My 14-year-old daughter and I are due to leave in two weeks for London. We've made hotel reservations in the Kensington/Earl's Court area. My husband and I, on many previous trips together before kids, always stayed in Bloomsbury. I thought my daughter might like the Kensington area better--less collegiate and museum-y than Bloomsbury. <BR> <BR>To get to my question: the hotel seems fine, and the price is reasonable. Now that the time's getting nearer and I look at the map, it's closer to Earl's Court than to central Kensington and I'm having last-minute concerns about the location. Will this be safe for evening and night-time walking? <BR> <BR>The hotel is on Nevern Place. <BR> <BR>Everyone in this forum has been so helpful with previous questions about Stratford, the Tower, jet lag, and I can't remember what else. . . . <BR> <BR>Thanks very much. <BR> <BR>Penny

I stayed in the Earl's Court area a couple of years ago. It was fine then. I didn't worry about walking at night (I was travelling with teenagers). It's just a neighborhood, with 7-11s and drug stores. At least it was fine when I was there. <BR> <BR>Have fun! <BR> <BR>Deborah

Fodors <BR> <BR>Ms Crowden is correct, and the area is safe. Indeed, in all London the only unsafe areas are some places about three miles from the West End, in areas of apartment blocks built for social housing, where the police walk in pairs. The areas are ugly, and tourists are never there. <BR> <BR>As in any large city, you should keep valuables in a hotel or hostel safe, and the day's money and a credit card in an inside pocket. If you can avoid a handbag all the better. <BR> <BR>Please write if I can help further. Welcome to London. <BR> <BR>Ben Haines <BR> <BR>

I stayed in the Earl's Court area several years ago for 2 weeks. I felt perfectly safe at all hours. However, as in any city you should always be aware of your surroundings, and don't take safety for granted. <BR> <BR>I also remember the Earls Court tube station as being somewhat confusing. Maybe it was just jet lag, but I ended up on the wrong train a couple of times.

My wife,son, and I were in the Earl's Court area a while back. It seemed ok. The one thing I noticed was a very high percentage of non-English speaking people in the area, particularly in the tube station. There were so many in fact that it prompted my teen aged son to make the observation that there were a lot of foreigners around. I suggested that I was standing next to two of them. I think his comment reflected two points: 1. he felt at home in London and 2. there was a high percentage of people on the platform who were not speaking English to each other. <BR>We did notice one large fellow wearing a sweatshirt that had the University of Georgia mascot, an English Bulldog, on the front. Being from Bulldog Country, we were somewhat amused, until we noticed the colors: yellow and black -- the colors for Georgia Tech. Equally amusing was the one that read University of Michigan - done up in green and white. So question: are American university sweatshirts counterfited in England?

I just came back from London yesterday. The Earl's Court is a relatively safe area. It's easy to get around on the Tube from this station. I never felt threatened walking late at night in this area. But, you should always be alert when walking at night. <BR> <BR>Nevern Place looks to be about two or three blocks from the Earls Court tube station...not far at all.

Penny: I have heard that Earl's Court is fine too. I am traveling with my 12 year old and we wanted a safe place--ended up choosing South Kensington. Please report back when you return! Have a great trip!