Is London safe?

[Springyayspring]

My 10 year old who usually never wants to go anywhere has asked to go to London. I’m overjoyed that he wants to go as I love city breaks and it’s so nice to see him showing an interest, he wants to see all the touristy things.

I have been to London but it was years ago and although I loved it. I’ve got very bad anxiety since then.

I try not to watch the news because all you seem to see is knife crime, terrorism, violence.

I mentioned to a couple of friends that we were looking at going and they seemed a bit horrified and said that London has really changed in recent years, and that they wouldn’t go.

🤣🤣🤣

It’s great your 10 year old wants to explore and really you should try to facilitate this by either going yourself with them or letting them go with someone else. Bad things can happen anywhere. Millions of people live and go to school and work in London, every day.

I think they’d enjoy the tourist bus seeing all the sights or somewhere like the Natural History or Science Museums (next to each other). At least you won’t be outside then if that is your fear. Public transport is best but you can drive in and pay (an extortionate amount) for parking very nearby. I think Saturday afternoon parking is free in the area but, depending on the time, there will still be the congestion charge to pay.

I think you're absolutely right about echo chambers. It's good you can identify it. The algorithms will know you're reading content about London being dangerous and think you want more of it.

It would be a shame to be put off something you would otherwise love doing because of all that shite. And I'm taking my own kids in the May half term, so will be putting my money where my mouth is. We're looking forward to it!

I know i.was snarky, but you were being a bit dramatic do you not think what you said was a bit ott ? millions of tourists go to Central London and are fine,

I saw someone get their phone nicked in Victoria yesterday, it was very busy and the thieves dressed all in black on their electric bikes were out on the rob. They don’t care who sees them, in that respect it’s a bit lawless. That is the main issue with London at the moment. Take care of your possessions and have your wits about you. Carry a sturdy bag close to you with hard to get out openings. Be mindful of pickpockets on public transport and at busy crossings. But in general, apart from keeping an eye on my stuff, it is as safe as any other capital city.

I do wonder why government haven’t stepped in and taken over the crime situation in London. If people in this country are fearful of visiting, it must put off international visitors.

If your lost or want to know where to go in London just put your destination in maps and click public transport, it’s brilliant - my 15 yo son was in Charlton watching football last sat, went into London afterwards for dinner - had a fantastic time x

Of course it is. I’ve lived here my whole life and never felt unsafe. Obviosjtl there are areas which are less safe, as there are in any city, but these are not the parts anyone would accidentally find themselves in. My teens have been wandering around central London with their friends since they were 13 or so and I never worry about them. I think they’re much safer than being in a small quiet town at night

A lot of kids, just a year older than your son, are making their way to school in London on tubes/buses/trains on their own.

It's a fabulous city (I'm biased as I live there) ... I still think it's one of the best cities in the world and I've seen a few.

This happens in every single busy city across the world and pickpockets have been a problem for over 100 years.

I've seen and known people get pickpocketed / mugged in Havana, Rome, Bangkok, Paris, Brussels, Manchester...

It's what happens when you have millions of people from all different walks of life in one place.

Lived there for 15 years. Felt completely safe, all the time.

Stats show it's just about the safest big city in the world.

Don't listen to social media. Most of it's scaremongering nonsense.

Honesty OP, London is fine. I have lived and worked here all my life. What I will say however is to have your wits about you, be careful crossing the road (the number of people I have seen almost get run over is ridiculous!), keep your personal belongings close to you, stand on the right side of the escalator especially when travelling around the underground. DO NOT under any circumstances use those pedal bike things around central London stations, they are a major rip off and I feel sorry for any tourists that use them. If you need to use your phone, stand to one side out of the way especially if using Google maps etc.

If you are going to any major attractions around London, check out the Days Out Guide website as they tend to have 241 offers on. Enjoy your visit! :)

Keep your phone in your pocket and use a cross body bag in front of you, not an open tote bag. As a tourist you’ll be more distractable.

