Staying Safe in London

Safety on Public Transport in London

• Plan your route before you leave. See the Transport for London website.
• Only use black cabs or registered mini-cabs. See our taxi page for details.

London Travel Safety Tips

• Try to avoid walking alone at night. Keep to well-lit main roads
• Stay alert: be aware of what's going on around you
• Avoid wearing headphones – they reduce awareness of your surroundings
• In the UK, cars drive on the left. To ensure you cross roads safely, only use designated crossings, only cross when the green man is showing and take note of the signs indicating "look right" or "look left" to spot any oncoming traffic  

Staying Safe in Bars and Restaurants

• Make sure you keep your property out of sight and safely under the table
• Many venues have Chelsea clips under the tables, use them to secure your handbag or briefcase
• Never accept a drink from a stranger
• Don't leave your drink unattended
• Look out for your friends – don't let anyone leave alone or with a stranger. Make sure you know where your friends are and vice-versa
• Check up on your friends by phone or text to make sure they got home safely and vice-versa

Keep Your Belongings Safe

• Don't leave your bag unattended anywhere in London – this can lead to a security alert
• Keep your purse or wallet close to your body and don't carry too much cash
• When using a cashpoint, check that no-one is looking over your shoulder and that the ATM hasn't been tampered with. Cover the keypad so no one else can see your PIN number

Keeping Your Mobile Phone and Gadgets Safe

• Keep your mobile phone, MP3 player, camera and other gadgets out of sight in your pocket or handbag when not in use
• Record details of your electronic serial numbers (ESNs)
• Inform your service provider and police if your phone or other valuables are stolen or lost

Medical Services in London

In a genuine medical emergency call 999 or 112 for an ambulance. 

For non-urgent medical treatment, take a look at our medical services page for more information.

Reporting Homophobic Incidents

The police definition of homophobic/transphobic crime is any incident which is perceived to be homophobic by the victim or any other person. This means any incident (not necessarily a crime) that appears to be related to an individual's actual or perceived sexuality.

Report these to the police. You can find the relevant local contacts on the Metropolitan Police website.

Consumer Protection

If you have a complaint or query over your consumer rights visit the Consumer Direct website for information and advice.

Useful Numbers for London

You can telephone the emergency services (police, ambulance, fire department) on 999 or 112. These numbers are free to call – only use them in a real emergency.

To report non-urgent crime, contact your local police station. For Central London this is West End Central Police station on +44 (0)20 7437 1212.

If you have any information about crime you can fill out a confidential form on the Crimestoppers website or anonymously call +44 (0)800 555 111.

For free and confidential support for victims of crime and their families, visit the Victim Support Website or call National Victim Support line on 0845 30 30 900.