Staying safe in London – Tips for staying safe and how to avoid scams

London is packed with cultural and historical attractions and its iconic landmarks attract tourists from all over the world. 

Most tourists who visit London enjoy a safe, hassle-free trip but a small number of tourists fall prey to crime or scams directed at tourists, such as pickpocketing. 

We have visited London countless times and have never fallen victim to a crime or scam. We follow the usual tourist and personal safety precautions that you would follow anywhere in the world – plus a few extra London specific precautions.

In this article, we share our tried and tested tips for staying safe in London and avoiding scams. 

However, before you get spooked and start rethinking your trip to this amazing city, it’s important to know that London has a rating of 44.8 on the Numbeo crime index. This means it’s considered safer than cities such as Malmo in Sweden, Paris, France or Hamilton, New Zealand. 

Staying safe in London 

Accommodation

Research which area of London you wish to stay in. Try to choose a location that will be busy day and night so you’ll feel safe walking around. 

Read reviews about your chosen accommodation and cross-check reviews on multiple websites. Only book self-contained apartments (such as Airbnbs) with multiple, authentic-looking reviews. 

Take a look at our accommodation recommendations in our area guides, on our London map and check out our complete guide to London accommodation.

When you arrive at your accommodation, make sure you know where the fire exit is and what the evacuation procedures are. Always lock your doors and windows and never leave your luggage unattended in the foyer, lobby or outside your room. 

Securely lock your valuables in the hotel room safe (or hidden in your Airbnb or VRBO) when you go out for the day. Never leave items lying around your room. 

Trust your instincts; if the hotel or apartment doesn’t feel safe and secure, don’t stay there. 

The Metropolitan Police have written a short, useful guide on hotel safety tips in the capital here. 

Staying safe moving around London

We always recommend planning your route before you leave your accommodation, as it means you will move with purpose and confidence. Nothing screams tourists louder than confused pedestrians looking at Google Maps on their phones or a paper tourist map! 

Stick to commonly used routes, busy areas and areas that are well-lit at night. 

Leave plenty of time for your journeys so you can slow down and move safely and stress-free. When you rush around you are less likely to be aware of your surroundings and are more prone to accidents. 

There’s lots of amazing things to see and grand architecture to admire in London but try to stay alert to your surroundings and who is around you. Pickpockets love distracted visitors. 

Don’t wear headphones as you move around London. Be vigilant to people and traffic. 

Keep in contact with family or friends back home so someone knows your plans. If you are a solo traveller, this is even more important and it’s a good idea to check in with a family member or friend after a busy day sightseeing or after a night out. 

Londoners drive on the left so take extra care when crossing roads. If possible, use designated crossing points such as traffic lights or zebra crossings. Beware of cyclists zooming up on the inside lanes when crossing the road. 

Bars and restaurants

Try to eat at busy, well reviewed restaurants and bars with a good hygiene rating. 

Never leave your phone or wallet on the table as this encourages ‘snatch and grab’ opportunists. 

Make sure you loop your bag through a chair leg or table leg. Never leave your bag hanging on the bag or your chair. If there is a distraction in the restaurant or bar (which is sometimes caused by thieves) you may find your bag has been stolen by their accomplice. 

Never accept drinks from strangers. 

Carrying and using money in London

To be honest, these days, paying by cash is no longer the norm, and some establishments are totally cashless. If you do have cash, avoid carrying large amounts and try not to have your cash out on display. For example, when paying in cash, remove what you need from your purse and put it in your bag rather than flashing all the cash in your wallet to anyone who is watching. Read more – How should I bring money to the UK? A complete guide to cash and cards.

Using ATMs in London is generally safe, but we recommend trying to use one inside a bank or another building rather than one on the street. 

If you do use a street ATM, always hide your pin from prying eyes and remove and secure your cash as soon as possible. Look for suspicious add-ons to the ATM such as a camera. 

Try to carry your credit cards in a RFID wallet like this one or cover to avoid card cloning. 

Bags

Try to only carry the minimum you need for a day’s sightseeing. This means you can travel with a smaller bag which is easier to handle and to look after. 

Never leave your bags unattended anywhere in London; Londoners are quick to notice and report suspicious bags. You should also look out for unattended bags on your trips around the capital and report any unattended bag to the nearest authority. 

To avoid getting your phone out of your bag every time you want to take a photo, we recommend using a phone lanyard. I never travel without mine. 

Consider buying a cross-body lanyard like this with a strong cord that a sharp tug cannot break. Plus, if you put your phone away in your bag, you can tie it to a strip or clasp inside your bag so it’s harder to pickpocket. 

We strongly recommend purchasing and travelling with an anti-theft crossbody bag like this. These ingenious bags use simple methods such as hidden zips or zip clips to deter thieves.

Thieves are trained to spot easy bags to open so make your bag unattractive to thieves by using an anti-theft bag. We always use an anti-theft bag on our travels (in fact I have multiple size bags including a backpack that I use all around the world). 

Pickpockets

Pickpocketing is the most common crime risk that tourists face in London. Anywhere that tourists congregate will attract pickpockets. 

