Do you think it's OK to get the bus from LAX to Watts to have a look round in the early evening (and then get the bus back)?

I'm staying at one of the LAX hotels next week for a night, have to do something to stay awake, and the 117 bus seems to go right from outside the hotel.

Is it reasonably safe do you think? I'd be there around 6pm.

I could see the Watts Towers and it would be interesting to see an area I've heard so much about. I had a nice wander round the South Bronx a few years ago and that was fine even though I stood out a bit (I am white).

I enjoy getting public transport so that is part of the fun (and I have done LA buses before, but not in areas like Watts).

(the other thing I could do is get the 232 south to Manhattan Beach but it just doesn't sound quite as much fun, though I appreciate that would be the most 'normal' thing to do!)

...I thought it would be good to see what the experts think!

Seemed perfectly fine when I did it by car. There are plenty of areas of LA that are only as scary as the mind thinks they are.

I always like trains - just a preference.
Blue Line and Green Line can also do the trick for Watts visits.

Other than Watts Towers there's nothing to see. It's just houses and some corner strip malls. I'm not sure what you are looking for. I suggest going to Google Maps, go to Watts Towers, drop yourself on street view and spin around and look at the 3 or 4 houses across the street. That's it. Nothing else to see.

I want it to feel like I've walked into an NWA album. Or something. I just like seeing areas I wouldn't otherwise go to but have heard of. Houses and strip malls sound good, especially if there's a Taco Bell!
Anyway it sounds like the bus isn't going to be a majorly dangerous exercise. Provided my flight is on time and immigration is speedy (both possibly unlikely) I shall check it out!

And it will definitely be bus not metro as the bus goes from right outside my hotel!

Then you would need to go to Compton or Crenshaw as opposed to Watts.

Which hotel are you staying at? It shouldn't be difficult for you to make it to Aviation station to catch the Green Line.
It is pretty safe during daytime or early evening hours to visit Watts and I take out of town visitors there all the time to see the Towers. But of course the area is not crime free so act smart and don't be an idiot... especially late at night

I would take the Metro Green Line to Willowbrook Station and walk to Watts Tower... that will give you a flavor of the area. Google Maps: http://goo.gl/maps/3veJT There is even a Taco Bell right outside the train station! (it's inside the strip mall south of the train station and freeway) The area around the train station is very safe with lots of foot traffic even late at night (it's a major transfer station).

And take the 117 bus back: http://goo.gl/maps/SULVi

Thank you! Sounds good (especially the Taco Bell). I'll be at the Crowne Plaza LAX and I think the 117 goes from that road so it might be easier to do that both ways but I shall investigate! I'm looking forward to my expedition!

Are you a man or women ? Black. white, Latino ?

I am a white guy and I would NEVER be walking around Watts or South Central in the dark, and for sure looking like a tourist !

I doubt Watts Towers is open at night ,

If you just want to see "the Hood" well you are probably staying right next to it in Inglewood !

Just walk down Century Blvd , ( the street the Airport is on ) over to Inglewood which is right next to the Airport , once you go under the train tracks at Aviation Blvd. you are there !

If you just want to see South Central its probably safe to get on the city bus , and stay on the bus till it ends then head back.

Paranoid ???? YES I am , I have lived in the Airport area all my life !
Others will say its completely safe , well maybe they can meet you at the Airport and give you a tour

But I would never send someone I liked over there in the dark.


Soarer

Well that didn't go to plan!

It started off reasonably well, though I got on the bus much later than I wanted to, and had to wait ages for it to come.

But after about 30 minutes into the journey the bus broke down. Naturally it chose a spot in what looked like an especially unsavoury area. After we all sat there for about 15 minutes I got off along with a few other people (seeing the driver sitting with her head in her hands wasn't a good sign). Also it wasn't very pleasant sitting on the bus as some of the passengers were deranged, some seemed unwashed (to put it mildly) and someone was broadcasting loud rap music.

I could have waited for the next one but it was getting late by this point (sun rapidly sinking) and the thought of us all cramming on the next one wasn't great, so I crossed the road and got a bus back again (which luckily came quickly and didn't break although it also had a fair complement of unwashed and deranged, though they all got off at La Brea ?? I think).

I am white with blonde hair (and male BTW) so I was in a minority of one on the bus, in terms of ethnicity at least, although I imagine everyone assumed I was deranged.

I should have got the Metro like bzcat suggested!

Anyway. Watts will have to wait for next time. And if I do it by bus I think I'll have to allow quite a bit of time!

Thanks everyone for the advice!

if you were on the bus 30 minutes then you went a pretty good way and at least got to see some of "the Hood" , also I hope you found a Taco Bell ?

and In and Out burger is right by the airport if you want to go there,

I guess its the same as us hanging around Brixton

Not sure how long you will be in LA but there are lots of nice places near the Airport

Soarer

Yea... you were probably pretty close to Watts if you were on the 117 bus for 30 minutes. Buses don't run in their own lanes in LA like every other civilized cities so it is generally very slow.

If you really want to have a ghetto good time without getting shot, just take the Blue line! It is very 'scenic' between the Del Amo and the Washington Stations, and the oh the patrons!!!! Nothing like chillin with some 'fragrant' homeless people, while jammin out to last years hits, courtesy of a Boost Mobile speakerphone!! It is good times to the max!! I have scared quite a few of my out of town guests with a ride on the Blue Line. You have never seen so many bars on so many windows, and it goes right through the middle of a housing project. Sorry to hear about your bus breakdown, next time in LA, stick with the trains. The Green Line to the airport is not nearly as much fun, but it does easily connect to the blue, right in the heart of LA, between Compton and Watts. (FWIW, I have ridden this line more times than I can count, and while it is often entertaining, especially when the homeless guy starts dealing drugs right next to you, I have never seen anyone get attacked/robbed/beaten up/etc, so it is probably safer than if feels).

Aha, next time Blue Line it is! Sounds fun!

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I went to visit Harlem the first time I went to NYC some 20 years ago (when I was a teenager... took the subway there by myself). And I made a point to go see London East End before it was gentrified somewhat. I don't think it is that strange that people want to see Watts or Compton.