Is United Kingdom Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

The United Kingdom generally offers a high level of safety for solo female travelers. There's a strong police presence, especially in urban areas and public transportation, which contributes to a sense of safety. However, as with any country, it's necessary to employ common sense precautions, such as avoiding isolated areas late at night and keeping your belongings secure. Street-related crimes such as pickpocketing or theft can occur in crowded places. The UK is a welcoming destination, but always remember to stay vigilant and informed about your surroundings.

Safety rating

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How safe is United Kingdom?

Safety at night:

Safety at night:Safe

The United Kingdom generally boasts a high level of safety, especially in more populated areas or touristy places. The local authorities effectively maintain order and there are usually good lights and CCTV surveillance. However, as in any region, certain areas can be less safe especially at night, such as quiet backstreets or parks. It is always recommended to stay aware of your surroundings, avoid poorly-lit or deserted areas, and use common sense. Public transport is a safe option for night travel.
Public transportation:

Public transportation:Safe

Public transportation in the United Kingdom is generally safe, with plenty of well-lit areas, security personnel present, and emergency procedures in place. Bus and train journeys are normally smooth and trouble-free, especially during the day. Nonetheless, during late hours in less crowded areas or on less used routes, one must stay vigilant. Additionally, CCTV surveillance is common, providing an extra layer of security. However, always remember, safety largely depends on personal awareness and behaviors.
Street harassment:

Street harassment:Low

In comparison with other countries, the United Kingdom generally exhibits lower levels of street harassment. That said, it's important to note that experiences may vary significantly from person to person, and from one area to another. Some cities may present more challenges than others. The UK has strict laws against harassment, and reporting such incidents is encouraged. Overall, the public tends to be respectful towards women, but it's always crucial to remain vigilant and aware of your surroundings.
Petty crimes:

Petty crimes:Low

The United Kingdom generally has lower rates of petty crime compared to many other countries. Instances of pickpocketing, purse snatching, or similar offenses do occur, particularly in more tourist-frequented areas, but it is not prevalent throughout the country. Being aware of your belongings and maintaining personal security precautions will greatly minimise the risk of falling victim to such activities.

Is United Kingdom safe to travel?

Carme

Carme

Spain

London, Solo travel

Overall I had a really good trip, specially important being one of my first solo trips. I stayed on an Airbnb that was exclusively for solo travelling women that made me feel really comfortable and secure, the neighbourhood (Southfields) was great as well. I found London to be an amazing city in terms of safetyness, it of course has some dangers being a big city as all of them but compared to Rome for example (where I lived for a year), London felt super safe, I received no cat calling and wasn’t afraid to walk around alone. Price-wisely it can be expensive, especially the food out, so I would recommend booking a place where you are able to cook so you can save some money. In contrast museums were totally free and I found a lot of activities to do that weren’t expensive. Aside from this some shopping was included on my trip that did up my budget a bit ;). Overall I feel like you can accommodate the trip to your budget. Public transportation was nice, allowed me to get everywhere comfortably, specially the tube which was fast and counts with a ton of stations. You can pay simply with your credit card which is nice as well. Some of the stuff I loved were the vintage and second hand shops, the markets and restaurants from other cultures. But overall my favourite thing was the lively vibe of the city, at least during summer, and the kindness of the people I encountered <3.

Posted: September 6, 2024
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London, Group travel

It was excellent and safely to travel in London. I went to Harry Potter studios which I dreamed about it, and totally worth it. It was safe, you can walk everywhere, and use subway. I really enjoyed and wanna travel in London again

Posted: August 31, 2024
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City of Edinburgh, Group travel

I traveled with family and a couple of friends to Edinburgh in 2018. As soon as we arrived, I felt like home. Edinburgh is a very safe city. Getting around was pretty easy. We either walked to Princess Street or took the bus, which had Wifi, so it's very helpful in case you don't have a local data sim card. The food was great! Even the sandwiches at Starbucks were delicious. The fish and chips is a must! We also paid for a couple of tours. One to the Edinburgh Castle, and another one to The Whiskey House. Edinburgh must definitely be on your list of travel destinations if it isn't already, the culture is rich, the food is great, and there's so much to do.

Posted: August 20, 2024Experienced: May, 2018
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London, Solo travel

I stayed in London Solo in a hostel for 3 nights and I felt safe. I recommend to visit The Lookout, National history museum and Sky garden. I used public transport and walked to every location. I honestly had an amazing time. :)

Posted: August 18, 2024Experienced: January, 2024
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London, Solo travel

I traveled to London for a summer break, and stayed near Bayswater underground station, and had everything near by either by underground or walking. I felt safe and lived in a comfortable area, and even when returning home to the hotel at 11 pm I still felt safe. I can recommend staying in this area when travelling solo.

