2 teens going to Alexander Palace alone for concert, what is safest way to travel into London after, how do you book taxis

[SwanR1ver]

Sorry we live miles away and they’re going on an adventure.😳Sorted it all themselves but not keen on going on tube for 40 mins back to their hotel in Kensington as worried about safety. How much would a taxi be and what is best place to book?

Yes I’ll be getting zero sleep that night.

I thought they were teens - they’re adults!! Surely they’ve managed to travel alone before? There will be loads of people queuing for busses. I’ve been to lots of his there as a teen and had to wait for a few busses until I’ve managed to get on. If I go now I get a cab or walk as I’m nearby. I just walk to the high road and get a cab from there. There’s a pub (The Park Inn) that’s open till 1am so they can just get a drink there and wait for an Uber if they don’t want the hassle of the bus. Do they know how far away Kensington is? North Kensington is a bit rough, and South is a bit fuddy duddy for young adults. So many nearer and cooler places to stay.

My niece is 16 and makes her way round London every weekend with her friends. How do you think teenagers here cope?!

If it's a gig then remember it will be them plus 100s of other people heading to the train station. They won't be on their own wandering lost and confused. There will probably be marshalls directing people which way to go.

If you’re genuinely that concerned, why not encourage these 2 adults to stay nearer the venue.

So no to train? They are 18/19 but we live in Devon. It’s the night time thing that’s worrying me.

18 and 19?! Sheesh, I was barely coming home at weekends at that age! Anyway, who’s not keen on the evening tube, you or them? Tubes are very busy (in a good way) at that time of night.

Yes, it will be safe. London is busy busy busy on a Friday night (but they are mad staying so far away from the venue).

CityMapper App as previous posters have said.

I thought you were going to say they are 14/15- they are adults! I went to live abroad on my own for a year at that age!

Do you not have night time in Devon?

Yes but clearly London at night is very different.

They'll be fine my friend and I used to go to gigs in London at 16 and just get night buses home. It's so busy and everyone was really helpful at bus stops about which bus to get if we weren't sure.

It really isn’t scary though. It’s busy! We get traffic jams at 11pm and everything!

I thought you were going to say they're 16! They're adults!! They'll be fine. I'm a Londoner and was going all over the place with friends from about 13.

Last time I was up there (firework display) DP and I walked to a tube station (might have been Wood Green) only took about 20 mins, all downhill and it meant we missed the crowds for the train and bus.

Otherwise, there are plenty of busses and the train usually runs a bit later on gig days.

Alternatively, there is a taxi rank but for that I'd spend a couple of hours in the onsite pub to let the crowd disperse a bit.

I’d feel much safer getting home at night in London with loads of people and all the street lights than rural Devon in the pitch black and nobody about!

Train and tube will be fine. I’ve done journeys like that in London on my own at night loads of times. It’s as safe as anywhere else. It will be busy with lots of other people travelling back somewhere. Try to stop worrying so much, they’re not little kids!

@SwanR1ver the screenshot of the train times shows there are regular trains which as people have said they can then switch to the tube at Finsbury Park.
As I said there will be 100s of people heading in the same direction. They need to walk with the crowd.
Gigs are usually well organized with marshalls and signs.
The important bit is knowing how to get from the tube station in Kensington to the hotel. Tube stations are usually well staffed so they can ask for help but I would recommend downloading a street map or Google earth and planning the route.

Ok will signpost the app and this thread so they can see the options. They’ve booked it all ,keen on staying in Kensington, think they want to do something there the next day.🤷‍♀️

I wouldn't spend too long walking/waiting around Wood Green late at night but like PPs have said, W3 to Finsbury Park should be fine. I've done that jouney a lot and never had problems.

What is it you are actually imagining happening? I'm a Londoner, perhaps I can address your actual fears?

They want to get W3 bus to Wood Green tube.

Then the Piccadilly Line Westbound to Barons Court and then walk for about 10 mins.

The CityMapper app will physically show them the route whilst they are using it. It’s Sat Nav for walking.

Best thing to do after allypally is to either walk or get the bus from outside the venue down to wood green tube on the piccadilly line.

The traffic is a nightmare and waiting for a cab to make it through is mad. from wood green they can get a cab from there, easier to just book via uber as they can share their journey with you so you can keep an eye.

it is quicker to get the tube though!

Bloody hell, 18 and 19! I thought you meant a couple of 15 year olds.

Unless they have spent the last 18 years living in a cave they will be fine. There will be a big crowd heading to publiuc transport.

They aren't the issue, OP, it's your nervousness and anxiety that is. They'll be just fine.

i'd say the entrance at wood green tube is much more open and well lit than at finsbury pk.

18 and 19! Do they have some additional needs? Wouldn't they just type the post code of their hotel into Google Maps/City Mapper and follow the instructions?!

But, as you asked:

Walk down the hill to Wood Green when the concert finishes. It's not a "naice" area but it's not dangerous and there will be a stream of people all going the same way.

Get on the Piccadilly line at Wood Green into town.

Ok my fears are stabbings, them getting separated and Dd ending up alone in the dark in a dodgy area….😬Feel free to alleviate my fears. They’ve navigated NYC alone on the subway but it was in daylight and in safe parts of the city. Son is pretty savvy.

According to their website their is a shuttle bus to and from Alexander Palace to Wood Green tube for concerts. £2 return.
They can travel with the crowd leaving the concert and will be fine, Spending some time planning their route on TFL website will be useful and give them confidence.
I'm old and have never lived in London. I 've travelled around on tubes and buses late at night after concerts and shows at the theatre and never felt unsafe. There are always plenty of people around, It's nothing like dark,almost deserted small town bus stations and empty streets that OP is imagining.