Stay safe in London

London is one of the world's great cities, and most days in it are good ones. These are the habits that keep it that way — for you, your children, your dog and your phone.

Keep your phone

Phone theft in London is falling — 71,867 offences in 2025, down from 81,439 in 2024 — but that's still close to 200 phones a day. Most are snatched in seconds on busy streets.

Before you go out

Turn on Find My (iPhone) or Find My Device (Android), and your phone's theft protection setting.
Use a strong passcode — not your birthday — and don't let anyone watch you type it.
Write down your phone's IMEI number (dial *#06#) and keep it somewhere safe.

On the street

Step back from the kerb before you use your phone — most snatches come from bikes and e-bikes.
Use it with your back to a wall, or inside a shop or café.
On busy streets like Oxford Street, keep it in a zipped or inside pocket. A wrist strap or tether helps.

If it's taken

Don't chase — your safety matters more than the phone.
Lock or erase it from another device, and call your network to block it.
Report it to the police on 101 or online, and get a crime reference for insurance.
Police, Apple and your network will never ask for your passcode or account password. Anyone who does is a thief.

Source: Mayor of London, October 2026 (opens in a new tab).

Cabs: booked or black

An unbooked minicab is a stranger's car. Five rules that never change:

Only black cabs can be hailed
A black cab with its yellow 'TAXI' light on can be stopped in the street or taken from a rank.
Minicabs must be booked — always
That includes app rides. A minicab that offers you a ride without a booking is acting illegally and may not be insured — however friendly the driver.
Check before you get in
Make sure the car, number plate and driver match your booking. Ask "Who are you here to pick up?" — don't say your name first.
Ride smart
Sit in the back, share your journey with a friend, and trust your instinct. If it feels wrong, don't get in.
Report a bad driver
Report it to TfL, and to the police if you were threatened or hurt.

Report a taxi, minicab or any unsafe journey to TfL (opens in a new tab) — clear reports help them act. If you're not happy with the answer, London TravelWatch (opens in a new tab), the independent transport watchdog, can take it up. If you're in danger, call 999.

The beautiful bits — and what to watch for

London's landmarks are why millions come, and why we stay. Thieves follow the crowds, so here's what to know at each one.

Westminster Bridge and Big Ben
Why we love it: The postcard view: Parliament, the river and the Eye in one glance.
Watch for: Street 'find the ball' gambling games. They're rigged, and the 'winners' are often part of the team. Don't play, don't stop to watch — pickpockets work the crowd.
Oxford Street and the West End
Why we love it: London's high street, at its most dazzling under the Christmas lights.
Watch for: A known phone-snatching hotspot — some pavements now carry warnings. Step back from the kerb before using your phone.
Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square
Why we love it: The city's living room — festivals, buskers and the National Gallery for free.
Watch for: Busy crowds suit pickpockets. Be wary of anyone pushing a clipboard or 'petition' at you — it can be a distraction.
Buckingham Palace
Why we love it: The Changing of the Guard: brass bands, bearskins and a moment children remember.
Watch for: Tight crowds — zip your bag, keep it in front, and agree a meeting point with children.
The South Bank and the Thames
Why we love it: A riverside walk from Westminster to Tower Bridge, with street food, books and views all the way.
Watch for: The Thames is tidal and rises fast. Don't go down the river steps or onto the foreshore as the tide comes in, and keep children back from the edge.
Tower Bridge and the Tower of London
Why we love it: Nearly a thousand years of history beside the city's most famous bridge.
Watch for: Buy tickets only from official sites — copycat ticket sites charge more or sell nothing.
Camden Market
Why we love it: Food from everywhere, music and the canal on a sunny afternoon.
Watch for: Weekend crowds: keep bags closed and phones away. Watch children near the canal locks.
Greenwich Park
Why we love it: The best free view of London, and the home of time itself.
Watch for: Busy on sunny weekends — and dogs on leads near the deer enclosure and wildlife.

Scams in London right now

What's catching Londoners out this year — and the one rule that beats each one.

