Irish relatives so know everything”…. No you don’t, you didn’t live through it personally.

I have family who lived through it so I think is pretty personal & I think it’s ridiculous to compare my experience growing up in London at that time to many in Belfast. You can think otherwise of course but why do you think it was similar?

It is not just bombings or physical attacks, it is psychological terror and distress, panic and disruption. There are many more victims than those who actually die in these sorts of events

I was commuting in London during 7/7 & my father lost colleagues due to Lockerbie & 9/11 so yes I’m fully aware of this.

I used to regularly drink in the Sussex at that time and before the blast. Maybe a close shave but never concerned me. Lots of other threats.
Agree with general tone of thread - London's a big big place/lots of folk, chances of being injured in something tiny tiny. I also wouldn't change accommodation plans - just as much chance of moving into trouble.
I have experience of foreign imminent visitors seriously talking of cancelling their trip because of a single incident. Bonkers in my view.
In short relax OP.
Or stay in bed.

@user1497207191 My parter worked for TfL at the time - it was chaos and understandably transport staff were focussing on keeping the network safe and trying to understand if there were more attacks imminent. Decisions about running transport in and out of London were being made rapidly and so not everyone on the ground would be kept up to date constantly. To be brutal it was a major incident - you weren't injured or trapped so would not be an immediate priority.

On the other side of things we had colleagues who were at a conference in Yorkshire - they got stuck too as there were no trains back to London so they had to sleep on the floor of the conference venue and get a series of trains back to London the next day as no one knew what was going on.

@StayorgoLDN Ive also not said once your feelings are irrational or that you should ignore them.

I'd avoid today. Hamas has declared it is a "day of rage". Obviously no one knows what will happen over the next few days/weeks but I imagine today will be the worst

My parter worked for TfL at the time - it was chaos and understandably transport staff were focussing on keeping the network safe and trying to understand if there were more attacks imminent. Decisions about running transport in and out of London were being made rapidly and so not everyone on the ground would be kept up to date constantly. To be brutal it was a major incident - you weren't injured or trapped so would not be an immediate prioirty.

Also the mobile phone network went down in many parts which added to lots of the confusion. I remember not being able to contact friends and family until the afternoon.

@GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing

…….. where exactly are you suggesting we take children under 10?

They want to go to the London Eye, the museums, the palace, Hamleys, the theatre, they want the bus tour, all the other prominent touristy things that they read about and see on tv.

That is what they have been looking forward to.

My whole reason for starting the thread is we were predominantly meant to be based around where the protest at Kensington High St was.

Well, I live in London, so can't really avoid it!

I haven't changed any of my behaviour/activities. However, I don't have any ethnic/religious link to what's going on, and I would understand if people who did felt uncomfortable.

London will always be here. If you're not feeling it, come another time. It's not much of a fun day out if you're feeling on edge for all of it.

London is always on high alert for terrorism it makes no difference when you go.

I mean - we live in London and central London !
there is always some sort of thing going on and rarely does any sort of attack happen.
tbh it’s probably the safest time to go because the presence of security measures would be top form.
if there was to be a terrorist attack would or likely be London …. Yes 9 times out of 10 it would be BUT that risk has always been around for many years and the risk is actually minimal.

Totally bonkers to be changing plans to visit London due to recent events in Israel.

I remember the IRA campaigns of the 70s and 80s, we didn’t let that affect our lives.

@LumiB

By what I’m reading it’s looking like 1000s of Palestinians are going to die between now and then from slaughter or starvation.

That could escalate things.

I wanted to know how things stand now as a means to gauge what they may be like in two wks time post imminent escalation.

And I am asking now as opposed to the day before we go as I have yet to book tickets for xyz and still have free cancellation on accom.

Any person with a British passport is as British as I am and deserves all British freedoms, rights, responsibilities and protection.

@StayorgoLDN There may not be trouble where you will be heading but just the stress of worrying about it and that "forward planning" for all the travel chaos in your mind will spoil it for you. London will always be there to visit later. As you have the option to cancel without financial penalty I'd do it. Your DC might be disappointed but at least you will all be safe.

Sorry. My post above was for @BlurredEdges

@StayorgoLDN - staying away from protest areas is sensible with young kids who might be frightened. How old are the kids? Basing in West London would let you go to the museums (science, natural history), Westfield for Lego and other shops plus something like Kidzania, a trip to Kew Gardens / Richmond Park and a boat up the Thames to Hampton Court Palace etc. Loads to do, very far from central London protests. Or if older you could plan more in north London; Camden market and trip a on canal boat, London Zoo, Madame Tussauds, Harry Potter experience, Hampstead Heath walk with the views etc.

Interesting to read so many differing interpretations of, and responses to, risk.

And expectations of what "should" happen in an mass terrorist attack.

I live in a borough with a large Jewish and Muslim population. I am aware there have been some reports of graffiti but beyond that there has been no trouble. I am sure there will be protests in central London but when are there not protests....

in central london theres always a protest or rally of some sort-i do get its different atm but id still carry on if you have things booked

@RudsyFarmer

Yes that’s exactly it really, I think we are unlikely to get killed or injured. But if there are mega protests, violence or attacks this has a spiralling effect in the city, as I previously experienced.

The kids can’t deal with a lot of noise or commotion, are easily distressed, and there is a communication issue in that we have to repeat things multiple times for understanding/sometimes they can’t find words.

It is difficult at the best of times. The trip has been well thought out, however I don’t want to be bringing them somewhere if there is potentially going to be unrest.

Will be speaking to DH tonight and making a decision as to postpone or adapt plans.

Thank you to all for your help.

Especially the person who suggested Gloucester rd rather than Kensington High st station.

And for the reassurance that issues are primarily based around the Israeli embassy and haven’t spread further.