London tubes AIBU?

[mumstheword1x]

I’m really nervous to get on a tube tomorrow, it’s only one tube and about 5 stops- but it’s my first time doing it alone and it’ll take about 15 minutes. I’m generally scared something will go wrong and I worry about security threats in London.

anyone do it regularly? My husband says IBU and lots of people do it everyday with no issues.

ugh 😭

London is as London always was.

Nothing has changed.

If you're only going 3 stops and not changing lines then all you need to know is what line and which way you're going for each run.

There are huge boards to show you which platform to use.

Stop worrying. It'll be fine.

You can also get a bus if you really can't face getting the tube. I hate escalators so avoid the tube when I can

It's completely fine to feel anxious but you know very well the anxiety is not rational so don't let it win. You can feel very proud of yourself when you've done it. Just take it slowly, don't try to stride around fast and self-important like all the Londoners, and don't worry about checking directions/looking like a tourist. You can do it and if you go wrong you can put things right. Give yourself permission to worry about terrorism after You've arrived at Paddington.

Could you get the bus instead? It might help your anxiety if you can see where you're going.
It might take a little longer, but not too much.

Why not get the bus (number 23). Will take 30 mins but maybe you would feel better being overground?

or controversially it’s an hour’s walk. Depends on how much time you have

It’s OK to feel anxious when doing things by yourself for the first time. Especially on the tube, I can see why it would feel overwhelming. I get the tube daily with no problems and regularly use it with my 3 year old.
As other posters have said, allow plenty of time for your journey, especially at rush hour. Worst case scenario, you’ve got plenty of time for a coffee or something stronger at Paddington.
Sometimes, if a tube is busy but there’s another close behind I will wait for that one. It’s easy to get stressed in the bustle and tapping in/out, but if you ever need to stop just step to the side and take a deep breath.
TFL staff are super friendly, there’s usually plenty of staff in the ticket halls and occasionally on the platforms if you need help or directions. Contrary to popular belief, so are Londoners. If someone is asking directions there’s always someone in earshot who will be happy to advise. It’s also really common for strangers to offer help with cases and prams on stairs.

if you need a seat, just ask politely if anyone is able to give up a seat. You’ll find plenty of people will jump up for you.
if you have health anxiety, wear a mask and carry antibac. It can be a bit dirty, but not that different to National Rail trains.
if you’re worried about terrorism, you’re going between two major stations and there will be plenty of British Transport Police about.
You’ll be fine and so proud of yourself for doing it!

Not unreasonable for being anxious. You can't help how you feel. But it will be totally fine. I get the tube every day. But I get that it's easy for me to say and that it's scary to you because it's unfamiliar. I get irrational fear about driving on unknown routes or country lanes!
It's an easy journey though. As others have said it's good to face irrational fears and enjoy feeling good at the other end.

Thanks everyone. I’ve done this route before with my husband. So I’m pretty ok with what platform to take etc. I guess it’s the fact I’m alone & the fact I have really bad anxiety- I’ve got myself into a state of what can happen in terms of terror & im aware this can happen on a bus / on paths too.

I’ve got to do it in the morning, at around 7:30. I don’t have time to get the bus / walk it - as I’m only just making it by getting my first train at 6am into London! 😭 on the way back i guess I’ll have all the time in the world as I’ll be back in London by 6pm!

I think the worst thing that could go wrong is that you stand on the left of the escalator. As long as you stand on the right it'll be fine.

The tube is fantastic; it can be daunting, but statistically you’re safer there than in a car or crossing the road. If in doubt, just pause and give yourself space to think and get your bearings.

You’ll be fine.

I take the tube all the time but I often stop and think about how many hundreds of tube journeys there are each day and how many thousands of people taking them. When you think about it it’s such an amazing system. I get the Victoria line usually and one comes every minute, which is quite a feat.

Anxiety can be really overwhelming, but I wonder if it’s possible to think of it like that- that thousands of people are getting about safety every day, and you’ll be one of them?

Although if it is terror incidents that OP is worried about then buses have been targeted previously.

ETA: I am a frequent tube user so it doesn’t bother me

What line are you getting, and where from?

The worst thing you can do with this kind of anxiety is indulge it. Just do it once and then you've done it and it will no longer have a hold on you. Think of it as freeing yourself of an irrational fear.

You’ll be fine.

London tube map is so easy to follow & the staff are helpful if you ask. Thousands, including children going to school, use it every day. It's just like a normal train.
Just remember to stand on the right of the escalators, so people can walk past you if they're in a hurry. It's a crime against humanity to stand still on the left! 😀

The Bakerloo line. It is the grossest one to be fair 😂

To summarise from the OP’s posts so far, she’s getting the Bakerloo from Charing X to Paddington, is familiar with the route & doesn’t have time to catch a bus instead.

Oh good, another thread painting a picture of London as a terrifying dystopia where you’re on the brink of a terror attack at every moment.

Must have been at least a day since the last person expressed that London is a crime ridden sewer.

Some of us live here and manage to get public transport to work too… imagine.

2m people take it every day. I have taken it since I was a child. Some of us have no choice but to take it to work daily. YABVU.

I used to be scared too. It's absolutely fine. You will feel so confident after you manage it tomorrow.

Thank you, I didn’t clock the update

At 7.30am in the school holidays you should be fine - the Tube won't be that busy at all. Just make sure you have a bottle water and headphones/book so if you do get held in a tunnel, so you've got something to occupy you. And remember, if a train is held, it's rarely for more than a few minutes. Because I'm claustrophobic I always go in the carriage where the driver is – I have this mad idea that if I panic I'll just bang on the driver's door for help! I mean, I wouldn't bang, but the idea of it just keeps me calm.

Actually worst parts are trying to get a seat, hoping you’ve not sat on a seat someone has peed on, someone sitting next/opposite to you:

• eating smelly food
• broadcasting music/ programme/call on their phone
• sniffing constantly
• coughing and not covering mouth
• Smelling of stale sweat

Terror last thing on your mind….

My DD takes it daily when at home. Do it this time and you’ll see 100s others doing it and you will get your confidence back.