Do you feel unsafe in London?

[Sue]

I'm interested to know other people's experiences.

As in any urban environment, I'm careful. I try not to use my phone outside  unnecessarily, and if I'm coming home by myself  late at night I also keep an eye out for any potential threats.

But that doesn't mean  I "don't feel safe". It's just sensible.

The only time I have ever felt seriously unsafe in London was decades ago  when I was a teenager, and that was one specific incident which could have happened anywhere.

I do however try to avoid places with loads of right wing thugs getting drunk and waving flags.

[malumbu]

My perspective is the same as yours Sue.  

Biggest issue is road rage when I cycle, mainly drivers but once a Line bike rider I expect coked up.  But even that is rare 

Edited September 20 by malumbu
Toads are cool as are reading glasses

[Sue]

2 hours ago, malumbu said:

My perspective is the same as yours Sue.  

Biggest issue is toad rage when I cycle, mainly drivers but once a Line bike rider I expect coked up.  But even that is rare 

Toad rage?

Crikey, what have you done to upset the amphibians?

How do you find the frogs? 😃

[beansprout]

Well let’s put it this way - certainly alot more alert when I am in town than I use to be . Don’t feel unsafe just a lot more cautious and aware of my surroundings. 

Tend to avoid walking anywhere in town as in London or Dulwich etc when it gets dark. Personal choice and certainly more people muttering or talking to themselves than before.

Witnessed road rage years ago on Ladbrook Grove in broad daylight - memory still haunts me!! 

 

[David Peckham]

Central London, partularly Soho and Fitzrovia, seems to be more about sneaky crimes like hugger-muggering and pickpocketing rather than anything violent these days. I'd never wear a decent watch if I went into town in the evening.

There are a couple of places, like Tottenham, Hackney'and Harlesden, I'm particularly on my guard in - mainly because I don't really know them too well. Bits of New Cross and Deptford can be a bit hairy, as well.

The parts of central London which were dodgiest twenty or thirty years ago, King's Cross or Shoreditch for example, have changed beyond recognition. 

Statistically, London is safer than it was thirty years ago.

Wobbling around the Elephant after a heavy night in the Ministry of Sound wasn't a great move around 2000; it wouldn't seem as idiotic these days. It's still not pleasant though and you have to keep your wits about you in Camberwell after midnight, even now.

Overall, most of London is far safer, statistically, than the smaller provincial cities and larger towns. Middlesbrough is genuinely scary after dark, which is strange because the people are lovely during the day. Likewise Bradford and Hull. Apart from the lovely people caveat, clearly.

5 hours ago, Sue said:

 

I do however try to avoid places with loads of right wing thugs getting drunk and waving flags.

Other than the 'Unite the Kingdom' march last week, I've never really seen the drunken flag waving you mention. Not in London, anyway. 

I'd avoid the Medway towns, if I was you.

Edited September 20 by David Peckham

[malumbu]

Familiarity is important, I lived near Brixton in the old days and was fairly comfortable, but for many years avoided Peckham.  That has reversed in the last 15 years.  

I recall around Dalston and the A10 and burned out cars.  Now super trendy.

Pub violence has largely gone but that was groups of men getting drunk on Saturday night and brawling.  Similarly little football violence, East Dulwich/West Peckham was edgy last century.

[Sephiroth]

Generally speaking, some medium size market towns and lesser cities always seem more  prone to random violence and aggro generally than anywhere I’ve been in London 

[beansprout]

It is what it is - like I said previously, don’t make a habit of going out at night be it London or Devon. 

[David Peckham]

 

3 hours ago, malumbu said:

Familiarity is important, I lived near Brixton in the old days and was fairly comfortable, but for many years avoided Peckham.  That has reversed in the last 15 years.  

I was the opposite of you. I never felt particularly happy around Brixton late at night - I didn't know it that well. Do you remember the name of the late- night Irish pub opposite the railway arches near the BR station? Was it Mulligan's? Brannigan's?

To be fair, until the East London Line extension, Rye Lane walking south wasn't a favourite of mine after dark either. The only pub left on there was The Hope, which was in the other direction. It felt very bleak.

I think that makes a huge difference. When The Gowlett was boarded up, Amott Road felt very different. It's like a beacon now.

3 hours ago, malumbu said:

 

Pub violence has largely gone but that was groups of men getting drunk on Saturday night and brawling.  Similarly little football violence, East Dulwich/West Peckham was edgy last century.

Pub violence does seem to have had its day in inner London. Maybe it's a result of the disappearance of pool tables, flat-roofed pubs and cheap Stella offers. I bet you could still find a Saturday night kick-up in New Addington or the  Becontree estate in Dagenham.

3 hours ago, Sephiroth said:

Generally speaking, some medium size market towns and lesser cities always seem more  prone to random violence and aggro generally than anywhere I’ve been in London 

Definitely.

