If you are looking for the safest places to live in the UK right now, recent crime-index data points you towards elegant market and cathedral cities such as Harrogate, Wokingham, Chester, Sevenoaks and Horsham, along with low-crime areas like St Albans, Salisbury, Windsor, Guildford, Lincoln, Norwich and Bath.
In plain terms, these are locations where residents consistently report feeling safe, and where the underlying crime statistics are far lower than in large metropolitan centres.
A 2024 analysis of 105 UK towns and cities, based on Numbeo’s crime index and compiled by CJ Bloor, ranked Harrogate as the safest place to live in the UK, with a crime index of just 17.44 – way below London’s 55.56 and Rochdale’s 71.45.
However, safety is more than just a number.
You also need to consider police-recorded crime per 1,000 residents, trends over time, and softer factors such as community cohesion, lighting, CCTV coverage and how safe people feel walking home at night.
Recent “city safety index” work by Get Licensed, for example, blends recorded crime data, crime severity, reoffending and anti-social behaviour to give each place an overall safety score.
In this guide we will unpack what “safe” really means, then walk through 20 of the safest places to live in the UK using up-to-date crime-index and city-safety data.
We will finish with a short look at several large cities that struggle more with crime, so you can see both ends of the spectrum and make an informed choice.
Before we look at individual towns and cities, it helps to understand how safety is measured.
Different organisations use slightly different approaches, but the same core ingredients appear time and again.
Police forces in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland publish detailed figures showing how many crimes are recorded per 1,000 residents in each local authority area.
The Police.uk “Compare your area” tool, for example, lets you see how your local rate compares with similar areas and the wider force.
A lower crime rate per 1,000 people usually indicates a safer area, especially if that lower rate has been consistent for several years and extends across serious offences like violence, burglary and robbery.
Several independent organisations convert raw crime data and resident surveys into a single crime index or safety score:
These indices are useful because they smooth out short-term spikes and provide a comparable snapshot across many locations.
You will often see “happiest places to live” surveys from property portals such as Rightmove.
These focus on resident satisfaction, community spirit, access to green space, local services and general wellbeing.
They are not crime statistics, but they help explain why people feel secure and settled in places like Skipton, Harrogate or Richmond upon Thames.
Finally, some elements are harder to quantify but matter day to day:
A truly safe place ranks well on both the hard numbers and these softer, lived experience factors.
Below we look at 20 of the safest places to live in the UK, largely following the 2024 Numbeo crime index rankingwhich evaluated 105 towns and cities nationwide.
Where possible, we refer to each location’s crime index (lower is safer) and explain what that means in real life.
Harrogate tops the list with a crime index of 17.44, making it the safest town or city in the UK according to that analysis.
This elegant North Yorkshire spa town combines affluent residential neighbourhoods, strong local employment and a busy tourism sector with relatively low levels of violent and property crime.
Residents report feeling safe both during the day and in the evening, and the town’s compact centre, well-kept parks and strong sense of community help to deter anti-social behaviour. Compared with London’s crime index of 55.56, Harrogate’s figures show a dramatically lower perceived risk of crime.
Wokingham, in Berkshire, takes second place with a crime index of about 20.17.
Traditionally a market town, it has grown into a prosperous commuter hub for Reading and London.
Despite that growth, crime levels remain low for its size, especially for serious offences.
Good schools, family-oriented neighbourhoods and well-maintained public spaces all contribute to its reputation as a safe and stable place to raise children.
The area benefits from strong transport links while avoiding many of the problems associated with innercity living.
The historic walled city of Chester ranks third with a crime index of 21.56.
It’s an important regional centre, but crime figures remain modest compared with other urban areas.
Chester’s tourism driven economy, visible policing in the city centre and relatively affluent suburbs all play a part in keeping crime down.
Residents generally report feeling safe walking through the central streets, and levels of violent crime and burglary are significantly lower than in nearby major cities such as Liverpool and Manchester.
Sevenoaks in Kent is fourth on the list with a crime index of 21.62.
Situated within commuting distance of London, it offers leafier surroundings and a quieter pace of life than the capital.
Crime levels are low across most categories, and the town’s demographics, high employment, strong schools and a relatively affluent population help explain its strong performance.
For London workers seeking a safer base, Sevenoaks offers a compelling mix of security and accessibility.
The West Sussex market town of Horsham ranks fifth, with a crime index around 22.48.
