Sightseeing in London with Tinnitus: What Precautions to Take?

My oldest son wants to go to London to sightsee. This means a long train journey and then lots of hopping on and off of the London underground, which has noise levels of over 100 decibels.

What precautions should I take? I can't have him missing out on seeing London.

Taking precautions wouldn't have even occurred to me 4 months ago, but now I live in a very different world.

 

Foam plugs, ear muffs... and a calm attitude. Regent's Park... flowers. British Museum... art.

Both free.

 

hello mate, I’d genuinely consider getting an uber. I work in London and have been sight seeing with the wife. I’ve used double protection, but on the underground it still didn’t feel like enough. When the trains brake in places there’s this shrill noise which is awful. The windows are also often open. The wife and I were meant to go 3 stops. I lasted one and got off and paid for an uber.

you might be ok, but this was my experience.

(The sound measured 106db on phone app as the train was braking. I was also sat in the middle of the carriage away from the open windows.)

 

I think the uber, or a car rental to get around makes sense.

I would plan on earplugs when out and about in unfamiliar surroundings, not knowing where the noises to avoid are. Also think about earplugs if getting there by airplane.

 

Man, it all sounds like a nightmare. The fun taken out of life.

At some point I'm going to have to get to Heathrow airport. Always did that by going on the underground from London X.

 

I think the central line is supposed to be the worst, especially the city centre sections - my sister rides this line most days and says she has to cover her ears at times (she does not have tinnitus) - the less central parts of the system such as Heathrow line are nowhere near as loud.