Study in London - Safety First!

As a global capital city, London is generally not a dangerous place to live and study as long as you are streetwise. This piece of writing looks at some points on the topic of safety whilst you study in London.

As far as physical safety is concerned, the majority of areas in London are perfectly safe during the day, provided that you are moderately sensible. It should be mentioned however that there may be a higher likelihood of encountering incidents of crime at night in some districts of London such as Wood Green, Harlesden, and Thamesmead where "street sense" is more important.

"Crime and Community Safety" is always maintained as a priority agenda item by The London Mayor and Greater London Authority (Metropolitan Police, London Development Agency, Transport for London and the London Fire Brigade) resulting in local initiatives being set up to standardize safety in London neighbourhoods for all people. Recently a crime map of London (maps.met.police.uk) has been launched on the internet by The London Metropolitan Police to show the public the concentration and type of reported crime in any specified location of London. Before you come to study in London, it may be useful to cross check areas on this map where you are looking for accommodation, to give you a general idea of street safety.

When you arrive to study in London for the first time, you may not be familiar with your new environment so taking a few preventative measures to ensure you stay safe is a good idea:

Safe Keeping of Personal Possessions

In your new home where you study in London, it is advisable to keep valuables away from public view and always lock doors and windows behind you when going out.

Always keep back up copies of original documents such as your passport, including visa details, entry clearance and immigration stamps separately from originals in a safe place.

Never leave valuable property outdoors where there is a higher likelihood of it being stolen. Even when securely padlocked to a bike rack, some bike thieves will find a way of removing and taking bike frames, wheels or seats if seen to have any resell value.

Plan your Route

If you are planning to study in London, you may be hesitant due to the prospect of using the London transport system. However there are plenty of resources available to assist in safe travel around London and one in particular is the online TFL journey planner (journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk). Your selected route can then be printed which can be especially useful if travelling at night in an unknown area.

Keep Bags Zipped

Most reported petty theft or bag snatching incidents in London predominantly occur outside tube stations, close to cash machines and in crowded shopping malls, so be sure to keep bags zipped and a close watch on any personal items you are carrying such as a mobile phone or laptop when using the transport system. It is not necessary to carry around substantial amounts of cash when you study in London, no more than £50.00, and preferable to carry credit or debit cards which can be cancelled easily.

By simply applying a bit of common sense and by being alert in your surroundings, your safety should not be a cause for concern when you study in London.