United Kingdom Travel Risk Overview
Is United Kingdom safe right now? Checked 16 October 2026
United Kingdom scores 28/100 on our travel risk index (Moderate). The US State Department rates United Kingdom Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution, updated 9 Sep 2026); Canada says: exercise a high degree of caution. No change in government advice in the last 7 days.
United Kingdom has a Travel Risk Calculator score of 28 out of 100 (moderate risk tier); city-level files are available for 60 cities. The score combines five layers (security, crime and scams, health and medical access, natural hazards, current alerts) built from government advisories and open data. This page also covers nine safety categories (crime, disease & health, government advisory, political & civil unrest, natural disaster & weather, transport & route, environmental, digital security, money safety), the current US State Department advisory, GDACS disaster alerts, CDC health notices for United Kingdom, recent news headlines, plus links to every city we have an editorial file for.
Run a personalized United Kingdom assessmentAI safety snapshot · refreshed Oct 15, 2026
The United Kingdom has a moderate baseline risk with a Level 2 travel advisory from the US State Department and a Level 1 CDC dengue health notice. Recent security alerts include warnings issued by the US and the UK regarding Houthi attacks on Saudi airports.
AI-summarized strictly from the live public-source data below (US State Dept advisory, GDACS, CDC, Google News). Auto-refreshed at most once per day on the first visit. Not official advice.
Live conditions last refreshed: Oct 16, 2026 09:02 UTC
How safe is United Kingdom to visit in 2026?
United Kingdom currently sits at 28/100 on Travel Risk Calculator's five-layer score, which puts it in the moderate-risk tier. Most travelers will be fine in United Kingdom with normal preparation, but a few risk categories warrant attention. The full live US State Department advisory text for United Kingdom, current GDACS disaster alerts, CDC health notices, and recent news headlines are shown in the Live conditions section below. For city-specific files (London, Glasgow, Edinburgh), see the City Risk Files section below — they include neighborhood-level scam patterns, transport notes, and medical-access details where available.
United Kingdom: a traveler’s safety briefing
The United Kingdom is a low-baseline-risk destination with strong emergency services and healthcare. For visitors the dominant risks are petty: pickpocketing and phone-snatching (including moped “snatch” theft) in central London tourist and nightlife areas, and distraction scams around major attractions. Occasional public-order events and transport strikes cause disruption more than danger. Outside London, crime risk to tourists is generally low. Mind the left-hand traffic as a pedestrian, secure phones in crowds and outdoor seating, and use licensed black cabs or app-based rides rather than unbooked minicabs.
Editorial context from the Travel Risk Calculator team — generalized, not personalized advice. The live US State Department advisory, GDACS, and CDC data below always take precedence; verify against your own government’s advisory before you travel.
Country score
Driven by: security (35/100) and natural hazards (35/100).
United Kingdom's score of 28 is higher than the scores of 21% of the 241 countries we cover.
Data file
| Source | calibrated 2026-05-09 v1.0 (knowledge-based; State Dept advisory tiers, GPI, OSAC patterns) |
|---|---|
| Last updated | 2026-05-09 11:01:52 |
| City files | 60 |
Assessment memory
Anonymous assessments help Travel Risk Calculator identify which country and city files deserve deeper review.
| Saved assessments | 0 |
|---|---|
| Average composite | No saved signal yet |
Score layers
Safety categories
Official Government Travel Advisories
Cross-referenced official travel advice from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, normalized to a unified 1–4 risk scale.
Department of State
Exercise increased cautionin the United Kingdom due to terrorism. There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in the Uni…
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Global Affairs Canada
Editorial change
UK content contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Canadian advice provided by Global Affairs Canada under open government terms. US advice provided by the US Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs.
Travel Advisory Level History
Historical official advisory level changes over time.
Protests, Strikes & Closures This Week
Verified recent event reports monitored for United Kingdom within the last 7 days.
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spacewar.com · Oct 16
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the-sun.com · Oct 16
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UNREST 欧美同学会青年委员谈留学报国 ： 祖国有我最好的土壤 news.cyol.com · Oct 16
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UNREST Five Saudi Events Postponed in Three Days as Canelo vs Mbilli and Crown Jewel Hold Their Datesboxinginsider.com · Oct 16
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n-tv.de · Oct 16
What Changed This Month in United Kingdom
Chronological record of verified security, advisory, health, and hazard updates over the past 30 days.
- Oct 2, 2026 CDC Notice Level 1 - Global Dengue (Watch).
- Sep 23, 2026 CDC Notice Level 2 - Global Polio (Alert).
- Oct 5, 2026 Score Change Caerdydd risk score moved from 34 to 33 (Daily recalculation (scoring v2)).
- Oct 5, 2026 Score Change Bedwas risk score moved from 34 to 33 (Daily recalculation (scoring v2)).
