Being near pubs at closing time in London - any serious concerns?

Penny There isn't a legal closing time in Britain anymore, and pubs choose when to close. Many still close at 11 on weekdays but it is common to stay open later at weekends. I don't think there's an issue with pubs as such, but there may be a handful of areas that your niece may be uncomfortable walking through. This is not because she will be targetted but because there will be groups of well lubricated and 'boisterous' young people milling about. Given you say she is sensible I think the best advice is, if she feels uncomfortable, to turn around and walk ou of the area. These kinds of areas are generally only a street or two and are easy enough to walk round. Overall I really wouldn't worry. She'll be just as safe as you were! Cheers Alan

Don't fret. Been going to London and imbibing in pubs for over 40 years. Family reunions are held in pubs, at certain hours children are allowed in pubs. Pubs are nothing like American bars. Loutish behavior isn't common and rarely tolerated. Haven't EVER seen really boisterous behavior even after Manchester United matches. There are exceptions of course but she'll be with friends. Given your respect for her intelligence you need to trust that she'd know when she felt uncomfortable and leave. It's only one evening in London, where there are MORE Ctv cameras than anywhere in the world. Truthfully, I'd be more concerned if she was going to Florida or Cabo.

Shouldn't be a problem as long as she remains sensible. I personally would keep away from Pubs around football stadia ( not same as pubs with tv holding football viewings).
S

I guess pubs in Brighton and Aberdeen are a bit quieter than we have in the Midlands. It gets proper sappy in Northampton about 2 am, worse on weekends. Just as well she's not going to Newcastle or Newport. I would say that there are loads of drunks around, on any night, at chucking out time. I think the worst of it tends to be around nightclubs even later at night. Surely long before any of that your baby 20 year old would be tucked up.

I personally think since niece will in fact be alone ( the post reads like she is joining friends later, will be alone in London) that she will likely not be wandering streets alone late at night. Most sights close at 5-6,,except for some museums that have one or two nights they may be open till 9, so I imagine by 11 she would already be in hotel.. and it seems she will only be in London one day,, so I think you can relax auntie( I was a worried aunt two years ago when my nephew went to London alone for 10 days before a tour started,, and he was only 18 and had never even off the farm so to speak, lived in a rural area his whole life!) I sympathize,, but I bet your niece is smart and will be fine,, she knows that even here in our countries walking by a bar at closing may result in some catcalls,, and will ignore them or just not be out and about after 11 or so. ( I also bet she has a flight next day and will want to be fresh for it, plus she will be exhausted from jet lag)Kids are smart nowadays( unless she do was raised on a farm!LOL)

"by 11pm I'd imagine she'll be back at the hotel..." Maybe Pat forgot what it's like to be a 20 year old! Back in the day, no way would I have been holed up in my hotel room calling it an evening at 11pm. The only reason I might be back in my hotel at that hour would be to change into a different outfit so I could go clubbing at one of the places that would not even begin to get hopping until 11:30pm or later! That said, the crowds that spill out of any pub or nightclub after last call (no matter if it's Tulsa, London or Timbuktu) may be a little loud & a bit drunk but the worst your niece may experience is a few whistles & catcalls. As long as she's not three sheets to the wind herself, I'm sure she's smart enough to steer clear of it completely or just ignore the "offers" and keep on walking. Frankly, I'd be more concerned about my nieces in Italy than in England as my experience at that age was the Italian men lay it on thick when trying to pick up a woman. The English men just don't have as much "game"...

Ceidlad,, did you do that BY YOURSELF on your first night after a transalantice flight.She is alone, her first night,, seems a bit different situation. And,, just so you know, I bet I partied harder then you , you( like my kids who range from 16-21) forget I grew up in the 70s and early 80s,, what on earth did you think I did at 20 , knit socks and translate Latin for fun, lol( pretty well what my kids think,, little do they know, or will they ever know, lol)

Thank you all for your responses and for not rolling your eyes - well, not too much - at my Nervous Nellie question. (I know I sometimes roll my eyes at "Is it safe in..." questions:P) I feel better now. Being alone, jetlagged, and on her way early the next day, she is very unlikely to go on a pub crawl or clubbing until late, but I can see her on her way back to her lodgings after going to a play - she loves musicals.

Well, Pat, we must have been a lively bunch back in the 70's. When we arrived in Eningen uA. Germany we definitely went out exploring that first night. ; ) I think that the biggest danger is that you do tend to push yourself a first trip overseas. You're excited and you don't want to miss anything. So, I think that the warning should be to just watch the alcohol intake. As someone said what's worse than the pubs is the clubs, as by the time they let out everyone is drunk and they are loud! Oh my, the noise reverberating up and down the Ness river in Inverness will rouse you from your sleep. Don't stay in a hotel directly across the river from the city centre! ; ) Pam

@Pat and @Pamela, nobody partied better than baby boomers. We were in our 20's in the 60's. I lived near the San Francisco Bay Area. Need I say more? Rock on!

Rowdy, boisterous potentially risky pub goers are usually noisy, so you can hear them well down the street. I'm a 6'4" 200 pound male and I just go to the other side of the street or otherwise avoid the place.

Claudia,, I laughed at your post,, cause my kids think I grew up making applesauce and knitting,, lol,, I grew up in the 70's,, what the hell do they know, lol

Hah Pat! Let's hear it for the 70's...so often denigrated and neglected, but so much fun for those of us traveling. ; )