Your borough

Not sure? Find it by postcode on GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)

Fake things for sale
Bargains on social media and marketplaces that never arrive — the most common scam in London, behind 69% of cases reported to NatWest.
Pay by card on a trusted site, never by bank transfer.
Investment and crypto
Almost half of all money lost to scams in London. Often an advert, a celebrity name or a new online 'friend'.
If it promises big, fast returns, walk away.
Tickets that don't exist
Sold-out concerts, festivals and football — sometimes posted from hacked genuine accounts.
Buy only from the official seller or venue.
Driving lessons and test slots
Fake instructors and 'early test' sellers, especially in outer London.
Book tests only on GOV.UK.
Someone pretending to be the police or your bank
Caller ID can be faked. They may say your account is at risk, or ask you to hand cash or gold to a courier.
Hang up. Call 159 from another phone to reach your bank.
A voice you know asking for money
Messages from 'your child' on a new number, or even a cloned voice in a call.
Call them back on the number you know. Agree a family safe word.
Fake repair or compensation calls
Calls about 'your housing repair' that end with a request for bank details.
Hang up and ring your landlord's official number.
Your WhatsApp code
A message asking you to forward a six-digit code hands over your account.
Never share a code. Turn on two-step verification.

Keep these four

159: Reach your bank's fraud team safely
7726: Forward scam texts — free
report@phishing.gov.uk: Forward scam emails
0300 123 2040: Report Fraud, if you've lost money

Phone theft is falling — from 81,439 offences in 2024 to 71,867 in 2025, and lower again in 2026 so far — but it's still a real risk on busy streets. Keep your phone away from the kerb, and remember: police, Apple and other genuine organisations will never ask for your passwords.

Sources: NatWest, June 2026 (its customers' reports, April 2025 to April 2026) (opens in a new tab); Mayor of London, October 2026 (opens in a new tab).

Nights out, festivals and Carnival

Have the best time and get everyone home. No lectures — just what to know about spiking, drugs and staying safe together.

Drink spiking

It can happen to anyone, in any drink — alcoholic or not. It's a crime, and it's never your fault.

Protect your drink

Watch it being poured and keep it in your hand.
Use a lid, stopper or coaster over the top if the venue has one.
Don't accept a drink from someone you don't know.
If you leave it, leave it — get a new one.

Signs to watch for

Feeling much drunker than you should, very suddenly.
Dizziness, sickness, blurred vision or trouble walking.
Confusion, paranoia or memory gaps.
A sharp scratch or puncture mark — spiking can be by needle too.

If you or a friend may have been spiked

Stop drinking. Tell bar staff or security straight away.
Stay together — never let them leave alone or with a stranger.
Very sleepy, hallucinating or unconscious: call 999.
Report it to the police as soon as you can — some drugs leave the body within hours, so early tests matter.

Drugs at festivals and nights out

The only way to avoid the risk is not to take drugs. If you or friends do, these steps save lives.

Know the danger right now

Pills, powders and fake medicines in the UK have been found to contain nitazenes — very strong synthetic opioids that have caused deaths.
You can't tell what's in a drug by how it looks.
Mixing drugs, or drugs and alcohol, multiplies the risk.

Look after each other

Never use alone, and don't let anyone 'sleep it off' on their own.
Take breaks from dancing, cool down and sip water.
Check on friends regularly — even if they seem fine.

Get help fast

Overheating, fits, confusion, slow breathing or can't wake up: call 999 or get to the medics.
Tell medics honestly what was taken — they're there to save lives, not to judge.
Put someone who's breathing but unresponsive in the recovery position and stay with them.

Feeling unsafe?

In many London venues, ask the bar staff for "Angela". It's a quiet signal that you need help — staff will get you somewhere safe or call you a taxi or the police.

Getting home

Plan it before you go out: last trains, night buses and a charged phone. Book minicabs — never get into one that hasn't been booked — and share your journey with a friend.

Honest, confidential drug advice any time: FRANK (opens in a new tab) — call 0300 123 6600 or text 82111. In an emergency, always call 999.

London's year — enjoy it safely

From Notting Hill Carnival to the New Year's fireworks: what's on, when it usually happens, and how to get home safe.

Coming up · October or November

Diwali on Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square

Stay safe: Busy in the afternoon; keep an eye on bags and little ones.

Coming up · Around 5 November

Bonfire Night

Parks across London

Stay safe: Go to an organised display. Keep pets indoors with curtains closed and music on.

