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?

A friend who has a similar aged toddler to me made a fuss of coming to London with her then six month old “in case people touch her on the tube” which pissed me off, as someone with a baby in London where nobody has tried to “touch my baby” on the tube. I think it’s just yokels being over prepared.

WTF? If we can't laugh at other people's absurdities, what can we laugh at?

Love London, no need for scaremongering with' safety tips'. The only place where they will rob you is Harvey Nicks and Selfridges and Liberty, but it is all legal and on a voluntary basis.

Emiratis are being warned about crowded areas in the U.K. by their government.

That’s in response to the rioting far right loons. Not normal going about your business

Excellent advice 😂

I think that’s lovely. London is a dive. She clearly cares about you

Depends on what the tips are?

Also is your other friend as frequent a London traveller as you? Maybe it’s more aimed at them but she just sent it to the group.

I would probably roll my eyes and laugh, but you’re being a bit precious about it, as I’m sure she means well.

Loving the country mice references on this thread!

My guess is that she or someone close to her has had recent experience, so its at the forefront of her mind. All about her, nothing about you.

As it happens, I will be giving similar tips when I bring my Girl Guides to London, but they really are country mice!

Yabu she's clearly anxious about going and is trying to be helpful

What are the tips?

And where are you from? Does she think a small town or village lifestyle means you won't understand the big bad city?!

what were the safety tips?

I go to London now and then and I have family and friends there. Never treated it is anywhere extra dangerous from either the city I live in or others I visit.

WTF? South of the river has many extremely naice and expensive places. Bloody hell what's wrong with some people? Thinking London is a hothouse of no go areas as large as 'south of the river'.

Most likely to be mugged in central London imo where all the unsuspecting tourists are.

Some Londoners believe that they live in the only big city that has ever existed. YANBU, but it's not worth a reaction beyond an eyeroll.

Intell can get updated on different sections / sectors etc

I don’t live in London any more (did for years) but spend a lot of time there still between work and social life.

Since I left London, places that were super safe have become less so, and vice versa ofc. There are ALWAYS new scams, new tactics by pickpockets, new hotspots for Rolex snatchers/phone grabbers etc … and I’m just not there enough to stay across it in the same way. I’d be glad if my friend gave me a heads up ahead of a visit- despite the fact I’m here every other week for work too!

I’d it as a kindness- and try not be that tiresome person that has to flex THEIR London-muscles in return.

Unless you plan on wearing a Rolex you will be fine.

🙄

Depends really: last week when the Tommy Robinson loons were out in force it may have been appropriate to say “avoid The Strand or Charing Cross station” for example as it was pretty lairy around there to be honest. However, it just generic and you work there then a bit odd.

FFS WHAT WERE THE TIPS!!!!! @breezeofqinter

Live in London and can’t think of a single safety tip I would give anyone that they wouldn’t do automatically in their home town.

For me, it depends on what the advice is. I grew up in London. I've been followed twice on the same road. I was so frightened by the first incident - which happened late at night - that I rang the doorbell of a random stranger (I could see that the lights were on upstairs).

I would give specific advice to friends who visited me.

It is patronising. Even if you’d never been to London, presumably you know how to stay safe in a city. But surely it was well-meant out of kindness and care for you. So, best to chuckle to yourself, say nothing and be grateful you have a friend who cares about your safety.

I was born in London, my DC were born in London, I currently spend most of my time in Europe but still have a house in London that I stay in regularly.

when I travel to London with work our corporate travel partner sends me an email warning of the dangers of bats in London.

I travel from LHR to W1. It always make me
smile 😊