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Safest Places to Live in the UK 2026

Finding a safe place to live is one of the biggest concerns for anyone moving to a new area. We have ranked 50 of the UK's most popular towns and cities using crime data from Police.uk, covering every recorded offence from the past 12 months. Each location receives a safety score out of 100 based on its crime rate per 1,000 residents, the direction of crime trends, and the severity of offences recorded.

The national average crime rate across England and Wales sits at roughly 75 crimes per 1,000 people per year. Towns and cities that score well on our list sit significantly below that average. Scroll down to see the full rankings, methodology breakdown, and practical tips for researching safety in any area.

Complete Safety Rankings: 50 UK Towns and Cities

Ranked by crime rate per 1,000 residents (lowest first). Data sourced from Police.uk recorded crime statistics for the 12 months to January 2026. Click any town name to see the full area report with detailed crime breakdowns.

#	Town / City	Region	Crime Rate	Trend	Score
1	HarrogateYorkshire and The Humber	Yorkshire and The Humber	38.2/ 1k	↓ Falling	92
2	WinchesterSouth East	South East	40.1/ 1k	→ Stable	91
3	BathSouth West	South West	42.7/ 1k	↓ Falling	90
4	CheltenhamSouth West	South West	44.3/ 1k	→ Stable	89
5	SalisburySouth West	South West	45.1/ 1k	↓ Falling	88
6	LancasterNorth West	North West	46.8/ 1k	→ Stable	87
7	YorkYorkshire and The Humber	Yorkshire and The Humber	47.2/ 1k	↓ Falling	87
8	CambridgeEast of England	East of England	48.9/ 1k	→ Stable	86
9	EdinburghScotland	Scotland	49.3/ 1k	↓ Falling	85
10	OxfordSouth East	South East	50.1/ 1k	→ Stable	85
11	CanterburySouth East	South East	51.4/ 1k	→ Stable	84
12	ExeterSouth West	South West	52.3/ 1k	↓ Falling	83
13	ChesterNorth West	North West	53.1/ 1k	→ Stable	83
14	CarlisleNorth West	North West	54.2/ 1k	↓ Falling	82
15	NorwichEast of England	East of England	55.8/ 1k	→ Stable	81
16	ColchesterEast of England	East of England	56.3/ 1k	→ Stable	80
17	LincolnEast Midlands	East Midlands	57.1/ 1k	→ Stable	80
18	AberdeenScotland	Scotland	57.9/ 1k	↓ Falling	79
19	ReadingSouth East	South East	58.4/ 1k	→ Stable	79
20	BristolSouth West	South West	59.7/ 1k	→ Stable	78
21	IpswichEast of England	East of England	60.2/ 1k	→ Stable	77
22	BournemouthSouth West	South West	61.3/ 1k	→ Stable	77
23	SwanseaWales	Wales	62.1/ 1k	↓ Falling	76
24	CardiffWales	Wales	62.8/ 1k	→ Stable	76
25	PlymouthSouth West	South West	63.4/ 1k	→ Stable	75
26	GlasgowScotland	Scotland	63.9/ 1k	↓ Falling	74
27	BrightonSouth East	South East	64.5/ 1k	→ Stable	74
28	LeicesterEast Midlands	East Midlands	65.2/ 1k	→ Stable	73
29	SouthamptonSouth East	South East	66.1/ 1k	→ Stable	73
30	PortsmouthSouth East	South East	66.8/ 1k	↑ Rising	72
31	DundeeScotland	Scotland	67.3/ 1k	→ Stable	72
32	PeterboroughEast of England	East of England	68.1/ 1k	↑ Rising	71
33	Milton KeynesSouth East	South East	68.7/ 1k	→ Stable	71
34	DerbyEast Midlands	East Midlands	69.4/ 1k	→ Stable	70
35	GloucesterSouth West	South West	70.2/ 1k	→ Stable	70
36	NorthamptonEast Midlands	East Midlands	71.3/ 1k	→ Stable	69
37	CoventryWest Midlands	West Midlands	72.5/ 1k	→ Stable	68
38	Newcastle upon TyneNorth East	North East	73.1/ 1k	→ Stable	68
39	LeedsYorkshire and The Humber	Yorkshire and The Humber	74.8/ 1k	→ Stable	67
40	Stoke-on-TrentWest Midlands	West Midlands	75.6/ 1k	↑ Rising	66
41	SheffieldYorkshire and The Humber	Yorkshire and The Humber	76.3/ 1k	→ Stable	65
42	WolverhamptonWest Midlands	West Midlands	77.8/ 1k	↑ Rising	64
43	SunderlandNorth East	North East	78.4/ 1k	→ Stable	63
44	LiverpoolNorth West	North West	79.6/ 1k	→ Stable	62
45	HullYorkshire and The Humber	Yorkshire and The Humber	80.3/ 1k	→ Stable	61
46	NottinghamEast Midlands	East Midlands	82.1/ 1k	↑ Rising	60
47	BradfordYorkshire and The Humber	Yorkshire and The Humber	84.5/ 1k	→ Stable	58
48	ManchesterNorth West	North West	87.3/ 1k	→ Stable	56
49	BirminghamWest Midlands	West Midlands	89.7/ 1k	→ Stable	54
50	LondonLondon	London	93.4/ 1k	→ Stable	52