I live in London, I can’t think of anyone I know who’s been involved in a violent crime. Of course things happen but not really in places you would visit as a tourist. Remember millions of people live in London and the population almost doubles during day.

My kids have lived here all their life and have never seen or experienced anything they wouldn’t in any city, apart from amazing museums, world class architecture and beautiful parks. Have fun!

Sorry, this is bollocks. The crime rate has been dropping consistently for about three decades. Yes, it is not completely crime-free - nowhere is - but I encountered very little in over a decade, despite living in one of the edgier areas (Peckham).

There is a gap between perception and reality, but that's to a large degree being stoked by right-wing agitators on social media. These are the same people who say Birmingham is a no-go area for white people. Don't listen to them.

Regarding the anxiety, I have a lifelong disability and a couple of things happened which led to me getting bad anxiety. I’ve had treatment but it’s not as simple as just being cured. It’s an ongoing battle.

I still live my life, go to work, travel, but there does seem to be a lot of scaremongering around London. I’m glad to hear most people are saying that it’s exactly that, scaremongering.

I’ve taken my two young(ish) kids to
london for the last few years. We went last December with a 4yo and 10yo and had an absolutely brilliant time, and not once have we felt unsafe.

I’m a Londoner and I understand your anxiety. I was stressed about pickpockets/scams when taking my kids to Paris.

Just be sensible with your things. Create a rough itinerary. Book your tickets to museums in advance- even the free entry have time slots. Have fun!

I’ve lived here for over 20 years and if anything, I’d say the city is safer now than when I moved here.

The only crime I have ever encountered is my car was stolen but that can happen anywhere with these stupid keyless cars that are stolen to order 😡

My kids travel all over the city every day either on their own or with friends and have done since they were 11.

I also don’t buy into the whole pickpocketing, phone swiping thing. Everyone is walking around London with a phone in their hand and AirPods in their ears.

I live in a Midlands city. When we go out at night we rush straight back to car - you don’t linger. I love that London is so full of people enjoying themselves, families leaving theatres later at night, tourists sightseeing after 11pm etc so it feels safe to be out centrally, walking around after dark and taking in the sights. If you stay somewhere like premier inn Southbank you are right in the heart of Lindon with so much close by. Ideal for kids!

It’s interesting and reassuring to hear people say it’s actually safer now.

Regarding things to do, I was thinking.

London eye
Siteseeing around Westminster
Hyde park and peddle boating on the lake
Harrods/Hamleys
Open top bus or maybe a River cruise
Will look into the museums

Is there anything else, or any of that you’d swerve? I don’t think we will go to the zoo as we’ve been to a lot of zoos he’s bored of them now.

There is a campaign against the whole of the UK, if you believed some it is terrifying to leave your house even in my sleepy hamlet.
However other than pickpocketing, just put your purse somewhere safe etc., and don’t take your Chanel handbag and you will be fine. Also try to plan for some calm moments, as the busyness has got worse.

It is amazingly clean and safe. London is actually one of the safest big cities in the world. The combination of the UK being an island and having good social welfare means it is safer than the majority of American and European cities.

I live in London and it's never felt unsafe, especially in tourist areas. As others have said, don't wave your phone around and keep an eye on your bags and it'll be fine. I like to keep to main roads late evening (usually post theatre), but to be honest central London is so busy that you probably don't need to. I have noticed more homeless people the last few years, but if you leave them alone they won't bother you.

You could research that though be proactive, but you let it consume you and probably fell down a rabbit hole, you have to look after your phone be aware of your surroundings like everywhere. We all get nervous and unsure about things and if you live with a disability (i do) it takes extra planning sure, but take your son to London let him experience things, on a practical level i use uber if we were out at night.

How long will you be coming for?

Of course it’s safe don’t be ridiculous, it’s one of the most visited cities on the planet.