London DLers: how are you dealing with the Tube strike?

This seems insane. It is an oddly European remnant in U.K. society. The strike thing is such a dysfunctional part of European economies.

Why, it’s the winter of we discontent, innit?

It's also a great way of making sure that working class people have decent salaries and benefits, r1. I wouldn't call it dysfunctional but I guess you're anti-labor.

R1 The modern strike was invented in Britain, you dim cunt.

I primarily work from home so not affecting me but it affects my husband significantly as he's expected in the office. Luckily the Elizabeth line is running and with a bit of re-routing he can use that. I don't think people are very sympathetic to their cause. They are striking to reduce their work week from 35 hours to 32 hours.... on salaries of circa £70k!?

We’re tourists in town for the week, mainly to catch up on theatre. Our hotel is near Blackfriars Bridge, about 1.5 miles from the theatre district.

We’re averaging about 5 miles a day walking. Buses are packed and road traffic is snarled, so walking is really the only option, except for bicycles. The Elizabeth Line is working, so that’s an option if it goes anywhere near where you want to go.

Unfortunately, we’ve had to eliminate visits to some museums and other attractions due to the strike.

We leave on Friday from Heathrow. Not sure how we’ll get to the airport.

The weather has been nice.

You can either get the Elizabeth Line or the Heathrow Express, R6. Shouldn't be a problem.

R6 Five miles a day is not very much. Blackfriars is as central as you can get, so I'd be interested to hear which museums/attractions you've deemed so far away they're unachievable. Blackfriars is only a couple of stops on the tube from the West End/Covent Garden so most people wouldn't even bother taking a tube anyway as it's a pleasant walk.

Blackfriars would be ok for Tate Modern, the British Museum and National Gallery and Portrait Gallery. It would be a bit far for the South Kensington museums and probably Tate Britain.

The river services are running fine.

R6 is just incredibly lazy.

R10 is just incredibly rude. You expect someone to be totally happy to walk more than 5 miles a day and/or be totally aware of all possible modes of transport in a major global city that they do not live in.

Especially when you're a tourist. Unless it's a pilgrimage or you're super into walking, you shouldn't be expected to walk miles and miles every day. And like he said, you're missing out on (paid) sightseeing that way, which I'm sure the destination country/city hates as well.

2 hours to get to work and 2 hours to get back home yesterday. My journey usually takes 40 minutes door to door.

Working from home today and tomorrow, so my dog is pleased to have me home.

Then back to the office for Thursday and Friday.

I deal with it by putting up with the inconvenience.

Of course the monarchy can afford to gift everyone daily taxi vouchers, to help in this difficult time, but they WON’T.

[quote]Blackfriars is as central as you can get, so I'd be interested to hear which museums/attractions you've deemed so far away they're unachievable. Blackfriars is only a couple of stops on the tube from the West End/Covent Garden so most people wouldn't even bother taking a tube anyway as it's a pleasant walk.

R8, we're almost 80 years old. We wanted to go to an exhibit at the Victoria & Albert Museum, the National Army Museum, and the Tate Gallery, but those are too far to walk. And as R11 has stated, we're not aware of many of the modes of transportation. I must say that the media coverage of the strike here is certainly less focused than it would be if this were NYC, say.

And yes, it is a pleasant walk to Covent Garden and the Theatre District, but try doing it three times a day.

FYI, Uber and taxis have almost tripled their prices. A one-mile Uber ride costs about $30 US. And because of traffic congestion, you can probably walk faster.

As I mentioned before, the weather has been nice, and we're really enjoying the city.

At least you won't have to take the Covent Gardens station stairs, which I foolish did in August while visiting.

15 flights!!

Why is the Elizabeth line in service while the others are not?

R17 It's run by a separate company.

All fine, working from home. Went out last night, used the bus and overground.

R11 yes. It’s called foreign travel. Try it!

R15 Use the river. You're perfectly placed for it from Blackfriars. It's a bit more exciting than the horrible tube anyway, and you get to actually see things.

R18 that’s nutz!

R11 Takes the tube from Leicester Square to Covent Garden, despite all the notices practically begging him not to do so as it's a five minute walk and both stations are complete hellholes.

R20 & R23 I've lived in multiple countries. Travelled to even more. Have a holiday home in another country and I have lived in London for over 15 years, but aw gee shucks I'll guess I will try that very useful piece of advice you've provided to try foreign travel. Thanks so much! Who knew that making fun of near 80 year olds for not being 100% sure how to handle a total tube strike in London nor being willing and able to walk miles upon miles a day while visiting could be quite so much fun for the shut-ins.

Of course you only mentioned your age after that post was made. Go try that guilt on someone else for size.

I'm a retired investor living on a pension!

One thing I never liked about London is it’s so much more spread out than NyC - Manhattan anyway. I love the vibe of London - calmer and more civilized than NYc - but the reality that most people live somewhat in their specific neighborhood reminds me of Brooklyn. The saving grace for London is the excellent subway service - without which it would be isolating.

City on fire!!

… rats in the streets and the lunatics yelling at the moon …

It’s 1666 all over again!

None of the BRF have dispatched any of their many cars to shuttle their weary subjects to and from work, I see.

We should just give up expecting anything of them.