“My family and I are visiting London in September and we’ve managed to get tickets to see The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre near Covent Garden. The show starts at 7.30pm and will likely finish around 10.30pm. We’re staying at a hotel near King’s Cross Station and would need to take the Piccadilly Line back with our two children (ages 7 and 10).
I’ve heard mixed things about London transport at night – some people say it’s perfectly fine, others warn against it. We’re from a smaller city and don’t have much experience with big city public transport after dark. The kids are quite sensible but obviously I want to make sure we’re being safe.
Would it be better to book a taxi instead, or is the Tube generally okay at that time of night? We’re trying to stick to a budget but safety comes first.”
Travelling around London and on the Tube at night is a really common concern for those who have never been to London before, or who have visited London but who have never been out at night.
One thing that sets London apart from many other cities is that it remains genuinely busy late into the evening with normal people going about their daily lives – commuters heading home from work, people returning from dinner or evening activities, tourists exploring, and locals meeting friends. It’s not just party-goers and nightlife; central London has a culture where being out at 10.30pm is completely normal.
When The Lion King finishes, you’ll be part of the post-theatre crowd – thousands of other families and theatre-goers will be making similar journeys at exactly the same time. The West End has dozens of theatres, many with shows ending between 10-11pm, so the streets and Tube stations will be bustling with people, and certainly not deserted. You’ll probably find that there are as many people on the Tube as there are in the day. Numbers only start to thin out when you get beyond central London.
As you head home through central London and on the Tube, you might encounter some people who have been out drinking, particularly on weekend evenings, but they’re generally just heading home and cause no problems. Most are simply loud or animated rather than threatening. However, you may want to prepare your children for this if they are not accustomed to seeing such things and reassure them that someone being loud or unpredictable does not mean they are a danger.
At 10.30pm the Tube will still be running its regular service and in general, the main Tube lines through central London are busy and well-monitored, with regular British Transport Police presence, especially around major stations and tourist areas. The stations are also well-staffed until they close.
Although generally safe, do take the usual precautions when travelling:
- Stick together as a family and stay aware of your surroundings;
- Keep your belongings secure and don’t display valuable items openly;
- Stand back from the platform edge until the train arrives and make sure you have your whole group together;
- Choose carriages that have other passengers rather than empty ones;
- Trust your instincts – if you encounter anyone who seems overly intoxicated or makes you uncomfortable, simply move to a different carriage or get off at a stop and wait for the next train; and
- Have your journey planned so you’re not looking lost or consulting maps repeatedly.
For more general advice on navigating the Tube with kids, check out our post Top tips for travelling with kids on the London Underground.
While a taxi would certainly be more direct and feel more secure, the Tube is generally very safe for these journeys, especially with the post-theatre crowds providing natural safety in numbers. The key is staying alert and confident – you’ll be absolutely fine!
One point to note, is that when you come out of the theatre, you may well encounter rickshaws with music blaring and colourful lights. Although it might be tempting to take children on a ride in these, avoid them. These are well-known scams. They are unlicensed and you will often be given a price and only when you get to your destination do you find out it was per person or some other such trick. Save your wallet!
Enjoy the Lion King and your time in London!
