Is New york city midtown safe to walk around with kids at night?

Show all answers

gormenghast10014

Safe from what? Muggers or theives? Midtown is very safe - it's crowded until very late and is very heavily patroled by police. Take the same precautions you would take anywhere - don't count your money out in the open, don't wear expensived jewelry, etc. The most dangerous people in midtown at night are the cab drivers and they don't kidnap little children or mug people - they're just reckless drivers.

Most of the previous answers here are wrong - posted by people who have probably never even been to New York.

Dani

First off Midtown is such a large area. That is like asking will you be safe at the Jersey Shore (which is 127 miles of shoreline).

Clearly, the people who say not smart or say negative comments with no basis are people who know nothing about NYC. Midtown is a tourists heaven 24 hours a day. You will see officers and friendly people everywhere.

Here is what I would consider.....

How many kids vs. adults? What time of night?

I would find no problem with walking around with my children in Midtown at night, in fact I have done it quite a few times. I would prefer my husband to be with me to feel safer but that would be anywhere at night.
Map out a bit of a plan and just be smart. You will have a great time and your kids will always remember it.

planetmatt

I'm a Brit who visited NY a couple of years ago. I found NY to be one of the safest cities I have visited and would have no hesitation about walking around midtown at night. Unlike London, there seemed to cops everywhere and midtown is full of hotels and other tourists anyway.

NYC_Since_the_90s

Why do so my idiots post here. Obviously 90% of these people have ever even been to NYC. Most are just jealous.

It is as safe as a walking in a mall in the midwest. Don't leave your kids on a bench when you shop. Don't eat things off the ground. Don't ask a stranger to hold your purse.

NYC is FILLED with people with small children and nothing happens to them. You hear one case of someone shooting someone and everyone thinks things are bad. There are 8,000,000 people here. More than most states. It is safer here then being in a High School in the midwest or a college in VA. Hasn't been anything like that (except a couple of buildings falling) in decades.

lma0814

I visit NYC regularly. We've gone w/ and w/out kids. It's got to be one of the safest places to take your kids. The biggest issue is that it's crowded, so you need to keep your hands on them when out in the street. Otherwise it's a great place for you and your children.

If you have a chance during the day, head to the waterfront - great tours of the Intrepid down there.

Amanda

Yes.
The heart of midtown Manhattan (8th avenue to 3rd avenue in the upper 40s and lower 50s) in the evening is pretty much like a suburban shopping mall -- greatest dangers will be losing your kids in crowds and temper tantrums over stuff they want you to buy.
If you ventured further west (10th/11th avenue/the river) crime would become more of a concern; I would also not recommend staying out extremely late (the crowds dissipate after the last broadway shows let out, in the 11 o'clock hour). There are typically a lot of homeless people (who will ask you for money, sometimes aggressively, but will not hurt you) camped out near the Port Authority Bus Terminal on 41st street.
Enjoy your trip, and please, make sure you see more than midtown Manhattan.

Terry A

The easy answer is it depends. How old are your children, how many are there and will someone be with you to help?
We often take student groups into the city and we also have taken our children since they were 7 and 12. We have never feared for their safety and as long as you and they are aware that New York City is a very large place, stay within the areas you wish to visit, have an alternate means of communicating (cell phones), and have a plan for your visit - you should be fine. Try to have your routes mapped out before you go from place to place as opposed to opening maps and stopping on street corners. A great planning tool is nycvisit.com and it has great neighborhood maps as well as kid friendly sites to visit to make your stay more enjoyable for all. Watch your kids, have a plan and enjoy the city!

NYC Chutzpah

Come visit and have a good time. You will enjoy yourselves. Times Square is now disney land north. There is an indoor ferris wheel at the toy's r us in times square. The museum of natural history has an area caled the gem room where the kids are allowed to touch the rocks, the whale room has chairs where you can sit and let the kids look at the undersea dioramas and you can still keep an eye on them. The childrens zoo in central park is also great with kids. When eating at a resturant take some crackers or some little snacks for the kids to munch on, sometimes the service is slow. Tkae potty breaks when one is available, public rest rooms are few and far between Enjoy.

spadezgurl22

depending on the time and how late, i would say ater 9:00 pm it might be too late to be taking the subway but you can always cab it and it would be perfectly safe for you to be with. Please be a good parent and hold their hands (i hate it when parents let their kids roam around with no adult)

evelinka420

hahahahaha... typical tourist.... the city never sleeps ---even when it's night you'll feel like it's daytime... don't worry you'll see just as many crowds at night as during daytime...

The Reverend Soleil

Never been to New York; but I'd hazard a guess to say it's like most major cities -- stick to the main, well-lighted streets and you'll be just fine.

termarrin

Ha ha ha ha ha....have you all looked at Arranged Marraige's answers on this site? They are so funny. I wanted to email him/her but it's not allowed. Keep going, you make me laugh soooooo much...

robert T

not in a million years!!!