United Kingdom (2024)

Written by Travel Safe Team

Safety Index:

* Based on Research & Crime Data

User Sentiment:

* Rated 72 / 100based on 70 user reviews.

United Kingdom : Safety by City

The United Kingdom is the top tourist destination everyone wants to visit at least once in their life, whether you are visiting the green planes of Ireland, enjoying the famous Scottish culture, watching your share of rugby games in Wales or just mingling around London, it is the country to be if you are yearning for some new experiences and a different breath of Europe.

While it is a very safe country, it should be noted that it is filled with tourists, and as such it is a great place for pickpockets and scam artists to circulate, so this is an issue in popular cities and landmarks.

Apart from that, the United Kingdom is ranked33rd on the ranking of the safest and most dangerous countries in the world.

Warnings & Dangers in United Kingdom

OVERALL RISK: LOW

The United Kingdom is considered a very safe country. Even though there are parts that are dangerous and should be avoided, it is, for the most part, completely safe to travel to, and if you use your common sense, your trip should go smoothly.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

Taxis and other forms of transportation are known to be very safe and reliable in the United Kingdom, as would be expected in such a developed European country.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH

Pickpocketing is the most common form of street crime in the United Kingdom. It is common to a certain degree and there are even some locations known for pickpocketing being reported there mainly popular landmarks. Take basic precaution measures and minimize your chances of being pickpocketed.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW

You can relax when it comes to natural disasters, because, apart from constant raining, there are no threats!

MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM

When it comes to mugging and kidnapping, the United Kingdom is relatively safe. However, you should be careful and avoid dangerous areas where you could get attacked.

TERRORISM RISK: HIGH

The United Kingdom has recently been targeted by a terrorist attack and it is now publicly announced that the threat to the UK is present.

SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM

Since it is so filled with tourists, it only makes sense that there will always be people trying to scam them. Always be cautious with people trying to distract you, help you with your luggage, or groups of people acting strange. Always check your change twice and negotiate everything in advance.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

The United Kingdom is mostly very safe for women to travel to. Just follow your basic common sense and general rules of things to avoid, and you should be fine.

So... How Safe Is United Kingdom Really?

The United Kingdom, like other popular European countries, is very safe.

Violent crime is rare and there is a very low probability that, as a tourist, you will experience anything more than petty crime.

However, some British cities and towns can be dangerous in some areas at night as you can run into groups of drunken people acting strange.

Crime rates in such areas are broadly in line with the European average (though there are significant variations between different parts of the UK).

You should avoid wearing football shirts or showing any kind of support for any football team because such shows of support might end violently since some rivalries are taken very seriously in the UK.

The biggest nuisance for tourists has to be the risk of pickpockets, so you should be very careful when visiting important city landmarks and tourist areas, or crowded places such as airports, train or bus stations, and public transportation.

Do not leave your valuables in plain sight or at a visible place in a locked car, and always lock the car when exiting the vehicle.

Pickpockets, as well as beggars often work in teams.

Another thing to watch out for is crossing the roads since every year tourists suffer from traffic accidents because the British people drive on the left side of the road which is highly confusing for people from around the world.

These are some of the risks tourists might encounter, but apart from petty crime and football rivalry, there are no reasons to be worried – just use your common sense and things will go smoothly.

How Does United Kingdom Compare?

Country	Safety Index
United Kingdom	77
Morocco	54
Switzerland	89
South Korea	82
Albania	75
Canada	88
Estonia	82
Cyprus	75
Czech Republic	88

Useful Information

Visas

Member countries of the EU do not need visas to enter the United Kingdom, as well as some other countries, but there is a considerable number of countries that do, and the procedure for obtaining a visa for the UK is of a high standard. Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into the United Kingdom. If you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need a visa based on your nationality.

Currency

The British pound is the currency in the United Kingdom. Keep in mind that this is one of the most expensive countries in Europe and the prices of accommodation in London are skyrocketing. You should bear in mind that you will need about 100£ per day, including accommodation, and if you're based in London - 150£.

Weather

The weather in the UK is mild with cool summers, and heavy rainfalls during the year. The best time to visit is during summer, from June to August.

Airports

The two busiest airports are London based (Heathrow Airport and Gatwick Airport), and the third busiest is Manchester Airport, also the busiest of the non-London airports.

Travel Insurance

Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to the United Kingdom, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.

Click here to get an offer for travel insurance

United Kingdom Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Jan 7° C

Feb 7° C

Mar 9° C

Apr 11° C

May 14° C

Jun 17° C

Jul 19° C

Aug 19° C

Sep 17° C

Oct 13° C

Nov 10° C

Dec 7° C

Average High/Low Temperature

Temperature / Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	9	9	12	15	18	21	23	23	20	16	12	9
Low °C	4	5	6	7	10	13	15	15	13	10	7	5
High °F	48	48	54	59	64	70	73	73	68	61	54	48
Low °F	39	41	43	45	50	55	59	59	55	50	45	41

United Kingdom - Safety by City

City	Safety Index
Aberdeen	63
Bath	81
Belfast	56
Birmingham	44
Bradford	42
Brighton	67
Bristol	58
Cambridge	78
Canterbury	79
Cardiff	64
Coventry	41
Dundee	60
Edinburgh	70
Exeter	77
Glasgow	55
Inverness	73
Leeds	56
Leicester	43
Liverpool	56
London	68
Manchester	44
Newcastle upon Tyne	72
Northern Ireland	56
Nottingham	56
Oxford	66
Peterborough	70
Salford	43
Scotland	71
Sheffield	74
Southampton	65
Surrey	77
York	83