Posted: August 17, 2024
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Karina

Karina

France

Hartington, Solo travel

I went to Hartington for 3 days on August 2022. Took the train from Birmingham to Derby and then a bus to Ashbourne and then a final bus to the little town of Hartington. I used google maps to figure out the route and worked just fine ! I stayed at the YHA (youth hostel) although I was the only youth, most visitors being families or groups of seniors 😅 The food was good but expensive as the town is very little. There is a coffee shop but I don’t remember any shops or mini markets, which makes eating out the only (and expensive) option. I spent 3 days walking different trails around the town. I downloaded AllTrails and used that as my map. The goal was to hike on my own, and I did very much that. On the smaller trails, or when I was close enough to town, I ran into a few people (usually seniors or families). Besides that, I was pretty much on my own and felt completely safe even though I’m a WOC (Peruvian, dark hair and olive skin, very much in contrast with locals).

Posted: August 13, 2024
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Sarah

Sarah

Germany

London, Solo travel

I spend a little time in London and also in Oxford. I feel really safe. I stayed in a hostel close to the city centre. That was also very good. There is so much to do and the transport really good and easy to handle

Posted: August 10, 2024
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Manchester, Solo travel

Manchester is an absolutely gorgeous city. I can highly recommend going to museums as they offer a variety of interesting things. Apart from that I never felt so safe in terms of being Queer, I think the existence of the “gay village” existing says it all. Neurodivergency was also not a problem, when I was overwhelmed in the museum of Manchester, the staff kindly showed me to the dedicated quiet space. You need to come here if you love diversity, whether it’s in people, architecture or activities. Just awesome!

Posted: July 26, 2024
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Edinburgh, Solo travel

I felt safe the entire time, however I must say I didn't go out after 10 because I usually woke up at 8:30 to start doing and seeing stuff around town. So I don't know how it is at night. The things to do and see were great, most museums were free admision and the people there are very kind and helpfull. I'd recommend doing an underground tour in the old vaults, edinburgh castle and ofcourse the national scotish museum. I also made my own bag at the islander workshop, however do book it in avances since it sell out fast.

Posted: July 24, 2024Experienced: May, 2024
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Elín

Elín

Iceland

Edinburgh, Solo travel

I love Edinburgh! I have been a few times during Christmas time 🎄 Activities: I reccomend going to the Christmas Market and googling different events they have in December as a part of Edinburgh Christmas. I have been to the castle once and I really reccomend it, if you're on the fence about it, I'd say it's worth the money, just take your time there and don't go too late in the day to be able to look at everything; I reccomend getting the audio tour thing to learn all the fun facts. I recommend hiking Arthur's Seat, taking a walk to Charlton Hill. Places to stay: I've stayed at 4 different locations in Edinburgh. My favourite place to stay is Castle Rock Hostel, the vibes are perfect, I felt safe and there are so many opportunities to meet people there. I've only stayed in the 4 bed rooms and it was great! If you want to stay at a hotel I reccomend Grassmarket Hotel, I've stayed there twice and it was great both times! I've also stayed at Kick Ass Greyfriars: I reccomend it, also a great place to meet people. A&O Edinburgh City: cheap and good accomidation, not as easy to meet people unless you're a bar vibe kind of person, because the communal area is a bar.

Posted: July 20, 2024
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Is United Kingdom safe for women?

Safety rating

3.9 /5

Based on 316 experiences

Crime rates rating

2.2 /5

Based on 316 experiences

Oxford

Oxford is a very safe city especially in the centre with low levels of crime. Feel very safe walking or using public transports as a female across the whole city. The most common crime is bike theft.

Posted: September 5, 2024
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Portree

Portree is a small town on the Isle of Skye. There’s few locals and many tourists. Scottish people are polite and willing to help. You can go around using the bus. You’ll meet lots of travelers. I’ve been recommended not to go to the local pubs though

Posted: September 4, 2024
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Is United Kingdom safe right now?

Before your visit to United Kingdom, it's essential to check travel advisories for United Kingdom, including your home country's official travel advisory. These advisories can provide up-to-date information on safety, health, and any specific considerations for travelers.
🇺🇸

United States Travel AdvisoryExercise a high degree of caution

The United States government advises exercising increased caution in the United Kingdom due to terrorism. Check the full travel advisory.
Last updated: September 6, 2024
🇨🇦

Canada's Travel AdvisoryExercise a high degree of caution

**Advisory from the Canadian Government:** Exercise a high degree of caution in the United Kingdom due to the threat of terrorism. Check the full travel advisory.
Last updated: August 20, 2024
🇦🇺

Australia's Travel AdvisoryExercise a high degree of caution

The Australian government advises exercising a high degree of caution in the **UK** due to the threat of **terrorism**. Check the full travel advisory.
Last updated: August 28, 2024

Is United Kingdom worth visiting?

