London taxi late at night

[Junestwitchyeye]

Hi, I'm just after some advice on taxis/transport back from the theatre to Battersea. I'm looking at trains, buses and taxis. A taxi would be easier and hopefully safer.

We're seeing an evening performance so will get out of the theatre approximately 10.15pm.

Just wondering if any London experts can give me some advice please.
It's just me travelling with a teen.

Thanks

Also... Black Cabs versus Uber?
Safety?

As a Londoner all my life I'd honestly feel safer getting the tube at that time of night. Black taxi that you hail is safe but I'd avoid booking via any apps. I got scammed recently and charged £200 for a 10 min black cab journey that I'd booked through an app. Eventually got refunded but was 10 days of emails and calls and stress while the head office investigated. Many taxi drivers I've come across recently seem frustrated and aggressive. I avoid unless absolutely necessary.

Is it a theatre in the west end? There will be plenty of black cabs you can take. Or a short walk to Charing X / Embankment for a train. Either way I wouldn't worry about safety, 10ish is still early it will be very busy out still

The tube will
Be Very safe at that
Time

Where
Are
You
Trying
To
Get
To?

I’d hail a cab or take the tube based on what was quickest/easiest and how tired I was. Both options are perfectly safe.

Oh Battersea

In that case tube whole way

Easy

tube for sure !!

10pm is hardly late! Get the tube.

Yes... It's not that late. I would get a black cab (hail one, don't book). Getting a cab home (rather than the tube/bus) to zone 2 is our big treat after a night out. Depending on the theatre, walk slightly upwind of it for the best chance of getting a cab quickly. But you'll always get one in the end.

The tube will be busy and safe. I’d be jumping on the Northern Line.

Bloody hell, central London is just getting warmed up at that time. There'll be people everywhere. The tube or a cab will both be perfectly safe.

It depends what your walk is like from the tube to the front door - there are some slightly iffy bits of Battersea. But generally speaking, if I were travelling between 10:30 and 11pm between the West End and Battersea with a teen I'd take the tube without a second thought.

Half the people on the tube carriage with you will be middle aged couples clutching theatre programmes.

Your biggest danger at that time in that place is pick pockets. Just be careful and sensible, no valuables on show, nothing in back pocket and have a little padlock on the zip if you are using a back pack. Otherwise, keys, money, cards, in money belt under your clothes, or zipped up front pocket, or hand bag under your arm.

There is virtually no threat of violence at that time in the west end. Some drunken stupidity later on maybe, but it is physically very safe.

But a black cab hailed from the street will be fine, if expensive.

It’s the west end at 10.15pm, not spilling out of a nightclub at 4am. You’ll be fine!

haha! I walk around London quite happily at 4 am! commuters and buses are up and running by then. It it the bit from about 11.30- 3.30 that I most worry about. But having said that, have been mugged at 2 in the afternoon - still I have lived in London 40 years going everywhere on public transport, and been physically threatened twice. No worse than anywhere else, I don't think, even in a rural village where my family home is the threat-rate was higher than that.

Tube and/or local train I would suggest.

Haha thanks all. I'm a country girl so big city life is different.

We can get as far as Battersea power station on the tube 👍
The hotel is just over 2 miles from there. 2 different buses.
Travelodge Battersea.

There's a rank a Battersea power station get a cab from there.

Thank you.
Is it near the tube station?

I’d get yourself to either Victoria or Waterloo from the theatre, and then it’s 2 stops on the train to Clapham Junction (about 5-7 min journey, v regular trains, you can hop on any one stopping at CJ and pay with contactless). Then jump in a taxi at CJ, again a short journey. Have a great time!

Which part of Battersea do you need to get to? It makes a big difference on the best transport option/ feeling safe….

Get the tube and walk. It’s still quite light at 10pm and Battersea is always busy.
I’d only get a cab (not black cab, rip off) after midnight

The Travel Lodge on York Road? Forget the tube you want Clapham Junction rail station.

It's not the most attractive part of Battersea but it isn't unsafe.

It's an easy 10 min walk from the station to York Road and there are literally hundreds of trains an hour that go to Clapham Junction.

Ah just seen it’s the travel lodge. Yes the suggestion to go to CJ and get a taxi from there is a good one - the walk isn’t great especially if you don’t know the area. Buses are ok but sounds like a cab would be more relaxing.