The United Kingdom is an enchanting destination, teeming with historical landmarks, beautiful landscapes, and diverse cultures. However, like any travel destination, it’s necessary to keep safety in mind to ensure a pleasant and worry-free journey.
Preparing for Your UK Trip
Before you hop on a flight, prepare yourself with the following:
- Get electronic travel authorization (ETA). In the UK, the ETA program is designed to make traveling to the UK much faster and easier; instead of applying for a visa or going through traditional paperwork processes, you can submit an online application and position yourself for potentially automatic approval. The program will fully roll out in 2024, and is currently available for some countries.
- Research your destinations. Always understand the neighborhoods and areas where you intend to travel. Look up local crime statistics, recent news reports, and travel tips, as each area is unique. If you’re looking for a place to stay check out rentola.co.uk.
- Understand local laws. Safety isn’t just about avoiding criminals; it’s also about avoiding becoming a criminal unwittingly. Read up on local laws so you can minimize your chances of committing an infraction. This is especially important for road and driving laws, as some of these may deviate from what you’re used to.
- Invest in travel insurance. Travel insurance is designed to cover unexpected costs and losses that arise during your course of travel. If you plan on spending a significant amount of time in the UK, it may be a wise investment.
- Keep your documents and money safe. Your travel documents and money are likely your most important assets during this trip, so make an effort to keep them safe. Consider bringing copies of all your documents and keep your money in separate stashes so you aren’t in a position to lose everything.
Traveling Safely in the UK
While in the UK, these travel tips can keep you safe:
- Avoid being alone. You’re always going to be safer in numbers than you are by yourself, so avoid traveling alone whenever possible. If you must travel by yourself, try to stay in populated and well-lit areas and consider asking for an escort if you’re heading to an area that’s less safe.
- Be mindful of dangerous areas. Cleveland, West Yorkshire, and Greater Manchester are some of the most dangerous areas of the UK, but you can find bad areas of town in almost any city big enough to support one. You don’t need to avoid these areas like the plague, but you should be aware that they’re associated with higher crime rates (and act accordingly).
- Don’t advertise wealth. Avoid advertising your wealth. If you wear flashy jewelry, if you pull out wads of cash when you make payments, or if you wear clothes that suggest high status, you’re going to make yourself a much more lucrative and interesting target for criminals.
- Blend in. In line with this, tourists are common targets of pickpockets and other thieves. If you make a concentrated effort to blend in, you’ll stand out less and will be less likely to be targeted. In other words, avoid acting like a tourist. Walk confidently, don’t take too many pictures, and behave like the locals behave.
- Be aware of pickpockets. Pickpocketing remains a problem in the UK, and it’s especially problematic for tourists unaware of the common schemes. Modern pickpockets are highly skilled and typically act as individual members of a collaborative team. Keep your possessions in a secured pocket and be mindful of anyone who comes into contact with you – especially if they seem overly friendly or energetic.
- Keep your wits about you. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a drink, but you’ll be much more mindful of your surroundings if you’re sober.
- Talk to locals. Talk to some of the locals and see what they have to say about various nearby areas and the topic of safety. They’ll help you avoid the problematic areas – and clue you into the most common scams and traps laid by criminals.
- Check in with friends and family. Even if they’re living back home, check in with your friends and family members on a regular basis. If they don’t hear from you on a consistent schedule, they can alert local authorities and take action.
- Be ready to call emergency services. Be ready to contact emergency services in a pinch – and that means keeping your phone charged and on you at all times. In the UK, 999 and 112 are both available options.
- Always trust your instincts. If you have a bad feeling, trust it – and find shelter immediately.
There’s no way to eliminate all risks or achieve perfection when it comes to safety while traveling. But if you can follow these tips, and remain aware of your surroundings, you can keep your risks to a minimum.
