If London safety is proving to be the issue that’s preventing you from moving to the UK’s capital, then we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ve discussed 10 of London’s safest areas, along with what you should be looking out for and the best ways of staying safe in London.
Is London a Safe Place to Live in When Renting?
Just like any large capital city with a much higher population, London’s crime rate (102 crimes per 1000 citizens) is above the rest of the UK (though this increase is actually slowing by comparison). This is nothing out of the ordinary. Huge cities such as London almost always have higher crime numbers than their much smaller counterparts
In several cases, some London areas actually dip below the UK average of 96 crimes per 1000 citizens (these areas are most commonly found in South East and South West London). Continue reading for our roundup of the safest London areas, including crime rates and their distance from central London.
What to Look for in London’s Safest Areas
The most obvious answer to this can be found in crime statistics. Sources like Police Data UK provide in-depth breakdowns of committed crimes across the UK. However, when it comes to actually feeling safe, there’s a little more to it than just low crime numbers. The feeling of living in one of the safest London areas can come from several other factors.
For example, having solid transport links can help improve safety by encouraging greater investment in the area, making it more desirable as a result. Also, excellent schools naturally provide better opportunities for young people, meaning an area becomes safer as its citizens’ lives are improved. Finally, green spaces can make a real difference. You’ll notice that a lot of the safest London areas we talk about have some of the largest and most numerous green spaces in Greater London. This is because parks and green spaces provide an essential community link, along with space for healthy activities to take place.
What are the Safest London Areas to Live in When Renting?
Crime rates are calculated by the number of reported crimes per 1000 residents in an area. Data sources also provide the types of crime, and report the most common in the area. Generally speaking in London, the most common crimes are theft and car theft, due to the common occurrence of pickpocketing.
Barnet
Because of its wide property range, Barnet has a tendency to attract numerous tenant types – particularly families and young professionals. Although it can be a little quiet (especially when compared to central London), Barnet does still offer plenty of parks, shops and schools, as well as tube links which run directly into central London.
Crime Rate: 68 crimes per 1000 citizens (This is 33% below the London average and 29% below the UK average)
Distance from Central London: 10.3 miles
Check out properties to rent in Barnet here
Bexley
As is the case with a few of London’s outer boroughs, Bexley has remained a relatively cheap part of London whilst also boasting one of the city’s very lowest crime rates. Given this, there’s very little surprise that Bexley was voted one of the best places to live in London back in 2012.
Because it feels more like a village than an outer-London area, Bexley offers a genuine sense of community spirit. It isn’t completely isolated either – there’s plenty of trendy cafes, shops and speedy transport links into the centre. Bexley Heath is also really popular, serving as a spot for festivals and other events.
Crime Rate: 56 crimes per 1000 citizens (This is 45% below the London average and 42% below the UK average)
Distance from Central London: 13.7 miles
Check out properties to rent in Bexley here
Bromley
Much like Bexley, Bromley is another area of London that offers lower rent prices, without compromising on the safety of its residents. In many ways, Bromley offers the best of both worlds, combining a calming suburban feel with amazing transport links. A direct train to London Victoria takes just 13 minutes!
Some of London’s outer boroughs possess a slightly old-fashioned feel, but that isn’t the case with Bromley. In fact, the former home of David Bowie has channeled his aura into a modern cafe culture and arts scene.
Crime Rate: 64 crimes per 1000 citizens (This is 37% below the London average and 33% below the UK average)
Distance from Central London: 11.2 miles
Check out properties to rent in Bromley here
Enfield
Due to its location on the edge of North London, Enfield acts as a gateway between the scenic countryside of Hertfordshire and the hullabaloo of central London. In addition to being one of the safest London areas, Enfield provides reasonably low rent prices, a vibrant town centre, a handful of gorgeous green spaces and painless access to central London via the Overground.
Crime Rate: 74 crimes per 1000 citizens (This is 27% below the London average and 23% below the UK average)
Distance from Central London: 16.3 miles
Check out properties to rent in Enfield here
Harrow
Harrow holds a pretty large draw for many, due to it being the safest London area in North West London. Despite the reputation which is given for being home to one of the UK’s top independent schools (and several other affluent private schools), Harrow isn’t actually that expensive an area to live in either.
