Is London safe?
Safe for a huge city with normal care. Phone snatching and pickpocketing are the real risks; violent crime against visitors is rare.
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 London at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Phone snatching by moped or e-bike thieves, pickpocketing on the Tube and at sights, bike theft, and drunken fights at weekend closing time. |
| At night | Central areas stay busy late and Night Tube runs on some lines Fri–Sat. Night buses are frequent; avoid empty side streets with a visible phone. |
| Solo women | Generally comfortable alone. Use licensed cabs or apps late and watch drinks in clubs; night buses and Night Tube are well used. |
| Other risks | Cyclists and e-bikes on pavements and crossings; Traffic comes from the 'wrong' side for visitors from the right-driving world |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Unlicensed minicab touts outside stations and clubs; book an app or use black cabs
- Fake or resold tickets for sold-out gigs, football and shows
- Street games and 'friendship bracelet' tricks near major landmarks
Take care
- Walking with your phone out near roads in Soho, Oxford Street and Camden
- Night buses and quiet Tube carriages late on weekends
- Parks after dark, such as Hackney Marshes
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 London 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 London safe for solo female travelers?
Generally comfortable alone. Use licensed cabs or apps late and watch drinks in clubs; night buses and Night Tube are well used.
Is London safe at night?
Central areas stay busy late and Night Tube runs on some lines Fri–Sat. Night buses are frequent; avoid empty side streets with a visible phone.
What is the crime rate in London?
Phone snatching by moped or e-bike thieves, pickpocketing on the Tube and at sights, bike theft, and drunken fights at weekend closing time. Nationally, United Kingdom records 1.1 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2021).
What number do I call in an emergency in London?
Police 999 · Ambulance 999 · Fire 999 · All emergencies 999.
More about London
Going to London solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in London 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
- Transport for London
- Heathrow Airport
- Visit London
- NHS 111
- 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.