United Kingdom : Safety by City
- Aberdeen
- Bath
- Belfast
- Birmingham
- Bradford
- Brighton
- Bristol
- Cambridge
- Canterbury
- Cardiff
- Coventry
- Dundee
- Edinburgh
- Exeter
- Glasgow
- Inverness
- Leeds
- Leicester
- Liverpool
- London
- Manchester
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- Northern Ireland
- Nottingham
- Oxford
- Peterborough
- Salford
- Scotland
- Sheffield
- Southampton
- Surrey
- York
Birmingham is Britain’s second-largest city.
Back in the Victorian era, Birmingham was known as the “City of a 1000 Trades” and today that tradition continues, since nowadays the city is known as a great shopping and cultural destination.
Known as Brummies, the people are fairly friendly and hospitable.
Birmingham has a lot more trees than most cities and is not as closed in or oppressive as, say, New York or London.
Some residential parts of the city like Edgbaston or Bournville hardly feel like being in a city at all.
Birmingham offers a lot of the benefits of big city life but avoids many of the downsides.
Warnings & Dangers in Birmingham
OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
Birmingham isn't the safest city in the UK, but you shouldn't be too scared here. Even though there are parts that are dangerous and should be avoided, it is, for the most part, safe to travel to, and if you use your common sense, your trip should go smoothly.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
Taxis and other forms of transportation are known to be very safe and reliable in Birmingham, apart from the danger of pickpockets trying to steal something from you while you're on a bus or something similar to that.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
Pickpockets are common to a certain degree and there are even some locations known for petty theft being reported there. Take basic precaution measures and minimize your chances of being the victim of a pickpocket or a bag snatcher.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
Birmingham was hit by a tornado in 2005. It was one of the strongest tornadoes recorded in the United Kingdom in nearly 30 years. Though it probably won't happen while you're there, monitor the weather conditions and follow the authorities' directions.
MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
When it comes to mugging and kidnapping, Birmingham has been known to have some incidents where muggers attack foreigners. Be careful and avoid dangerous areas where you could get attacked.
TERRORISM RISK: HIGH
The United Kingdom has recently been targeted by terrorist attacks and it is now publicly announced that the threat to the UK is severe, and given that Birmingham is a large city in this state, you should be on the lookout.
SCAMS RISK: LOW
Even though Birmingham isn't a popular tourist city, there will always be people trying to scam foreigners. Always be cautious with people trying to distract you, help you with your luggage, or groups of people acting strange. Always check your change twice and negotiate everything in advance.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Birmingham is mostly very safe for women to travel to. Just follow your basic common sense and general rules of things to avoid, and you should be fine.
So... How Safe Is Birmingham Really?
Well, Birmingham is, in general, a safe city, but since it’s so large, it has its bad sides, and then some.
If you do find yourself uncomfortable with someone insulting you for being a foreigner or bothering you in any other way, just find a local policeman (or call 999 if it’s an emergency) or walk into a shop and tell the staff.
Most people will be happy to help.
Look out for pickpockets, they are most active around Christmas because the German Market here gets very busy so they can go mostly undetected.
If you just keep your belongings secure and with you the whole time you should be fine.
As for more violent crimes, they exist too: you can get mugged in Birmingham though it usually doesn’t happen in central areas.
Muggers in Birmingham usually operate in groups of two or three, where one asks you a question (to see if you are local, while the others move in behind you so they can force you to the ground.
There are areas most people should avoid, due to high crime rates: namely, Newtown and Lozells.
As long as you stay in the city center and nice-looking tourist areas, you should be fine.
Some parts of Birmingham feel safer than other parts because they’re more prosperous.
Some notable safe areas are Solihull, parts of Sutton Coldfield and Barnt Green.
How Does Birmingham Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Birmingham | 44 |
| London | 68 |
| Northern Ireland | 56 |
| Belfast | 56 |
| Edinburgh | 70 |
| Scotland | 71 |
| Glasgow | 55 |
| Buenos Aires (Argentina) | 60 |
| Vancouver (Canada) | 82 |
| Cordoba (Argentina) | 61 |
| Toronto (Canada) | 81 |
| Melbourne (Australia) | 80 |
| Montreal (Canada) | 81 |
Useful Information
Visas
Member countries of the EU do not need visas to enter the United Kingdom/Birmingham, as well as some other countries, but there is a considerable number of countries that do. Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into the United Kingdom. If you are not sure about your visa status, contact your local British embassy for more details.
Currency
The British pound is the currency in Birmingham. You should bear in mind that you will need about 100£ per day, including accommodation.