Pubs next to stations, kebab shops and ironically named nightclubs are all to be avoided in smaller places. The weirdest place I've ever had random trouble was in a club in St. Ives in Cambridgeshire.  I think it was called 'Options'.

It was the only club there. 

See also 'Jekylls' nightclub in Hyde, Manchester - a truly dreadful place where getting thrown out for fighting was infinitely preferable to spending the evening in there and coming out stinking of stale chip fat.

I took a kicking in 'Kingsway Kebabs' in Swansea after a night in 'The Aviary' (so named because it was 'full of birds') nightclub.

But that wasn't so random. It was a local girl, who gave me a leathering because I'd run off for a large chicken doner, rather than dance with her to 'Criticize' by Alexander O'Neal.

Sorry, Sue, I've digressed a little. 

To answer your question, I think London feels relatively safe overall.

 

Edited September 20 by David Peckham

[CPR Dave]

The fact everyone has had a CCTV camera in their pockets for the last 15+ years has done a huge amount to prevent and mitigate random drunken violence. 

Thugs can't get away with what they used to anymore.

[NewWave]

I'm London born and bred and have always considered myself streetwise having grown up in Notting hill (pre getrification) and I lived on the border of Harlesden (kensal green) in the 90's  when it was pretty sketchy round there .and I spent much of the 80's and early 90's in downtown New York.. I would walk everywhere at all hours of the day and night and never felt particularly uneasy largely because I was always mindful of my surroundings and walked with 'purpose'.

I don't know wether its because I'm now so much older but I don't feel as comfortable as I used to walking round London.

Today I was in the West end and I made sure to carry my bag on the opposite arm to that facing the kerb and felt uneasy when I saw people wizzing around on limebikes or scooters close to the kerb..I never got my phone out at all...I never used to feel like this but just recently I've had friends witness phone and bag snatching in central london in broad daylight..apparently it happened so fast in both instances there was nothing anyone could do to help..One phone snatching was during the tube strike 7.30am two guys on bikes grabbed a mans phone..My friend took the victim to a nearby hotel to sit down and recover the hotel said due to the tube strike they had witnessed many duo's of youth out very early on bikes aware that there were more pedestrians around at that time with their phones out trying for Ubers or looking at directions.

I would'nt say I feel 'unsafe' I just feel more aware of being a possible target for crime than formerly.

I don't know if this is due to being older or due to reading the press.

Edited September 20 by NewWave
typo's

[Eats Dulwich]

1 hour ago, NewWave said:

 

I don't know wether its because I'm now so much older but I don't feel as comfortable as I used to walking round London.

 

I sometimes don't feel as comfortable as I did but it's not because I'm older, it's because I'm sober. Staggering home when I was younger I always felt I like a had a cloak of invisibility around me. And a magic compass - not even sure how I found my way home some nights. 

Edited September 20 by Eats Dulwich

[Dulwich dweller]

5 hours ago, David Peckham said:

Do you remember the name of the late- night Irish pub opposite the railway arches near the BR station? Was it Mulligan's? Brannigan's?

Bradys

[Angelina]

I take precautions, as every woman does. I also have a large dog.
It isn’t safe though, my teenagers have each been followed and harassed while walking home through East Dulwich.

 

[Jenijenjen]

8 hours ago, Eats Dulwich said:

I sometimes don't feel as comfortable as I did but it's not because I'm older, it's because I'm sober. Staggering home when I was younger I always felt I like a had a cloak of invisibility around me. And a magic compass - not even sure how I found my way home some nights. 

Definitely this. I'm really quite shocked at my naivety when I look back.

As for feeling safe in central London, after many, many years of working there and thriving, I don't feel quite so safe now. I think though that spending a lot more time in the relative peace of East Dulwich since retiring, the noise and speed of everything in central London has become a shock to the system and I'm disoriented. More so north of the river.

[David Peckham]

8 hours ago, Dulwich dweller said:

Bradys

Cheers for that.

Surprising to see it's over 25 years since it closed.

[Cancerian]

On 20/09/2025 at 12:04, Sue said:

I'm interested to know other people's experiences.

As in any urban environment, I'm careful. I try not to use my phone outside  unnecessarily, and if I'm coming home by myself  late at night I also keep an eye out for any potential threats.

But that doesn't mean  I "don't feel safe". It's just sensible.

The only time I have ever felt seriously unsafe in London was decades ago  when I was a teenager, and that was one specific incident which could have happened anywhere.

I do however try to avoid places with loads of right wing thugs getting drunk and waving flags.

Wow Sue! I was reading your post with interest as I’ve never really felt unsafe in London and I was born here. It was just your last paragraph that derailed me and totally changed the subject matter! So unnecessary.

[malumbu]

Back to my earlier post about familiarity.  I was in Croydon this afternoon walking between the two main stations.  Didn't feel unsafe, but there were some 'interesting' characters on the street.  Not that any were bothered with me. Not a place I'd choose to go for a bit of a fun.  Although having said that West Croydon has some cracking restaurants and the wonderfully named Saints and Sinners bar, where I once went on a corporate do - not that I did many of these.

