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’s a very safe route.

My daughter moved to London in the summer and works at a theatre on The Strand. She leaves the theatre at 11pm at night. It will be busy full of tourists at matinee chuck out time.

Have a lovely time.

It is incredibly safe round there. Honestly I'd far rather walk down there at 1am than anywhere else I can think of, including the sleep y town where I grew up.

It is quite quiet at night, but still very safe. A fair amount of traffic goes past, including regular buses.

There are a lot of offices round there which have 24/7 private security monitoring what goes on outside, including down the side street leading to that Premier Inn. Honestly OP, no need to worry at all. I've regularly walked around there in the early hours as a single woman for years.

Oh, and if you want a nicer but cheaper breakfast than the Premier Inn offers, walk the 5 minutes to Leon at the junction of Fleet Street and Farringdon Street.

You'll be fine but if you're worried get a cab, no point being anxious and ruining your evening

I think walking round London is much nicer in the dark. Have a fab time!

The hotel is set back a few steps from the main road but I stay there frequently and I've always felt very safe there. I choose it specifically because the traffic noise is much lower and I sleep better in that hotel. Good choice!

We always stay at this hotel and have walked this route at all hours of the day and night and it's honestly fine. Always a few people, a good amount of tragic and busses and well lit. It'll still be busy early evening. FYI the Mexican round the corner from the hotel is lovely. Enjoy yourselves!

Perfectly safe!

If you're going to see Frozen, you'll both have a great time, it's amazing.

Traffic! Never come across any tragic 😁

I stayed in the Blackfriars Premier Inn in the summer holidays and my teenagers were coming and going on at all hours, mostly to the Tesco on the corner for meal deals. There are always people around.

We went to the Globe and walked there and back (dark on the way home) with no issues.

I work in the building behind the premier in and sometimes leave very late at night, you'll be more than safe.
It will actually be a lot quiter on a Saturday at that time than it usually is during the week

Some routes on street view will have been updated during lockdowns, remember, so will look far quieter than normal.

I've jogged alone down there after dark many times and never felt concerned. You'll be fine. Enjoy the view 😊

Fine to walk but get the bus- the best route in London!

It's hard to imagine a safer area than that one at that time, tbh.

@1990s

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.

That's not especially helpful to the op.
It's good you are okay with this but there is a reason why the op posted. Please respect that.

It’s so safe. I wouldn’t worry for a second. I walk around London on my own a lot and the west end is really safe. Enjoy yourselves!

@gildalily

We always stay at this hotel and have walked this route at all hours of the day and night and it's honestly fine. Always a few people, a good amount of tragic and busses and well lit. It'll still be busy early evening. FYI the Mexican round the corner from the hotel is lovely. Enjoy yourselves!

Thank you, we’ve already booked a table at Cheeky Chico’s the Mexican! Looking forward to the trip, just need to get up early and make the most of the Sunday before the train back at 4pm

@Fishbell you won't be sorry! We really enjoyed the food and atmosphere in there on both occasions we've been.

This will be a very safe route. If you’re not sure, you can get on the District line at Temple. It’s only a few stops to Blackfriars.

One cannot fart in London without cameras picking it up.

Now you tell me!

Actually it’s only one stop!!

Hey all, just to say thanks so much. We had a great time and as the weather dried up in the evening took the opportunity to walk the 15 minutes from the Novello to the hotel at Blackfriars. It was simple - not as thronging with people as I’d have liked (to be honest) and although it didn’t feel unsafe I did keep looking to see who was walking behind 😂

We had to cut through Salisbury Court to the hotel and we were the only ones around - it was fine but I’d have preferred more people about. I think I’ll feel happier if DH is with us if we do it again.

Cheeky Chico’s was lovely - again it was very quiet, only two tables full at 7.30pm but they said it was quiet due to the restrictions.

Great weekend had - just hope we’ve managed to avoid covid now!

@Fishbell glad that you had a good time and sorry that it felt a bit quiet. Fingers crossed on the covid front!

Glad you had a good time!