London question (those who know London well)

[PumpkinDart]

Hi,

I'm taking my daughter to one of the Hyde Park BST festivals and have booked a hotel but it's a bit further than I'd realised. I was hoping to avoid having to face travel crowds when we leave and walk it. The hotel is 1.7 miles walk from that part of the park, which we'd definitely manage but I'm wondering how safe is it to walk from the side of Hyde Park they have concerts in through to Gloucester Rd, South Kensington or should we go for public transport?

Thanks!

Where is the hotel? There will be plenty of people about but probably easier to catch a bus.

If you decide to walk make sure any valuables are out of sight and keep your phone hidden as people on bikes race past and snatch them out if victims hands.
It has become a major problem in London and there hasn’t been much attempt to try to prevent it.
Maybe use a paper map if you’re not sure if the way.

Good advice given here by @Barbadossunset for you @PumpkinDart

Enjoy the concert, just keep your whits about you on your way back

On an ordinary night I'd probably avoid walking through any park at 11pm, but with this big a concert, there may well be a stream of people going the same way, in which case you should be fine. Safety in numbers!

You might want to just go with the flow and leave the park with everyone else, then get a black cab or a bus around the park to the South Ken side. It's not far although traffic might make it an expensive cab ride

Very safe. Just keep your phone in your bag, and zip up or otherwise close your handbag. A cross-body handbag is useful.

Just keep your wits about you. Central London is one of the safer cities in the world.

It's very safe in that area. As PPs have said keep your belongings out of site as crowds are pickpockers' dream.

I walk around that area at night all the time.

Yes, very safe. Only walk THROUGH th park if the crowds are all doing it though. I'd agree that a bus might be a better option though for some or all of the way.

Buses will be a nightmare as they will be full with huge queues. I see them every year like this after events. Sometimes nearest tube station shuts too so people try buses.

I would walk. It's a nice walk too.

I think Hyde park is closed at night. Walking down park lane and Brompton road would be ok. Perhaps jump on a bus from Hyde park corner. People will disperse in all directions from BST so it shouldn't be too bad.

They will funnel you out of particular exits. We walked back to a Notting Hill Airbnb a couple of years back and had no issues at all. The queue for the tube and the buses was madness.

I wouldn’t feel unsafe at all walking or on a bus. But I’ve been in London for almost 2 decades so it just feels normal to me.

I’d happily walk that. Walk with purpose. We found after the bst concert last year everyone was super friendly. Great vibe including after.

It’s an easy walk with lots of cafes and restaurants, or walk past the V&A/ science museum towards S Ken station. Nice walk on a summers eve

That's a pretty safe area - it's where I work and I walk from near the park to Gloucester road tube and back nearly every day. I think you'll be absolutely fine.

I'm not from London but have stayed in hotels around that rea and walked back after going to the theatre/Royal Albert Hall.

It's fine to walk anywhere that's fairly busy. But as it's a very touristy area you need to not look lost, don't wield your phone in the street or carry a designer bag or expensive watch.

There will undoubtedly be lots of busses going past the park and your hotel. But walking is fine. Just plan your route.

Very safe and an easy walk - it's a busy tourist area and there will be lots of people around, not least all the concert goers!

Ah brilliant thank you, I feel reassured about it and will study the route before we go so I'm not looking too touristy! Thanks all ☺️

Another tip if you need to use a phone for directions is to put it into google maps and get walking directions, hit start and put an earbud in. It will then tell you where to go in your ear.

Otherwise, step to the side and look at your phone.

As others have said, it will be super busy with people leaving so you'll probably be protected from phone snatchers, but pickpockets will be rife, so keep everything inside your clothing.

Absolutely safe. I'd do it alone.

I live just outside London and feel much safer out on my own in London after dark than I do in my leafy suburb. There are always people about. The walk will be fine, just the pickpocketing advice as above, but you need that in the concert as much/more than on the street.

That's a very safe area. As PP said, keep an eye on your valuables as you leave among the crowds. But it could be a nice walk. Tbh, a black cab from Hyde Park to Gloucester Road wouldn't cost much if you felt uneasy.

I have lived in London all of my life (more than 60 years). I walk everywhere or get public transport as do my daughters. My parents didn’t have a car either. I often walk in the evening and so does my elderly mum, sister and daughters. Nothing has ever happened to us. It’s fine!

It’s much quicker to walk than take a cab or bus.

Citymapper app is brilliant and will give you every ‘live’ option.