Whoops just checked and it closed a few months ago.

Back on track, I never went to the Castle as I felt it was a bit rough.  How wrong was I?  Only real pub left in the area.

[beansprout]

9 hours ago, Cancerian said:

Wow Sue! I was reading your post with interest as I’ve never really felt unsafe in London and I was born here. It was just your last paragraph that derailed me and totally changed the subject matter! So unnecessary.

That totally passed  me by- agree with  you totally - think  she must be going thru a bad patch - as Jazzer has mentioned somewhere else, has totally changed her tune but saying that, we all have bad  days and need to get things off our chest. Moving on….never been a fan of Croydon myself - use to have to relocate clients there years  - like everywhere some nice parts and some  not so nice. Not a place  I would go to for a mooch or shopping myself.

[jazzer]

12 hours ago, malumbu said:

Back to my earlier post about familiarity.  I was in Croydon this afternoon walking between the two main stations.  Didn't feel unsafe, but there were some 'interesting' characters on the street.  Not that any were bothered with me. Not a place I'd choose to go for a bit of a fun.  Although having said that West Croydon has some cracking restaurants and the wonderfully named Saints and Sinners bar, where I once went on a corporate do - not that I did many of these.

Whoops just checked and it closed a few months ago.

Back on track, I never went to the Castle as I felt it was a bit rough.  How wrong was I?  Only real pub left in the area.

Twenty plus years ago, the centre of Croydon was a fine place to work in, sadly times have changed, the Whitgift centre has gradually fallen to its knees, lots of shop closures and unlikely to be redeveloped given Croydon Councils financial situation. 

Always preferred Croydon to Bromley and rarely go to either.  

Edited September 22 by jazzer

[beansprout]

Bromley is ok but in the last year, shopping centre now has a lot of security measure due to bags being snatched and assaults in or around area in broad daylight - another area where before, felt fine now more alert. 

[Earl Aelfheah]

On 20/09/2025 at 18:00, Sephiroth said:

Generally speaking, some medium size market towns and lesser cities always seem more  prone to random violence and aggro generally than anywhere I’ve been in London 

This.

Personally, I've always felt safe in London. Probably famous last words and I'll get mugged later.

[ianr]

Funny you should say that, Sephiroth.   I somewhat oddly still remember passing though Gloucester at the tail end of a cycling holiday decades ago, and getting the feel just from the street activity, cycling through the centre, that I didn't even want to stop and look around.  Tewkesbury, otoh, just up the road, I'd had plenty of time for.   How 'justified' my Gloucester vibes then, who knows?  Chalk and cheese, of course.  Horses for courses. ... 

[beansprout]

You know what? Interesting how memories are triggered.. And what memories.. what I love about this forum, are several things.. support, advice,  buy and sell, free stuff..

Glad as well, that one each one  looks after each other..in their own way…

Thank you so much, new admin person for wha you do, and taking up the helm, when, this forum was possibly going to close…

[Sue]

18 hours ago, Cancerian said:

Wow Sue! I was reading your post with interest as I’ve never really felt unsafe in London and I was born here. It was just your last paragraph that derailed me and totally changed the subject matter! So unnecessary.

My last paragraph was relevant.

I was in central London having a meal with family on the same day as the recent large right wing march.

The date of the  meal was arranged before it was known about the march, and the venue was convenient for one of my brothers and his partner, who had travelled down from the midlands and had a hotel and theatre tickets booked near the venue.

It was just up the road from Trafalgar Square, and my partner and I were seriously concerned on the way there and the way back that we would encounter violent people from the march.

Luckily we were able to avoid this, but as I expect you will have read, several police officers were injured, and a friend of mine was amongst a group of counter protesters who were hemmed in by marchers for hours, which was obviously very frightening.

The group had to be protected by police before they were finally able to get a safe passage out.

Therefore, I don't think my last paragraph was unnecessary at all in the context of when I personally feel unsafe in London.

8 hours ago, beansprout said:

That totally passed  me by- agree with  you totally - think  she must be going thru a bad patch - as Jazzer has mentioned somewhere else, has totally changed her tune but saying that, we all have bad  days and need to get things off our chest. 

I am not "going through a bad patch", beansprout, not am I "having a bad day ". Nor do I need to "get things off my chest".

I am interested to know how you think I have "totally changed my tune"? Could you give some examples from before and after I "changed my tune"?

Perhaps you would like to come and discuss your opinion of me face to face?

I am very easy to find. I run gigs and Singarounds locally with my lovely partner, and we have organised two Forum Drinks, with a break over the summer. 

We will be organising an October meet up soon, so perhaps you would like to come to that, if music isn't your thing? You could take the opportunity to meet some other forum posters as well 

Edited September 22 by Sue