Coming up · Second Saturday of November

Lord Mayor's Show

The City of London

Stay safe: A centuries-old parade that children love — wrap up warm.

See the whole year — 19 events

Jan
New Year's Day Parade
1 January · Westminster
Free to watch
Arrive early for a kerbside spot; little ones see best from the front.
Feb
Chinese New Year
January or February · Soho and the West End
Free to watch
Very crowded around Chinatown — agree a meeting point with children.
Mar
St Patrick's Day
Around 17 March · Central London
Free to watch
Pace yourself and plan your route home before you go.
Apr
London Marathon
Usually April · Greenwich to the Mall
Free to watch
Roads close early and stations get very busy — check TfL before you travel.
Apr
Vaisakhi
April or May · Trafalgar Square
Free to watch
Family-friendly; bring water on warm days.
Apr
The Boat Race
Usually spring · Putney to Mortlake
Free to watch
Riverbanks get packed — keep children well back from the water's edge.
May
Chelsea Flower Show
May · Royal Hospital Chelsea
Tickets needed
Tickets sell out: buy only from the official RHS site.
Jun
Trooping the Colour
June · Horse Guards and the Mall
Free and ticketed parts
Huge crowds along the Mall — keep bags zipped and in front of you.
Jun
Pride in London
June or July · Central London
Free to watch
Stay hydrated, keep your phone close and look out for each other.
Jul
Wimbledon
Late June to July · Wimbledon
Tickets needed
Resale tickets outside official channels are a common scam.
Jul
BBC Proms
July to September · Royal Albert Hall and beyond
Tickets needed
Cheap on-the-day standing tickets are sold officially — no need to buy elsewhere.
Aug
Notting Hill Carnival
August bank holiday weekend · Notting Hill
Free to watch
Save offline maps, agree a meeting point off the route, leave valuables at home, and write your number on a child's arm.
Sep
Open House London
September · Buildings across all boroughs
Free to watch
Some places need free booking in advance — book on the official site.
Oct
Diwali on Trafalgar Square
October or November · Trafalgar Square
Free to watch
Busy in the afternoon; keep an eye on bags and little ones.
Nov
Bonfire Night
Around 5 November · Parks across London
Free and ticketed parts
Go to an organised display. Keep pets indoors with curtains closed and music on.
Nov
Lord Mayor's Show
Second Saturday of November · The City of London
Free to watch
A centuries-old parade that children love — wrap up warm.
Nov
Remembrance Sunday
Second Sunday of November · The Cenotaph, Whitehall
Free to watch
Security checks on the way in — arrive early and travel light.
Dec
Winter Wonderland
November to January · Hyde Park
Free and ticketed parts
Book entry slots in advance at busy times; keep children in sight in the crowds.
Dec
New Year's Eve fireworks
31 December · Along the Thames
Tickets needed
Ticket holders only by the river. No ticket? Watch from home or a local viewpoint.

Dates change every year — always check the official event page before you go. Tickets: only from the official seller.

Families, pets and the water

With children
Under-11s travel free on buses, and on the Tube with a paying adult. Agree a meeting point, and if you get separated, go to a member of staff.
With your dog
Dogs are welcome on TfL if they're on a lead or carried — carry them on escalators. Keep them on a lead near deer, livestock and nesting birds.
Near water
Don't swim in the tidal Thames: the current is strong and the water is cold. Watch children near riverbanks and canals.
If something happens
Emergency: 999. Police, not urgent: 101. Medical advice: 111. Lost something on a bus or train? Contact TfL Lost Property.

Stay safe in London

Keep your phone

Before you go out

On the street

If it's taken

Cabs: booked or black

Only black cabs can be hailed

Minicabs must be booked — always

Check before you get in

Ride smart

Report a bad driver

The beautiful bits — and what to watch for

Westminster Bridge and Big Ben

Oxford Street and the West End

Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square

Buckingham Palace

The South Bank and the Thames

Tower Bridge and the Tower of London

Camden Market

Greenwich Park

Scams in London right now

Fake things for sale

Investment and crypto

Tickets that don't exist

Driving lessons and test slots

Someone pretending to be the police or your bank

A voice you know asking for money

Fake repair or compensation calls

Your WhatsApp code