Read update
- Safety is something crucial to decide the next destination or a new place to leave. This list have been uodated to include some of the most dagerous cities in the UK, based on current numbers.
Checking the country’s safety can be decisive when planning their next destination, especially when traveling solo. Visiting the United Kingdom means discovering a place full of natural wonders and history. Due to its small size, many visitors might assume it’s a 100% safe destination, but they should keep in mind that every place has its dangerous spots.
Some of the most dangerous cities in the UK include famous tourist destinations, such as Leeds and London. They have been ranked based on the crime rate per 1,000 people. This list doesn’t mean travelers should avoid those cities, but only that they should be careful.
- For emergencies, call 999
- For non-emergencies, call 101
UPDATE: 2023/07/10 14:56 EST BY LUANA FERREIRA
Safety is something crucial to decide the next destination or a new place to leave. This list have been uodated to include some of the most dagerous cities in the UK, based on current numbers.
13 Cleveland
Cleveland might be known for its green hills and rivers, but it is now dubbed England’s crime capital. The local police seized approximately 200 knives and sharp objects in 2022, and the crime rate in the region is 139.6, much higher than the national average of 92.6. The number of crimes and sexual assaults has increased post-pandemic.
Cleveland County includes Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees. There are many discussions about what can be done to make the region safer.
12 Hartlepool
Hartlepool is also located within Cleveland County, located 260 miles from London. Travelers visiting this port city are often interested in its historic Quay, the HMS Trincomalee and the Museum of Hartlepool.
This relatively small city, with a population of 96,000, has a high crime rate of 142 per 1,000, which makes it one of the most dangerous cities in the region. The most common crime is burglary, so visitors must be careful with their belongings, especially when in crowded places.
Brighton & Hove
There are many reasons to visit Brighton and Hove. The city is renowned for its excellent shopping options and hosts a wide range of cultural events. Additionally, it holds the unofficial title of being the gay capital of Britain. However, in terms of security, there are some concerns to consider in the city, as it’s considered the most dangerous city in East Sussex.
The most common crimes in Brighton and Hove are violence and sexual offenses. The
city is especially dangerous for bikers, as it has a high rate of bicycle theft.
11 Leicester
Leicester may appear to be a calm city with its world-class universities and cultural events, but the numbers tell a different story. An overall crime rate of 128 per 1,000 people makes it the most dangerous city in Leicestershire.
The police registered over 21,000 cases of violence and sexual offenses in 2022, so travelers must be careful when visiting the city. The city also has significant bicycle theft rates, so bikers should ensure their bicycles are well-locked.
10 Bradford
While Bradford is well known for its diversity, it is also well known for being a place that features an incredibly high crime rate – and when visitors throw that alongside the fact that 28% of households find it difficult to live on their outcome, they soon come to realize that there’s a great risk at play, here.
The people of Bradford are nice enough, but it’s incredibly difficult to live in happiness or even visit with a smile on ones face when being aware of what lingering beneath the surface.
It’s a shame, too, because the potential is certainly there.
9 Leeds
To go right alongside Bradford as the representatives of West Yorkshire is Leeds, which helps make up the most consistently dangerous region in England. With 35.7 violent crimes per 1,000 individuals, it certainly isn’t hard to paint a picture in mind.
Leeds is home to the UK's loviest castle, and it should be a thriving economic city with great potential for the years to come, but instead, there seems to be this ego-driven population within the city that ensures it has to be dragged right back down again.
8 Coventry
Taking a quick scroll down through the crime section of the following paper that covers Coventry & Warwickshire tells people all that they need to know regarding just how dangerous Coventry can be.
Warwick & Coventry University consistently attempts to paper over the cracks as much as they humanly can, but it is a tall ask. There are so many areas within the city that just aren’t up to scratch, with some even leaving people to wonder how a place can look like this.
Yet the locals will continue to stick up for it no matter what.
7 London
There are plenty of things to do in London. The English capital is well known for being a place of great culture, sport, and art, but beyond that, there’s a crippling feeling of dread in the air – especially within the rural areas. Everyone has seen and heard the news reports, regardless of where people live, because they’re just impossible to ignore.
A dramatic rise in knife crime has been sweeping across London, and it truly does feel like that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Things need to change and soon because eventually, people are just going to stop coming (as ridiculous as that sounds).
6 Glasgow
Glascow is famous for its culture and excellent restaurants, but its crime rates can't be ignored. The good news is that crime seems to be on the decline in Glasgow, which serves as a direct contrast to many of the cities that listed. However, while that may be a positive piece of news, it still doesn’t eradicate the problem.
Glasgow has always had the reputation of being an intimidating city, and straight from the off, people often consider that to be a pretty dangerous trait. This is especially true for non-Scots traveling to the city because in case visitors hadn’t already heard, they’re incredibly proud of where they come from and their patriotism can sometimes be displayed in the wrong way.
5 Manchester
From fraud to physical crimes and beyond, the Greater Manchester area is really struggling when it comes to crime. Even the robbery rates are pretty bad, at 2.5 per 1,000 within the population.
If visitors take a step back and analyze Manchester as an actual city in terms of entertainment value and things of the sort, then, of course, visitors are going to see a pretty great picture. But with every positive comes a negative, and there’s still a lot of issues that need to be rectified before they can be viewed as a forward-thinking city once again.
4 Liverpool
When any city's figures are as high as Liverpool’s are for anti-social behavior, it should serve as a big old warning sign that the culture within the city needs to change.
The big irritation here, as is the case with many of the other cities on this list, is that Liverpool is a great place to be. Unfortunately, a small portion of the population decides to engage in these reckless activities, which causes a stereotype or two to develop when people refer to the Merseyside destination.
Sure, they’ve got a great football team, but travelers shouldn’t let that cloud their judgment.
3 Bristol
The student culture in Bristol is great as has been reiterated time and time again over the last few years, but that quite literally doesn’t mean a thing when someone stack it up against the negatives here. Travelers spending 24 hours in Bristol, might not notice the problems within the city.
From being known as the cocaine capital of Europe to having a series of dangerous environmental issues, the perception of Bristol as a city is way off base.
The idea that they’re just ‘indie’ and ‘unique’ over there is casting a shadow over the real problems, and it’s all being done for the sake of reputation. It’s sickening.
2 Sheffield
The steel city features in many different lists when it comes to violence, damage, theft and more, with a stained legacy that goes back across several decades.
If a person doesn't feel comfortable where they are then there is an issue and if they do not take it upon themselves as a resident to help address that, then improvements are near impossible.
Sheffield has a reputation for playing host to hardened individuals, but how is that going to lead to anything even remotely positive? Spoiler alert: It isn’t and they could all do better.
1 Birmingham
A report from last year indicated that Birmingham had been voted the most unsafe city in the United Kingdom, with 42% of locals feeling at risk, regardless if it was in the day or night.
The issue is that there are no real restrictions, either. It doesn’t matter whether travelers are outside the Bullring or in the depths of Selly Oak at midnight.
There are a few decent enough areas in Birmingham to rave about, but nothing that keeps us begging to go back for more whatsoever.