Overall, UK is a very safe place to live in, if you take normal precautions, that is. Of course there are less desirable areas in every city and women especially should take care when walking at night. There are occasional bomb scares in London and other British cities. These scares are very infrequent and should not deter you.

Plain common sense will teach you the best precautions that one can take against being 'mugged' or becoming an unsuspecting victim of robbery in the UK.

• Leave at home any credit cards and identification cards and documents, which you will not be using on your trip. Also write down the serial numbers or identification numbers of documents, which you will be carrying and keep the list at home.
• Write down the numbers of your travellers cheques and keep the list at home.
  If your travellers cheques and documents are lost or stolen when travelling, having such lists at home will save time and bother.
• After dark, avoid being alone in subways, downtown districts, parks, empty streets and decaying neighbourhoods. Any area that looks seedy, is littered with trash and broken bottles and has people idly hanging around street corners, could be unsafe.
• When in and around airports, train and bus terminals and entrances to subway stations, or on empty pavements and staircases always avoid standing around and looking lost.
• Keep your wallet well hidden.
• Always keep an eye on your luggage at airports and stations and do not leave bags unattended, even for a few minutes.
• Be wary of beggars and homeless people.
• Avoid dark, lonely places if you do not have a car.
• Find out from friends which areas of town to avoid.