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
Leeds is a very popular and modern, largest city in the county of West Yorkshire and is known for its shopping, nightlife, universities, and sports.
Leeds is a very green city as there are a lot of parks and as Leeds has expanded to incorporate villages into city there are a lot of green areas making this a physically gorgeous town.
The city is great for shopping and nightlife – the addition of Leeds Arena was much needed and seems to have been well supported.
Each year there is a Christmas market, ice skating rink and lots and lots of Christmas decorations.
Warnings & Dangers in Leeds
OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
Leeds is a very charming city but it does have its dangers like drunk people roaming around which will make you want to exercise caution more than you would in usual circumstances.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
Transportation is relatively safe and reliable in Leeds, but it is still somewhat unsafe in public transport when it comes to pickpockets and other petty thieves.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
As for pickpocketing, it is a recurring concern on the streets of Leeds. Keep your money and your valuables elsewhere, like in hidden pockets of your clothes and never keep all of your money in the same place.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
There haven't been any natural disasters in Leeds, like in the rest of the United Kingdom, so you can relax completely when it comes to this aspect of safety.
MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
There is some violent crime and you should be careful after dark. There are some notorious areas of Leeds at night with seedy reputations but all in all, applying basic common sense should keep you out of trouble.
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
As in any tourist destination, there is a risk of getting scammed. Check your change twice, negotiate everything in advance, never pay upfront, and be wary of people trying to distract your offering you unsolicited help with your luggage or anything else, as it might be a trick to steal from you.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Leeds has a track record of a dangerous city for women since there have been numerous sexual assaults in certain areas. Just follow your basic common sense and general rules of things to avoid, and you should be fine.
So... How Safe Is Leeds Really?
Leeds is mostly safe, but there are some sketchy areas that you should avoid.
When it comes to safety, it is decent enough with the proper patrolling system, good communication system, transport accessibility during night hours, hospital services, cab services, etc.
There are areas like Hyde Park and some parts of South Leeds where you would not want to walk about alone at night.
For instance, in these areas, Leeds records an extremely high number of violent and sexual assaults.
If you are a woman living in Leeds, you need to avoid Hyde Park and be somewhat careful about what you do and where you go.
Don’t venture off into either Harehills, Chapel Town or Little London.
These are unfortunately known for the supply of drugs and other similar sketchy stuff more than anything these days.
As for other downsides of Leeds, they’re mostly about traffic and transportation.
Since then tram and trolleybus proposals have been rejected by the central government, bus services are declining due to the lack of public investment and trains are becoming overcrowded, so despite some improvements to bus corridors and a couple of new railway stations, the rush hour is appalling across the city.
How Does Leeds Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Leeds | 56 |
| 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 Leeds. 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
Leeds has an unusually mild and sunny climate for northern England, and it's shielded from the worst and wettest weather by the Pennine Hills to the west, which gives you many opportunities to explore its wonderful parks.
Airports
Leeds-Bradford International Airport is the busiest airport in Leeds. The city is very accessible by air from major European destinations, with an airport located 10 miles north-west of the city center.
Travel Insurance
Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Leeds, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.
Leeds Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 5 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 11 | 7 | 5 |
| Low °C | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| High °F | 41 | 43 | 45 | 50 | 55 | 61 | 64 | 64 | 59 | 52 | 45 | 41 |
| Low °F | 34 | 34 | 36 | 37 | 43 | 46 | 50 | 52 | 48 | 43 | 37 | 34 |
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 |
Splendid
exellant
Articles need often updating, very misleading
When were these articles written and how often are they updated?!
Leeds has high terrorism threat? Seriously?!
Is this since 2005?
I’m shocked at the lack of recent information. Being local and knowing this is not true it makes me doubt all the other information you provide for other destinations.
Please, at least, include the date of the article so we make our own assumptions (which by the way, completely defeats the point of your website and service)…
The whole UK is at high terrorist risk constantly as we’re the main target probably more than the US, and we are much easier to attack than the US due to the distance. That’s the only reason it is high for Leeds as the same applies for the UK as a whole. I’d say Leeds as a whole is pretty safe if your a local, but if your a traveler be cautious like you would in any place. Also areas such as Gipton, East End Park, Seacroft and more in East Leeds are not the best places and have not been mentioned. These places can be visited but there is really no point as it is mostly council and housing estates. The better places out of the centre of Leeds have to be to the North such as Adel, Eccup, Harewood etc with lots of nice and bright rural and safe areas where almost anyone would be safe alone, as long as you are cautious.
accurate article
Leeds is a modern city with a lot of nice bars and pubs. Fortunately I was never mug, I also think that in many cases is common sense (close windows, lock the door…) As a lone woman I always feel safe, even sometimes walking in the middle of the night. There are a lot of homeless people, but overall they will only shout at you but nothing else.
Although never was a terrorist attack, there were threats a couple of times, the latest was in 2020 when a group of friends came and stay in a hotel in the centre (own by the same family as a girl named Paris ) and they were evacuated because a terrorist threat.
I lived in Leeds for 4 years.