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!

There are armed police in London as well.

Bar the Troubles?!?!
Bar the bombs, the wall, the hooliganism, the checkpoints? How old are you? What an insane thing to say.

I went on Friday, and Tuesday. I must admit there was a lot of people with blood on them, and ghosts, several vampires and a demon on the tube on my way home at midnight Friday 31st. And I had to wait 20 minutes for the correct tube. Apart from that, all good.

Yes there was a lovely women recently who was saying with her son in London Bridge and got worried seeing the graffiti etc on streetview. She got loads of advice and they had a fab time.
The difference being she didn't dog whistle.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/nov/10/domestic-abuse-commissioner-needed-to-tackle-femicide-in-northern-ireland-charity-says

Northern Ireland doesn't seem that safe for women tbh

Challenge for OP (level: impossible)
Refer to London without reminding us all it's "the capital of the UK"

(Hint you may need to adjust your AI prompts)

So we've got 'bar the troubles and the femicide' now.

Oh dear, OP.

Jesus that's awful. Third highest in the whole of Europe.

OP your thread is really opening my eyes on what a dangerous place Northern Ireland is for women. Perhaps you should come here after all, to be on the safe side 💐

Was there Thurs-sun with DH and 7yo DS we actually discussed on the way home how safe we felt. Not Northern Ireland but we commented we did not feel the same when we visited Dublin in February this year and that was largely due to blatant drug use in the streets (people passed out in doorways etc). DH and I had been to Dublin about ten years previously and hadn’t encountered any of that then so it was a surprise to see it.

Hi op. I'm from London, lived here all my life, work here and raise my kids here. It's all fine. Come and enjoy your trip!

They're probably freaked out at the idea that people might actually go places without cars or guns, even when they're not the really risky places they have in the US - like churches or schools.

I am a Londoner and I have no idea what issues you mean! We are all just getting on with our business as usual!

Yes I would and do go to London. As PPs say, what issues?

We travel to London from the East Mids fairly regularly for theatre and concerts. Last time was end of Sept. All good (apart from the M1 on the way home; but I can't blame London for that).

Millions of people inc friends and family of mine, live and work there and it’s all fine. I mean obviously there is crime. There is crime everywhere unless you live on an isolated island. But it thankfully doesn’t affect the vast majority.

ETA gosh @user1491934176 just read all your posts (only read about half the thread sorry); you really don't need to refrain from bringing your DC to London until “it settles down”. Especially if you are referring to the (horrific) knife attack in London; the person has been arrested as I understand it. Knife crime is a horrible thing and sadly happens across the UK. It’s not exclusive to London. We need to continue to live our lives and do what we want to do, rather than go in fear of a (very) few people. I believe that very strongly. Please come to London and enjoy your time in the cultural wonder it offers.

This is nuts. If you’re visiting tourist areas in the centre I don’t think you’ve got anything to worry about. I do think living so far away you’ve been really influenced by social media hysteria.

My sister lives centrally - I visit her regularly, sometimes arriving or leaving quite late in the evening and on my own. I have never felt unsafe.

Central is fine, just the usual amount of vigilance required as per any big city.

😂

Uh oh, OP has confused London with Cambridgeshire.

Must say I’ll be really disappointed if the whole purpose of this thread has been to call for armed police in London to shoot all black and brown people on sight.

That definitely wouldn’t make me feel reciprocally welcome in Northern Ireland …

13 UK cities have a higher crime rate than London, yet there's a persistent myth that London is crime-ridden.
https://securityjournaluk.com/most-dangerous-cities-in-the-uk/

Do a Google search for real reliable data. You will get loads of results showing that London is nowhere near the top both for all crime and violent crime. It's one of the safest major cities worldwide.
I lived in London for years. I commute to work in London like millions of other people. It's baffling and frustrating to see this constant narrative on social media that London has "fallen", crime is spiralling etc. Nobody is posting hysterical stuff about Coventry or Bristol being too dangerous to visit or people in Brighton being too scared to leave their homes, but all of those have higher crime than London.

London is currently littered with Americans. Since Trump has come into power There’s been a huge influx and they’re not hard to miss or hear for that matter.

My DH was brought up in the troubles. He commutes to London every day and would never not go in. Don’t let them (whoever they are this week) put you off is his motto. Life goes and people need to go about their business. Ps I have been to NI this year too. Lovely place, well worth a visit. Great craic.

Arh you must mean Sevenoaks or Royal Tunbridge Wells - those rough places 🙄

Everywhere has rough places, in fact council estates were built amidst nicer areas to avoid creating ghettos. No need to be rude about any one area.

I’d absolutely come to London. In fact I’m going in to meet some ex colleagues today! As others have said be careful where you get your phone out. As a Londoner I haven’t had my phone stolen but many people have.

Clearly there is an issue with stabbing but as a tourist you are very very unlikely to be impacted. They tend to be gang on gang outside the centre. Tragic for those involved but not something that will affect tourists. It’s a bit like watching La Haine and refusing to go up the Eiffel Tower.

My son has just met some lovely guys from Belfast (at uni in the UK) and is planning a trip over. I’ve been a couple of times but definitely want to go back and see more.

Well yes, Northern Ireland IS lovely. Clearly you disagree! That’s not a straight answer to the question I asked that poster though so not sure why you bothered responding!

Why not ? We have relatives there and go regularly it is a lovely place to visit.