Is Lansdowne safe?
Lexington, Kentucky · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Lansdowne as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Lansdowne
“Go. Lansdowne is a peaceful, established, and affluent suburban neighborhood in south-central Lexington with very low violent crime rates. Visitors will find charming boutique shopping, local dining, and quiet residential streets, requiring only standard awareness regarding vehicle security.”
About the area
Lansdowne is an attractive mid-century residential community centered around Lansdowne Shoppes along Tates Creek Road. It features mature tree-lined streets, well-maintained single-family homes, and localized neighborhood commerce just minutes south of the University of Kentucky campus.
- Suburban / Leafy
- Family-Friendly
- Quiet & Residential
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Lansdowne
Walk score: 48/100 · Bike score: 52/100
While Lansdowne lacks a dedicated bike-share station, the neighborhood features relatively flat streets and connects via neighborhood connectors to nearby paths at Lansdowne-Merrick Park.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates are significantly lower than both national and citywide Lexington averages
- High household income levels and strong rates of owner-occupied, well-maintained housing
- Convenient neighborhood retail, casual dining, and medical offices along the Tates Creek corridor
Cons
- Car-dependent street design with limited internal sidewalk networks away from main roads
- Occasional opportunistic property theft and vehicle break-ins in commercial parking areas
- Higher vehicle traffic congestion along Tates Creek Road during rush hours
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is practically nonexistent in Lansdowne, with no encampments or panhandling clusters in the residential areas or local shopping centers.
What Lansdowne is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and safe, with dog walkers and joggers navigating the leafy residential loops and commuters heading out via Tates Creek Road.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and pleasant, with steady patron traffic at the shopping plazas and neighborhood parks.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Inviting and relaxed as locals gather for dinner at neighborhood restaurants and stroll near Merrick Park.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Quiet and dark with low foot traffic, remaining generally safe while requiring basic personal awareness.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is served by Lextran via Route 3 (Tates Creek), offering hourly bus connections into downtown Lexington without any light rail or BRT options.
Parking is abundant and entirely free in private plaza lots and on residential streets, with no parking meters or garage requirements.
Things to do in Lansdowne
- Browse local boutiques and specialty shops at Lansdowne Shoppes
- Play tennis or enjoy a community stroll at nearby Lansdowne-Merrick Park
- Dine patio-style at local neighborhood bistros along Malabu Drive and Tates Creek Road
Local favorites
- Merrick Inn Restaurant · Southern Restaurant · 4.6★ (1100)A classic Lexington staple serving upscale Southern fare and bourbon on a spacious garden patio.
- La Gourmet Doughnuts · Bakery · 4.7★ (320)Beloved local shop known for artisanal handmade donuts, breakfast pastries, and coffee.
- Banners Bar and Grill · Sports Bar · 4.3★ (460)Neighborhood hangout offering classic pub food, draft beers, and game-day screenings.
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.