Crime rate is expressed as total recorded offences per 1,000 residents per year. Safety score is calculated on a 0-100 scale. Data from Police.uk and ONS mid-year population estimates.

How We Calculate Safety Scores

Our safety scores are designed to give you a clear, comparable number for each area. Rather than simply listing raw crime figures, we normalise the data by population size and weight different factors to produce a meaningful score. Here is exactly how it works:

70%

Crime Rate per 1,000

The total number of recorded crimes divided by the resident population, then multiplied by 1,000. This is the primary metric because it accounts for population differences between a small town like Harrogate and a large city like London.

20%

Crime Trend Direction

We compare the most recent 12 months against the previous 12 months. Areas where crime is falling receive a bonus, while areas with rising crime receive a penalty. This ensures areas that are improving are recognised, even if their absolute rate is still above average.

10%

Crime Severity Mix

Not all crimes are equal. An area with mostly low-level anti-social behaviour is objectively safer than one with the same total rate but higher proportions of violent crime, robbery, or sexual offences. We apply severity weightings from the ONS Crime Severity Score.

All crime data comes from Police.uk, which publishes monthly street-level crime and outcome data for every police force in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Scottish crime data comes from Police Scotland's published statistics. Population figures use ONS mid-year estimates to ensure rates are calculated against the most accurate resident counts available.

One important caveat: crime data only captures reported and recorded crime. The Crime Survey for England and Wales estimates that around 40% of crime goes unreported. This means our rankings are a reflection of recorded crime patterns rather than a complete picture. However, because underreporting affects all areas to some degree, relative comparisons between areas remain valid and useful.

Safest Cities vs Safest Towns

There is a significant gap between the safety profiles of large cities and smaller towns. Across our dataset, the average crime rate for cities with over 200,000 residents is 69.8 per 1,000, compared to 54.2 per 1,000 for smaller towns. That said, several cities perform remarkably well, often thanks to strong community policing and lower levels of deprivation.

Safest Large Cities (200,000+ population)

York

Yorkshire and The Humber · Pop. 211k

47.2/ 1k

Edinburgh

Scotland · Pop. 528k

49.3/ 1k

Bristol

South West · Pop. 472k

59.7/ 1k

Swansea

Wales · Pop. 247k

62.1/ 1k

Cardiff

Wales · Pop. 369k

62.8/ 1k

Plymouth

South West · Pop. 264k

63.4/ 1k

Glasgow

Scotland · Pop. 636k

63.9/ 1k

Brighton

South East · Pop. 291k

64.5/ 1k

Leicester

East Midlands · Pop. 369k

65.2/ 1k

Southampton

South East · Pop. 253k

66.1/ 1k

Safest Smaller Towns (under 200,000)

Harrogate

Yorkshire and The Humber · Pop. 75k

38.2/ 1k

Winchester

South East · Pop. 45k

40.1/ 1k

Bath

South West · Pop. 95k

42.7/ 1k

Cheltenham

South West · Pop. 119k

44.3/ 1k

Salisbury

South West · Pop. 46k

45.1/ 1k

Lancaster

North West · Pop. 52k

46.8/ 1k

Cambridge

East of England · Pop. 146k

48.9/ 1k

Oxford

South East · Pop. 162k

50.1/ 1k

Canterbury

South East · Pop. 164k

51.4/ 1k

Exeter

South West · Pop. 130k

52.3/ 1k

Key Observations

●Harrogate tops the overall list with just 38.2 crimes per 1,000 residents. Its affluent demographic, strong community policing, and low deprivation levels all contribute to its consistently low crime rate.
●Winchester is the safest city with a rate of 40.1 per 1,000, making it comparable to much smaller towns. Its compact size and cathedral city character help keep crime well below the city average.
●Edinburgh outperforms most English cities at 49.3 per 1,000, ranking 9th overall despite being a major capital city with over 500,000 residents. Scotland's distinct policing approach through Police Scotland appears to contribute.
●The South West dominates the top 10, with Bath, Cheltenham, Salisbury, and Exeter all featuring. The region consistently records lower crime rates than the national average.
●Crime trends matter. Glasgow ranks 26th overall but has a "falling" crime trend, meaning it is actively improving. Conversely, some towns with lower absolute rates have "rising" trends worth watching.

