Is it safe for a woman to travel alone in London?

Have traveld solo for 40 years. London, Amsterdam, Istanbul, Mexico, Paris, etc.
Nary a moment of fear. London is a vibrant, exciting city. Simply be aware of your surroundings and the company you keep.

If you said you were going to Tokyo, your friends and family would probably warn you against it because they saw the movie "Godzilla" and it destroyed everything in its way. Why am I guessing that none of those warning you of doom and gloom has ever been to London or Europe for that matter? In general, European cities are safer than U.S. cities. You'll be fine in London just using some basic common sense. And who knows, after London you might venture out even further like Paris or Rome.

Have gone on many trips all over by myself using common sense. London is very safe and from what you posted, you will be fine as you said you don't stay out late, don't hook up with strangers as these are the things that will get anyone in trouble. Go for it. Also if you can afford another trip, try Edinburgh too, wonderful place.

Definitely do not let a group of paranoid people ruin your chance at a trip of a lifetime... Have they ever been and do they know what they are talking about? Use the same common sense as you would in any city in the US, take a lot of photos and show your friends what they wanted you to miss. (I have traveled alone a lot and wouldn't have missed those experiences for anything)

I am no longer young, but travel alone most of the time. I have been in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, etc. by myself. I take the same precautions I would at home in the Twin Cities, wear my moneybelt, have a good map with me, learn a few words if the language is not English and so far, I have never had a problem. London has so much to offer and explore. Have fun.

London is very safe, have walked, used the tube during the day and night never had any problems. I also have walked back to my hotel after the theater many times. As others have said, just use your common sense and you will be fine. Sounds like the people who are telling you those things have not traveled.

"The only thing we have to fear is...fear itself." ---FDR

You'll be ok. Don't let yourself be disuaded by family or friends. Keep your money in a money belt, don't offer details about yourself or your itinerary to casual acquaintances, and keep your eyes open. You'll regret it if you don't go.
Best wishes.

I'm not young but I've happily and safely traveled to, in and around London alone, and also with a friend (also female). Sounds like you're a sensible young woman who knows how to behave and intends to avoid high-risk situations and behaviors. I hope you get to visit London, and enjoy your trip!

YES YES YES YES and where are people coming up with these scare stories? I am a no-longer-all-that-young woman who has traveled alone many times and I say GO FOR IT. London is a wonderful city - very friendly and welcoming - and will be much, much fun for you. Yes, of course you should avoid weird late night dives and hook-ups with strangers, but you should avoid those things in Peoria, too, right? Do not let the nay-sayers deter you. Go, young woman, and have a blast!

Stephanie, honestly I find your families and friends third hand horror stories and FICTIONAL movie references shockingly ignorant. First, for this "sold into sex rings" thing, do your people understand how it happens, do they really think they just find tourist girls and grab them off the street, hardly. It basically works this way, girls, almost always from POORER eastern Europeon countries apply for foreign jobs through internet or papers, they are offered good wages, they are told its being a nanny or a housekeeper or something that you need no education for ( since the girls interested in those jobs usually have no college educations) , then sent an airline ticket. Once they arrive in some other country they have their passport taken away and are told they "owe" for the ticket. They are then forced to prostitute to make up the money. Since they come from poor circumstances they cannot just phone home for money, their families can't help them.
American tourists are not their targets at all. Taken is a movie, please don't even mention it again as its actually cringeworthy. I have travelled in Europe solo, including London, and I feel safer there then in the States.

What Pat said. I have also travelled in London by myself, both as a college student and as a "grown up." It is a very safe city and you do not need to hesitate about going. There are masses of young people/college students who live there and go about the city "alone" every day!

Never let other people's paranoia hold you back! London's great. Go and enjoy!

Everyone is chastising and mocking her friends and family, yet no one is giving her any good advice on how to deal with it. Stephanie, I'm going to assume it's your parents who are most concerned and that is perfectly normal. You're already going abroad for a semester and it was probably hard for them to even accept that. To ease their fears, maybe you could let them help plan your solo trip. Give them Rick's guidebook and watch the DVDs together. Instead of them worrying, they will hopefully be excited for you and maybe even push you to see more than just London. Who knows, they might be convinced to travel themselves. Or, the other option is to just not tell them until afterwards ;) Just make sure someone from school knows your whereabouts.

