Is Liverpool safe?
Safe in the center with normal care. Petty crime and nightlife trouble are the main risks; some outer neighborhoods are rougher.
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 Liverpool at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Phone snatching, bag theft in pubs, and weekend drunken fights around Concert Square and Ropewalks. Football match days bring crowds. |
| At night | City centre is busy and friendly until late. Use taxis or Uber from nightlife areas rather than quiet side roads. |
| Solo women | Generally comfortable alone. Watch drinks in bars and use licensed taxis late at night. |
| Other risks | Windy waterfront and slippery wet cobbles |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Fake or resold tickets for matches and concerts
- Unlicensed taxis touting outside clubs
- Bag-snatch tricks on busy weekend nights
Take care
- Ropewalks and Concert Square after 1 am on weekends
- Toxteth and parts of Kensington after dark
- Match-day crowds near Anfield and Goodison
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 Liverpool 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 Liverpool safe for solo female travelers?
Generally comfortable alone. Watch drinks in bars and use licensed taxis late at night.
Is Liverpool safe at night?
City centre is busy and friendly until late. Use taxis or Uber from nightlife areas rather than quiet side roads.
What is the crime rate in Liverpool?
Phone snatching, bag theft in pubs, and weekend drunken fights around Concert Square and Ropewalks. Football match days bring crowds. Nationally, United Kingdom records 1.1 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2021).
What number do I call in an emergency in Liverpool?
Police 999 · Ambulance 999 · Fire 999 · All emergencies 999.
More about Liverpool
Going to Liverpool solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Liverpool 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
- Merseyrail
- Liverpool John Lennon Airport
- Visit Liverpool
- 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.