Walk from the train station - is it safe?

Looking to move to the FH area east of the tracks around Kilmorie, Cranston, Como Rd etc and wondered how safe the walk from the station on an evening felt?

No problems, I am sure wherever you are in the UK there will always be bad elements but in 4 years have never felt unsafe.

All well lit wide roads with plenty of people around.

I hate to be negative but don’t be falsely reassured by ‘plenty of people around.’ I was mugged (and bitten on the arm) a few years ago at 6.30pm and many people just walked past. Perhaps they didn’t realise what was happening.
Having said that, I don’t feel unsafe in Forest Hill - these things can (and do) happen anywhere.

Cranston Road resident here. My wife walks back from FH station daily - sometimes late - and had never had any issues in the 19 years we have lived here and we both feel perfectly safe in and around FH.

Thanks for the feedback. How busy (or not) is Cranston Rd in relation to through traffic?

Cranston is busier than Kilmorie and Como - due to traffic coming down Brockley Rise and through to Bell Green and beyond. There is no denying that it is a bit annoying at times but it really is not that bad. In rush hour it can back up at both ends of the road but generally you just get a spurt of traffic every few mins when the traffic lights change at the top of the road. Having a decent sized front garden mitigates some of the nuisance and I must say I have got used to it now. Having said that, if I had the choice, I would go for Kilmorie. However I think prices are slightly higher there - or at least they were when we bought.

I have never felt afraid around here.

Completly safe mate

Another Cranston Road resident here, and would echo what Foresthillnick says. Very happy with the 5+ years I’ve been here.

I’m on Como and not had any problems for the 6 years here. I actually think things are getting safer too - though of course there is still crime. We are in SE London after all.

Never had any problems no matter what time of day or night it is, I’m a 5’2 female and feel very safe anywhere in FH at anytime.

Besides a large front garden, being higher up away from the road helps, as well as decent double glazing. We hardly hear any traffic from the road at the front of our house, which does benefit from all those things. The school traffic would put me off Kilmorie more than the traffic on Cranston, and the properties on there are a bit smaller and tend to have smaller rear gardens. Having a bit of passing traffic rather than being totally dead does make it feel a little safer to me as there’s less likelihood of opportunist muggers - too much risk of someone passing seeing them. May be a little biased but I’d highly recommend the road

Yes. But there’s normally an idiot trying to run you over as you cross the road. Speeding is an issue around here. And like anywhere in London stay alert and know when to cross the road - particularly at night.

Six years here and no problems walking around FH and through the cut towards Trilby Road etc at all times of day and night.

Very safe, at all hours. We’re on Elsinore Rd and me and my GF have never had any problems

It’s good to see so many still confident with using the path.

Hi FH2017, My husband and I actually walk to and from Honor Oak station rather than Forest Hill - we are just beyond Kilmorie. There seems to be an even divide of people on our street who go to HOP and those that go to Forest Hill stations. We think the station and walk to HOP is nicer. There are also just the right amenities on your way home at night coming that way - i.e. small Sainsbury’s or somewhere you end up stopping in such as Mamma Dough (best pizza ever - fact!) or Grounds & Grapes (bar).

Yes. You get the odd isolated incident (or a few instances in a very short time period before they move area) which happens anywhere in London.