to worry about getting the tube across London late at night with my twelve year old?

[lottielou39]

am taking her to a concert at the Royal Albert Hall and our return trip will be a 30 min tube journey back to a mainline station late at night. (and I believe it's quite a long walk back to the tube station from the RAH).
AIBU to be a bit nervous about us being on our own, late at night, on the tube etc? Am half tempted to send her with her Dad, or am I being a wuss?

It'll be fine, there will be plenty of people around that area (and it really is a very safe area) and on the Tube. Yes it is only about 10 mins walk to the station from the RAH, shouldn't be a problem at all.

I've often got the Tube home on my own after going out for dinner or drinks or a concert or something, and it's always been fine, not lonely at all - in fact sometimes it's like a late-night rush hour as everyone tries to catch their last train home! Seriously I've never worried the slightest bit about it, the only bit I feel I have to be careful about is walking from the station to my house (not such a nice area) but central London or the West End are absolutely fine.

It will be really really busy, even the last trains are packed. I used to get the last train out of Charring X all the time and never felt unsafe - it was just like it is in the day.

I used to go to london when I was 13-14 with my mates. Spend the day there and then come home on the tube and train. There is some areas I won't walk alone in london but RAH is in a very nice area and there will be hundreds of people around. Just use a bag that goes across your body and don't flash your phone money etc around, I normally get the cockfosters line home and find by the end of the line that we are the last ones on the train. If you feel uncomfortable at all just move carriages.
I love london tho

If you are worried that something might happen - why would you send her father instead? Surely if you are worried then you use a different mode of transport.

I agree with ivykaty actually - if you think it's so dangerous, surely neither of you should do it? You'd get a taxi or something instead.

Seriously though it'll be fine, I wouldn't even give it a second thought.

If you're too nervous to get on the Tube why not get a cab from the Albert Hall to the main line train station. Of course it's a lot more expensive but if it stops you worrying..... and there should be loads of cabs outside or crusing past as the concert ends.

If its the weekend check the mainline station train times as I got stuck in London after a Albert Hall Concert ended at 1030pm as unbeknownst to me the trains out of London on my line stopped at about 11pm - sometimes they don't run as late as you think they will (weekdays seem a little better). I was certain they must run up to midnight on a Saturday but they didn't. The nasty B&B we had to stay in is etched forever in my memory.

Am sure you are much better organised

Anyway, you'll have a lovely time and I'm sure you'll be perfectly safe - London is pretty busy any time of day or night and the walk back to the tube will be with loads of other concert goers.

Yabu.
What are you worried about? Statistically more crime happens in daylight hours.
I always feel much safer walking in Londin late at night, than in the town I moved to.
London tends to have lots of people around late at night, plenty of night buses, and better lit.
Enjoy your concert.

Interestingly I would have no problems wandering around London very late at night - I would have a big problem walking through our small market town at pub closing time.

As others have said, you will be fine and amongst a lot of people in a decent area. The only safety concern might be pickpockets. Just be vigilant about bags, purse, phone.

The underground at night is usually crowded. If I am ever on a sparsely populated tube I try to get in the carriage nearest the driver's cab.

Are you anxious about getting the mainline train home, or getting home from the train or is it just the walk from RAH and the tube journey?

I would feel far more vulnerable on a mainline train late at night and the station at the other end, than on the Tube or bus in central London. My most recent experience was with a very aggressive/weird man on the train quite late at night, I had to change carriages and even then he was roaming up and down the train in a threatening manner until apprehended by the police. And drunk people are sometimes horrid on quieter routes.

I would be inclined to sort this part of the journey out, check out as someone else says, what time the trains run, how often, and get someone to meet you at the other end/have your car keys at the ready. I think it's very unlikely you will have any problems, but you do need to be alert travelling late at night.

YABU, you'll be fine! You'd be suprised how busy the trains are late at night.

You are being a bit of a wuss, but if you aren't familiar with London, I can understand. It is fine.

As everyone says, it is always busy.

funnily enough I wasn't worried about getting our main train back from Kings Cross, silly eh?! I guess that feels safe, travelling back from the big scary city to my little village. But you've given me food for thought about that!

I'm going next Sunday to see Jessie J!

But I will be drunk.

you'll be fine!!

that's good

so we've allayed your fears about London transport, but put the wind up you about network rail

Some of us live here, you know. With children and everything

What's late at night? Are you going to south ken?

We trekked our DDs from St Pancras to Heathrow at 11pm in the aftermath of the volcano debacle in 2010. They were 9 and 7.

The tube was packed most of the way. It was fine. (DD1 fell asleep )

We did it in January with our 5 year old after seeing Cirque du Soleil about 10:30. It was a Sunday evening and very busy. DS loved it and fell asleep on the train on the way home.

Train will be much more scary than the London bit

I think I'm just a bit worried because it's just me and dd, no husband (no big protective man to look after poor pathetic female, lol!)- but I'll man up and just get on with it. I need to get out more!