Weather
Birmingham has a warm and temperate climate, characterized by mild summers (from June to August) and cold winters (November to March). The best time to travel to Birmingham in March and the period between November and December.
Airports
Birmingham Airport is an international airport in the United Kingdom. It is located 13 km east-southeast of the Birmingham city center.
Travel Insurance
Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Birmingham, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.
Birmingham Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 6 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 14 | 9 | 7 |
| Low °C | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 3 |
| High °F | 43 | 43 | 48 | 54 | 61 | 64 | 70 | 70 | 64 | 57 | 48 | 45 |
| Low °F | 34 | 32 | 37 | 37 | 43 | 48 | 54 | 52 | 48 | 45 | 39 | 37 |
United Kingdom - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Aberdeen | 63 |
| Bath | 81 |
| Belfast | 56 |
| Birmingham | 44 |
| Bradford | 42 |
| Brighton | 67 |
| Bristol | 58 |
| Cambridge | 78 |
| Canterbury | 79 |
| Cardiff | 64 |
| Coventry | 41 |
| Dundee | 60 |
| Edinburgh | 70 |
| Exeter | 77 |
| Glasgow | 55 |
| Inverness | 73 |
| Leeds | 56 |
| Leicester | 43 |
| Liverpool | 56 |
| London | 68 |
| Manchester | 44 |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | 72 |
| Northern Ireland | 56 |
| Nottingham | 56 |
| Oxford | 66 |
| Peterborough | 70 |
| Salford | 43 |
| Scotland | 71 |
| Sheffield | 74 |
| Southampton | 65 |
| Surrey | 77 |
| York | 83 |
honest point of view from a born bred brummy
so what do i have to say about birmingham. in general, the streets are perfectly fine to walk down, just watch out for the dog shit, spit, chewing gum, and piss. tagging is everywhere and is very common to have public conviniences closed off or shut down due to the local hood rats deliberately breaking stuff, setting things on fire. hypodermic needles and used condoms littered in the streets is also the norm as the local council are nothing short of unreliable cowboys.
homelessness is common and you will usually find the homeless begging outside shops, shopping precincts and traffic lights. most will ask for change but on rare occasion you will be approached for money.
occasionally there may be a group(s) of people consisting of one ethnic group which may have a racial disposition towards yourself (multiculturalism at its finest)
bars and resturants are usually chilled out places, but this depends on what time you’ve decided to arrive. some places can make you feel rushed and you may be slightly charged more on beverages.
the main bullring shopping centre can get overly crowded but is a good place to visit for a number of things but mainly materialistic possessions.
buses don’t run reliably as they should, often 2 or 3 at a time then none for some time after, on arrival you’ll be made to fight for your space as people push the queue to get on. some buses are so dirty inside you could swear the seat was crawling.
taxi firms are usually metered but the cost of getting one can quickly rise so enquire about the cost before hand. if you’re female on a night out (if booking a taxi) I’d suggest sitting behind the driver as i have been told of many stories of taxi drivers placing hands where they shouldn’t be. preferably, find another mode of transport.
west midlands police are there to help you if you want to waste your time, literally… so just have your wits about you, you should be fine.
Worst city i’ve ever visited in the UK ? It’s so dull , mundane and uninspiring , nothing to do nothing to see here apart from endless poverty , drug addicts , aggressive beggars , gangs of youth’s like extra’s from a Stormzy video roaming around the city centre and loud islamic prayers being broadcast in the very heart of the central area.
You’d think that the second city of the UK would at least try to sort this huge mess out especially when other competing cities like Manchester , Liverpool , Leeds and Glasgow are light years ahead of this shambolic and unpleasant hole of a city at least they all have a safer and welcoming vibe about their cities.
Birmingham is definately the equivalent of Detroit and Baltimore combined a thoroughly vile place full of obnoxious , nasty , racist and uneducated people.
True
I’m struggling to disagree with you Paulo. I’ve lived most of my life in Birmingham but traveled the world. It’s such a sad place that nobody seems to care about. Trash on all the streets. The council is so corrupt they’ve just let it go to the dogs. They should all hang their heads in shame!
Agreed;
Currently working just outside the city and it is THE single worst city I have ever been to in the UK (and I travel for work a LOT). If you stick to the city center you will be fine (for cleanliness, maybe not for groups of aggressive kids), but driving into the city center will put you off as most of the surrounding area looks like 1980’s Beirut.
Sadly true (I’ve lived here for most of my life). It really isn’t a place for tourists.
Poor
Agreed;
Currently working just outside the city and it is THE single worst city I have ever been to in the UK (and I travel for work a LOT). If you stick to the city center you will be fine (for cleanliness, maybe not for groups of aggressive kids), but driving into the city center will put you off as most of the surrounding area looks like 1980’s Beirut.