Otter, at this time Stephanie is in Ireland and I believe her naysaying family and friends are back home in the US. She wants to hop over to see London before she goes back to the US. So she's not really in a position to hand them books, have long talks, and watch DVDs with them. That said, I agree, she can make reasonable efforts to reassure them. But really. Anyone who rants about a bloomin' fictional FILM and sex trafficking (!!) to a sensible college student who's already spending a semester in Ireland and wants to visit London as well? May not be prone to rational discourse, although I'm sure Stephanie has tried. Stephanie, I hope you have your London trip and a lot of fun!

Stephanie, London is one of the safest big cities on the planet. That's even more the case if you stick to the usual tourist areas and sites. Those places will be crowded and busy day and night, filled with other tourists from around the world.(And the police are around, too.) Don't pass up a chance for a play or a show, or an evening walk along the Thames, etc., just because the sun has set. (For instance, the walk across Westminster Bridge from Parliament at night, and then up along the South Bank is well worth it.) Plan your trip, know how to get around (almost always the Tube), and use the same common sense you would any other place. I often carry enough cash to be able to take a cab back to the hotel at the end of a long day.

Hi, Aside from the encouragement and good, accurate advice here urging you to do this trip to London, something else can be mentioned (if not already) that may add to your reassurance: London is a city with more cctv (closed circuit television) cameras than I have noticed elsewhere (Berlin, Paris, Vienna, etc.) Streets and street corners are rigged with criss cross cameras, seemingly tons of them all over the place. Signs to that effect tell you so. You'll see them too.

I felt safer in London than I do here in NY. It is safe, just pay attention to where you are & who you are with.

I started going to London alone as a college student in 1988 and have been back almost every year. I have never felt unsafe as a woman there, whether I was 23 or now at 47. I used to stay at hostels in order to meet other travelers; now I just take my English husband, who grew up about 65 miles west of the city. Actually, I still go to London by myself quite a bit, as he'd rather watch cricket for the day ... go figure! More than feeling unsafe, a city as large as London can be a little bit lonely if you're not used to it. When I get tired of being on my own, I go on the wonderful walking tours run by London Walks (www.walks.com). They are a good value for £9 and it's easy to chat with the other people during the walk. Often, the guide will invite anyone who's interested to join him or her for a coffee afterward, which is a great opportunity to talk to a native or longtime Londoner and ask more questions. I'm looking forward to doing one of their Harry Potter walks the next time I'm in London. For a compromise for your first trip there, why not join a group? Rick's son Andy Steves runs weekend tours of European cities for American college students studying in Europe, and London is one of the cities he covers. His website is www.wsaeurope.com and he is also on Facebook under Weekend Student Adventures. And dad Rick, of course, has week-long tours of London, listed elsewhere on this website. Whatever you decide, have a great time!

London is BEYOND FABULOUS. My husband and I have been there four summers in the past four years. We were also there in 1970. It is an unbelievabley safe city. There are cameras photographing everybody all the time, due to their history. We have traveled the Tube late at night, numerous times. We have been out at midnight walking the streets. It stays light until 11:00 PM, in the summer months. It is really cool to have it so light. You can extened your touring, due to the daylight.

I just wanted to share a converstion I overheard at Edinburgh Castle (while on a two week trip to London traveling alone). A British woman was telling a group of Brits about how unsafe it was in the U.S. It seems that no one is safe on the streets at night...anywhere. She went on and on about how you risked life and limb just about any time you ventured out of your home. I almost corrected her but knew she wanted to spread negativity. I went out at night alone in London, both to dinner and to the theater either walking or taking the tube. I just made sure I didn't venture into areas that were a little iffy. Just do what you'd do in any big city and you should be fine.

FYI Jack the ripper is no longer in London

Haven't been to London but other cities in Europe as a solo female and never had a problem. Go have a great time.

Go to London. It's as safe as any place else. You have outlined the things you do not do, which are exactly the things that get people in trouble.
I live in a small Texas town. I guarantee that a young woman who goes out to a club late at night drinking and keeping poor company here will be in danger. It's in the paper all the time. My point is that ill advised behavior will get a person in trouble anywhere. Have a good time in London.

London is statistically one of the safest cities to travel in the link is the crime statistics for London to prove it. People actually choose to live there because it is one of the safest cities. That said London in a big city and all cities have places that can be dangerous some of the time. If you do not put your self in a vulnerable position, like being drunk and alone late at night or get in to an unauthorized taxi cab at night – one with an official logo I'm sure that you'll be fine. Enjoy London