The London Traveler

London is an extraordinarily safe city. No matter where I’ve been, no matter what time at night, I’ve never felt unsafe.

That said, London is a large city, and a very few people might be up to no good. Most crime is opportunistic, so if you follow some easy steps, you’ll dramatically minimise the already small chance that you may be a victim of crime in the city.

Here are a few general tips for late-night London:

• Keep a little cash hidden somewhere, if possible.
• Stick to public transport: Tube, buses, black cabs.
• If walking, stick to brightly lit streets and try to travel with someone.
• Groups of children have been known to be just as dangerous as adults in Britain, so don’t assume anything.
• Avoid mini-cabs if possible, particularly for women. (These are the random cars that generally offer rides home late at night outside clubs.)
• Don’t accept drinks that you didn’t see made for you!

If you’re like 99.99% of visitors to London, you’ll never have a problem! But it’s always better to be on the safe side.