Going to London. Really scared. No clue.

[london101asap]

Hi so we are staying near London Excel.

I'm so scared of getting the tube.

I see there is a cable car we can walk (25 min)

Once off the other end though the nearest bus stop to a 48 hop on bus (London Bridge) is a 3 hour walk.

How do we get to from the cable car to the bus?

Dh is used to travelling all over the world and the uk but not around London only the outskirts.

Tween daughters want you to see the sights. Do you get off at every sight then wait for another bus?

I'm so scared as we are relying on dh who has adhd and I have severe anxiety but our 12 and 13 year olds really want to go.

Any advice please?

Thanks so much for posting that, makes me live in hope that I will start to be able to do things properly again one day.

What if you live a mile down a farm track and your nearest centre is a small market town? Some people are nowhere near a city, let alone one the size of London.
It all depends what you're used to.

Get hop on / hop off bus tours do you get to see a bit of everything without having to work too hard and it'll be more enjoyable!
The event that you're going to at the excel - just Uber it
I would advise try not to let your DC see how it may be affecting you as they might also become over anxious'

It’s a fair question! If budget is limited you’d want to know if there is a penalty beforehand!

as others have said: if you forgot to beep out, you get charged I think for a daily rate equivalent. I haven’t lived in London since 2018 but that’s what it used to do (and it happened to me only once in years, and if you were only planning on using a single then yes it would be annoying )

Just want to say for all those recommending the boat - ordinarily yes this would be a great alternative to the tube, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend them at this time of year.

They get incredibly busy during the main tourist season. There are HUGE groups of foreign exchange language students (often 50+) in London every summer for whom it’s a popular trip. Every boat I’ve seen on the Thames in the last few weeks has been packed to the rafters. It’s also an infrequent service and they have a strict max capacity. If the boat is full when it gets to your dock they won’t let you on and then you’re stuck waiting for the next one. It can be up to a 30 min wait between boats and not all the docks have shade for people queuing. So I would just be careful on banking on it as an option. At a less busy time of year I’d fully support the recommendation, but I’ve come a cropper many times during the summer holidays, thinking I’d do a nice scenic boat ride to visit friends in Battersea or whatever instead of taking the tube, and ended up waiting over 40 mins for a boat that is overcrowded and full of huge groups of European teenagers screaming their heads off and taking selfies. Not a nice experience!

That's something you need to start dealing with, for your children's sake if not your own.

What else are your MH issues going to stop them doing? It sounds like this trip, that they wanted, wouldn't have happened if you'd realised you might babe to, gasp, use the Tube.

Quoting this in case it's not been noticed in this busy thread!

The issue is the tube/london.

Op has anxiety which needs medical treatment.

Op go to your GP and tell them you have anxiety that's severely limiting your life.

Uber boats had a 55 minute delay last weekend.

The cable cars are more of a tourist attraction; they’re in awkward areas both sides.

It’s cabs if you really can’t tube it in London.

If busy-ness causes your anxiety, then avoiding the tube in the height of summer isn’t going to help much, tbh.

Hi Londoner here.

Haven’t read whole thread. Only your posts.

Totally understand how London in general, and tube particularly, can feel daunting, scary or busy.

But overall, we’re a v friendly city. People may not smile/talk up-front, especially on the tube (if we chatted to everyone we’d be exhausted and we know to give each other space). But if you ask anyone, they’ll help you anytime, anywhere. People are generally incredibly kind.

I recommend buses to see more of the city and get your bearings. Also cheaper. If you sit on top deck, at the front, it’s as good as any sightseeing tour. But at night and on less busy buses, recommend sitting on lower floor, nearer driver.

And, as with any big, crowded city, keep a close eye on your stuff (e.g. usual things, like watch your bag, don’t have your phone in back pocket) especially in busy areas, as there are pickpockets. And don’t have your phone/wallet out on the street. Go in a shop if you need to look at maps etc. Watch out for pushbikes and mopeds coming past, as people can swipe stuff out of your hand.

If you embrace the diversity, vibrancy and busyness, you’ll have a great time. I know I’m biased, but I’ve travelled the world and London’s one of the greatest places on earth. Enjoy! (And if you need any more tips, post on here).

It's really not scary.

I've done it since I was 13-14 years old and am in no way local. You can't mess it up and if you aren't sure just ask a staff member.

You tap in and out so nothing can go wrong there. You're really catastrophising and you don't want to pass that fear on, I'd definitely see someone for some support if you haven't already.

I'm autistic so don't have any of the struggles you mention it's just the sounds for me - so I take my headphones everywhere and just crack on.

Maybe someone local could meet you to help you navigate your first trip.. but I am wondering if London in general is going to be too much for you? It is busy and can be sensory overload, could someone else take them if so?

Its more of an attraction but people do work over that side of the river and its easier and cheaper to travel via cable car

TFL services are free for under 11s but OP's daughters are 12 and 13. Photo zipcards get kids who live in London free bus travel and very low cost tube, (25 to 30 per cent of full fares I think) but you have to live here, as Transport for London is partly funded by additional money on council tax in London boroughs.

Your 12/13 year olds can get a young visitor discount with an Oyster card. You ask at a ticket office or Visitor Centre (lots of details on the TFL website which I've already posted). You do have to pay a deposit on the Oystercard, which I think is a bit annoying, really, but you'll probably save back your £7 for each of the kids quite quickly with the half fares, and you can save your Oyster cards for future visits to London by you/your daughters

The thing to remember @london101asap is that Londoners are just ordinary people like you.

Plan ahead, use the websites of all the places you want to go and the forms of transport you want to use. Enlist your DV to the task as well - give them each a place or a task eg you want to see Madame Tussaud’s? So let’s plan how we’ll get there, where we’ll queue and where we can sit down, or eat, or grab a snack.

Plan for any contingency and learn how to use a street map. If you get lost, look for a pleasant helpful middle-aged woman. She will help ( I’ve been that woman, giving people directions).

@elkiedee the £7 isn't a deposit. You don't get it back.
(you used to - but not anymore)

@Autel of course it's can be the same thing, she can't use the tube because she is scared.

For everyone saying take the Elizabeth Line because there are doors on the platform, there isn't at Custom House (nearest station to OP's hotel) because it's elevated. The same with the DLR. However, OP may be happier starting from an above-ground station?

Whilst there's nothing to be scared of in the London underground it is nothing like the Edinburgh trams or the Glasgow subway.

Oh good question. Thank you

This is the only reason I am going. For their sake.

Oh thank you

No I can't he wouldn't keep an eye on them like I would. He has adhd and focuses on what's in his head. This is why I'm more concerned as he says where when how and we follow but then he changes plans so fast.

I'm autistic too which I didn't want to add as I'm fed up of people thinking it's an excuse.

I have. I've had meducation, counselling, online courses. I think a lot is fine to my autism and PTSD.

More posts have been deleted since I was last on. I don't know why people would click on a thred like this if they get so annoyed by people unsure if London.

@london101asap

Are you coming for the Friends' exhibit, OP? It looks good!