Is Brad Lee safe?
Alexandria, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Brad Lee as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Brad Lee
“Go. Brad Lee is an affluent, well-maintained commercial and residential node along King Street with low violent crime rates. Visitors can comfortably shop, dine, and explore during the day and evening with basic urban awareness.”
About the area
Centering on the historic Bradlee Shopping Center along Route 7 (King Street), Brad Lee is a bustling suburban-urban enclave bridging Alexandria's West End and historic North Ridge. It features grocery anchors, boutique retail, casual dining, and leafy residential streets with townhomes and garden apartments.
- Suburban Strip
- Family-Friendly
- Convenient
- Leafy & Quiet
Walking and biking in Brad Lee
Walk score: 71/100 · Bike score: 58/100
Capital Bikeshare docks are available near the shopping center and King Street corridor, with easy connections to the Holmes Run Trail and Four Mile Run Trail nearby.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Significantly lower violent crime rate compared to national and regional metro averages
- High median household incomes and stable, well-maintained housing stock in surrounding neighborhoods
- Active commercial strip providing steady foot traffic, open businesses, and natural surveillance throughout the day
Cons
- Occasional vehicle break-ins and property crimes typical of busy suburban shopping center parking lots
- Heavy traffic along King Street (VA-7) creates challenging pedestrian crossings at rush hour
- Pockets of high-density rental complexes nearby experience slightly higher rates of minor nuisance calls
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal, with occasional individuals asking for assistance near the commercial entrance ramps along King Street, but encampments are not present in the neighborhood.
What Brad Lee is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and busy with morning dog walkers, fitness enthusiasts, and locals grabbing coffee or groceries.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Active and energetic as shoppers and diners fill the retail plazas, feeling completely safe and open.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Lively around neighborhood restaurants and grocery stores with families and commuters picking up dinner.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Quiet and largely empty once retail closes; pedestrian activity drops dramatically but streets remain safe.
Transit, parking and getting around
Served by DASH bus routes (including the 30, 31, and 35) and WMATA Metrobus lines along King Street, offering frequent connections to the King St-Old Town Metrorail Station (Blue/Yellow Lines) about 2.5 miles east.
Abundant free parking is available in the large surface lots of Bradlee Shopping Center and neighboring strip plazas; residential side streets offer unrestricted or straightforward permit-exempt street parking.
Things to do in Brad Lee
- Browse local specialty shops and pick up international foods at the Bradlee Shopping Center
- Take a tranquil stroll or jog through nearby Fort Ward Park and visit the historic Civil War museum
- Walk the quiet, tree-lined residential streets connecting south into the Seminary Ridge and North Ridge neighborhoods
Local favorites
- T.J. Stone's Grill House & Tap Room · American Restaurant · 4.5★ (1150)A cozy, warm neighborhood taproom serving elevated pub fare and craft brews, located just down King Street.
- Unwined · Wine & Specialty Food Store · 4.8★ (140)An acclaimed independent merchant offering curated boutique wines, craft spirits, artisanal cheeses, and gourmet snacks.
- Café Pizzaiolo · Pizza Restaurant · 4.3★ (680)A relaxed local favorite serving Neapolitan-style pizzas, calzones, and Italian classics in nearby Shirlington/Fern St corridor.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.