Is Manchester safe?
Safe with normal city care. Phone theft, pickpocketing and weekend alcohol-fuelled trouble in the center 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 Manchester at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Phone snatching, pickpocketing in busy nightlife, and bag theft in pubs. Some neighborhoods outside the center have higher crime. |
| At night | Northern Quarter and Deansgate are busy and fine until late. Use Uber or a licensed black cab after clubs close. |
| Solo women | Generally comfortable. Watch drinks on nights out and use app taxis rather than walking long distances late. |
| Other risks | Wet roads and cyclists in tram lanes; Trams in the street: look both ways |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Fake or resold tickets for concerts and football
- Unlicensed taxis touting outside clubs
- Quick 'street game' or charity-collector tricks near Piccadilly
Take care
- Piccadilly Gardens late at night: drug dealing and begging
- Parts of Moss Side and Cheetham Hill after dark
- Walking alone after clubs close in the center
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 Manchester 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 Manchester safe for solo female travelers?
Generally comfortable. Watch drinks on nights out and use app taxis rather than walking long distances late.
Is Manchester safe at night?
Northern Quarter and Deansgate are busy and fine until late. Use Uber or a licensed black cab after clubs close.
What is the crime rate in Manchester?
Phone snatching, pickpocketing in busy nightlife, and bag theft in pubs. Some neighborhoods outside the center have higher crime. Nationally, United Kingdom records 1.1 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2021).
What number do I call in an emergency in Manchester?
Police 999 · Ambulance 999 · Fire 999 · All emergencies 999.
More about Manchester
Going to Manchester solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Manchester 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 Greater Manchester
- Manchester Airport
- Visit Manchester
- 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.