I grew up in London and didn’t leave until I went off to university in Brighton, but that gave me a fair few shady experiences, from muggings to house break-ins, therefore I wanted to share some advice for those looking to visit London who are a bit nervous about anything going wrong. There are some strict rules you can stick to in order to stay safe.
Pickpockets
The pickpockets in London tend to be found around key landmarks, such as Buckingham Palace, as well as on main shopping streets like Oxford Street. I love watching the pickpocket spotter Diego Galdino’s Instagram reels.
The majority of the time, these pickpockets will take from tourists who are unaware and are enjoying the moment, therefore are slightly less aware of what’s going on. They also tend to be carrying more valuables.
If you have a bag, make sure it’s zipped up, while you should also have it in front of you. In fact, as much as I love backpacks, some people in London even wear them on the front, but they do look a bit daft. Don’t keep valuables loose in the pocket and if you do, maybe consider keeping your hands in your pockets so you can feel if someone tries to pinch something.
However, I want to be clear, I’m not saying you shouldn’t visit the amazing London landmarks, in fact here are some of the best views in London you can find, but I just want to stress that you need to be aware of your surroundings and your possessions.
Muggers
I’m not exaggerating when I state that I have probably been mugged about 12 times in my life, yet I haven’t been mugged once since I left London. That should say it all. Well no, a fair amount was my fault, drinking in parks in the evening as a 16 year old, walking through dangerous areas and having my phone out.
I will state that we call it the ‘London Grip’ when it comes to holding your phone, something tourists don’t seem to have, which is where you hold your phone really sturdily, sometimes with both hands, so it’s not easy to grab. Nowadays you have muggers on ebikes, making the whole situation much quicker.
In my childhood, the situation consisted of someone coming up to you and saying “what have you got for me”, at which point you had to choose to fight back or give in. As I got a bit older, I chose to fight, which predominantly wasn’t a great choice, as I was very slim and you never knew if they would be holding a weapon.
Just remember, your life is much more important than a wallet, hand it over. However, if they get your keys, get your locks changed. My keys were stolen and my driving license had my address, so a group came back the next day to rob the house, but my mum had smartly changed the locks straight away, meaning 16 lads were standing outside the house working out whether to smash in a window or call it a night.
Road Safety
If you decide to cycle while in London, be aware that drivers have a short temper as they’re undoubtedly being stuck in traffic, so you have to be careful. There are a number of bike lanes, which are much safer, so try to plan out your route and prepare it around bike lanes, avoiding very busy or fast roads.
Of course, if you do end up in a bad situation, you can always reach out to a no win no fee solicitors in London where you might be able to earn something back from your terrible experience. Always look on the bright side (that’s what Monty Python taught me).
Remember Every Good Road Is Next To A Bad Road
You can be on a street in Kensington where there are mansions worth at least ten million pounds, yet walk 2 mins away and you’re in a dangerous estate where you’ll witness plenty of sticky situations. This is true of much of London, so make sure to look up your route, see if you can stick to public transport in unknown areas and try to avoid areas that have higher levels of crime.
If you’re planning a trip or to see a famous museum or tourist spot, plan the exact route you’d take and if at any point it looks like a quiet street or through a rough area, stop and find an alternative route, as you’re spoilt for choice.
Be Wary Of Night Buses
I’m not saying they’re all bad, but I have seen some terrible things on night buses in London. People have a few too many drinks and become vile to others around them. You might fancy going out for a drink, which is fine, but if you plan on coming back late, one trick is to stay downstairs, as the bus driver will stop the bus if they witness something bad happening.
If you do go upstairs, try to stay nearer the front, as it’s the back of the bus where most of the trouble occurs.
You might want to take a taxi or an Uber, but just check the price beforehand as black cabs are a small fortune!
DON’T TAKE A TUKTUK
These are basically legal scams, from the moment you get on it’s about a £45 charge, while the price flies up at extortionate rates. Most people that have got on one have been charged about £450, while that’s for just a few minutes ride down the road.
They rely on people not asking the price beforehand, then aggressively threaten you and force you to pay. How they’re still allowed on the streets of London I don’t know, it’s disgusting and needs to be made illegal as soon as possible.
They strongly target tourists and people who have consumed alcohol, as they believe they’re more likely to pay and backdown over price, which is true. Just don’t do it!
