AIBU to feel nervous about my 10-year-old DD walking home alone around Latymer Upper Road/Latymer Road station?

[GentleMintCat]

DD has just started Year 6 and a few of her classmates already walk home on their own. They’ve instantly become the “cool ones” in everyone’s eyes, and now she also wants to walk alone.

It’s about a 20-minute walk, going past Latymer Road station, under the Westway, and along Latymer Road. While I do trust her and I want to empower her to become more independent before secondary, I feel really anxious about her walking alone through all that, especially given the level of crime, antisocial behaviour, and groups of teenagers around.

Am I being unreasonable to feel this way? Any thoughts or experiences?

P.S. I made mistake in the subject, it's Latymer station and Latymer road not Latymer upper!

No idea about that area but mine walked alone from y6 in a not great area and was fine, but it was a route full of kids and families at that time of day so I was never particularly concerned. It was good preparation for secondary school. But several children in the class were collected all the way through y6 and no one really cared once the novelty of walking alone wore off and conversations moved on to other things.

Can she walk with a friend? Can she walk some of the way by herself and meet you halfway?

Are any of her classmates walking the same way? If so, could she walk with them, and then maybe you'll feel easier about it. And surely there are parents walking with younger children so she wouldn't be completely alone amongst groups of teenagers etc.?

Latymer Road is my main concern, especially crossing under the Westway. Just two days ago I saw a man with his trousers down there. There’s a lot of unpredictable behaviour in that area and groups of teenagers hanging around and going wild.

The tricky part is that her best friend (from a lovely, very grounded family we really trust and share similar values/parenting approaches) is allowed a similar route. That makes DD feel a bit awkward and me too.

I wouldn’t normally let her walk alone in that area but I can’t help feeling the pressure because of her peers and especially bestie and her family who already invited her few times for after school playdate and suggested they walk together.

There is not a chance in hell that I would let my 10-year-old DD do that! My much older teen DS and many of his friends have been mugged in London in the last two years. One was badly beaten up by a gang of seven, while having all his valuables stolen (phone, laptop, wallet), another was slashed with a knife and thank god it only slashed his t-shirt, my DS was mugged by a gang of five who said they had a knife and would 'shank him' if he didn't hand over his phone. London is not a safe place for children, never has been, but it's particularly dangerous atm.

There will be other parents doing the school run. It’s right next to KAA school.

It’s normally busy at that time of day. Is she walking from KAA? What is her final destination roughly?

I’d really appreciate hearing from someone familiar with the area, especially the bit of Latymer Road coming from the Westway towards N Pole Rd. The other parts of the walk are fairly busy at that time, but Latymer Road itself feels much quieter.

No you’re not being unreasonable. I know the area well. I wouldn’t let my ten year old be unaccompanied round there.

Surely she just walks along Bramley Road ans not under the Westway itself except on the road? Or do you mean the bit between Bramley Road and Ladbroke Grove?

That part of Latimer Road is fine. It’s quite busy at that time. The whole area is a bit sketchy but busy at that time with school kids and parents.

Under the westway no I don’t think I’d be happy with that, just with the sheer amount of traffic around there.

What did the police say about that?

If you’ve actually seen a man with his trousers down hanging around there wouldn’t be a chance in hell I’d allow my DD to walk that way.

I used to tell my kids that I am the one that has their best interests at heart and if I won’t let them do something it’s for a very good reason. Don’t abdicate your parenting decisions because some other parent has made a judgement. That parent might not be aware of the flasher. Trust your own judgement.

Better to have a few weeks of whinging from your daughter than have something bad happen to her that could affect her for years. I’m sure she’ll thank you in the long run.

If your instincts are telling you no then it’s no. Even the slightest negative feeling then it’s no

Under the west way, girl aged 10 on her own? No chance x

Be careful posting about specific areas where children are walking unaccompanied at home time - you never know who’s reading!

I thought this, too. Not a good idea.

Have you walked the route at 3pm?

At school run time I would be OK with it. People everywhere

Surely you'd be better off looking at your local FB group and asking there?

The chances of MNetters knowing the exact area are much slimmer.

Yet there are multiple responses from MNetters who clearly do know the area well…

No from me

No idea about latymer, but she's 10 and it's dark at that time. Nope.

At age 10? Definitely not walking home from school alone - anywhere!

Absolutely no.

If you mean Latimer Rd tube and around there then as pp above has said it’s usually pretty busy in the day, but I still wouldn’t let my 10 year old do it alone for 20 mins. I’m surprised the school allows it, at our school it’s only the last term of Y6 that they walk alone. Which is still too early for some routes imo.