If you are drawn to the idea of studying in London, you may be keen to know whether it is a safe place to live before short listing any colleges. The following article should reduce any concerns you may have.
Drinking and Smoking Prohibited on London Travel Network
The London Underground is established as the least dangerous transport system in the world probably due to the prohibition of alcohol and smoking on all Public Transport in the capital. Most London Underground stations will be staffed from opening time in the early hours of the morning until closing time at midnight. Late at night however it is worth mentioning that stations towards the suburbs of the capital will be less well staffed if at all, so to be cautious if travelling alone.
Common Sense when Going Out at Night
With such a vibrant night life on offer, students who are studying in London have an assortment of ways to entertain themselves when not in class. If you are waiting alone in a cafe or pub to meet friends do not be tempted to leave your bag or any personal belongings unattended. Women especially are always advised to keep alert if alone at night in clubs or bars as there have been occurrences in the past where women have had their drink spiked and subsequently been assaulted. It is equally important to be vigilant on the return journey home.
When not studying in London, going out and getting excessively drunk in an unknown place with people you do not know is also very unwise even if it appears to be a fun thing to do at the time, as it is likely to put you in an extremely vulnerable position.
If you miss the last tube or train back, it is possible to catch a night bus - a sobering experience! It is a good idea to sit near the driver on the night bus especially if there are lots of drunken passengers on board taking the same route home as you! Exercise extreme caution if walking home alone in the dark by keeping as aware as possible by avoiding badly lit back streets, listening to music or using your mobile phone openly.
Call Licensed Taxis Only
If you are a single woman studying in London and revel in going out in the evenings the safest way to return home is by black cab or licensed mini cab. Only licensed black cabs should be caught from the street, do not accept lifts from anyone else offering, and phone for a licensed mini cab company if there are limited black ones around at the time you want to return home. A free public service exists where you can receive telephone numbers of two licensed minicab firms and a black taxi on your mobile if you text CAB to 60835.
Emergency Situation
To contact the police in an emergency call 999 and request police, or for an ambulance call 112. If there is an incident or emergency at the Underground station use green emergency button at the Help point, report to nearest staff or press the passenger alarm whilst using public transport. Details of any anti-social behaviour or non-emergency incidents should be given to local neighbourhood policing team or by dialling 0300 121212 or 0800 405040 to speak to the Transport Police.
Similar to studying in any metropolis, studying in London, despite being one of the safest capital cities in the world, will always carry a certain level of risk with it; however this can be reduced to a minimum by taking note of the points mentioned and always placing your safety first.
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