How dangerous is London?

Happy_saver_4

We are staying at the London Farringdon Travelodge in Kings Cross Road for a night; like their £26 deal !

I'm thinking of taking my OH to the West End to see an evening show. Is it safe to use public transport and walking or should I only catch taxi's; door to door ?

We're now too old to fight or run. Forty years ago I used to live in the smoke - safe then; safe now?

trigger_mike

Na.. Londons fine, some as everywhere else, keep yourself to yourself and you'll be fine and you'll have a great night, last year i got lost with the misses in london at 2am and ended up in soho with big black men fighting and shop selling 'poppers', but we where still o.k.
Taxis are dear, i'd take the buses and tube as well.

Becles

I took my two children to London when they were 7 and 5. We stayed at the Docklands Travel Lodge, so had to travel back after an evening performance in the West End using the Tube and DLR.

I was a bit nervous about crossing London at night by myself with two small children in tow. However, I never saw a scrap of bother and there were plenty of people around on the tubes/DLR.

As long as you use common sense and stick to well lit, busy places, I would think you should be ok.

colmil

Come on. Happy Saver, we're not exactly living in the Bronx!

I live in the North East, but do know the location of this Lodge, a very short walk from Kings Cross.

If there are two of you, may I suggest that you take a taxi, purely to save the walking between the various underground stations, and bearing in mind that you both travel in one vehicle and the time you will save, well worth it!

I hope you have a great time!

bj-sailaway

London is safer than remote locations I think, as there are always loads of people about. The mistake people make is carrying open handbags with purses and mobile phones there for the taking - it's just too tempting for the opportunist then. Also, never sit at a coffee bar with your mobile on the table - common sense really, and I think that would count anywhere, not just in London.

Have a super time, it's a great place just to 'people watch'.

SnowyOwl_2

I lived in London until two years ago. Never ever had any problems (oh I miss it so much!!!!) - now live in rural-ish Ireland. We have some right sh*tes here who prey on the elderly and kick each others heads in of a Friday or Saturday night, so it's all relative I suppose. We also get the occasional handbag being snatched, a recent rape, and an attempted murder last weekend. Think crime is "normal" now, you're unlikely to be able to find a truly safe place these days.

I think you will be OK to take public transport on your way out for the evening. However, King's X is not what you might call salubrious. I would take the minicab or black cab option myself for the late return to the hotel. Don't want to alarm you in any way, it's just not an especially nice area and I think the extra few pounds will be worth it for peace of mind.

Love your avatar btw. Is that your kitty, or a download from the internet? Whichever he is he's gorgeously cute!

Happy_saver_4

Thanks everybody for such quick, helpful and positive responses.

We now feel much happier about going to a show. Thanks for all your good wishes.

Cheers - Happy (again)

suffolkb

I stayed at Farringdon with 2 of my daughters(14 and 16) the week before christmas.If you turn left when you leave the lodge,it`s about a 5 min walk to a nice area of shops/bars.A bus there every 10 mins or so will take you to Harrods via Picadilly circus.Buy a 1 day bus pass each (was £3) and you can use it until the early hours if you stay for a late drink.You can get a lovely full english breakfast at the cafe 2 doors away for £4 and they provide the papers.
I went by train,but next time i`ll take the car to the lodge.£15 a day and then i won`t need a taxi back to Liverpool St with the shopping.
London is pretty safe.I was perfectly happy to let the girls wander off and go shopping.

Fossil_2

colmil wrote:

If there are two of you, may I suggest that you take a taxi, purely to save the walking between the various underground stations, and bearing in mind that you both travel in one vehicle and the time you will save, well worth it!

More like time you will waste sitting in the traffic

SnowyOwl wrote:

However, King's X is not what you might call salubrious. I would take the minicab or black cab option myself for the late return to the hotel. Don't want to alarm you in any way, it's just not an especially nice area and I think the extra few pounds will be worth it for peace of mind.

Kings Cross isn't that dangerous, just stick to the main well lit roads and you should be OK. I don't think I've seen any hookers hanging around, then again I don't look for these type of things

SallyD

London can boast plenty of night buses and you can virtually get a bus from the Travellodge directly to the theatre district. Kings Cross has a bit of a reputation because of the working girls in the area,if you are not looking for them you won't see them and most central stations in any city tend to be a bit grimey. Like any city in the world try not looking like a tourist, and dont walk about all day fearing someone will attack you. Come and enjoy yourself.