Are there any no go areas in London

[iLoveFoood]

Are there any completely no go areas in London? And why?

Are these violent or extremely dangerous areas, full of gangs or what?

Oxford street on a Saturday just before Christmas or late night shopping. Hell on earth.

For me, Seven Sisters, Tottenham and Edmonton are not safe (don't ask me how I know this, but take my word for it). It's basically one really long road that passes through the three areas. I've had a knife pulled on my boyfriend there, been mugged, robbed, basically anything goes there. There is no way on earth I'd let my child walk alone there day or night.
The only other place I've felt unsafe (robbed) was Stratford. There's also a very long road, Leytonstone High Road, that runs about 2 miles from Leytonstone, down towards the Stratford border. It's a red light district there (at the Stratford border end - near Maryland station).

Oh and another place - Ilford.
And Wood Green.
Lol, gosh.
I'm just thinking of where I'd let my dc out alone and the above, no way.
So basically the inner parts of north London and East London.

Spudlet

Lisson Grove?!!! Why??

I wouldn't avoid anywhere in particular, but am cautious walking in unlit areas alone at night. So I get ubers/cabs. I advise my children the same. I'm not keen on them getting the tubes/nightbuses so they are linked to my uber adccount.

Gang crime (aka the knife crime issue of the moment) is very unlikely to be an issue unless you're in a gang (!) and general muggings and sexual assaults etc happen everywhere.

I'm a born and bred Londoner.

I avoid parks after dark, and certain areas I'd stick to main streets after dark unless I knew it well enough not to get my phone out.

I live in North London and work in East London, and agree Seven Sisters and Edmonton Green can be dodgy if you don't know where you're going so look lost. Hackney, including Homerton where my job is based, is finemduring the day and not too bad after dark as long as you're not wondering around some of the estatesmwhere it can be easy to get lost. I'm another who agrees if you're not involved in gangs, drugs etc, you're unlikely to be targeted.

Christmaschristmaschristmas infused to work in Lisson Grove area, the estate can be dodgy.

I used not infused.

Zulor, I'm in Wood Green, I've never felt unsafe there, but maybe it's because I know the area well.

I’ve walked through Hyde park at night in the rain (I’m winter). Jesus it actually gets pitch black in London and rather muddy by the serpentine 🤬

@spidey66 yes by the canal can be intimidating but the streets between Lisson Grove and Edgware Road are fine. Lots of social housing but lots of normal, nice families living in it.

Also as a Londoner I wouldn't walk through a park in the dark alone!

Jumping over the fence is usually done after a few drinks ‘oh I can’t just scoot over the park - it’s not far - how dark can it be - I know the way, I could do it with my eyes closed...’. I once tore a jumper hopping over the railings.

OP there are no no go areas in London if you’re a middle class middle aged woman I’ve been everywhere in London for work and pleasure and have never felt threatened or intimidated I think it’s all about confidence and how streetwise you are

Lisson Grove estate has a bad reputation, and as has been mentioned areas with expensive housing can be targeted for crime, putting the two together......

I was assaulted at a bus stop in Wood Green and literally lambasted out onto the middle of the road by a woman (she was about 6 foot tall, and I'm tinchy). I've also seen a vicious road rage incident there. There are constantly police vans pulling up. It's not a nice area. I was only there about 3 months, but it's badass.

I don't think there are no go areas as such

I think there are no go areas depending on who you are at different times

I wouldn't walk round Peckham at 3am personally as a woman, I'd probably be fine but I would feel vulnerable

If I was a gang member even walking down a busy high street in broad daylight might be something I felt too vulnerable to do

Other people could do both of those things quite safely probably

Here is a gang map of London.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6142449/Battleground-London-Street-street-territories-capitals-200-plus-gangs.html
Most gang violence takes place between people who know each other. Therefore I would say none of the so called territories are lawless no go areas. There is one right at the back of my house. There was a gang murder last year but I still went to Weight Watchers in the church hall.
However there are some estates that by their poor design are intimidating. Thing is, London is so very busy at all hours of the day and night, it is a lot less scary than say, Birmingham.

Wouldn’t go in any park alone at night just something drummed into me when young. Plenty of areas like Coldharbour lane in Brixton it certain Battersea estates which I would have avoided at night alone years & years ago are fine now & expensive. Sister lived in Hackney for years & no issues. Whilst areas like South Norwood & Thornton Heath didn’t bother me when young as I had friends there but now there are defo parts I would avoid at night.

I lived in Wood Green for over 10 years and walked around at all hours just fine. I really wouldn't say it's a no go area.

And whilst I agree that your not really a target unless in a gang or looking for drugs perhaps more opportunity for mugging etc. Having said that I live in a naice area of SW London & we have lots of theft. I think if you’re familiar with an area you are more confident. Lots of estates are badly designed, minimal lighting etc so just feel scary if your not used to them.

Harlesden is a pretty scary place tbh.

Shadwell as well is somewhere I dont like walking around after seeing two women fighting with machetes over the last chicken from one of the meat shops over the road from the station under the arches.

Other places in london I wouldnt want to walk around at night are bow, mile end, lancaster grove estates by the canel, lisson grove, south kilburn.

Not that they are no go areas. I just wouldnt be keen to walk around alone at night there.

LordProfFecko I once rescued a bloke from the toilets when cutting through a park at night.
He'd been having a wee and the toilets were locked with him inside. He was sitting under the hand dryer repeatedly pressing the button to keep warm. Parks police came and let him out in the end.

Madame Tussaud’s and The Clink museum, very dodgy places.

And to whoever mentioned Brockley, it’s generally fine these days, unless you have a fear of beards, craft beer and expensive coffee shops

Yeah @Notquiteagandt I've not heard great things about Harlesden. However, Louis Theroux lives there so I wondered if it's actually ok?!

Zulor....i've lived in Wood Green over 20 years and while it's tatty and rough round the edges, with a fair share of crime, a lot of deprivation, homelessness etc, and does have it's share of ....ahem....characters...i've never seen anything like you have. Admittedly, I'm up towards the palace, where it's not as deprived as Wood Green/Turnpike Lane/Lordship lane, though I'd still be OK in those parts.