Brummies are naturally self-deprecating - they shouldn't be
I grew up in the West Midlands, and know Birmingham well, though haven’t lived there in over 20 years, so when I go it is with the perspective of a visitor, and I think that is the point here.
In that vein, I am somewhat amused by the comments here, and the fact that Brum has a safety rating only one point above Baghdad.
The people are very friendly, and funny, in a deadpan way, and even though the City Centre, and particularly Broad Street, can be raucous at the weekend, it is all rather good natured, and I’ve never even vaguely felt a sense of threat.
Digbeth, Chinatown and the Gay Village, are culturally vibrant, and you might want to be a bit aware, like any big city, but never seen any problems.
Edgbaston and Harborne just outside the centre are studenty and village like, with nice restaurants and craft beer places. And then you have Bournville, the home of Cadburys, originally a Quaker designed community – a violent hellhole, no just kidding – obviously not!
Newtown and Aston have their issues – but with the exception of the 17th century Aston Hall – these will be unlikely to be on tourist itineraries.
It’s an international, diverse, interesting place – with wealth and poverty cheek by jowl, but my perception is that there is a lot less tension in Birmingham, than comparably sized cities with these conditions like Marseille or Naples.
The star rating is a counterbalance – 4 would be fair.
Going downhill
Unfortunately Birmingham is not the city it once was. I have been there on several occasions and it seems like each time things have gotten a bit worse than before. It’s a shame really, because there are a lot of good people living here. I don’t know what the council is doing but it’s surely not good. There’s filth everywhere plus noisy, aggressive teenagers, homeless people, etc. I’m sure the city can get better if certain actions are taken but right now, it’s not in an ok state.
It’s sad to see the Safety index for this at 44 but I think it’s about right. It’s so hard to believe this is Britain’s second-largest city 🙁 Right now, I wouldn’t add it to any top 10 or even top 20 cities in the UK, unless it would be for something negative. Pickpocketing is a common occurrence here, in many crowded areas. You can pay attention and avoid getting something stolen but it’s tiresome to always be on the lookout. Muggings and serious crimes do tend to happen frequently here and the police don’t give you the safest feeling ever.
Among the many things you can visit here I would like to mention the National SEA LIFE Center which has a special underwater tunnel that offers breathtaking views. Many animals are housed here: penguins, otters, crabs, seahorses, etc. You can also find a 4-D cinema that offers educational programs. This is a great place to visit with your kids.
Another kid favorite is Cadbury World. Discover the sweet history of chocolate and partake in the actual making of it. You’ll also be able to see replica shops from the 1820s – there’s really something. You can make your own sweets. And at the end don’t forget to go on a visit in Bournville which is a small village that was built to house the workforce for Cadbury World.
Birmingham has an undertone of menace, a murmuring of discontent a threat to all.
If you want adventure and risk Birmingham at night can be just that. Pubs are open and the Brummies gather, alcoholic beverages (known as bevies) are ordered and downed in the belief the world is about to end at midnight. Toxication is helped by ‘white line snorting’ brought in by unhelpful smugglers.
Stabbings usually occur when the gangs arrive at the nightclubs, thinking they’re all brothers until one betty takes offence ‘Oh he didn’t respect me !!’
Stay away if the Second City Derby is on, it can be as riotous as any medieval shindig, dangerous, unforgiving and frightening.
But don’t let this put you off you can still have a good time from afar.
Great museums
I lived on the outskirts of Birmingham for the majority of my childhood and we would travel into the centre to visit places like the Bullring. However, we would never use public transport and park in the story carpark next to the Bullring so as to avoid the streets. It wasn’t very safe then and we would never risk walking the streets even in the daytime.
However, as a kid, I loved the museums and attractions it had. The Sea Life Centre, ThinkTank, and Cadbury World were the highlights and offer great experiences for those considering paying a visit!
Birmingham is defiantly one of the most dangerous cities in the UK. However though it is not no where as bad as this review is implying it. Birmingham is ranked as 44, while Cape Town and San Salvador are 43, these are two notoriously dangerous places and some consider them to be the most dangerous cities in the world. While Birmingham is said to be only slightly safer. Once again Birmingham is not that safe but saying it’s this dangerous is completely false. Also it’s Terrorism rate is “high” and that is not true at all Terrorism in Birmingham is rare and there hasn’t been any in over a decade.
I lived in Birmingham from 1943 to 1965 when I left home Birmingham was OK, when I went back in 1995 I felt in a strange world. All the young people I knew were either on Drugs or Blind drunk I was planning to go back to see my parents but I am afraid of what I might meet if I do go home.