It’s another classic example of a commuter-friendly, family-oriented town with low levels of serious crime.
Horsham’s town centre is compact and well-supervised, and the surrounding residential areas have a stable, long term population.
Anti-social behaviour and violent incidents are relatively rare compared with busier nightlife focused towns.
St Albans in Hertfordshire comes sixth with a crime index of 23.52.
Despite being a small city with a cathedral and thriving high street, it maintains crime levels far below many comparable urban areas.
The population includes a high proportion of commuters into London, and the local council invests heavily in community services and public spaces.
The result is a city that combines cultural life and good transport with a strong feeling of everyday safety.
The cathedral city of Salisbury ranks seventh with a crime index of 23.66.
While it made headlines in 2018 due to the nerve agent incident, that was an extremely isolated event and not representative of day to day safety.
Current crime index data shows Salisbury as one of the UK’s safer cities, with relatively low levels of violent and acquisitive crime.
Its compact centre, significant tourist presence and strong community networks all help to keep the city secure.
Windsor, home to Windsor Castle, sits in eighth place with a crime index of 24.51.
The town has a heavy policing and security presence due to the royal residence, and this spills over into the wider local area.
Although visitor numbers are high, crime levels remain low for a town of its profile.
Residents benefit from both high quality amenities and a strong sense that the area is well monitored and well managed.
The Surrey town of Guildford ranks ninth, with a crime index of 25.21.
It serves as both a county town and a commuter hub, with a busy university, yet still records comparatively low levels of serious crime.
Guildford’s central streets can be lively, particularly at weekends, but the overall picture is one of a safe, well run town with strong transport links, good schools and affluent suburbs.
Lincoln completes the top ten with a crime index of 25.59.
As a historic cathedral city and university centre, it has a mixed population, but crime levels are still notably below the UK urban average.
The steep, compact city centre, visible CCTV and active local policing contribute to feelings of safety, especially in residential districts away from the nightlife core.
The East Anglian city of Norwich ranks 11th with a crime index of 26.06.
It regularly crops up in lists of safe, liveable UK cities, thanks to its well preserved centre, strong cultural scene and relatively low levels of violent crime.
Norwich benefits from being geographically somewhat isolated from other large urban centres, which can reduce some forms of crime.
Residents also report high satisfaction with local amenities and a strong community feel.
The combined authority of Bath and North East Somerset shares a crime index of 26.53, placing it 12th in the ranking.
Bath’s status as a tourist city brings large visitor numbers, but the local authority manages the centre carefully, and most residential areas feel peaceful and secure.
The surrounding villages and suburbs are among the safest parts of the South West.
Bangor in Gwynedd, North Wales, also has a crime index of 26.53, tying with Bath.
As a small university city overlooking the Menai Strait, it combines a student population with long term residents.
Despite the transient element, perception-based crime scores remain low, and serious offences are relatively uncommon.
For those wanting coastal scenery with manageable crime levels, Bangor is a strong option.
The walled city of York ranks 14th on our list, with a crime index of 27.13.
York attracts millions of visitors each year, yet still performs strongly on safety measures.
Tourism brings a visible police presence, and many of the surrounding neighbourhoods are quiet, family-oriented areas with low recorded crime.
Residents often highlight good public transport, walkability and a strong heritage-driven pride in the city, all of which contribute to its safe feel.
Chelmsford, the county town of Essex, ranks 15th with a crime index of 28.95.
It’s a fast-growing commuter city for London, but still records significantly lower perceived crime than the capital.
Transport links are excellent, and while the centre can be busy, particularly at weekends, most suburban areas enjoy low levels of serious crime.
For those wanting an urban lifestyle without London’s crime profile, Chelmsford is a strong contender.
Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh, comes in at 16th with a crime index of 30.83, still comfortably within the “safer” bracket and much lower than many other large UK cities.
Numbeo’s separate European crime rankings also show Edinburgh as one of the safer major cities on the continent, with a safety index approaching 69 (again, higher safety index means safer).
While some central nightlife areas can be lively, most residential districts experience moderate crime levels and strong community engagement.
Cambridge appears slightly lower down the list, with a crime index of 38.54, but still compares favourably to London’s 55.56 and the least safe cities above 70.
The combination of a world-class university, technology employers and prosperous suburbs helps to keep serious crime relatively contained.
There are busy student areas, but overall the city remains one of the more secure urban centres in England.
