Due to travel to the NW of England for a week - would you still go?

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We are due to travel to the NW of England to explore the area and visit a few towns (Preston, Chorley, Lancaster, Lytham st Anne’s and Manchester) with our children by public transport. With all of the rioting (I know there is some elsewhere in the country), I feel really apprehensive about it. Would you still go? Is it as bad as the newspapers are showing? Keeping in mind we will be travelling by train and bus, so may pass through places that are being effected badly by the riots.

YABU - still go.

YANBU - don’t go.

Have you got any specific places or plans for what you want to do while you're here?

We are going to be viewing houses mainly (relocation) and just seeing what the places have to offer and how easy it is to get around.

It’s the worst timing really, but needed to get it all sorted before the end of the school holidays ideally.

If your visiting to look at relocation. I'd recommend Chorley, good schools. Lots of new housing. Bolton Town centre is a but mmh, my Dad lives down the posh end near the football stadium. Preston is OK, but I don't know it as well some areas are very multicultural, nothing wrong with that but you'll find certain committees cluster in certain areas. Similar in Bolton. Manchester is huge and house prices have gone up a lot in recent years.

My family live around there they haven't had any issues in sure you'll be fine.

I live in one of the towns mentioned and it's quite literally business as usual. There was talk of a 'protest' at 2pm today, and the bus I have just come home on did divert around the supposed location of the 'protest'. I had to walk back that way anyway and there was nothing going on.

Of course I'd go. Many people have to go about their daily lives in those places.

I live in one of the places mentioned and there is absolutely nothing going on

Most of the places you mention are in Lancashire. The nearest place to have had trouble is Bolton, in Greater Manchester. The racists have tried to whip it up in a few towns in Lancshire but it's been a damp squib. In Blackburn, they could only manage to get about half a dozen people. There was a brief and well managed anti racist march (although nutjobs on X would like you to think otherwise).

If you are considering relocating I would highly recommend Lancashire (I've also lived in London, Leeds and Manchester. Most people are surprised to hear it is predominantly rural with wonderful countryside for all tastes. And in most towns you are just a few minutes from it. We are well connected via the M6, M61, M65 and M55. The rail services are a bit more patchy if that's important to you - you'd need to check.

Because of philanthropists in the industrial revolution, we have some lovely historic homes, gardens, parks and art collections. You also have very easy access to the coast, with a mix of resorts, the Lakes, the Yorkshire Dales and, cities such as Manchester and Liverpool. You can get to London from Preston in 2 hours on some trains and it is also on the main line to Scotland.

In many parts of Lancashire, property is also very good value.

I'd go. Even being in the heart of Leeds last Saturday when the far right demo happened, it was all contained to a small space and most people were happily doing their shopping, eating at restaurants etc.

We live just outside Southport, and went in over the weekend, no trouble at all. The trouble was well away from any area that tourists would visit, in one of the residential areas. Lytham is particularly lovely, and I would be very surprised if anything kicked off there. I am getting a bit fed up of the rioters being described as right wing. The vast majority wouldn't know the difference between right or left wing, and the only wing they are interested in is a bucket of wings in chili sauce. They may have been egged on by right wing agitators but they are just stupid pawns in the game, who have ruined their victims lives, and their own. Meanwhile Tommy Robinson sun's himself on a beach laughing his head off.

We were socialising in central Manchester this Saturday afternoon and apart from a slightly increased police presence it was business as normal. The trouble was around a couple of shops and a mini sainsburies and shut down quickly. There were a few groups of lairy lads but less than an average football Saturday. Outnumbered by hen parties.

There's been trouble all over the uk but it's been generally confined to small areas. Not where you'd be house viewing in the North

It’s totally fine up here (Preston). Visited Lytham and St Annes at weekend and also fine. The media can give a false impression of how severe the rioting is i.e. not very severe at all.

I think it's fine. Maybe just keep an eye on social media. The protests tend to be "publicised" first they aren't generally just random and unplanned.

You'll be fine! If you believe the news it's a war zone that's been invaded! Simply not true. Enjoy your trip.

Quote - ** No, nothing is set in stone at the moment with accommodation/trains. It’s reassuring that you have been and found it fine.

The way we felt last week I would still go. I live in a really quiet area so big cities are always a huge change for me and I sometimes feel uncomfortable - but I didn’t feel that over the last week, I didn’t go to Manchester though. If you are moving it’s a lovely part of the country. If you need to use trains Preston is a station like Crewe with connections in all directions and intercity trains so great to be near for travel. We also use Lancaster a lot for the trains to London and Scotland. Smaller city and station but really good access and a nice friendly city. Easy to get trains to the Lakes too. Enjoy time with your family - you can get a train to Morecambe and have an ice cream - lovely Promenade. Lytham is the same (but posher). Chorley and Preston aren’t far but just not quite as close as almost on your doorstep.
my suggestion would be read the local paper webpages like I suggested earlier just to be aware and stay away from any areas things might be planned. Otherwise have a lovely time.

My daughter was at a counter-protest yesterday in Lancaster. She sent me a photo of it. There were Quakers (identifiable from banners) a good few bearded older blokes in shorts and bearded hipsters in jeans, a woman with 'my dog bites racists' on a home made placard and similar assorted decent-looking sorts. It looked perfectly safe. There was a police presence, but they were mostly chatting to the crowd. Literally a snapshot, and the mood may have changed later, but I don't think it did.

I’ve been to Blackpool today…..only went up and down the prom, not shopping but the prom was fine and busy. We didn’t see anything

You are all amazing, thank you so much for taking the time to reply! you have made me feel better about everything (including the move with some of your thoughts on that).
I feel excited about it all again now.

I was saying this to my anxious teen yesterday - if you were one street over from the protests, having a haircut or stopping off for lunch, you probably wouldn’t even have noticed it.

In most places it’s a dozen or so yobs who, is they weren’t cheering on tommy-ten-names, would be starting a fight outside the pub about someone looking at them funny.

Yes, in a couple of places it has been awful, but still confined to a small area. And, by and large, the British police are bloody brilliant at de-escalating violence.

I live in Lytham. I can promise you there’s no rioting. Although there was a kerfuffle on line about a shop getting rid of some listed windows.

That is such a lovely pen-portrait of good folks 💜

Oh - you are looking to relocate. I REALLY recommend Lytham (just so you know Lytham and St Anne’s are two seperate towns not one place and Lytham is nicer)

The green, the windmill, lovely shops and restaurants, no crime. It’s great.

Think the manchester riot was in Bolton (which is a shame as bolton museum is good!)
Not seen any issues in the area.

We stayed in Blackpool last night in a hotel . Increased police presence but seemed fairly quiet. There was a big music event on over the weekend but they didn’t seem to be causing much bother last night . St Ann’s is much smaller and was very quiet today .
I think the planned one tonight is Bradford- we will see what happens if anything

Yeah, was weird. I was in Liverpool city centre on Saturday. Sun was cracking the flags, everyone out enjoying themselves, typical busy Saturday and enjoying the weather. Then on the waterfront there was quite a big flashpoint, but through most of town people were oblivious to it all.

Lytham St Annes is too middle class to riot 😁.
Seriously I live there! There was trouble in Blackpool a few days ago but not heard anything since, mostly seems to be a day per area then it fizzles out and moves on elsewhere.
If the weather is bad even less likely