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.

Does your DS have any particular interests/hobbies? There's something for most interests!

Personally I wouldn't bother with Harrods or Hamleys - overpriced and overcrowded!

I’m actually not sure. We’d probably need two nights to be able to see enough wouldn’t we.

I remember going before and it was quite tiring with lots of walking around and trying to navigate the tube.

Yes it's fine. I'm a Londoner, moved out a few years ago, but go back a lot for work, and always have a great time. West and Central London.

The City of London is quieter on a weekend if you wanted to start somewhere a bit less busy, although plenty to do. You could go to St Paul's, cross the Millenium Bridge, stop off at Tate Modern, walk along to Tower Bridge for a great view of the Tower and then cross back over (although slightly less exciting walking back up from there). The City of London Corporation has walking trail leaflets on its website (there's a really good one on the fire of London). And all very safe and clean. And largely free (apart from St Paul's).

Would definitely recommend bus and/or river cruise too as a good way to see lots. Some river boat services are included with travel cards.

I went a few times around 10 years ago and had a fab time and it was very clean and felt safe, and yes, loads for kids to see and do, but since then you seem to hear so many horror stories.

Think about what you've said there.

The 'horror stories' were no different in 2016.

The only thing that's changed during those 10 years is that you've developed anxiety.

That sounds lovely and all completely walkable. You could do London eye and then walk along Southbank, and walk over the bridge to Westminster.

I’d skip Hamleys as I hate the place (my kids have always hated it too) but go to Harrods and then walk over to Hyde Park. If you go to Harrods, go to the tech floor. My DS used to love going to the tech floor as they have all sorts of gaming stations he used to play on.

But my one top tip would be to not use the tube. So many tourists get on the tube to do a journey that would be much better/quicker walking or on the top deck of a regular bus. You’ll see more of the city by not getting on a tube.

Dont bother with open top bus or river cruise. Just get on a regular bus or use the uber boat.

It is safe. Like anywhere, I wouldn't walk around after midnight in quiet streets to be prudent but I am comfortable taking the late buses./ trains. Be streetwise with your phone and belongings, but I am in London every day, see lots of shows, go shopping, take my young kids places, use my phone to navigate and have never had anything stolen or any bad experiences in 15 years. I think what the media doesn't really make clear is the knife crime is not random, they are usually young men known to each other, it's usually gang and drug related, settling scores. You could walk right past them at that moment and they would ignore you. I've never seen anything happening but even in the poorer parts of the city they really aren't interested in you. You should definitely visit- there are so many wonderful things here it can offer. I truly feel very safe.

I went to London (up from the countryside) three times last year. It was really lovely. Everyone I spoke to usually to ask directions, was friendly and helpful.

I visited tourist sites, took a river cruise, Natural History museum, explored Greenwich, walked by the Thames at dusk, Battersea Power Station to take the lift to the top of one of the towers, Buckingham Palace mews & gallery. I walked miles.

I chose to travel everywhere by bus. I found the city to be very clean and the busses were plentiful.

Dont walk about talking on yr phone or have it hanging out the back pocket of your jeans. It can easily be snatched.

Wear a cross body handbag and just stay aware of your surroundings at all times. Normal precautions.

Just go. You’ll have a great time.

Instead of river cruise look at Uberboat. If you stayed near London eye you can go down the Thames to Towe Bridge. Or Horrible Histories boat tour is fab!

I can't work out if you're being sarcastic :)

London is fine. Love it there. But Berkshire - yeah absolutely terrifying all those nice towns, some of the best schools in the country and longest life expectancy. I'm scared to leave the house.

Maybe you went to the Oxford Rd in Reading.

OP I would hazard a guess that the people who said that to you, haven't been to London in years

Anyway, Tower of London, The History and science musuems, & The Postal musuem are all great for kids. On and the Transport one! We did a touristy cruise thing on the river before which was also good. And some teens we had with us loved madame tussauds.

