Is Cotswolds safe?
One of England's safest areas. Narrow lanes, hidden junctions and muddy paths cause most problems.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 5/5, very safe.
- 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 Cotswolds at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Crime | Occasional theft from parked cars at walking car parks; violent crime against visitors is very rare. |
| At night | Villages are silent by 10 pm and very safe. Streets are dark, and taxis need booking ahead. |
| Solo women | Very comfortable for solo women on village walks and in pubs. Arrange a lift or taxi for dark lane journeys. |
| Other risks | Narrow country lanes without pavements; Muddy footpaths and livestock in fields |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Fake accommodation listings asking for upfront deposits
Take care
- Narrow, high-hedged lanes at dusk: speeding cars and few verges
- Footpaths across fields with livestock, especially cows with calves
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 Cotswolds 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 Cotswolds safe for solo female travelers?
Very comfortable for solo women on village walks and in pubs. Arrange a lift or taxi for dark lane journeys.
Is Cotswolds safe at night?
Villages are silent by 10 pm and very safe. Streets are dark, and taxis need booking ahead.
What is the crime rate in Cotswolds?
Occasional theft from parked cars at walking car parks; violent crime against visitors is very rare. Nationally, United Kingdom records 1.1 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2021).
What number do I call in an emergency in Cotswolds?
Police 999 · Ambulance 999 · Fire 999 · All emergencies 999.
More about Cotswolds
Going to Cotswolds solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Cotswolds meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Cotswolds Tourism
- Great Western Railway
- Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS
- 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.