Brighton has a crime index of 38.86, similar to Cambridge and still far below the least safe UK cities in the same table.
As a major seaside resort with a thriving nightlife and events scene, Brighton naturally records more incidents in the city centre than quieter towns, but many residential neighbourhoods are calm and community oriented.
For people wanting a vibrant city with an acceptable level of risk, Brighton offers a balanced option.
Exeter, in Devon, ranks 19th on our list with a crime index of 33.29, still clearly in the safer half of UK cities and towns.
It acts as a regional centre for the South West but retains a compact, manageable feel.
Violent crime and serious acquisitive offences remain modest by national standards, and the surrounding Devon countryside provides a high quality of life with relatively low security concerns.
Finally, Plymouth appears in last place with a crime index of 40.65.
It’s a larger port city than many others on this list, so its scores are higher than the very safest towns, but still well below the least safe parts of the UK.
Local policing, investment in the waterfront and regeneration of central districts have improved perceptions of safety, and many suburban and coastal neighbourhoods around the city are notably quieter and more secure than their inner-city counterparts.
No UK city is inherently “bad”, and every large urban area contains many safe, welcoming neighbourhoods.
However, when you look at the same crime-index data used above, certain cities are more dangerous places to live than others.
To keep this section balanced, we will focus on relative safety rather than sensational labels.
The cities below are not the absolute most dangerous in the UK, but they sit in the more crime-affected half of national rankings and have higher crime index scores than the places listed earlier.
Bradford appears near the bottom at 96th out of 105 on the CJ Bloor ranking, with a crime index of 63.74 – more than three times Harrogate’s score.
This reflects higher levels of recorded crime across several categories, including violent and acquisitive offences, as well as resident concerns about anti-social behaviour.
It doesn’t mean that all of Bradford is unsafe, but it does suggest that anyone moving there should research neighbourhoods carefully and pay close attention to local statistics.
Leeds sits closer to the middle of the safety table, ranked 52nd with a crime index of 45.15.
As a major regional hub with a large student and nightlife scene, it experiences higher crime levels than the smaller towns in our safe-list.
However, Leeds also has many safer suburbs and commuter villages with significantly lower crime than the city centre.
Using ward-level or postcode-level police data is essential if you are considering moving to the wider Leeds area.
Birmingham appears even further towards the bottom of the CJ Bloor ranking at 98th, with a crime index of 64.68.
As the UK’s second-largest city, it inevitably records higher numbers of incidents, particularly in central nightlife districts and some inner city wards.
That said, the broader West Midlands region contains many quieter suburbs and satellite towns with much lower crime rates than the city average.
Anyone interested in Birmingham should think in terms of specific neighbourhoods, not just the city-wide figure.
Leicester is ranked 56th, with a crime index of 46.35, placing it in the more affected half of the table.
Like other densely populated Midlands cities, Leicester has pockets of deprivation and busy nightlife areas where crime levels are higher.
Local initiatives around community policing, youth engagement and city-centre management are aimed at improving safety, but the figures still sit well above those seen in smaller market towns such as Harrogate or Sevenoaks.
Finally, Liverpool appears at 63rd, with a crime index of 49.05.
It’s a major port and cultural city with a large student population, which brings both vibrancy and higher levels of certain crime types.
Again, averages disguise variation: waterfront regeneration areas and many outer suburbs feel safe and community-oriented, while some central districts experience more persistent issues.
Prospective residents should use ward-level police statistics and visit areas in person before drawing conclusions.
When you strip away marketing slogans and local reputation, the safest places to live in the UK share a few clear traits: lower crime index scores, consistently modest police-recorded crime rates, stable communities and well-managed public spaces.
Recent data shows that towns such as Harrogate, Wokingham, Chester, Sevenoaks and Horsham, alongside cathedral and university cities like St Albans, Salisbury, Norwich, Bath, York and Edinburgh, stand out as some of the safest locations nationwide.
At the other end of the scale, larger cities including Bradford, Birmingham, parts of Leeds, Leicester and Liverpool face more complex crime challenges, reflected in higher crime index scores and resident concerns.
Yet even there, safety varies enormously from one neighbourhood to the next.
If you are choosing a new place to live, use this article as a starting point rather than a final verdict.
Combine national rankings with:
Do that, and you will not just find one of the safest places to live in the UK on paper, but a town or city where you genuinely feel at home.
