Trip to London

[anonymous-user]

I'm off to London for a day trip but just concerned about the violence etc. I live in the sticks all my life, you leave doors unlocked, the only annoyance are the church bells, so not really a fan of being mugged or stabbed so just wondered which areas to avoid.

[Black_S3]

I lived there for 25 years and never died.... Statistically it’s very safe, especially if you’re not involved in drugs or gangs.

[thebraketester]

You will get stabbed to death at least once a day in London. Best avoid to be honest.

[21TonyK]

Like you OP I live the rural life (or did). But I love visiting London where I am originally from. Wouldn't want to stay more than a day or two but its a fantastic contrast when you are not used to a major city.

Don't let (largely unfounded) concerns about crime worry you, get yourself down to Westminster and then walk everywhere or use the tube and flash visit all the main sites.

Normal precautions apply but IME experience London is safer than Paris or Barcelona.

[Frank7]

Black_S3 said:

I lived there for 25 years and never died.... Statistically it’s very safe, especially if you’re not involved in drugs or gangs.

Plus one, can’t get fairer than that, and I’ve lived here 79 years.
Doubt that you’ll have occasion to go near there, but give Harlesden a
wide berth, or the Wandsworth Bridge end of Wandsworth Road SW8

[loafer123]

Thesprucegoose said:

I'm off to London for a day trip but just concerned about the violence etc. I live in the sticks all my life, you leave doors unlocked, the only annoyance are the church bells, so not really a fan of being mugged or stabbed so just wondered which areas to avoid.

Stick to the centre and you’ll be fine. You will be the only Englishman there, if it’s a Saturday.

[valiant]

Seriously?

You know almost 9m people manage just fine living in London and millions more visit without any trouble.

It’s not as bad as the Daily Mail likes to portray, just don’t go flashing your money ‘Loadsamoney’ style and you’ll be fine.

Enjoy your visit.

[funkyrobot]

loafer123 said:

Thesprucegoose said:

I'm off to London for a day trip but just concerned about the violence etc. I live in the sticks all my life, you leave doors unlocked, the only annoyance are the church bells, so not really a fan of being mugged or stabbed so just wondered which areas to avoid.

Stick to the centre and you’ll be fine. You will be the only Englishman there, if it’s a Saturday.

I might be there on Saturday, so that makes two of us.

If I'm there though, I'd avoid it.

Don't go to the Rainforest Cafe at Piccadilly. It's overpriced crap, served by grumpy people and they like to add silly 'service charges'.

And don't eat in Covent Garden. Miserable bd waitresses there put 'service charges' on too, even when they are miserable and literally throw the food at you.

P.S I do tip when the service has been good.

Oh yes, don't got to the dinosaur place in Great Yarmouth either. Very expensive for what it is. fking raptor didn't even eat my daughter.

[Randy Winkman]

Can the OP tell us basically where they intend to go? Either way, I'm with most of the other posters; there's little to worry about unless you are going to be out late down quiet backstreets. Then the hazard level is much the same as it is in loads of places.

[anonymous-user]

So i need a phrase book, like 'ow they talk down s'th'. I know yard is house, and apple and pears is stairs. Am I o.k to wear red or will I big outed as a gang member. TIA

[PositronicRay]

Thesprucegoose said:

I'm off to London for a day trip but just concerned about the violence etc. I live in the sticks all my life, you leave doors unlocked, the only annoyance are the church bells, so not really a fan of being mugged or stabbed so just wondered which areas to avoid.

I'd say Penge, probably Anerley too.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Frank7 said:

Black_S3 said:

I lived there for 25 years and never died.... Statistically it’s very safe, especially if you’re not involved in drugs or gangs.

Plus one, can’t get fairer than that, and I’ve lived here 79 years.
Doubt that you’ll have occasion to go near there, but give Harlesden a
wide berth, or the Wandsworth Bridge end of Wandsworth Road SW8

Everywhere is pretty safe during the day, even Harlesden and the top end or the Wandsworth Rd. At night, anywhere Central is fine. They'll be plenty of people milling around the West End at all hours. Just be sensible as you would be in any large city. Avoid poorly lit narrow streets, in a short sleeved shirt with a Rolex.

Lived here 56 years and never been mugged, robbed etc. Had a car stolen in 1996, Peugeot 309GTI

[Black_S3]

^ yeah... the only muggings I ever heard of from people I knew they had pretty much brought it on themselves. Usually by following someone into a quite street on the pretence of buying drugs or making something valuable an easy opportunistic snatch.

The places worth being are so busy at all hours I think you actually have to try to find yourself in trouble.

[Robertj21a]

Black_S3 said:

^ yeah... the only muggings I ever heard of from people I knew they had pretty much brought it on themselves. Usually by following someone into a quite street on the pretence of buying drugs or making something valuable an easy opportunistic snatch.

The places worth being are so busy at all hours I think you actually have to try to find yourself in trouble.

Totally agree with the two posts above. It's hyped up by the media, but keeping to the central areas, in the daylight hours, will be fine. Dress sensibly and just take sensible precautions with a wallet etc.

[xx99xx]

Without details of your plans, a 'day trip' to most people would mean doing touristy stuff in the middle. If so, you're more likely to be involved in a car accident on your country lanes at home (e.g. locals driving back from the pub) than getting stabbed, shot or mugged by a hooded rascal on a stolen moped in London.

[PositronicRay]

Thesprucegoose said:

. I know yard is house, TIA

That's where I've been going wrong all these yrs thx

[anonymous-user]

The one thing I'm also concerned about is knowing if the people on the street are a hipster or a hobo, I just don't want to make a faux pas when I offer change.

[valiant]

Thesprucegoose said:

The one thing I'm also concerned about is knowing if the people on the street are a hipster or a hobo, I just don't want to make a faux pas when I offer change.

If they’re on a unicycle, they’re a hipster.

If they pullout a contactless card reader then they’re a hobo.

[Thankyou4calling]

This threads a joke right?

[Frank7]

PositronicRay said:

Thesprucegoose said:

. I know yard is house, TIA

That's where I've been going wrong all these yrs thx

Glad that’s cleared up Ray, I thought I was going nuts, I often called the patch of earth and grass behind the house the yard, until Nicky said that if I don’t switch to calling it the back garden, I’m barred from going to the U.S. again.