How to Stay Safe in London

London is one of the most culturally diverse, opportune and inspiring places to live in England but, as with any city, there are things of which you need to be conscious. As a young person just moving to the big city, you’ll be overwhelmed by the excitement the capital offers but whilst you’re exploring your new residence, it is worth taking precautions to ensure you make the most of your time here whilst remaining safe.

At LHA London, we want to give you a few tips and tricks to take with you when you go adventuring.

General safety tips for London

1. Know your way around

When you first move to London it can be difficult to get to grips with the city because it covers such a large area and there are so many boroughs to explore. But once you know your way around, it’s easier to establish which areas you feel safest in.

But, before you reach that point, our biggest tip is to always plan your route before you leave the house. This way you’re less likely to get lost or end up in a compromising situation. You will also be able to get yourself back on track quicker if you take an accidental detour.

There are many apps and tools online that can help you to plan your trip, but we’d recommend the following:

• Google Maps: An overall map that covers each element of the route including train journeys, bus and walking routes
• TFL Go: A government supported app suitable for android and iOS that displays live train, tram and bus times, walking and cycling routes, and tells you the quietest times to travel. It also provides information on accessible travel including disabled toilet access, lift availability and accessible platforms
• Citymapper London App: Citymapper offers similar information to TFL Go but also with offline map information, disruption notifications and calorie counts
• Santander Cycles App: Santander Cycles gives you access to live cycle hire availability and routes around London
• AccessAble: This resource provides free information on the accessibility of areas, attractions and venues across the UK including the capital city

2. Travel in groups

One of the safest ways to travel around a city is in a group. This can also be an amazing way to safely explore London and find areas where you feel comfortable and included in the community.

If you’re not able to travel with companionship or you’re taking a route you’ve not travelled before, make sure you let a friend, family member or flat mate know where you’re headed.

3. Only use registered taxi services

London offers two main options for taxi travel:

1. London Cab:

One of the most popular modes of transport is the traditional black cabbie. Black taxis can be hailed off the street from hundreds of locations across the city. However, the safest way to book a taxi is to book online via a licensed cab company app. This ensures that the driver and taxi are registered and operating legally.

When you book a black taxi or minicab, you should receive the following information in your booking confirmation:

• The vehicle registration number/mark
• The driver’s first name
• The driver’s private vehicle licence plate number
• Often, if your phone can receive it, a photo of the driver

If at any stage a driver pulls up who claims to be your booked taxi but the details of the car are different to those in your booking, don’t get in the car. This isn’t safe and unlicensed minicabs are illegal.

2: Uber:

Although reforms have been made to ensure the black cab service is as safe as possible for those travelling in London, you may feel safer jumping in an Uber with your friends. You’ll be able to track the progress of your taxi and feel safe knowing they’re registered and the vehicle is tracked.

Don’t forget to have the Uber app pre-installed so you’re never caught out when you need to get somewhere in a hurry.

4. Set up emergency contacts on your phone

It’s always safest to have emergency contacts registered on your phone. This can be done from any modern phone, and even old brick phones. Phones such as Nokia 3310s for example have a feature that allows you to simply click #1 on your keypad and your emergency contact will be phoned once you hit the dial button.

Setting up emergency contacts can feel a little bit more complicated on smartphones, so we’ve created these guides on how to create emergency contacts on Android and iPhones:

Android:

For Android phones, you’ll need to open your settings. Various android phones will have different variations but you should look for the option regarding ‘Safety and Emergency’, or ‘Emergency Contacts’. You will then be able to select your emergency contact.

The option to phone your emergency contact should appear on your lock screen. If in doubt, check with your phone provider who will be able to explain how to activate your emergency contact, and make sure you know how to use this feature as soon as you set it up.

iPhone:

To set up Emergency SOS on iPhones, you will need to activate your medical ID. This not only gives you the option to ring your emergency contact if you feel unsafe, but will give medical professionals access to your next of kin’s information and previous medical history in case you are involved in an accident.

To do this:

• Open the Health App – this will be automatically downloaded on your phone
• Click ‘Medical ID’
• Tap ‘Edit’, then find ‘Emergency Contacts’
• You’ll find an ‘add’ button that will allow you to choose multiple contacts from your phone
• Add your relationship to your emergency contact
• Save your changes by tapping ‘done’.

You will be able to access your emergency contact by clicking ‘Emergency’, where you can then select your medical ID.

Many phones will also allow you to set up a shortcut to phone emergency services. For example, on any iPhone model following iPhone 8, once Emergency SOS is set up all you need to do is hold the power button and a volume button down together and the Emergency Call slider will appear. Once your call has ended, the phone will send your emergency contacts a text that contains your location.

5. Locate your local healthcare service

As soon as you move to London it’s imperative that you sign up with your local GP. This will ensure you have access to medical treatment and health advice as soon as you require it.

A GP is a General Practitioner and will usually be your first point of contact when you require medical assistance. If you need specialist treatment, you may need a referral from your GP.

Registering with a GP is a fairly simple process. All you need to do is research local GPs, find the closest GP with good reviews and fill in an application form. Some will require you to fill in a paper form rather than digital but their website will tell you which is preferable.

Other resources available to assist with sexual health include:

• Sexual Health London (SHL)
• Sexual Healthline

6. Trust Campus Security

If you’re attending university in London then campus security is your first point of call for any safety concerns you may have. It is their job to provide security to students, faculty, and staff.

How to stay safe on the London Underground

1. Stay vigilant

As long as you are remaining vigilant and alert during your time on the London Underground, you should experience safe travel. However, London’s transport network is assisted by trained police who are there to protect you on the move.

If you experience any abuse or negative behaviour, you will be able to report it to patrolling officers or any member of staff who you feel comfortable approaching. The London Underground is covered by 24 hour CCTV to keep travellers safe on their journey.

2. Keep your belongings on your person

In order to reduce the risk of theft whilst travelling on the London Underground, keep them on your person all time. Don’t leave them unattended at any point, whether you are buying tickets, waiting on the platform or on the train itself.

You should also keep all valuables in a secure bag that zips closed, or out of sight in a secure pocket.

3. Report suspicious activity

To keep yourself and others safe, you should report suspicious activity as soon as you see it. This includes someone else being treated unfairly or anyone who appears to be taking photos of security layouts.

It is recommended that you:

• Tell a police officer or member of staff
• Text the British Transport Police on 61016
• In an emergency always call 999

4. Plan your journey

As with any travel, it is important that you plan your journey before travelling on the London Underground. The network is large and can seem complicated when you first travel, but after a while it becomes second nature.

Planning your travel on the Tube will not only help make your journey safer, but it will help you feel more confident and give you more freedom in knowing how to get around.

How to find safe accommodation in London

If you need help finding safe, secure accommodation in London the LHA London have your back.

We believe that the cost of accommodation should never be a barrier to feeling safe in your chosen city of study. That’s why we provide affordable accommodation across London that gives you the freedom to live your London life as you choose.

Our hostels cover all major points on the city’s map and cover your bills too, so you don’t need to worry about any additional costs while you focus on building the life you want.

For more information about how our charity can help you get set up in the big city, take a look at our available accommodation and don’t forget to check out our offer to discover what we can offer you.