Pickpocket hotspots in London include Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square, Oxford Circus and on busy tubes, buses and trains. For example, although Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea are some of the most upmarket areas of London, they also see some of the highest crime levels because of pickpocketing and theft. 

Always be aware of who is around you, particularly in busy places such as on a tube. Avoid carrying anything in your pockets and make sure you carry your bags appropriately. Carry a handbag across your body (rather than on your shoulder) and carry your backpack on your front rather than on your bag. 

An anti-theft bag which is hard to get access to will make you much less appealing to pickpockets than other unsuspecting travellers. 

Use a VPN

A VPN is a virtual private network. It’s used for many things such as encrypting your internet traffic but for travellers, it’s most useful for shielding your browsing and internet usage when using public Wi-Fi. 

You’ll need public Wi-Fi in London for using maps, checking timetables and recovering tickets so it’s a good idea to always use a VPN if you can. All you need to do is to download a VPN app to your phone and switch it on before surfing the internet on public Wi-Fi. 

We always use a VPN when we travel and our chosen (and trusted) provider is Surfshark.

Avoiding scams in London

As previously mentioned, anywhere that attracts tourists also attracts scam artists. Do your research, check reviews and trust your gut – if something is too good to be true, it usually isn’t. 

Street scams

Be aware of puzzle scammers or the infamous ‘which cup is the ball under’ scam commonly seen on Westminster Bridge. 

These fast-paced scams ask tourists to bet on an outcome but the outcome is not left to chance; it is the sleight of hand scammer manipulating the end result.

If you see someone else ‘winning’ the challenge, don’t trust them. They are likely to be in on the scam in order to tempt other people into making a bet and parting with their money. 

Never accept free ‘gifts’ such as a flower, a photo, drawing, etching or bracelet. You will be pressured for money afterwards. 

Unfortunately, you may encounter fake charity collectors in London. It is important to know that under UK law, charity collectors must have a licence and must obtain permission from the local authority. If a collector does not have an official permit and badge, they are not a reputable collector. 

You will encounter many people on the streets of London selling the ‘Big Issue’ magazine. All profits from this well-established and trustworthy magazine go to support the homeless in London. 

Note that ‘Big Issue’ sellers must wear a licensed ID badge; if they don’t have one, don’t buy from them. You will see other genuinely licensed sellers whom you can buy from to support the capital’s homeless population.

Ticket and pricing scams

Never buy a theatre or a concert ticket from a ‘tout’ – the name given to people selling tickets outside an event or venue. You will always pay more for your ticket and most likely the ticket you buy will be fake. 

Always buy last-minute theatre or concert tickets from reputable outlets or from the half-price official theatre ticket booth in the middle of Leicester Square. 

Finally, you’ll see colourful, characterful rickshaws operating in the main tourist areas of London but it’s important to know that these vehicles are unregulated. Most of the rickshaws are genuine drivers trying to earn a living but there have been some reports of scammers. 

Always agree on a price for your journey in advance and make sure you get dropped off in a busy, well-lit area. 

Staying safe on public transport

As previously mentioned, be aware of your bags, your surroundings and the people around you when at a station or when using public transport. 

If you are lucky enough to get a seat on a bus or tube, do not put your bag on your lap. Always loop it though your leg or across your body to deter ‘snatch and grab’ thieves. 

If you’re travelling on overland trains in the capital, keep your bags within sight at all times. Use the luggage rack above your head but keep your bag in front of you rather than behind you. 

Leave plenty of time for your journey. There are frequent accidents with people rushing on steep escalators or catching themselves in closing train or tube doors. Slow down and take care. If you miss the tube, there will be another one along in a few minutes. 

The famous ‘mind the gap’ announcement on the London Underground system is made for a reason. Mind the gap! Stand back from the platform edge – especially when the platform is busy – and watch your step when getting off a tube. 

Do not use unlicensed taxis or minicabs. Use a taxi from a well-reviewed reputable company or one of the famous black cabs. 

London tubes and buses run into the early hours of the morning and can be a reliable way of getting home after a night out. 

However, if you are a couple, or a solo traveller, we recommend using taxis to travel home after a night out especially if you have been drinking. 

Driving in London

We do not recommend driving in London, especially if you are not used to driving on the left. 

London streets are busy and congested and you’ll have the extra challenge of ULEZ zones, restricted parking, parking fees and one-way systems to contend with. 

London’s public transport is efficient with a variety of options covering a vast network of destinations. Although it can appear confusing to navigate at first, public transport in London is a quick and stress-free way to move around the capital. 

If you must drive in London, make sure you have a good Sat-Nav and are up-to-date with U.K and London specific driving regulations. We recommend Tripiamo’s driving guides to help prepare our readers for driving in the U.K.

Follow the usual driving safety precautions. Don’t leave valuables unattended or on display in cars and always lock your doors when driving. 

Final thoughts on staying safe in London

London is an amazing city and you’ll find that the majority of Londoners you encounter are friendly and willing to help tourists.

Visiting London requires the same degree of caution and awareness that most of us use in our daily lives at home. 

With the right mindset, thorough planning and useful resources (such as anti-theft bags and phone lanyards), you’ll feel confident and safe to explore the best that London has to offer.