- Oct 5, 2026 Score Change Abertawe risk score moved from 34 to 33 (Daily recalculation (scoring v2)).
City Risk Files in United Kingdom
Showing 60 destination files with city-specific safety data in United Kingdom, ranked by demand and population.
London
Tier AEngland
Glasgow
Tier AGlasgow City
Edinburgh
Tier AScotland
Manchester
Tier AEngland
Birmingham
Tier AEngland
Southampton
Tier BSouthampton
Bristol
Tier BBristol, City of
Blackpool
Tier BBlackpool
Croydon
Tier BCroydon
Southend
Tier BSouthend-on-Sea
Nottingham
Tier BNottingham
Leeds
Tier BLeeds
Liverpool
Tier BLiverpool
Belfast
Tier BBelfast
Milton Keynes
Tier BMilton Keynes
Sheffield
Tier BSheffield
Luton
Tier BLuton
Nuneaton
Tier BWarwickshire
Skegness
Tier BLincolnshire
Bradford
Tier BBradford
Cambridge
Tier BCambridgeshire
Wakefield
Tier BWakefield
Boston
Tier BLincolnshire
Ashton
Tier BTameside
Camborne
Tier BCornwall
Bonnyrigg
Tier BMidlothian
Whitby
Tier BNorth Yorkshire
Littleport
Tier BCambridgeshire
Abram
Tier BWigan
Worthing
Tier BWest Sussex
Barnsley
Tier BBarnsley
Norwich
Tier BNorfolk
Saint Helens
Tier BSt. Helens
Exeter
Tier BDevon
Slough
Tier BSlough
Blackburn
Tier BBlackburn with Darwen
Ellesmere Port
Tier BCheshire West and Chester
Barking
Tier BBarking and Dagenham
Merthyr Tudful
Tier BMerthyr Tydfil
Folkestone
Tier BKent
Bishops Stortford
Tier BHertfordshire
Shotley Bridge
Tier BDurham
Caversham
Tier BReading
Bedwas
Tier BCaerphilly
Coventry
Tier BCoventry
Newcastle
Tier BNewcastle upon Tyne
Bolton
Tier BBolton
Derby
Tier BDerby
Preston
Tier BLancashire
Tottenham
Tier BHaringey
Hastings
Tier BEast Sussex
Paignton
Tier BDevon
Accrington
Tier BLancashire
Dover
Tier BKent
Astley
Tier BWigan
Islington
Tier BIslington
Bournemouth
Tier BBournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Brighton
Tier BBrighton and Hove
Hemel Hempstead
Tier BHertfordshire
Bath
Tier BBath and North East Somerset
All towns in United Kingdom (1,180 additional local facts pages)
These localities carry verified regional geography, nearest hospitals, airports, and natural hazard records with the country baseline risk score.
Live conditions in United Kingdom
Country-scoped real-time data — official advisory from the US State Department, disaster alerts from GDACS, health notices from the CDC, news from Google News. For city-specific weather and air quality, open any city page below.
Official travel advisory
Level 2 · Exercise Increased Caution
United Kingdom - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Read full advisory → · US Department of State
Track United Kingdom’s advisory
Get one email if the US State Department travel-advisory level for United Kingdom changes. No account, unsubscribe anytime.
Disaster alerts
No active GDACS disaster alerts matched United Kingdom as of the last successful refresh.
Health notices
Health Notices for this Destination
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Level 1 - Global Dengue WATCH · 2026-10-02
Dengue is a year-round risk in many parts of the world, with outbreaks commonly occurring every 2–5 years. Travelers to risk areas should prevent mosquito bites. Country List : Colombia, Vietnam, Maldives, Bolivia, Cambodia, Kenya, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Mar
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Level 2 - Global Polio ALERT · 2026-09-23
Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines. Country List : Afghanistan, Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger, Nig
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Level 1 - Global Measles WATCH · 2025-05-28
Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel. Country List : Afghan
Source: CDC Travelers’ Health · fetched 2026-10-16 07:26:45 UTC
Recent headlines
No recent national headlines were returned for United Kingdom. This is not evidence that conditions are quiet; check local and official sources.
Automated safety monitor
Recent safety-relevant news for United Kingdom
Headlines are an early-warning monitor, not risk assessments. Verify material developments with official authorities and the linked publisher.
