From driving everywhere to not at all!

Ok so I am about to move over to London to join my fiance at the end of the year. I live and grew up in Texas, had a car since I was 16...and drive everywhere. I am wondering how I am going to adjust to having to walk everywhere, or takes buses. How did this effect you guys?  Also, I am really scared about walking around...especially after dark alone.  I dont think I will be doing that too often, but once I start working..it might happen.  I have this fear that I am going to be attached to my fiance's hip and never leave home without him, for safety reasons.  Or am I just being a big wienie? 

I was a big weenie when I first moved over, but when you realize that it's dark by 4pm it's kind of impossible to NOT walk around in the dark by yourself, especially if you're taking a class or working! The driving thing is a huge adjustment and it's not one I've fully made after 3 years of living without a car. I miss mine very much!

Do they have mace in the UK? lol

Haha...don't take this badly, but yep you are being a weanie

You will be fine.  Walking around london is great.  You really see things that you wouldn't if you were driving and the excercise will help make sure you don't gain weight from all the fab chocolate the UK has to offer.

As for walking after dark, well it gets dark here around 4pm right now, so the chances are high that you will have to brave that sooner rather than later.  It's not any different than any other city, just be aware of your surroundings, stay on well lit/travelled roads and you will be fine.  I have never once been bothered at night or day walking in London.  I used to stay out quite late after work, catch the tube home and walk the 1/2 mile from the station to my flat no problem.  If I had been drinking I normally kept my house keys in a pocket as opposed to my handbag, but that was the only real pre-caution I ever took.  Luckily never needed it.  

Good luck!  You will be fine and adjust in no time.

i grew up in detroit, another car town. i don't miss my wheels one bit. walking by the sea at night can be a bit eerie (no lights in some places) but london is bright and you should be fine in the evening time. enjoy the scenery & the details while you walk- it speeds by too fast when you have to drive everywhere.

Do they have mace in the UK? lol

Psh, darling you'll be fine!  I'm from Dallas as well and I'm adjusting just fine with walking I can understand missing a car, but luckily, London is transport is good. You'll get frustrated with it, I can PROMISE you that, but when you get here, you will be happy to not be those stuck in long lines of traffic. Btw, what part of London will you be moving to?

FYI, I think mace is illegal in the UK 

I can't stand not being able to drive! I don't mind walking at all, in fact it is nice to get out and go for a walk some times but not ALL the time. The weather is unpredictable and I am a bit of a scaredy cat when it comes to being a women walking alone too! Another thing that makes it hard is we live in a tiny village so not many buses and all the big shops are about a 30 minute drive away. I have so much free time as I've still not been able to find a job so it would be nice to just be able to jump in the car and go. We have a car but it's a stick and so far I've not been able to do lessons and DH has only taken me out twice.   learning the manual is seriously at the top of my to do list!

If I had been drinking I normally kept my house keys in a pocket as opposed to my handbag, but that was the only real pre-caution I ever took.  Luckily never needed it.  

I keep my keys in hand with the biggest key sticking out just in case I need to shank some random attacker!  

Ok so I am about to move over to London to join my fiance at the end of the year. I live and grew up in Texas, had a car since I was 16...and drive everywhere. I am wondering how I am going to adjust to having to walk everywhere, or takes buses. How did this effect you guys?  Also, I am really scared about walking around...especially after dark alone.  I dont think I will be doing that too often, but once I start working..it might happen.  I have this fear that I am going to be attached to my fiance's hip and never leave home without him, for safety reasons.  Or am I just being a big wienie? 

I moved over having never relied on public transportation before in my life, so it was a bit of a shock. Apparently it is for a lot of us as there's even a thread on here in the Just Do It section called "How to take a bus" 

But once you get the hang of it you'll probably find it's very freeing. It's nice not to have to worry about parking (or paying for parking) and the public transport is very reliable. It's nice to feel independent of your significant other in getting to the shops, etc.

I had to read the article on "How to Catch a Bus"...I've honestly never ridden a bus (except a tour bus on school field trips)...so it was a big adjustment to me.  And yeah I was a big baby at first too...made my hubby walk 100 yards up the street (no turns at all, just straight) to go to the library with me because I was "scared."  It takes a lot of adjusting but it's not too bad.  My hubby's parents and brother live about 100 yards from us and they all have cars...so whenever we need to go somewhere (like if we're going shopping for large, heavy items we can't take on the bus), we can catch a ride.

You'll be fine though.   

I LOVED not having  a   car in the UK.. did  just fine..finally adjusted..blah blah. the hard part has been  being back and needing to  drive almost everywhere.. UUGHH! hate it.. don't do it as much..only  go to local places..blah blah..    Just don't have the courage  back yet.. 

Erika, you will be fine. As others have said, it gets dark far too early to avoid walking in the dark. You will have a lot to take in for a while, and I think walking will help you soak it all in. I live in the middle of nowhere here, so I am learning to drive, because as in America, it's hard to live in the country without a car sometimes! But, if I lived in London, I really wouldn't bother learning to drive here, I'd just take the tube! Try not to stress or think about the move too much, you will get used to it all soon enough! 

Like everyone else has said, don't worry.  I think the only thing I really miss about my car is being able to do a big shop at the supermarket every couple of weeks.  Now I have to get only as much as I can carry and it's taking me some time to get a system sorted out for that.

And mace is illegal as it counts as a firearm (I think because of the projectile aspect of it?).  Before I moved here, I lived in a less than ideal little city and always had it with me.  I was really worried having to go without, but I'm actually ok without it.  Somehow, not having it makes me LESS paranoid.

Thanks for all the input, I guess I am just a little bit intimidating..or just getting nervous.  Im sure it will take me some time to adjust.  I did take the bus when I was visiting, but not without my fiance. I am being a scaredy cat because I have never had to walk anywhere lol.  I will enjoy the hopeful weightloss    Maybe I am in the next step after getting approved, the "OH CRAP THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING" stage. 

The buses won't bite, I promise

Just for some reassurance, I can recommend moving2london.com and their video on transport. Probably stuff you already know, but seeing someone use the machines and explain the maps on the buses helps calm the nerves.

London is so safe, truly, at all times of the day or night. After a few months, you'll wonder why you were so nervous.  

Sure bad things happen. They do everywhere. But I have never felt safer in any city in the world than I do in London.


Edit: And get comfortable shoes! Don't try to walk on the uneven paving slabs and cobbled streets of London with inappropriate footwear LOL