Barnes - getting home at night

[Magissa]

My dd is thinking of renting in Barnes Close to Hammersmith Bridge. With the Bridge closed for the foreseeable future can anyone tell me about getting home at night. Eg tube to Hammersmith then walking. Is it a lonely walk? Is Bridge construction happening overnight? I love the area and the flat but realistically getting home safely at night could be an issue.

Barnes is really lovely but the bridge isn't under construction as far as I know and I wouldn't count on it for 3 or 4 years. Where would she be coming in from at night? It's very very safe but it's a bit of a public transport no man's land. Could she come in to Barnes station or Barnes bridge station and get the bus back? Where is she looking at, Castelnau?

Have a look on nextdoor.com for Castelnau and see what people are doing for public transport at night. I drive so won't be up to date. It's a really lovely place to live.

One of the roads off Castelnau just by the bridge. I guess coming in from Barnes or Barnes Bridge by bus makes the most sense if it was late, But as Hammersmith is just a ten min walk that would be easier just not sure whether safer.
I realise she's an adult but I think you have to consider these things when flat hunting.

If she sticks to the main road she should be ok, she could cycle although I'm not sure whether cycling on the bridge is banned at the moment. You couldn't get anywhere safer in London imo.

It used to be much easier when the bridge was in action as you could just hop on the 33 bus (all night) over the river. I don't much care for the walk to the tube - it is short but not very lovely (under the flyover) and I wouldn't like to do it on my own at night.

I love Barnes, and it is overall very safe, but one of my dc went to SPS and the school sometimes had to patrol the bridge area to ensure the boys' safety.

You can’t cycle over at the moment, but I think you can walk across pushing a bike. I wouldn’t count on the bridge re-opening in the foreseeable future - last I heard, they’ve run out of money for the major repairs needed.

Sorry but I dont think Hammersnith tube is that safe at night tbh. I wouldn't want my dd walking alone around there anyway, but maybe its improved since my day. Barnes is great though!

I’ve just moved from there after living in that area for nearly 6 years (I lived on the Hammersmith side of the bridge). I had no issues walking home late at night/in the dark. It’s about 10 mins to the nearest tube entrance, there’s always loads of people about and you can go a non flyover way if concerned about that (down Queen Caroline Street). The flyover has been really opened up now with lighting and plants, so it doesn’t feel dodgy (there was building works for years previously). I loved living there - river walks are great on both banks and lots of restaurants / pubs when things are back up and running (cafe plum, the Dove, River Cafe). As someone else mentioned, you can push a bicycle across the bridge if she would rather cycle.

I find it quite funny that the school had to patrol, when in my experience it was normally the kids causing trouble 🤣 (or their parents parking illegally at drop offs).

Thanks I appreciate everyone's comments. I found out there is a 533 from Hammersmith to Lonsdale Rd via Chiswick Bridge a bit of a trek but another option. I do love Barnes it just feels a bit cut off with the bridge closed for who knows how long.

Everything is going to transform for cyclists in London in the next months and H Bridge will hopefully be bikes only. She’ll be fine!

I am In East Sheen so just past Barnes. Not having Castlenau/Bridge as an option was a pain initially but there are plenty of bus diversions in place and there are always lots of people crossing the bridge - day and night - on foot.