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Original poster

AIBU to feel nervous about my 10-year-old DD walking home alone around Latymer Upper Road/Latymer Road station?

88 replies

GentleMintCat · 22/09/2025 11:56

DD has just started Year 6 and a few of her classmates already walk home on their own. They’ve instantly become the “cool ones” in everyone’s eyes, and now she also wants to walk alone.

It’s about a 20-minute walk, going past Latymer Road station, under the Westway, and along Latymer Road. While I do trust her and I want to empower her to become more independent before secondary, I feel really anxious about her walking alone through all that, especially given the level of crime, antisocial behaviour, and groups of teenagers around.

Am I being unreasonable to feel this way? Any thoughts or experiences?

P.S. I made mistake in the subject, it's Latymer station and Latymer road not Latymer upper!

OP posts:
Bbq1 · 22/09/2025 15:45

tripleginandtonic · 22/09/2025 13:50

I think men with bad intentions already know where schools are located.

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Agreed but actually naming the quiet stretches where children are unaccompanied isn't particularly wise.

IneedtheeohIneedtheeeveryhourIneedthee · 22/09/2025 14:46

Make sure she has a phone and ideally, a personal alarm.

If she can walk with a friend, even part of the way, better.

LemondrizzleShark · 22/09/2025 14:46

SundayGirl1 · 22/09/2025 12:34

Be careful posting about specific areas where children are walking unaccompanied at home time - you never know who’s reading!

They are walking unaccompanied everywhere in London at 3pm! Most children walk home from year 6, though I do agree that in this particular case it sounds like the route isn’t particularly safe.

Our route is luckily down suburban streets with just one main road to cross, but there are shortcuts/alleyways I wouldn’t allow DS to use as they are phone theft/mugging hotspots.

Absentosaur · 22/09/2025 14:35

WalkDontWalk · 22/09/2025 14:26

I'm often on sites like MN and others telling people that London really isn't as dangerous and hellish as many people claim, and that the hysteria about knife crime and abductions is rather laughable.

But, no, not a ten-year-old under the Westway on dark winter evenings. Not even in a group.

Exactly and exactly.

WalkDontWalk · 22/09/2025 14:26

I'm often on sites like MN and others telling people that London really isn't as dangerous and hellish as many people claim, and that the hysteria about knife crime and abductions is rather laughable.

But, no, not a ten-year-old under the Westway on dark winter evenings. Not even in a group.

EmeraldShamrock000 · 22/09/2025 14:22

No. I'd agree to pick up her up half way, she can be half cool.
Yanbu. There is a lot of loons who are out of their mind. Society is falling apart.

moresoup · 22/09/2025 14:20

VioletandMauve · 22/09/2025 13:42

At age 10? Definitely not walking home from school alone - anywhere!

Do you mean in London? Or anywhere full stop?
There's plenty of places it's totally fine to let a 10 year old walk on their own

moresoup · 22/09/2025 14:19

Unicorn34 · 22/09/2025 14:18

Would she be walking any part of this alone? If so, could you meet her at that point. I don't know the area so just generalising.

This is what a lot of parents I know did, meet part way /gradually meet further away

Unicorn34 · 22/09/2025 14:18

Would she be walking any part of this alone? If so, could you meet her at that point. I don't know the area so just generalising.

moresoup · 22/09/2025 14:14

SundayGirl1 · 22/09/2025 12:34

Be careful posting about specific areas where children are walking unaccompanied at home time - you never know who’s reading!

I agree!

SundayGirl1 · 22/09/2025 14:13

tripleginandtonic · 22/09/2025 13:50

I think men with bad intentions already know where schools are located.

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I do see what you’re saying, just not sure about being so specific with routes that ten year olds are walking alone. You can’t be too careful I don’t think.

Buxusmortus · 22/09/2025 14:01

VioletandMauve · 22/09/2025 13:42

At age 10? Definitely not walking home from school alone - anywhere!

What are you talking about? If you live in a quiet village what on earth is the problem with a 10 year old walking home from school? My children walked for 10 minutes home from age 9 in a village where there was a crossing patrol outside school then had to cross a couple of side roads, my 10 year old granddaughter walked home for 10 minutes in a nice suburb, never any problems.
Although I don't know the area the OP is talking about it doesn't seem an appropriate area for a 10 year old to walk home however.

tripleginandtonic · 22/09/2025 13:50

Bbq1 · 22/09/2025 12:51

I thought this, too. Not a good idea.

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I think men with bad intentions already know where schools are located.

AngularMerkin · 22/09/2025 13:46

If you mean Latimer Rd tube and around there then as pp above has said it’s usually pretty busy in the day, but I still wouldn’t let my 10 year old do it alone for 20 mins. I’m surprised the school allows it, at our school it’s only the last term of Y6 that they walk alone. Which is still too early for some routes imo.

Angryhag · 22/09/2025 13:44

Absolutely no.

VioletandMauve · 22/09/2025 13:42

At age 10? Definitely not walking home from school alone - anywhere!

coxesorangepippin · 22/09/2025 13:38

No from me

No idea about latymer, but she's 10 and it's dark at that time. Nope.

WolfingtonBear · 22/09/2025 13:23

mzpq · 22/09/2025 13:18

Surely you'd be better off looking at your local FB group and asking there?

The chances of MNetters knowing the exact area are much slimmer.

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Yet there are multiple responses from MNetters who clearly do know the area well…

mzpq · 22/09/2025 13:18

GentleMintCat · 22/09/2025 12:25

I’d really appreciate hearing from someone familiar with the area, especially the bit of Latymer Road coming from the Westway towards N Pole Rd. The other parts of the walk are fairly busy at that time, but Latymer Road itself feels much quieter.

Surely you'd be better off looking at your local FB group and asking there?

The chances of MNetters knowing the exact area are much slimmer.

Ablondiebutagoody · 22/09/2025 13:15

At school run time I would be OK with it. People everywhere

TheNightingalesStarling · 22/09/2025 12:55

Have you walked the route at 3pm?

Bbq1 · 22/09/2025 12:51

SundayGirl1 · 22/09/2025 12:34

Be careful posting about specific areas where children are walking unaccompanied at home time - you never know who’s reading!

I thought this, too. Not a good idea.

SundayGirl1 · 22/09/2025 12:34

Be careful posting about specific areas where children are walking unaccompanied at home time - you never know who’s reading!

Absentosaur · 22/09/2025 12:33

Under the west way, girl aged 10 on her own? No chance x

Kingoftheroad · 22/09/2025 12:33

If your instincts are telling you no then it’s no. Even the slightest negative feeling then it’s no