I know I’m being silly but can anyone reassure me around safety in London

[Fishbell]

I’ve booked to go to the theatre in London this weekend with DD, 14.

We are seeing a show in Covent Garden area and are staying at the premier inn at Blackfriars.

It looks like a simple walk along Aldwych / strand / fleet st to the hotel and we’ll be leaving the show at about 5.45 on Saturday afternoon/ evening.

I’ve looked at the route and it seems fine but I can’t help thinking it will be dark and with it just being me and DD I’m feeling a bit nervous about walking to the hotel.

Please reassure me there’ll be lots of people around and it will be safe? It looks so quiet in google street view I’m just hoping it won’t be sketchy in these areas 😬

It’ll be fine. But get a cab if you’ll be too nervous to enjoy it.

Absolutely it’ll be fine. I used to work at the BBC office (then at Aldwych) a couple of years ago, and the Fleet Street route is really safe, even at night.

That’s a simple walk. It will be fine and would usually be very busy. I’m not sure how it’s been during the pandemic in terms of business but it certainly isn’t a walk that would concern me.

Aldwich/strand/Fleet Street are all main roads so you will be fine. There will be lots of people around as it is quite touristy and lots of buses/traffic. I worked around there for years and wandered around much later than that and always felt safe.

Enjoy your show!

Yes it will be fine, not sketchy at all. It’ll probably be fairly quiet on the pavements when you get up towards Blackfriars but there will be traffic etc, it won’t be dead. I would have no concerns in that area.

There are plenty of buses running from Aldwych down to Fleet Street. If you are lucky you might find an old routemaster on the 15 route.

It is a perfectly safe and well lit place to walk. Less busy than usual currently so you won’t be crowded

If you are nervous you could always take the number 11 bus from Aldwych to Ludgate circus (both of you would need to touch on only with a contactless debit card or an Oyster card).

I'm a country bumpkin with good knowledge of central London. I would feel safer walking from Blackriars to Covent Garden than I would most equivalent distances in the country.

One cannot fart in London without cameras picking it up.

I mean this in the kindest way OP, but I almost laughed out loud at your post.

I have walked or cycled that route hundreds of times in the dark and never even had a sniff of a problem.

OP it's definitely fine. I let my 12 walk that route on her own and no problems. Enjoy the show!

I'd be far more worried about catching Covid from the very busy theatre areas than general safety. You should be fine, grab a cab or a disco tuk tuk if you don't fancy walking. Or a bus.

Yep totally agree with pp that you’ll be fine, we walked all round central London when we were there last month in the dark, it was generally busy with pedestrians (but not crowded, mostly) and I didn’t feel unsafe for a moment. Have a fab time op.

That’s a really nice evening walk 👍🏼. It’s the kind of thing you’d do with a friend, partner or your mum if you want to walk to the train station rather than get on the tube because it’s nicer to have the fresh air, even if it’s cold and dark.

I've never felt unsafe walking around central London. There are always people around!

OP I totally sympathise as I do the Google streetview thing when I'm in a new city to make sure a route looks safe! I'm quite an anxious person but also live in London and I know that area well - I promise it'll be totally fine! I've walked that way loads of times and 5.45 isn't late - even in pandemic times there will be plenty of people out and about. There are a few pubs and restaurants on the route so likely to be people on their way to drinks/dinner/theatre. Don't worry at all!

It will be SO safe! It’s central London - it’s always busy. I’ve been stuck in traffic at 2am before.

Enjoy the weekend.

Oh it’s central and busy - you’ll be fine!

Yes but maybe budget for a cab if your worried?

Gosh it should be absolutely fine but bloody freezing (so I’d get a cab!)

I live in London and that’s absolutely safe and fine. Central London is so safe, lots of people around and loads of traffic

I mean this in the kindest way OP, but I almost laughed out loud at your post.

I had to read the comments first to see if I was the only one. I always chuckle at posts like these from non Londoners. It's as if some people view London like the rough areas of Chicago and think something will happen whilst simply walking down the road.
Honestly you'll be fine

I've lived in London my whole life and I was walking around town on my own/with friends when I was younger than your daughter.

6pm in Covent Garden is about the most brightly lit, sanitised, safe, touristy place and time you could possibly imagine.

Ah lovely thanks for the reassurance - I knew I was being daft but thought I’d better just check that it didn’t suddenly get very quiet and a bit unsafe down that way - google street view around our hotel looks almost void of people and I can imagine it feeling pretty lonely after dark.
I’m sure we’ll enjoy the walk as long as it’s dry. Thanks all, we are looking forward to it (just hope we manage to avoid Covid)

Aldwych / Fleet Street / Strand will be completely fine at that time of evening (or any time of day /evening to be honest) - it’s a busy area, well lit, plenty of traffic, easy walk to Blackfriars.

You aren’t going to feel lonely and scared in Blackfriars at 6pm! Honestly it’s very central London and fine. I think the street view messages must have be taken in the very early morning or something.

*streetview images!