I'm a single 27 yr old British female and will be visiting New York City alone in early December for general sightseeing,shopping etc. I stayed there for a week a couple of years ago, also alone, but never quite got the courage to go out alone after dark (although I was grateful for the re-runs of Seinfeld)! If anyone has any helpful suggestions on a safe way to spend an evening, I'd be very grateful.
I enjoy socialising, watching live sports, theatre, cinema and good food.
Kate

Where will you be staying? It's certainly safe to walk around a good part of mid-Manhattan before 11 p.m. The theater is the most obvious option for the evening. It sure beats Seinfeld reruns.

Are you kidding? NY is a magical city at night. Where will you be staying?

Kate: It depends on where you're staying. If you are in a neighborhood that is lively after dark every night -- e.g. the theater district, the Village, Soho -- you will be perfectly safe walking around late at night. And even in the more residential areas like the Upper East and Upper West sides, you will be fine, especially on weekend nights. But I find parts of the business district (World Trade Center, etc.) a little eerie after dark -- there just aren't that many people around and it feels kind of deserted. If you stay in the theater district, you can walk to lots of plays, restaurants, etc. and there will be huge crowds of people on the streets when the plays let out around 11. I've done it myself lots of times and felt perfectly safe. I like to go without tickets to anything and just get tickets at the half-price ticket booth in Times Square, or if there's a particular play I want to see that isn't sold at the TKTS booth, I just wait in line at the box office of the show I want to see on the day of the performance (that's how I got into Lion King).

Hi

I'm staying either in Midtown Manhattan or the Village.
Any more comments gratefully appreciated.

This is only meant as a friendly warning. I have been told by my business associates in NY that there are some high-end Midtown Hotel bars (I think the Plaza may be one but I'm not sure) who do not admit unescorted women to try to reduce the problems they have been having with prostitution. To me, this is a horrendous, and most likely illegal, response to this problem, but I wouldn't want you to be embarrassed if you were denied admission for this inane policy.

Perhaps our native NY friends can shed more light on whether this really happens and if so, where.

Hi Kate. I'm considering a trip to NYC myself before X-mas. I'm not single, but I plan on going alone. Although I have a couple of friends in the city I will probably be on my own a lot of the time. If we are in New York at the same time, maybe we could get together? I'm Norwegian, a mother of 2 adorable kids (2 and 7) and 35 years old.

Hi Kate,

My name is Georgia and I am a psychic.

I get the feeling that you have a 25 year old sister who would just love to go with you but can't really afford it. Why don't you offer to pay for her and i'm sure you would have a better time with her - it would be a lot safer for you too.

C'mon, Georgia are you for real? Or are you her sister?

Funny Georgia, and even funnier, noname.

NYC is one of the safest cities anywhere, except perhaps for Central Park and pockets uptown.

There are so, so, so many people around and about all the time. Stick with the crowds as you walk. And please, try to look like a local, and that means add a bit of chutzpah (nerve) to your demeanor.

Enjoy!

I've walked alone in the city for years, and all may problems have been abroad!

Yes, 'Georgia' is my sister angling for a free holiday! It's surprising, but since I mentioned my plan to visit New York to my friends I've now gained three travelling companions, so won't be alone any longer. Thank you to everyone who offered advice(although, Brian, surely you're making that up!).

I wish I was, Kate. I can only tell you what I've heard from business associates (who I trust), but hopefully this is just one of those urban myths.

Have a great time!