Cara

Cara

United Kingdom

London, Solo travel

London is a beautiful place and if you're new to the city, than its even more exciting and fascinating. It's a great experience for tourists and a must see if you ever visit the UK. I'd recommend jumping on the Uber boat (which serves all different stops along the River Thames) and gives you the opportunity to cruise through London.. Mark my word, it is nore beautiful at night when everything is lit up!

Posted: September 5, 2024
Things to do: 3/5Food: 3/5Budget-friendly: 2/5Safety: 4/5
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Birmingham, Solo travel

Birmingham is big city a bit chaotic but very well connected by public transport. The Victoria square and the library are great places to spend the afternoon. Birmingham is multicultural so you cam also find great food from all around the world

Posted: August 30, 2024Experienced: June, 2024
Things to do: 4/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 4/5Safety: 4/5
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Meet locals in United Kingdom

Meet local women in United Kingdom who are open to meet up for a coffee or a drink, show you around, give local advice or practice a language with.
Sol

Sol

About Me

Hi I'm Sol, I'm from Brighton :) I like swimming, art, illustration, eating, sewing, movies, reading and music. My particular interests are Lord Of The Rings, fantasy and horror movies.

Speaking

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Tamara

Tamara

About Me

I'm a freelance UX and service designer, currently community manager for a small non-profit. I enjoy solo travel as an introvert, going at my own pace and planning my day, but sometimes miss sharing experiences and adventures with others. I tend to stay in boutique hostels with female dorms or Airbnbs. (I'm always up for sharing accommodation or rentals!) I'm a foodie (vegetarian), coffee lover, culture vulture, love urban photography and just coddiwompling around. I don't drink much (maybe socially) and am not a party person. I kind of had an existential/early mid-life crisis during the pandemic, feeling like I'm missing out on life and what if the next year brings something even worse!? So I cancelled my lease in London and went travelling. As a millennial I'm unlikely to but my first home any time soon, and 50% off my income went on rent, so in order to save up (and work part time for my mental health), I'm house and pet-sitting. My itinerary: 🇵🇹 Portugal until 15.5. 🇪🇦 Spain 18.5.-1.7. 🇧🇻 Denmark 1.7.-20.7. 🇸🇪 Sweden 20.07.-22.7. 🇬🇧 UK 29.7.-24.8. 🇭🇷 Croatia 24.8.-20.9. If you'd like to follow along with my trips, you can find me on Instagram 📷 @coddiwomplingdumpling ✏️ Also! Please contribute to my list of hostels with female-only dorms if you discover a gem https://www.google.com/maps/placelists/list/D8OAFWAR7H21iTMn_rV_iYLuA9M6qQ

Speaking

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Stay with locals in United Kingdom

Stay with local women in United Kingdom who offer free accommodation as part of cultural exchange. Hospitality exchange is a great way to meet new people, learn more about new cultures and experience destinations like a local.
Holly

Holly

Leeds

Can host for:

3 days

About me

Hello, My name is Holly, I'm a 28 year old woman from Leeds, England. I'm social, friendly, and love meeting new people and making new friends. I'm currently travelling around the world on a sabbatical from work 🌏 So far, I've travelled to Sri Lanka, India and Nepal. Soon I'll be travelling to Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand. Happy travels!

Speaking

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María

María

London

Can host for:

3 days

About me

I'm a Spanish woman working for a human rights charity in London. I have lived in this city half my life and love showing it to people. I have a part time business doing animal care and also practice massage therapy. I love nature, food, dancing and the arts. I'm sober and LGBTQI+ friendly

Speaking

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Upcoming visitors to United Kingdom

Connect with upcoming visitors to United Kingdom who are looking for travel buddies or meet ups.
Nafisa

Nafisa

About Me

Hi! I’m Nafisa from Indonesia and I LOVE travelling. I lovee seeing sunsets, going on walking tours, sightseeing, taking lots of pictures, meeting new people, getting to know new cultures, going to museums and admiring pretty skies / buildings. My friends know me as being super bubbly and lively! So excited to travel and meet new people here!! 🤗❤️

Speaking

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Andrea

Andrea

About Me

Hi there! I'm Andy, 28 years old and give in way too easy to my spontaneous ideas. That's how I end up traveling solo for various things, including tattoos and now festivals 😅 And although I love solo traveling, sometimes I wish to get to know people at my destinations - that's why I'm here now. I love plants, animals and live music - mostly metal core. Can't wait to meet you! 😊

Speaking

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Safety in United Kingdom