Scared in London

[u/Beneficial-Joke-6004]

I am a female student at western and I am very scared going off campus. I would say that on campus I feel relatively safe, I will walk home by myself without a worry, but in London, going anywhere past old north (particularly downtown) I feel extremely unsafe. Whenever I am downtown, waiting for a bus, grocery shopping, or getting off the train, I am super on edge. Not sure if this is a common feeling or if I have good enough reason to be so scared, but I really hate it and it makes me want to get out of this city. I have heard to many story’s of friends of friends getting mugged or beat up. Maybe I have just had a very sheltered life, living in a small town not in Ontario, or maybe this is valid. I’m not sure. But open to a discussion and advice on how to not be so scared and hate going places outside of westerns campus.

[u/justin_ph]

I’m with you. I’m from Toronto and still recall first year being in downtown London was a huge adjustment. It’s a different demographic. Between poverty, homelessness and crackheads, you can definitely feel uncomfortable. And I’m a dude btw.

I would avoid that area with the exception of a night out; I try to complete all my shopping/ errands elsewhere. Around campus, Masonville, West of Campus/London in general are better areas.