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

4.6 /5

Based on 259 experiences from female travelers

4.7 /5

Based on our research and crime data

4 /5

Based on 605 experiences from local women

United Kingdom is currently ranked #22 safest country for solo female travelers, with an overall safety rating of 4.6 out of 5. Check the full ranking.

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How safe is United Kingdom?

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: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: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: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 worth visiting?

Overall rating

4.8 /5

based on 259 experiences from female travelers

Things to do

4.6/5

Safety

4.6/5

Food

4.3/5

Budget-friendly

3.5/5

London, Group travel

My experience in London was quite nice. I honestly suggest staying more than 2 days because I felt like i didn't have enough time to see things. I just started traveling, so I don't know how to plan a trip, but I guess I'm gonna get used to this

Posted: April 23, 2025Experienced: February, 2025

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Charlie

France

London, Group travel

Loved going back to London after a few years! We couldn't get any tickets to the HP studios so we got a tour of the city that brought us to some filming locations which was a nice alternative while visiting! We visited some pretty touristy places for the rest of the trip but it was nice! Still quite expensive but it's London so we knew what to expect :)

Posted: April 23, 2025Experienced: December, 2023

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Edinburgh, Couple travel

Such a lovely city, the weather was not pleasant tho. It was raining every other day The food were very nice although I mostly just went to Asian restaurants. But the fish and chip at Victoria street was kinda lovely

Posted: April 20, 2025

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Gabriela

France

London, Solo travel

Places to visit: I love museums and they were all free, you only need to have reservation tickets but sometimes they didn’t even asked for them. Accommodation: I stayed at Bowden Court hostel and I really recommend it because the zone is perfect, it’s clean and safe. They give you two meals a day and you can have lunch outside if you want to try restaurants or something else. Safetyness: I felt safe all the time but I didn’t really went out really late. Mostly day visiting for me. Budget: you can do MANY things that are completely free in London like visiting parks, churches, food markets, historical places, museums and galleries, watching the change of guard, etc

Posted: April 20, 2025

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London, Family travel

I felt very safe at day and at night. I recommend to eat Fish & Chips and Full English Breakfast. Both is very good. London is 7/10 expensive. I stayed at a hotel in paddington and it was very pretty.

Posted: April 18, 2025Experienced: February, 2025

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London, Solo travel

London is a super fun city! This was my first solo travelling experience and I would really recommend this city if u are thinking of a place where to go alone for the first time. My advice is: choose a hotel/hostel in the center (I stayed at Wombat’s city hostel and it was super cute), use the bus (much cheaper and easier to understand) to get around, don’t go at night in places u haven’t visited during the day

Posted: April 11, 2025

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Chourouk

Sweden

Birmingham, Family travel

I visited Birmingham with my mom and baby, and while it felt pretty safe overall, I was honestly underwhelmed. There were a lot of homeless people around, and the city felt very dirty, especially on the weekends. Airbnb rentals were surprisingly expensive, and while the food wasn’t bad, it was pretty average and not as affordable as I expected. The tourist attractions and historic sites were free, which was nice, but they didn’t really stand out. For 9 days, we spent around £2000, and it just didn’t feel worth it. I’ve never felt this unimpressed by a city before.

Posted: April 11, 2025

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London, Solo travel

I felt extremely save in London overall, regarding the things you usually hear about cities that size. People were extremely helpful and nice. Most of the times, museums were free to enter as well! Everything else, like food and accommodations were way more expensive.

Posted: April 11, 2025Experienced: January, 2025

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Edinburgh, Solo travel

I felt very safe in edinburgh. I stayed at the st. christophers hostel, which has female only dorms. The hostel had a great location right next to the train station. I loved walking around in the old town and visited free museums. You can stay on a budget but it depends on what you want to do. You can reach pretty much everything by foot if you dont mind walking up and down allot;) My highlight was definitely Arthurs seat wich you can climb in about 40 minutes and get really stunning views!

Posted: April 11, 2025

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Malvern, Family travel

Great Malvern is a beautiful town, Malvern Link is kind of the uglier younger sibling, but it has a lot of supermarkets so is useful! The attractions in the town of Malvern are more geared towards the older generation I would say (theatre,library,cafes) but the walking on the Malvern hills is for everyone and it is sublime!

Posted: April 8, 2025

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Is United Kingdom safe for women?

Safety index

4 /5

Based on 605 local experiences

Crime index

2.4 /5

Based on 605 local experiences

Manchester

Same with most places. Don't go out walking in the dark alone. If you drink and are solo, don't get really drunk. I stick to south Manchester and city centre some greater Manchester towns are pretty rough.

Posted: April 25, 2025

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London

Depends solely on the area, but mugging and phone snatching is basically a rite of passage that even the police does nothing about. In terms of gendered violence, it isn’t as much of a concern, but there have been a few instances of drunk/ drugged up homeless men following girls from tube stations.

Posted: April 25, 2025

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Meet locals in United Kingdom

Nyah

About Me

Hiiii, I’m Nyah. I am a bookworm and love to travel. I am 18 and a first year law student at university. I love to write and do sports. I love going on walks with my headphones - especially to aesthetic places. Like mountains and forest areas. I have a canon camera and love to photograph absolutely everything haha.

Speaking

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Jamie

About Me

Hi! i'm French, currently in Scotland for my last semester in Uni. I'm almost 22 and I'm non-binary. I love to travel, I enjoy nature a lot. I am also an artist and a writer. I love learning new things and how different people are. I'm just fascinated by life in general, to be honest haha.

Speaking

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Stay with locals in United Kingdom

Kat

Manchester

Can host for:

3 days

About me

Hello! I'm Kat, love solo travelling after being fortunate to travel SE Asia in my 20s. I'm kind, considerate, open minded and respectful. I'm curious about the world, philosophy, space , music and enjoy learning and engaging with new people. Community is important and I think that sense of interconnectedness doubles when travelling and meeting unexpected new friends along the way. I have a wicked sense of humour, love bringing in laughter.

Speaking

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Nathy’s

London

Can host for:

3 days

About me

Just a person who lives in London. I like to travel and when travelling solo would like to meet up with some locals.

Speaking

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Upcoming visitors to United Kingdom

Lekea

About Me

Hey my name is Lekea I'm 22 years and I want to travel to 100 countries before I kick the bucket. I'm extremely goofy and kind. I really love to meet new people and learn new skills and other people's culture.