Friend giving safety tips for London?

[breezeofqinter]

Maybe I sound horrible but me and a friend are visiting our mutual friend in London tomorrow, she’s lived there for maybe a year.

Shes just text us to give us safety tips. I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve been to London, I even work from the London office occasionally.

I know she means well but aibu to find it a bit patronising?

Sounds like a kind and considerate friend tbh! I wouldn't be bothered by it, unless it's literally "look both ways before crossing a road". Especially if she's warning you about things that have happened recently in her area!

I think it's a kind thing to do.

What were the tips BTW...

What were the tips?

That would annoy me! If she lived in Harare or somewhere then fine but not London if you're a frequent visitor.

Perhaps it is her way of dealing with her own anxiety? Or maybe she just enjoys the feeling of being the big city yoke? I had a friend like this, she would insist on giving me directions and telling me which station and tube to use despite the fact I was born and raised in London.

Just a thumbs up emoji and say thanks, always better to be safe than sorry and change the subject. It is annoying and patronising but people can be weird and not particularly self aware at times!

This, she's just caring about you just send her a smiley or a thank you, she's your friend don't take it to heart.

Even if it is a bit patronising, surely the thought behind it is caring for your well-being, so I'd let it slide and make no comment on it.

I'd find that patronising too. Really want to know what she said.

I'm sure they meant well. She may have been robbed/pickpocketed/scammed there in the past. Of course it's no less safe than anywhere else but I would just politely thank her. And hope you don't need any 'safety tips'.

Honestly, I’d feel a bit patronised unless it was genuinely good local knowledge - e.g. don’t go in that pub, it’s dangerous, go to the other - that I wouldn’t otherwise be aware of.

YANBU but half of MN thinks that London is a postapocalyptic wasteland roamed constantly by terrorists, pickpockets, and people who want to sell day trippers into slavery.

Nobody who isn't Country Mouse needs "safety tips" for London.

That’s so patronising. Please share the “tips” so we can laugh at them.

I live in London and it wouldn’t occur to me to send safety tips, yeah it’s patronising but only you know how she meant it… also want to know what they are.

I think my answer would depend on what the safety advice was, and what your plans are for the weekend.

So if you’re planning to be in central London/covent garden in the daytime versus staying with your friend in a zone 2/6 spot that she has local knowledge of.

When my 17-year-old gives me driving advice, I give him the side eye and say,' Thanks I'll bear that in mind' my inside voice is saying go fuck yourself '. It works pretty well

I agree with PP, this is probably driven by her own anxiety.

Though I must say when I see tourists with their phones out held loosely in their hands on street corners I do have to stop myself from warning them about an obvious target they would be for phone snatching...

Reminds me of the first time I went to London alone. I was 17 and going for a University Open Day. I was "Country Mouse" as I lived in a very rural area.

The advice my Dad gave to me as we waited for the train was that if I should get lost or need any help I should always approach someone in a uniform. It didn't matter what the uniform was, just so long as they were wearing one!

Unless the friend lives on a really, really rough estate, you don't need safety tips for either. And you'll be with the friend on said theoretical rough estate anyway.

I don't live in a posh area, and I can tell you which pub locally the dealers hang out in, sure. But the worst thing that would happen to you if you innocently wandered in there and ordered a pint anyway is some funny looks. And Zone 1 is a heavily policed tourist playground that is populated literally 24/7.

Tbf when I said to friends, the first time they went from Liverpool, tube etiquette, they didn't believe me. It was funny watching them get shoved the right side that they were told they had to be etc.

Can you share the tips?

Well what did she say? It's hard to comment about whether it's patronising without knowing what the tips were.

Just thumbs up or love heart it.
She means well. Even if it's all stuff you know she took the time to show she cares.

Maybe she's scared herself so presumed you are too. Could be you can help her more than she helps you though.

You think someone caring about you is patronising? Please tell her that. Please tell everyone that loves you that.

I lived in London and [A nice part] but still warned my friend when she was visiting about pick pockets.

She was on the train at Earl's Court, and felt a jostle {I'd warned her about this, as this was how I was pick pocketed, jostled by two men on a very empty station {Hammersmith}

She grabbed the jostler, {a child} and said ''MY PURSE!!... astonishingly a woman called back ''Your dropped your purse, Lady'' and handed it back to her, and friend let go of the child. Seems the child was sent out to steal, and the purse would be handed back to those behind her.

I actually watched a woman being ''pick pocketed'' on the Tube..It was crowded, a man was leaning heavily onto her whenver the train swing round a bend.

I thought he was being sexually provocative with her, and I glared at him...he glared back.

When he got off the train, the poor woman said ''I've been robbed''...her tickets, passport , money had gone.
He'd had his hand down her bags which were on her knee, hidden by his ''jacket''.

Padlock any cases, and wear a money belt.

Don't look too 'flash'- no fancy jewellery or watches.