To go for night walks in London?

When I lived in London I was followed home across a park in broad daylight by a man shouting aggressively at me.

I wouldn’t go out at that time for a stroll but I would walk from A to B eg to get home.

I walk a lot in the evening with my dog. I think a dog makes you feel safer. It’s annoying we can’t relax more

Railton Rd hasn’t got worse! And was never worrying when I used to walk from the tube to almost H Hill every night late. Not unless you were a rival dealer or whatever yardie or triad wars were going on.

Now Brixton is pretty gentrified. But Railton Rd and surrounding streets do feel a bit more deserted (and therefore less safe) since the bloody LTNs stopped the traffic.

What about a bike ride

I walk around London late at night all the time.
Always have done, I couldn’t have done my job otherwise, frequently getting home 11pm and later.
Now I walk for exercise (have no dog) and live in a scruffy part of S London.

Millions and millions of hours are safely walked by women after dark.

The prison is of your own making.

I just love seeing all the big buildings at night

I wouldn’t feel safe doing this

When I lived in London I walked home from the last tube 3/4 times a week. Different tube stations / flats. Only one felt scary due to high walls. You could definitely go for a walk. But I’d start with a planned route rather than random wandering.

I would, and if I have a late meeting I often finish work and walk to the tube at that time so no different. I think 10 would be my cut off.

It wouldn’t even occur to me to worry about going for a walk at night, in London or anywhere else. How do you imagine most women get around in the evenings?! People are still coming home from work shifts or going out to meet friends at those times. It’s really not a big deal at all. The chances of being attacked are tiny.

It isn’t a prison. The prison is of your own making. Go out.

I go for night walks all the time in the warmer weather.

I mean this not sarcastically, but with empathy, because I suffer from it as well - being a woman is not a prison. Anxiety is a prison.

I do it all the time as it helps me sleep and I like walking as I like to process the day.

I do a loop through Well street common E9 which is a bit quiet, but so far so good.

I live in a poor area of London but have often come home alone late and never had a problem nor do I know anyone who has. More likely to have issues around areas with bars etc where a lot of drunk idiots are.

Of course at that time. Why not?! I thought you meant at 4am.

I do it. I live in Bermondsey and I go
for a walk along the river.

I love zone 1 walks at night. I love seeing all the buildings

I grew up in the Elephant and Castle from aged 10 till I moved aged 38 and I didn’t just go wandering, I had the common sense to know where not to go and I even went there a few times but I had a mate who lived in the Elephant and you had to go through the Labryinth of tunnels which was underneath the Elephant and I never got in trouble, I used to drink in all black pubs in Brixton when I lived there and do the walk of shame back home along Railton Rd which was considered the front line at the time. I left over 10 years ago and I know it’s got worse cause I stop with family a few times a year but use your commen sense, we’re not living in Jack the Ripper times it’s worse , so be careful.

From Vauxhall your 2-3 miles would likely take you through some pretty busy places at that time of night so I'd say fine. Vary the route, enjoy different bits of London.

Yes there's a risk of crime but that's a risk in daylight too, and on public transport etc.

Any chance you could find a companion(s) to join you? That might assuage your worries even if it wasn't every night.

Also agree that running likely to draw more attention than walking as for all anyone knows you're just walking from (eg) Vauxhall to parliament and about to meet friends. Whereas with running it's clear you're out for a bit and likely on own for a while. Or at least that's how I'd see it though obviously I'm not someone thinking about attacking women so perhaps thats not the right way of assessing the risk.

Based on experience, I've had more unpleasant incidents on the tube at that time. I absolutely hate the tube though. do you carry an alarm? Public transport is actually the most useful place for that.

I'm really sorry that your colleague was threatened with a knife. Unfortunately, this has happened to people I know in the rush-hour at busy stations. I'm very aware that London is in a really grim phase at the moment. But honestly, I don't think time of day makes a difference.

I don't know what your route would be like really after you cross the river I suppose you've got lots of options. But take the precautions you take in London any time and enjoy. I always used to try and get a bus home rather than tube because I guess buses feel a bit more open and visible. Most of the incidents have been lone men saying unpleasant things though. I know some women don't find that intimidating, but I do. If you walk fast and with purpose that will help.

sorry if my posts seem disjointed. MN have screwed up my view so I am set to endless scroll. And can't really do anything properly. And they don't seem to want to help out so I do apologise if I've missed anything.

I went for long walks every night when I lived in S London. Made me so happy. I didn't go down alleys or anything. I found that running drew more attention from sleazy men than walking or the gym.

@ThisFluentBiscuit I don't consider this a night walk. Many people will be coming back from work at that time. Or coming back from social stuff at that time. it will be absolutely fine.

If you don't normally go out at that time, then you might be surprised how busy it is. I didn't live in Vauxhall when I was in London, but even my far out area was pretty busy if I went for a wander at midnight.

edit - yes it was lockdown but Sarah was targeted by a police officer. My area was absolutely crawling with the police in lockdown and they had megaphones in the park telling us all that we were only allowed to be there for exercise and we had to go home.

So I took to going out around one or 2 am and I saw a few sole joggers who presumably were as pissed off with the daytime situation. (I was suicidal so I was pretty much past caring about safety)