- Politics UK minister condemns anti-migrant protests in Portsmouth - reuters.com www.reuters.com · Sep 7, 2026 12:29 UTC · via Googlenews
- Politics UK gov’t condemns masked anti-immigrant protesters blocking Dover port - aljazeera.com www.aljazeera.com · Sep 5, 2026 17:10 UTC · via Googlenews
- Politics U.K. government condemns masked anti-immigrant protesters who blocked Dover port - NBC News www.nbcnews.com · Sep 5, 2026 13:09 UTC · via Googlenews
- Politics Masked men block traffic to UK’s Port of Dover in apparent anti-immigrant protest - CNN www.cnn.com · Sep 5, 2026 12:01 UTC · via Googlenews
- Politics UNITED KINGDOM: ARRESTS AT PEACEFUL PROTESTS CONTINUE (Sixth 77.25) - Amnesty International USA www.amnestyusa.org · Sep 4, 2026 21:50 UTC · via Googlenews
- Crime US, Britain to coordinate on scam center takedowns - The Record from Recorded Future News therecord.media · Sep 4, 2026 15:55 UTC · via Googlenews
- Crime Trump warns UK 'on edge of disaster' in sweeping attack on Britain - Daily Sabah www.dailysabah.com · Sep 3, 2026 21:42 UTC · via Googlenews
- General Trump says Britain 'on the edge of disaster,' citing immigration and energy concerns - Reuters www.reuters.com · Sep 3, 2026 20:23 UTC · via Googlenews
1991–2020 climate normals
Seasonal risk & best time to visit United Kingdom
The most weather-stable two-month window for United Kingdom is July–August, when typical daily temperatures run from about 13°C to 22°C and monthly rain averages 55 mm.
No threshold-level heat, cold, wind, or cyclone flag appears in the stored normals; November is the wettest typical month at about 64 mm.
Climate normals are planning context, not a short-range forecast. Source: Open-Meteo Climate API. Refreshed Jul 19, 2026.
Calculate risk for these travel dates Compare seasonal windows →
Diplomatic assistance
Embassies in London
High Commission of Canada and Korean Cultural Centre UK and 3 other embassies are mapped in London.
OpenStreetMap coverage is a location aid, not an official diplomatic directory. Before travel, save the address and emergency contact details published by your own foreign ministry.
Emergency Numbers
| Police | 999 |
|---|---|
| Ambulance | 999 |
| Fire | 999 |
| General emergency | 112 |
Frequently asked questions
Is United Kingdom safe to visit right now?
Mostly safe with normal precautions. United Kingdom has a few categories that warrant planning — read the breakdown below and check the live US State Department advisory. Composite baseline: 28/100 (Moderate risk). Always cross-check with your home country's foreign-ministry advisory within 7 days of departure; the live US State Department advisory is shown above. Last refreshed October 2026.
What is the current travel advisory for United Kingdom?
The current US State Department advisory level for United Kingdom is shown in the Live conditions section above and is re-fetched every 6 hours from the official RSS feed. UK FCDO, Canada GAC, and Australia DFAT also publish advisories — for high-stakes trips, cross-check at least one foreign-ministry advisory in addition to your home country's. See our travel advisory guide for how to read each tier system.
Is it safe to visit United Kingdom in October 2026?
For October 2026, the baseline composite for United Kingdom is 28/100 (Moderate risk). Live data — advisories every 6 hours, disaster alerts every 30 minutes, health notices every 12 hours, news every hour — is shown in the Live conditions section above. For a personalized risk briefing for your specific trip and traveler profile, use the Travel Risk Calculator linked above.
How are these country-level travel risk scores calculated?
Each category is scored 0-100 from government advisories (US State Dept), crime indices, Global Peace Index data, WHO/CDC health context, and curated regional editorial knowledge. The composite is a weighted sum across nine categories — see /methodology for the full weight breakdown. Live data (advisories, news, disaster alerts, health notices) is layered on top of the baseline at request time.
Where can I find city-specific safety information for United Kingdom?
City-specific files for United Kingdom are listed in the City Risk Files section above. Each city page covers the same nine categories at city scope, plus city-specific scam patterns, transport-hub safety notes, medical-access detail, and (where available) neighborhood-level guidance. Use the header search to find a specific city directly.
When was this page last reviewed?
The baseline scores for United Kingdom were last reviewed on May 9, 2026. Live intelligence (advisory, disaster alerts, health notices, news) refreshes automatically on the cadences described above.
Is this a substitute for an official travel advisory?
No. Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated risk information for planning purposes only. Always check your home country's official travel advisory and any health notices from your national health authority before traveling.
When is the best time to visit United Kingdom?
July–August is the most weather-stable two-month window in the stored 1991-2020 normals. The most weather-stable two-month window for United Kingdom is July–August, when typical daily temperatures run from about 13°C to 22°C and monthly rain averages 55 mm.
What is the rainy, hurricane, or severe-weather season in United Kingdom?
The stored 1991-2020 normals do not cross this site's seasonal hazard thresholds; check a short-range forecast before departure.
Community Safety Sentiment
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Disclaimer
Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated travel-threat information for preparation purposes only. It does not replace official government advisories, medical advice, emergency alerts, immigration rules, insurance advice, police guidance, embassy information, or professional security consultation.