I would highly recommend the postal museum for a boy of this age. My 9 year old loved it. The postal train ride was so exciting to him. The Science museum is of course amazing too- the space and transport exhibits there especially. Make sure you book a timeslot as soon as you have your dates as they do go quickly. Definitely try for one of the free viewing platforms on Bishopsgate- Horizon 22, The Lookout, Skygarden- it is wonderful to see the city so high up. HMS Belfast on the Thames by London Bridge was also a big hit with my son as it is exciting to tour a battleship. Other things we really enjoyed- the Bank of England museum- also free- you can hold a gold bar worth about half a million pounds. And the Roman Amphitheatre in Guildhall yard- also free- was quite amazing to see and walk among the ruins. 10 is a good age for a theatre show- my son has seen Oliver and Matilita recently. If you enter the ticket lotteries online you can sometimes be lucky and get tickets as low as £25/ seat.

There’s a longer version 😂

OP, I’ve lived in London for my entire 49 years, never been a victim of any crime. Just don’t wave your phone around in the street or it might get snatched but otherwise you’ll be fine!

I wouldn’t specifically avoid London, but I do think there has been an increase in muggings in recent years. Be mindful of having your phone out. I also wouldn’t wear an expensive watch in London any more.

Literally just bought a flat there - DD in uni and DH now transferred to the London office.

Frankly its safer than my supposedly posh Surrey town [listed in the Times as one of the most desirable places to live in the UK]. Here we have break-ins every 2-4 weeks in our road, deaths on the nearby bypass with speeders ignoring pedestrians, and not irregular police helicopters doing aerial searches.

London is well lit, the traffic much better managed and quite minimal [again compared to the gridlocked roads in my town where you can take 20mins to do a 2 mile car journey]. Risks of mobile snatching etc is no higher in London than anywhere else. Just have your usual wits about you, be aware of where your handbag/backpack is at all times, and you and your son will be fine. My DD [aspergers/ADHD] muddles along really happily there and feels totally safe even when she is on her own for a week or so.

So much to do, so many places to eat, so much to see and much of it within walking distance. It’s a fab place to visit.

ETA - just be aware of the bike lanes! I keep forgetting and nearly getting hit by a cyclist. My fault and they’ve been largely very good natured about the idiot tourist in their path, but…

Yes of course it's safe. It's civilised place not a dilapidated abandoned wasteland.

Don't get your phone out while walking in busy touristy areas if you can help it though. And definitely don't do any banking apps while walking up the street. Pay attention to your surroundings.

The only real risk is phone theft.

Surely not!!😂😂

We took our 15 year old in October for 3 days and February half-term for 2 days. At no point did we feel unsafe. Apply common sense and use the same precautions, as you would anywhere in the country or even abroad. You need to remember that millions of people live, work and travel in London every day.

I just remembered my DB’s SIL and her mum and 2 kids and a cousin came to London in the last half term, stayed in an air b n b and had a good time. SIL used to live in Hackney now in Somerset.

For balance, all the people posting on this thread are necessarily alive, so it could be a case of survivor bias.

A cautionary tale though, this year I was in Queensway in a pub and saw (well didn’t see) the aftermath of a phone snatching from a table from tourists with 2 kids. They had lots of shopping bags with them but the mum was drinking and relaxed. That can happen anywhere but if you do in cafes, pubs use the hooks under the tables. Keep an eye on your belongings.

I've seen people mugged in London, Barcelona, Rome and Cambridge over the past 25ish years. It's a fact of life in big cities and there is definitely a business in smartphones being swiped at the moment, but it's the same as anywhere. Be sensible with your belongings and you'll be fine.

It sounds like your friends have unfortunately gone down the right-wing rabbit hole of social media. An agenda is being pushed because London has a Muslim mayor. It's ridiculous.

Not being sarcastic. Dark empty streets near the station on the way to the restaurant. Fighting outside bars. Gangs of teenagers sitting around the pedestrianised area. I was shouted at from cars as I walked on my way home to the station. It was terrifying compared to busy buzzy Brixton.

London is exactly the same as it ever was.

Get on a train and see for yourself.#

This campaign of racist bullshit being pushed about London and Birmingham gives me the rage.