My wife and I will be in London for 5 days. I have rented a flat in Chelsea (specifically, 43 Meriden Court)

My wife's particular concern is traveling at night - are there any particular areas that one should be concerned while traveling to and from?

Night activities we are considering are seeing a play (Mary Poppins or Billy Elliott), go to the Ceremony of Keys, or just walking around at night seeing the city in a different vantage point.

I assume traveling to/from Chelsea to major areas is safe but wanted to know if there is anything out there we should know.

Thank you!

London is a very safe city. I doubt you will have any problems walking in the evening, or getting to & from any of the shows. King's Cross area may be a little iffy, as well as the far west of London...both are well outside the area of any attractions you may be seeing in the daytime or evening.

Like any city, London has a few dodgy places, but overall is very safe. Any of the areas where tourists are likely to be will be fine, and walking around at night is one of my favorite things to do. Just use common sense.

Within the parts of London visitors are remotely likely to get to, there's no unsafe area - but equally, there's no totally safe area. London's not a gated community and smart thieves go where the money is. The whole point of London is that just about everywhere is socially mixed.

Muggings and the like can happen (though very rarely) practically anywhere. If walking alone at night - anywhere in London - keep to reasonably lit streets, and to streets where other people are walking. DON'T hail unmarked taxis in the street: black cabs are fine, if pricey.

All of which said, you're in far greater physical danger from a heart attack at our prices than from a physical attack.

If you use the smae situational awareness that you would use anywhere, you will be okay.

I can't think of any tube stations you would exit that would be as bad as taking the wrong freeway exit in East St. Louis or South Central Los Angeles.

The activities you are talking about are in well traveled areas that are reasonably safe.

Soho is near the shows but I would compare it to a seedy carnival side show where people want to take your money than a physically dangerous place.

It's quite safe to use the tube in Zones 1-2 in the evenings. You'll see other fellow travellers. After that, Night Buses maintain coverage in central London.

There are three types of cabs: black cabs (all licensed, you can pick them up from the street, the most expensive), licensed minicabs (you'll need to call the number beforehand, less expensive than the black cab but no meters so negotiate the fares beforehand), UNLICENSED minicabs (usually the dodgy guys touting around)--THIS IS THE ONE TO AVOID.

Mugging has been a problem in some real poshy areas like St John's Wood, Hampstead, Chelsea. Though increasingly some rich neighbourhoods started to hire their own private street guards. Attackers usually wait for someone to come home and go for handbags/mobiles/ jewellery. Usually less of a problem when there are two people. Just to be cautious, you might keep the house key handy. Again, use a common sense.

When the shows let out, there will be thousands of of other theatre goers walking around. Once you are there you will laugh that you were concerned after you see the crowds out and about.

And while the Keys Ceremony does let out late and the Tower Hill tube station is a bit out of the center -- there will be 40-50 other folks walking to the exact same station.

Your flat is a fairly direct walk from the South Kens tube station - so you will be fine

as others have said, all the tourist areas are safe. The one thing I did avoid when living in London was using an ATM late at night. I'd use one inside a shop instead of on the street.

The only time I had my bag stolen was when in a pub in St John's wood with a group of five police officers. I had to admire the thief's style.

I'd say take the precautions I , and I think most people, do in a strange city. Don't have wads of cash hanging out of back pockets or open bags. Don't consult maps in the street - go into a coffee place or pub. If you find yourself walking into an area you feel uncomfortable with turn around and walk out.

The biggest problem is from handbag snatching just as tube doors close and pickpockets around crowded areas in the tube. These tend to be non-violent in central London, but they are a nuisance. Even these have reduced since the police cracked-down on a Columbian gang. After being stung twice, I adopted this strategy:

Take a handbag that has a long enough strap to go over your head and across your chest. The bag will then dangle in front of you and not slip off your shoulder. The bag should close with a zip, and not a magnet type fastner. Ideally, there should be an internal zip pocket for credit cards and extra cash, and an external zip pocket for your travel ticket/pass. That way, you don't need to open your bag in a crowded place to get you ticket.

As previously advised, men should never put wallets or cash in their back pockets. They should keep wallets in an internal zipped or buttoned pocket, or in a zipped compartment inside a daypack (everyone carries these so they don't stand out) or they should have a zipped pouch on their belts.