Whether you’re planning your first trip to London, or you’ve lived here all your life, staying safe is always worth the time and effort. Of course, London is just like any other major city in that millions of people go about their daily lives without ever coming across a problem, but also just like in any other city being aware of your surroundings and doing all you can to stay safe and keep others safe is a good idea. To that end, check out our ultimate London safety guide below.
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Be a responsible pedestrian
London is full of wide, busy roads, and unlike in American cities, you will see people cross them at any point. However, if you want to stay safe in this fair city, being a responsible pedestrian is crucial.
What this means is wherever possible using one of the thousands of crossings that are provided in short intervals all across the city. It also means staying on the path until the traffic has stopped, or the green ‘walk’ light is flashing, and it means not rushing to cross the road as the walk light timer runs down.
You will see people that do not keep to these rules, but just like the adage says, when it comes to crossing the road in London, it’s better late than never.
Be aware of your surroundings
While it’s tempting to put your head down and listen to your headphones during your commute, it’s much better for your safety to show that you are aware of what is going on around you. Indeed, by doing this you make yourself a much less desirable target for anyone with nefarious intentions.
In particular, keeping an eye on your surroundings is crucial when it comes to walking the streets of London. This is because there is a new trend when criminals use e-scooters to drive up to their victims, steal their phones, and then drive off quickly so they cannot be challenged or caught. By staying aware of your surroundings, you are much more likely to see such a threat heading towards you, so you can take evasive action.
Drive safe
If you plan on driving in London then doing everything you can to stay safe is a must. This means getting very confident with roundabouts, as well as learning to show patience in often very slow-moving traffic that turns into a free-for-all at junctions.
Of course, no matter how safely you drive in this type of city there is always a chance that you will be involved in an accident that was someone else’s fault. If such an unfortunate circumstance happens to you then, it can be very useful to contact a car accident lawyer once the immediate danger has passed. Indeed a car accident lawyer can help you establish a case against the other party involved in the accident, which means you may be able to reclaim some of the medical, and practical costs you incurred.
Plan your routes
There is nothing that makes you look out of place in a big city like London more than obviously not having any idea of where you are going. Indeed, visitors and tourists are often an easy mark for criminals because they will not be familiar with the way things are done.
The good news is that even if you are a visitor or tourist and not a permanent resident of London, you don’t have to let others know that. First of all, be sure that you plan your route from start to finish carefully so you don’t have to take out a map or your phone during your journey.
Secondly, remember that there are tube maps at many points in the underground stations as well as maps of each line on the trains themselves so there is no need to panic if you’re not sure where you need to go. Additionally, London’s Underground and Overground staff are notoriously helpful for anyone who needs advice on directions so don’t be afraid to ask them for advice while they are on duty.
Share your location with friends and family
Another way that you can stay safe in London is to use your mobile device to share your location with a trusted friend or family member. This can be very reassuring both for you and your family, as they will be able to see where you are at all times, and also contact the authorities if you deviate from your prepared route. This can be especially helpful if you choose to take a cab or Uber home at night, or need to walk somewhere on your own.
Buy tickets from trusted sources
London is jam-packed with fun things to do from viewing the entire city in the London eye to seeing the latest West End musical. However, when buying tickets for these and other activities you must always use a trusted source as many scams operate within London.
Where possible, visit the official website, or official ticket booth for the activity you plan on doing, and remember if a deal seems too good to be true, then it probably is.
Keep an eye on your drinks
Many people who visit London enjoy an alcoholic beverage or two! However, it’s never a good idea to accept drinks from strangers, no matter how nice they may seem. Similarly, even if you have bought your own drinks, leaving them to go outside or to the toilet is a big no-no because anyone could put something in them while they are unattended. To that end, it’s best to keep your drinks close when out in London.
Avoid unlicensed mini cabs
At the end of a big night, when all you want to do is go home, have a slice of toast and fall asleep, a minicab can seem like a really good option. However, this is not always the case, as different types of cabs operate in London, and not all of them are licensed and can be dangerous.
Indeed, mini cabs need to be cooked at their office or by phone, or app, and the same goes for Ubers. Black cabs and taxis can be stopped on the street, but it will be very clear that these are office cabs as they will have a lit sign. Never get into a car that claims to be a minicab that you have not previously booked, and do check that your minicab is legitimate by asking them where the booking states the drop-off point is.
