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
Inverness is a city situated right at the heart of the Scottish Highlands and it represents Scotland’s principal center for administration and commerce.
It’s surrounded by easily accessible countryside and if you are interested in sailing, climbing, hillwalking, whale-watching or anything of that kind it is impossible to beat in the UK.
It has a very strong music and dance scene, larger than any city of equivalent size in the UK.
For this and all other reasons, it is expensive for housing and accommodation, similar to Edinburgh and Aberdeen, and it’s flooded with tourists during summer.
Warnings & Dangers in Inverness
OVERALL RISK: LOW
Inverness is overall, very safe and you will probably encounter no problems when traveling there. Still, do not let your guard down and be vigilant at all times.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
Transportation is very safe and reliable in Inverness, but be careful since most bus services cease or become less frequent at about 7 pm.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
Since Inverness is a popular tourist destination, it is expected that pickpockets operate in prominent and touristy spots. Still, it's not a common form of crime.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
There are almost no threats of natural disasters in Inverness, apart from common raining and cloudy weather.
MUGGING RISK: LOW
Although there are areas that should be avoided at night, Inverness is relatively safe when it comes to mugging or kidnapping, though precaution is still advised.
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.
SCAMS RISK: LOW
There is no risk of getting scammed in Inverness, but still be careful when receiving change, check it twice, negotiate everything in advance and be wary of people offering you unwanted help, directions, etc.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Even though Inverness is pretty safe for women traveling solo, sexually motivated assaults are on the rise in Dublin and it is advised that unaccompanied women take extra precaution measures, especially after dark.
So... How Safe Is Inverness Really?
Overall, Inverness is a safe city and you will probably have no problems while being here when it comes to safety.
The most common nuisance here are the drunk people that you’ll probably encounter on a Friday or a Saturday night, but they’re mostly annoying and nothing else.
Another nuisance for tourists is the risk of pickpockets, so you should be very careful when visiting important city landmarks and tourist areas, or crowded places such as airports, train or bus stations, and public transportation.
Do not leave your valuables in plain sight or at a visible place in a locked car, and always lock the car when exiting the vehicle.
Pickpockets, as well as beggars often work in teams.
Violent crime is rare and there is a very low probability that, as a tourist, you will experience anything more than petty crime.
Another thing to watch out for is crossing the roads since every year tourists suffer from traffic accidents because the British people drive on the left side of the road which is highly confusing for people from around the world
These are some of the risks tourists might encounter, but apart from petty crime and drunk people, there are no reasons to be worried – just use your common sense and things will go smoothly.
How Does Inverness Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Inverness | 73 |
| London | 68 |
| Northern Ireland | 56 |
| Belfast | 56 |
| Edinburgh | 70 |
| Scotland | 71 |
| Glasgow | 55 |
| Siem Reap (Cambodia) | 63 |
| Phnom Penh (Cambodia) | 61 |
| Niagara Falls (Canada) | 87 |
| Calgary (Canada) | 82 |
| Buenos Aires (Argentina) | 60 |
| Vancouver (Canada) | 82 |
Useful Information
Visas
Member countries of the EU do not need visas to enter the United Kingdom, 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.
Currency
The British pound is the currency in Inverness. Keep in mind that this is one of the most expensive countries in Europe and the prices of accommodation in most cities in the country are skyrocketing. You should bear in mind that you will need about 100£ per day, including accommodation.
Weather
The weather in Inverness is mild with cool summers, and heavy rainfalls during the year. The best time to visit is during summer, from June to August.
Airports
Inverness Airport is the busiest airport in Inverness. It is located at Dalcross, 15 km east of the city, just off the main A96 trunk road. It connects to Edinburgh, London, and many other places.
Travel Insurance
Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Inverness, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.
Inverness Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 5 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 12 | 7 | 6 |
| Low °C | 0 | -1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| High °F | 41 | 41 | 45 | 50 | 55 | 61 | 63 | 63 | 57 | 54 | 45 | 43 |
| Low °F | 32 | 30 | 34 | 36 | 41 | 46 | 50 | 48 | 46 | 41 | 36 | 32 |
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 |
Even though Inverness is pretty safe for women traveling solo, sexually motivated assaults are on the rise in Dublin and it is advised that unaccompanied women take extra precaution measures, especially after dark.
Dublin is in Ireland NOT in Scotland.
Never had any issues going to Inverness, just be careful of the usual pickpockets that you get in any large city, and watch out for the clubs and pubs closing as that’s when there are drunks about looking for a fight.
Safety
Inverness is a lovely city, I can’t seem to think of an area that you should avoid because it’s dangerous. People say stay away from Merkinch/South Kessock but to be honest it just feels a bit rough and that’s it, nobody is going to try and harm you unless you’re intentionally trying to start a fight. The only place you’re most likely to get a bit of hassle is from a drunk in the town centre on a Friday night. They will probably just kind of annoy you that’s it.
No Terrorists
There are ABSOLUTELY no terrorists in Inverness. Whoever wrote this article either was only thinking about other parts of the UK when he/she wrote this. Inverness is a wonderful city.(So don’t worry about that “terrorist” part!)
Awful
What an overpriced dump. Please avoid at all costs. Extreme anti English sentiment. Nothing to do and the locals are strangers to a bar of soap.
Load of rubbish
Never heard so much shit in my life! Inverness is a lovely and friendly place but then, if you’re an arsehole … you’ll probably get treated accordingly! 😂
Same to you mate. I find Invernessians to be **** in general. At least if you get abuse from them you can just mention how the Loch Ness monster is fake. That’s always good for a horrified gasp. You’re entitled to your opinion in Inverness only if you like Inverness just like if you live in North Korea You’re forced to like everything around you. It’s a tinpot dictatorship.
Great place a must visit can't recommend it enough
well Cedric! I think you are miles off target there, I’ve been to inverness lots of times and loved it. Great music scene, lots of live music and great nightlife for a city of it’s size. Better nightlife than Glasgow or Edinburgh. I found the locals very friendly and far from anti English and they certainly didn’t need the bar of soap you mentioned. There’s plenty to do for visitors and you’re in a great part of the UK with by far the best scenery. All in all it’s a must go to place and everyone in the UK should visit Inverness and the highlands, you’ll love it
Meh
I have to partially disagree here in the way that I’ve lived here for ten years and been assaulted and stalked over years. A lot of folk seem ignorant and miserable, plenty of curb crawling. This is 2021. So, in that sense it sucks.
Hotels and homes being built and some of the music scene is barely there. And yes, very racist about anyone that’s not their own. as usual.
The views are beautiful though.
Racist dump
Sadly I experienced gangs of short ginger haired youths roaming the dark streets looking for revenge for Culloden. They were looking for English people to beat up, not a pleasant place.
A human zoo
I have travelled around the world but found this little city an eye opener. I watched the local shinty team chase a group of English students through the streets shouting abuse at them as they ran with their sticks clearly hoping to thump the terrified students. I watched drug dealing being conducted almost with impunity in the bars in the centre of town. I saw old people so drunk they had soiled themselves in the sad streets. Finally I observed young girls trying to sell their pathetic skinny bodies to get money for drugs as their boyfriend staggered about in the background. This is a horrible place , somebody should make a documentary to highlight this places downfall. Please avoid.
I love you bah!
This city is probably unique in that it is deemed ok to marry your sister, a sheep or even Nessie. It is just so backward, full of Polish people and smells of small town anger at the English who have the nerve to visit. Please avoid and visit Nairn instead, much safer and prettier.
The biggest scam going in Inverness is it acts like it’s heaven and perfect and sells that illusion to tourists. People stand too close way too close in public and not even covid makes people back off.