Is Bristol safe?
Safe with normal city care. Phone and bike theft and drunken disorder in the center at weekends are the main problems.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2025-05-07.
- Homicide rate in United Kingdom: 1.1 per 100,000 people (2021, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in United Kingdom: 3.2 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 999 · Ambulance 999 · Fire 999 · All emergencies 999.
Safety in Bristol at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Phone and bike theft, pickpocketing at crowded events, and drunken fights around Park Street and the Old City at weekends. |
| At night | Busy and mostly fine around the harbor and Whiteladies Road. Late buses are patchy; use Uber, Bolt or a licensed cab after midnight. |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women. Use apps or licensed cabs at night and watch drinks at busy weekend venues. |
| Other risks | Steep hills and cobbles in Clifton and Totterdown; Cyclists and e-bikes on shared paths |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Fake or resold tickets for gigs and balloon-festival events
- Unlicensed minicabs touting outside clubs; use an app
- Card-skimming and shoulder-surfing at street cash machines
Take care
- Park Street and Broadmead late on weekend nights: drunken fights
- Stokes Croft after dark: street drinking, occasional aggression
- Cycle paths and towpaths alone late at night
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Riding a private e-scooter on public roads or pavements is illegal; only official rental schemes are allowed.
- Carrying a knife in public without good reason is illegal, including locking or long folding blades.
- Cannabis is illegal, and drinking alcohol is banned on London public transport.
How Bristol compares in United Kingdom
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Edinburgh | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Oxford | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Bath | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Cambridge | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Scottish Highlands | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Isle of Skye | 5/5 · Very safe |
| York | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Lake District | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Cornwall | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Cotswolds | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Snowdonia | 5/5 · Very safe |
| London | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Manchester | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Liverpool | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Glasgow | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Brighton | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Bristol | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Belfast | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Cardiff | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Newcastle | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Leeds | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Birmingham | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Bristol safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable for solo women. Use apps or licensed cabs at night and watch drinks at busy weekend venues.
Is Bristol safe at night?
Busy and mostly fine around the harbor and Whiteladies Road. Late buses are patchy; use Uber, Bolt or a licensed cab after midnight.
What is the crime rate in Bristol?
Phone and bike theft, pickpocketing at crowded events, and drunken fights around Park Street and the Old City at weekends. Nationally, United Kingdom records 1.1 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2021).
What number do I call in an emergency in Bristol?
Police 999 · Ambulance 999 · Fire 999 · All emergencies 999.
More about Bristol
Going to Bristol solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Visit Bristol
- Bristol Airport
- Bristol Ferry Boat
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.