What areas of london must be avoided at night?

[Alasfoakus]

i would like to know this before actually planning to travel. thx

[lilyfrog]

I would say its all fairly safe as long as you are streetwise. I have lived here for 7 years and have traveled all over, on my own in the evening and had no bother ( I am female) Just don't hang around dark alleyways with �50's sticking out your pocket!!

[Alasfoakus]

ha-ha! yes, indeed..thx

[vehelpfulguy]

I think Alasfoakus is taking about the centre of London (West End etc) which generally has many people around and therefore there is safety in numbers.

Of course you can quickly go from a busy street to a quiet street in seconds (Oxford St for example is usually very busy, but some of the side streets off Oxford St can be very quiet and dark).

I do not live in London any more but I gather some areas near the centre, like the back of Kings Cross station for exam[ple, can be very dodgy due to prostitutes and some unsavoury characters.

Of course London is huge and there are some of the more outliying areas that are dodgy. Brixton has a pretty poor reputation, for example, and there are others.

I did a search in Google for "Safety In London" and found this web site. There may be others:

http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/life/index.php?fi d=12

[vehelpfulguy]

Some more advice sites

http://www.met.police.uk/tourist/english.htm

http://www.visitlondon.com/travel/safety/index

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20 060627082638AAhoRfE

Long discussion here

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g186338-i 17-k375731-Dangerous_areas_to_avoid_in_london- London_England.html

[vehelpfulguy]

Whoops, my first append should have said

"I think lilyfrog is taking about the centre of London....."

[Dee Sa]

Brixton, dont be tempted to go to any gig down there, Elephant & Castle, Kings cross back streets and parts of Hackney.Use your gut feeling, if you dont feel confident dont stay move on.If using the underground after 11pm stick to the middle carriages.
If you get out of the train and it looks deserted take a cab or look for a mini cab office.
If you have a fancy mobile phone keep it out of sight.
Enjoy your stay, you'll be fine, just be aware.