London, often portrayed on postcards as the epitome of royalty and refinement, is one of the most sought-after destinations for travellers worldwide. However, a viral video by Karl Edward Rice, popularly known as Karl Rock, offers a starkly different picture. The vlogger and YouTuber, who is based in India, documented his eye-opening experience in Brixton, London, revealing a side of the city that few tourists see. Sharing the video on Instagram, Karl captured several startling moments from his walk through the South London neighbourhood. As he narrated his experience, he said, "People say that India is unsafe, but I have seen a lot here in Brixton, London, England. It is another world, man."
Flipping stereotypes, he added, "There is this zombie standing in the street here. Crazy man, can you believe this is in London? And you will not believe this, but this is a police station right here, right behind me here. That is the police station. And all this is happening right outside."
Also Read: Akshata, Sudha Murty Visit London's Victoria And Albert Museum: 5 Similar Experiences
Karl went on to describe more of what he saw: "I cannot make this up. There is somebody else drugged out here now as well. Look at this guy. This place, Brixton, is so dodgy. Everybody is just out of their mind here."
As he recorded another person at a train station, Karl shared, "There are dudes shooting up in the side lanes here. What is going on, man? There are even dudes on the corners. It is like that TV show, The Wire." He continued, "This dude is just walking along yelling at people. Look at that. Yelling at everyone he comes across. You okay? He is nuts."
Expressing disbelief, Karl also recorded several other unsettling scenes. "There are people peeing in public. People say that about India, but there are people peeing in public right here," he remarked.
The surprises did not end there. Karl also came across the "fake Tibetan monk scam", where a man offered him a bracelet, greeted him with a Namaste, and then quickly asked for a donation. The encounter left him visibly baffled as he continued to document his walk.
Reflecting on his stay, Karl shared how unprepared he was for the experience. "I booked an Airbnb, totally clueless that places like this even existed in England. I just did not know. So, I called up an English mate, and he straight-up told me I cocked up. Even the guy at the local Gregg's warned me to be careful. There is always someone talking here. There is always something happening. Guy is still yelling at me. I did not expect this in England. What is going on here?" he said.
Karl captioned the video, "The worst place I have EVER stayed! Have you had a worse experience?"
Also Read: Planning Your First Trip To London? 6 Iconic Landmarks You Have To Visit
Watch the complete post here:
The video quickly went viral, sparking a flurry of reactions online. One viewer wrote, "This is the safest video I have seen of Brixton," referring to the area's reputation for being unsafe. Another commented, "I never felt unsafe in Mumbai as much as I did in London."
A concerned user advised, "Please be careful of your recording, phones are being snatched out of hands and stolen. This is very common, so watch your belongings." Another viewer noted, "Oh please... this is not even peak Brixton. Twenty years ago, you could not even walk around there like this."
Also Read: Kartik Aaryan Shares Glimpses From His London Getaway - From Riverbanks To Royal Gardens
Karl's viral video serves as a reminder that beneath the polished image of any city lie untold stories, often far from the picture-perfect postcard view. For many viewers, the clip was an unexpected glimpse into a part of London rarely shown in travel brochures, reinforcing how perception and reality can differ dramatically - even in one of the world's most famous cities.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
