Would you go on a trip to London?

[user1491934176]

Myself and the family (young primary aged kids plus hubby) have always enjoyed a trip to the UK capital. The kids asked to go again next year (we are from Northern Ireland) but being put off by current issues reported in the mainstream media , do these issues actually exist or are they exacerbated by media outlets? Is it safe? We loved our last trip in 2024, kids are buzzing to return so advice welcome!

Maybe there's secret news about London being broadcast in Northern Ireland that London residents aren't privy to. I demand a council tax refund!

😂😂😂

Again though you haven't explained what needs to settle down? Just need to know if there is something I need to be adding to my list of things to worry about or not? I suspect not...

So despite every single post saying London is fine you're going to stay away until things settle down. Okay 🙄

I think op is referring to the same perpetrator being accused of a stabbing in London beforehand. This seems, so far at least, to have been a random attack but was in Docklands, not the West End, and an isolated incident.

Yes, obviously. Why wouldn’t you?

are you American?

Well there's a bit of debate on my street's WhatsApp group about some gates being fitted on the alley of grimness, might that be it? It'll settle down in a couple of days, it always does.

It’s unlikely that a tourist would end up at Pontoon Dock at midnight, though.

There is random violence in pretty much any major city - but the main tourist areas are at least as safe as they were in 2024.

I commute to L0ndon every day, I've not felt unsafe recently but I am more mindful about looking at my phone in busy areas, for fear of it being stolen.
I think sometimes familiarity feels safer, we had family visit from abroad recently and they felt stressed out at how busy St Pancras station was, whereas I dont really notice.

I think it must be our “disgusting responses” that need to settle down. Seems we shouldn’t have dared to question London being less safe than Northern Ireland as we “have no clue about being blown up” (which makes zero sense given London’s history in recent years) and what would Londoners know about how safe our city is anyway? 🙄

Oh no I didn't see anything about the gates issue on SocialMainstreamMedia.com
I'll stay away another year to be on the safe side thanks

You just aren't in the circle of trust of special London news that no one else gets to know about!

Just been to a gig in Hackney and currently on a train to Peterborough- ordinarily it would call at Huntingdon. Feel perfectly safe and no-one else looks concerned either.

Yes this is what I was referring to and thank you for your input. Very sad for all concerned. You may all have issues with Northern Ireland but the police here carry firearms. I would think it has always been much safer, bar the troubles, than cities in England. Most notably London, the capital, which is worrying. The police in England cannot safely protect the public.

Well stay at home then. I'd rather my police didn't carry guns on a day to day basis.

... oh here it comes everyone she's getting dangerously close to eventually trudging towards the point she wanted to make from the start!

The police in London need guns!! Do you know that a lot of them do, and those who didn't, also didn't have them last year when you visited?

Can't wait to hear your views on our handsome major. Who of course you'll pretend for a few more pages not to have a view on...

Alright, so you're not going to tell us what needs to settle down then.

Enjoy not coming to London

Just don’t walk around with your phone in front of you held out on a platter for phone thieves and you’ll be fine

London is absolutely full of tourists at the moment and with a lot of offices going back to more time in the office, it really is super super busy so I would advise you booking things you want to do before you come

I also find your dismissive 'bar the troubles' somewhat at odds with your emotive posts about children being burnt out of their homes. You can't have it both ways.

There are armed police in London

10 million people live here you know. I feel much safer walking down Charing Cross Road at 3am than I do at any time of night in say, the middle of Newport. I've never been mugged or assaulted or even heard about that happening either, and I've lived in some right 'dodgy places.'

We're fine thanks.

The Op apparently visited a year ago.
What has changed and needs to settle down?

She's the only person who knows, and doesn't seem willing to tell anybody

Agree. There are a few of these threads where the OP is genuinely from a small place, has never been, wants assurance and travel advice gets it, has a good time and reports back saying so

And then there are ones like this one with a not so hidden agenda. If it smells like racism....

Right 😂. Belfast (aside from the indiscriminate bombing and murder) has always been safer than English cities.

reminded me of this