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?

No chance of bomb threats OP and even less likelihood of losing DP or DDs! If you can't use the tube it just means it will take longer to get around. London is a pretty big city but you're fine sticking to central London other than having to go to Excel of course.

@london101asap ok they are sorted for paying then. It's really easy.
Just beep in and beep out (except buses when you just beep on).

What about the sight seeing buses?? The ones you can get on and off??

What if you forget to beep out

Agree with PP who suggested the river boat - was called Thames Clipper but now think it’s Uber Boats.

It’s a lovely way to travel East to West, I live in west London and used to take this from Canary Wharf to Embankment every day when pregnant as didn’t like the rush hour on tube. You can take in the Tower of London, London Eye, Houses of Parliament.

I use the tube all the time but if you have a fear then there’s nothing wrong with making plans to avoid triggers so you can relax and enjoy your trip.

The 48 bus doesn't run anymore, we can help plan your journeys if you like, what hotel and what do you want to visit

That's what I wanted to do.

The tube is so easy. It’s fairly impossible to get it wrong, even as a stranger to London.

You don’t need to buy a ticket. Just tap your phones at the barriers.

Really?!

Don't be scared. You'll have a great time. London is full of tourists and the atmosphere is lovely.

Definitely download the Citymapper app as everyone has said.

Older children use the tube alone. You just touch your credit or debit card at the start and end. If kids are of paying age buy them a day ticket at the machine - the staff will be happy to help you. You can stand back from the tracks. Make sure everyone knows where you are getting off and meet there on the platform if separated. Tell the kids to use the help points if they get lost. If you miss your stop you just get off at the next one and go back or it might be quicker to walk.

A lot of London sights are walking distance from each other so you might just need two or three tube trips.

The buses are a bit harder but the paying is the same - contactless. You could use the Uber boats (Clippers) too.

Take the DLR, which is mainly overground. There are lots of buses in London too. I mostly travel by bus.

The tube is way easier than buses as you always know exactly where you are. Also buses get really busy too.

Have you looked for youtube videos on how to use the tube like this one ? I think it's always worse when something like this is unknown.

Try to tell your anxiety to fuck off and I think you'll find the actual process of travelling around is a lot easier than your anxiety is telling you it will be.

If you forget to beep out, which you can't really do as otherwise how would you get through the barriers, there is a maximum daily charge which will be debited from your account, so you'll be ok.

@london101asap

I would suggest that you get on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) at either Custom House or Prince Regent and then get off at Tower Gateway station.

Cross the road towards the Tower of London and then get on the hop-on/hop-off bus at the Tower stop; the bus will take you round all the sights you would like to see.

https://content.tfl.gov.uk/dlr-route-map.pdf

https://www.bigbustours.com/en/london/london-routes-and-tour-maps

In central London you can’t forget to beep out because the exit barrier won’t open. (Elsewhere if you do forget you’ll be charged more - the system will assume you travelled to outer London).

You can’t. The barrier doesn’t open until you do it.

What about the River taxi, that's a great way to see the sights?

But the tube is the fastest and there will be lots of buses about. If you get the tube outside of rush hours it will be quieter and try to concentrate on baby steps - getting a ticket, getting to the platform, getting on. There are maps on the tube so you can see how many stops you need to wait for.

Docklands Light Railway is entirely above ground from the Excel stop to Tower Gateway.

Unless it has changed, there is a bus from Tower Hill into central London.

Edit: never mind, pps have it covered!

DLR is all overground to tower gateway and just across the road from what is possibly the bus tour starting point (tower of London). It goes underground to bank though so if that’s an issue mind you don’t get on the wrong one

Its almost impossible to forget to beep out as every tube station I have been in you have to beep out to activate the barriers to leave.

I suggest, gently, that you seek help for your obviously overwhelming anxiety that is stopping you from doing things that you want to do and restricting you and your family's lives.

I get the worry about going somewhere new if you dont "get" the rules (I was like that when I first went to London as an adult) and it doesnt help if people who live there treat you like an idiot. But, it should be a minor worry not a major overwhelming terror like you seem to have.

OP, I'm not a fan of London and terrified of the tube.
Lots of tubes are overground.
Tube is very well signposted
Ask. Everyone is very helpful.
Count your stops, failing that the announcer will tell you where you are.
Stand away from the edge of the platform.
Chat to people while on the tube. I met some love people last time I went to London.
Pay by contact less card. It's brilliant and so easy, and your days travel is capped.
As an aside we did the cable cars. They were fun but don't actually go anywhere at one end. Docklands railway is the other.
We also used water ubers. Great fun.

try to define what you are scared of OP? So we can help.

London is amazing. The best city in the world imo. The tube is great - you will be fine. Please enjoy.

This is great advice, it's so easy. It works anywhere in the UK, pretty much. You can try it where you are now - go to google maps on your phone (the app, or simply online).

Type in your destination, then click directions and select the train symbol for public transport options.

Good advice above about using the boat. Royal Wharf Pier is near EdExcel
You can buy a day ticket (£20 adults, £10 kids)

https://www.thamesclippers.com/plan-your-journey/find-your-pier/royal-wharf-pier

You can go to London Bridge, Tower of London, South Bank , London Eye, Embankment (for Covent Garden/Leicester Square)

It's going to be a really hot weekend and the boats are so cool compared to bus or tube. You can see so much just from the boat too.