Harrow even includes two large shopping centres, impressive architecture, lovely green spaces and convenient transport links (with tubes and trains alike that both go into central London).
Crime Rate: 63 crimes per 1000 citizens (This is 38% below the London average and 34% below the UK average)
Distance from Central London: 13.7 miles
Check out properties to rent in Harrow here
Havering
Because Havering exists on the eastern fringes of Greater London, its residents are able to enjoy one of the safest London areas in a fairly rural and pretty setting, with the option to travel into the centre if desired.
Although it does boast efficient public transport in the form of tube station access via the District Line, Havering’s distance from the centre of London – almost 20 miles (or around a one-hour drive) – is enough to put some people off.
Crime Rate: 67 crimes per 1000 citizens (This is 34% below the London average and 30% below the UK average)
Distance from Central London: 19 miles
Check out properties to rent in Havering here
Kingston-upon-Thames
Kingston and Richmond are two of London’s safest areas, so it’s no surprise that they’re located within a mile of each other. Thanks to a combination of chic cafes, a growing performing arts scene and numerous trendy shops, Kingston has become one of London’s most desirable places to live, particularly for young people.
Though transport links aren’t amazing (with no London Underground access as of yet), trains do run directly to Waterloo, taking just over 30 minutes. If nature is your thing, then Kingston’s proximity to the Thames, similarly attractive lakes and other green spaces make it a very appealing prospect.
Crime Rate: 57 crimes per 1000 citizens (This is 44% below the London average and 41% below the UK average)
Distance from Central London: 10.7 miles
Check out properties to rent in Kingston-upon-Thames here
Merton
Merton is located in South West London and includes a number of delightful neighbourhoods, such as Wimbledon, Mitcham, Colliers Wood, Morden and Rayners Park. This is by no means an inexpensive London area, particularly with Wimbledon serving as a hotspot for tennis lovers each year.
With that being said, Merton is still able to maintain its record as one of London’s safest areas, even when completely packed out with seasonal tourists.
Crime Rate: 66 crimes per 1000 citizens (This is 35% below the London average and 31% below the UK average)
Distance from Central London: 10.2 miles
Check out properties to rent in Merton here
Richmond-upon-Thames
In terms of crime rates, Richmond is London’s safest borough and has been for a few years now. This is hardly surprising, given that it feels more like an isolated and welcoming town than a continuation of central London’s hustle and bustle. Having said that, Richmond is actually much closer to the centre of London than many of the other areas we’ve discussed.
There are numerous aspects that cause people to gravitate towards Richmond. These include the deer-filled Richmond park, ideally located pubs and restaurants, and the transport links (with a train taking just 20 minutes to reach Waterloo Station).
Crime Rate: 54 crimes per 1000 citizens (This is 47% below the London average and 44% below the UK average)
Distance from Central London: 9.2 miles
Check out properties to rent in Richmond-upon-Thames here
Sutton
Sutton is one of London’s very best areas for raising a family. With plenty of green spaces, high-performing schools and a fairly busy town centre, it’s hardly surprising that this is one of the safest London areas out there.
Being in transport zone 5, commuting in and out of central London from Sutton can seem like an arduous task. However, its transport links are surprisingly efficient, with fast trains that can reach London Victoria in around 30 minutes.
Crime Rate: 57 crimes per 1000 citizens (This is 44% below the London average and 41% below the UK average)
Distance from Central London: 12.2 miles
Check out properties to rent in Sutton here
Staying Safe in London
Although London is generally considered to be a fairly safe city to live and rent in – classified as the 14th safest city in the world by the Economists Safe Cities Index – you should still exercise some caution when moving around (particularly late at night or by yourself).
Some of the obvious tips for staying safe in London include always being aware of your surroundings, avoiding dark alleyways/back streets, only using registered taxis, and not carrying large sums of cash. If you do run into trouble or witness something suspicious, then either phone 999 for emergencies or 101 for non-emergencies.
Beyond this, living in one of London’s safest areas will make a massive difference. In this article, we’ve discussed areas with the lowest crime rates, but London’s sheer size means that there are numerous other neighbourhoods that haven’t been listed here. Safer doesn’t have to mean more expensive either. In fact, plenty of London’s cheapest areas are also impressively safe!
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