Overall it's a pretty safe city, with not a lot to do, however, that is changing year over year.
Stay away from Campbell and Florida Ave. 5th street looks like a run down shithole, but the city has been trying for over a decade to revitalize down town and they have done a pretty good job.
Downtown is a good place if you are in your 20's to hang out, eat, drink, so forth.
Other than those and a few other certain area's, such as the downtown side of Rivermont Ave, the city is pretty safe. LU allows student carry I believe.
Lynchburg has a ton of wealth for some reason, lots of old money being over taken by LU money.
City council just turned red, I believe for the first time in my life. I don't expect that to last long. Most of the blue city councils have been trying to turn Lynchburg into a mini shithole Roanoke.
Traffic sucks thanks to LU, Lynchburg College, and poor planning throughout the 20th century. Wards road really fucking blows.
Although I'm not a fan of LU, they do have a ton of stuff to do for students and city residents. We take our kids to a lot of LU hockey and basketball games.
Lots of trails to walk or ride bikes.
Centra Health is the big Hospital here, and while I personally think the quality of the healthcare has taken a shit since COVID, I believe it still ranks pretty high within the state.
River Ridge mall kinda sucks now since a lot of the anchor stores left or like Sears, went under. Really good Mexican restaurant there though.
Most people over the last 2-3 decades have moved out to Forest, making 221 kinda shitty in regards to traffic.
LU has a shooting range but it's only for LU students. Unfortunately, the only other range here burned down a few months ago, a really nice one closed down in March I think.
I've lived here my whole life, and sometimes I still don't see the draw and sometimes I do, but a lot of LU students end up staying.
Hope he enjoys his stay.
Edit: I don't associate with the areas of the city that would most likely have gang issues, but I have never understood the draw of Jerry Fallwell land for gangs. Then again, I'm not a gangbaning asshole.