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?

Do you definitely need to go with them OP? It would be a shame for you to miss out but if you're this anxious you probably won't enjoy it.

London is busy full stop. You won't lose them and I'll assume you have phones but even in the olden days, we didn't lose each other. You can pay by just tapping a bank card on the barriers, like contactless paying in shops. Bombs are unlikely. Stand near the back, zero chance of falling onto the line.

Really, it's not the big deal you're making it out to be. Alternatively, get a sight seeing bus to see the sights.

You could walk to Royal Wharf on the River Bus, then you will see lots of sights on the way through London and get off at the London Eye and then you can walk around lots of the main sights pretty easily. End of the day get the river bus back.

No point stressing yourself unnecessarily. You can sit down, you can't get separated and you can't miss the stop (the London Eye is huge). You'll be able to see all sorts along the way.

That's totally an understandable question.

When you get off the tube you just walk to the exit and tap at the barriers and they'll open. If there wasn't a barrier (in train stations rather than tube stations in outer London, there aren't always barriers) there is however by the exit to the station a machine that you tap on so it charges you the correct amount. As long as you tap at the start and end of your journey you can't go wrong.

OP, you can do this. You're doing the right thing by asking for information.

I used to help run events for a groups of people who often had a large number of anxious people in them. We found the key to helping them enjoy it was providing LOTS of information in advance, and being there to answer their questions. Knowledge of how things were going to work really helped.

The London transport system isn't that different to trams in Edinburgh or low-level trains in Glasgow or buses in Liverpool/Manchester. Do you really not have any experience at all of navigating trains/buses/trams in any city, ever?

Tube is easy! Either use your contact less card and tap at each station or buy a pass beforehand and scan that. If there's 4 of you a pass would probably be cheaper.

Doesn't matter if you miss a stop. It's straight lines. Just get off at the next one, cross to the other side and go back the other way one stop.

It's really quite civilised down there, people don't push and shove and don't stand near the edge.

As for bombs, you're more likely to get stabbed above ground than you are to be blown up down there.

Echo what everyone else had said.

I'm a Londoner & being using the tube for over 40 years. You cant get lost or miss your stop. It's all very well signposted & announcements in the carriages themselves well before it come into a station. Buses likewise.

Just make sure when you get off the escalator or stairs that you move to one side & wait for your group to get together. Same with the carriages. All get on together & stay together.

Really no need to panic or get stressed. And enjoy the great City.

I have to say I agree with the OP on One thing.

If I'm in London, I never ever take the tube, I think they're a shit show, unsafe and extremely badly designed.

The last time i took the tube, I couldn't believe the amount of tube stations in London that have no elevator at all.

Only stairs.

I saw people having to carry pushchairs down about eight flights of stairs.

What are people in wheelchairs supposed to do.

I always get the bus in London. I think it's much better

No, you tap out at the barrier. There will always be someone to let you through if you make a mistake.

It’s not crazy to ask at all. It can be stressful getting round a city you don’t know.

Get a cab. The tube is nothing to be scared of but if it's going to make you anxious just get a taxi. The hotel will probably call one for you if you ask.

If you go onto the tfl website. You will see all the options available
The DLR is overground and would be fun for the DC
I can understand you being daunted by the tube, but there are clear signs everywhere.
I'm disabled and find London difficult for that reason but it's very easy to hail a taxi if you're just stand and wave from the pavement.
I hope you enjoy your trip
London is a wonderful city

Walking and other maps here:

https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/walking/?intcmp=63

Loads of useful info and route planners.

I just had to double check I definitely posted in the travel section and not AIBU.

I hoped the replies wouldn't be harsh but my god a few are awful.

I've had some helpful advice though. Thanks.

Use taxis seems the easiest option. I never use the tube in London because it annoys me so much.

How close are you to Custom House station? The Elizabeth Line (Crossrail) is honestly great. It’s air conditioned, very new, usually not too busy, stations have barriers to help you deal with your worry about being pushed on to the tracks. If you are prepared to walk a bit more, you can take it into any central London station you choose from Liverpool Street onwards and more or less anywhere. The DLR is also good because it is very open and you could take it to Tower of London, walk along the river from there to explore other sites, and you will certainly be able to join hop on hop off buses around there as well.

The boat is a super option on a nice day and a great way to see the city. It also has a bar on board!

Central London is full of hop on/hop off tourist buses.

1-4 apply to any public transport. Being pushed near the track is a slight phobia of mine, so whenever I go on the tube I just stand back from the yellow line and nearer the wall. Although I'm sure you're statistically more likely to die from a vulture attack than being pushed onto the track, do as I do, and just stand back.
Paying is easy- just tap your card in and out. It's important to use the same card- and by this it means not just the same card, but the same way ie NOT physical card in and Apple Pay out.

I've been reading the thread with interest. OP you said earlier that taking the Hopon/Off tourist bus what what YOU wanted to do. Is there any reason you can't do that? It sounds to me that it will tick all your boxes anxiety wise about tubes and buses and you will see all the sights with ease. Do this and enjoy London.

On another note, I want to say how great it is to see the positivity and freely given help that has been offered to the OP by those who know their way around London. It is so refreshing to see this, well done all.

OP do you mind if I ask where you're from?

I live in Yorkshire now and I still find public transport in London so much easier than everywhere else. In London it's a flat fare so you don't even have to say the destination when you get on the bus, or even speak to the driver at all! You just tap your card on the yellow thing and you're all good.

And the tube is really not as busy as you'd think these days.

Use the boat from excel to central.

It's easy to feel overwhelmed. There's no such thing as a silly question by the way so if it helps you, just ask away

Once you get into the city - you can walk - you will see so much. Walking around the city is one of my great pleasures. There are wonderful things to see around every corner. It’s such a fantastic city. Walking from Tower Bridge along the Thames or from Bank to Covent Garden is just lovely. Lots of places to stop for coffees, lunches and beautiful buildings to see. Enjoy!

You enter the station, reach the ticket barriers, tap to pay - could be an Oyster card, credit or debit card or a card on your phone - and then head through to the platforms. If even this step makes you nervous there will likely be videos on Youtube from tourists that have fimed the Tube process, so you could watch those to familiarise yourself. There will be things you can do to help reduce stress on the day too. Have cards ready before you reach the barrier, remember to stand on the right on the escalators, keep to the side as people get off the train first, avoid rush hour in the morning and evening etc. If it feels too much step to one side, with your back against a wall so you can take a moment to calm down without getting further stressed as people try to get past.
I understand anxiety as different things trigger mine, but remember in this instance the thing making you nervous is incredibly mundane in practice. Millions of us use it to get to work or school every day, usually in a very boring way, with nothing scary or out of the ordinary happening.

This is a great idea considering where you're staying.

The central london tube stations are easy to navigate but can be a pain in the arse in that they're crowded and it can be quicker to walk between stations.