Tips for Researching Area Safety

Crime statistics are a useful starting point, but the safest-feeling areas are not always the ones with the lowest numbers on paper. Here are practical steps to properly assess safety before committing to a move:

1. Check Street-Level Crime Maps

Crime rates can vary dramatically within the same town. A city centre postcode might have three times the crime rate of a suburb just two miles away. Use our postcode checker to see crime data for specific streets, not just town-wide averages. Police.uk also provides a free interactive crime map where you can explore individual streets.

2. Visit at Different Times

Walk around the area during the day and after dark. Visit on a weekday and at the weekend. Some areas feel completely different on a Friday night compared to a Tuesday morning. Pay attention to street lighting, the condition of public spaces, and whether people seem comfortable walking around. Talk to locals at shops, cafes, or community centres; they will give you honest insights that no dataset can capture.

3. Look Beyond Crime Categories

A high total crime count does not always mean an area is dangerous to live in. Anti-social behaviour, shoplifting, and vehicle crime inflate totals but have very different implications for personal safety compared to violent crime or robbery. When reviewing data, focus on violence against the person, burglary, and robbery figures rather than the headline total. Our area reports break crime down by category so you can see exactly what types of offences are recorded.

4. Check Crime Trends, Not Just Snapshots

An area with a slightly higher crime rate but a falling trend may be a better long-term bet than one with a lower rate that is creeping upward. Regeneration areas in particular often start with higher crime but improve rapidly over 3-5 years. Our rankings include trend data for this reason. New housing developments, improved transport links, and investment in community facilities are all positive indicators.

5. Consider the Wider Liveability Picture

Safety is one piece of the puzzle. The best places to live combine low crime with good schools, reliable transport, affordable housing, access to green space, and strong community networks. An area that scores highly for safety but poorly for everything else might not be the right fit. Use our full area reports to weigh up all the factors together. Enter any UK postcode on our homepage to get the complete picture.

6. Use Multiple Data Sources

No single data source tells the full story. Cross-reference crime data with the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD), which measures poverty, education, and health outcomes in an area. Areas that rank well on both crime and IMD tend to have stronger, more resilient communities. Our area reports include IMD data alongside crime figures for exactly this reason.

Safety by Region: Where Does the UK Perform Best?

Regional differences in crime are significant. The South West and South East consistently record lower crime rates, while parts of the North and West Midlands tend to sit above the national average. However, every region has both safe and higher-crime areas, so it is always worth checking specific towns rather than assuming a whole region is safe or unsafe.

South West

55.8/ 1k avg

Bath, Cheltenham, Salisbury, Exeter

Consistently the safest region overall

South East

58.2/ 1k avg

Winchester, Canterbury, Reading

Strong performance despite high population

East of England

57.4/ 1k avg

Cambridge, Norwich, Colchester

Low crime with good transport links

Scotland

59.6/ 1k avg

Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee

Edinburgh stands out as exceptionally safe for its size

Yorkshire and The Humber

68.2/ 1k avg

Harrogate, York, Leeds

Huge variation; Harrogate is UK's safest, but larger cities score lower

North West

67.5/ 1k avg

Lancaster, Chester, Carlisle

Smaller towns are very safe; cities bring the average up

Wales

62.5/ 1k avg

Cardiff, Swansea

Below-average crime rates across most areas

East Midlands

68.3/ 1k avg

Lincoln, Leicester, Derby

Mixed; Lincoln performs well, Nottingham less so

West Midlands

74.1/ 1k avg

Coventry, Wolverhampton, Stoke-on-Trent

Higher than average; Birmingham pulls the region up

North East

75.8/ 1k avg

Newcastle, Sunderland

Above average, though crime has been falling in several areas

London

93.4/ 1k avg

London (overall)

Highest crime rate but enormous variation by borough

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Frequently Asked Questions

How are safety scores calculated?

Safety scores are calculated on a 0-100 scale using crime data from Police.uk. The primary factor is the total crime rate per 1,000 residents, which accounts for 70% of the score. The remaining 30% comes from crime trend direction (falling, stable, or rising) and the severity mix of crime types. Anti-social behaviour and violent crime are weighted more heavily than low-level offences.

What is a good crime rate per 1,000 population?

The national average crime rate across England and Wales is approximately 75 crimes per 1,000 residents per year. Anything below 50 per 1,000 is considered very low, and areas below 60 per 1,000 are generally regarded as safe. For context, the safest towns in the UK have rates around 38-45 per 1,000, while the highest-crime cities can exceed 90 per 1,000.

Is the countryside always safer than cities?

Not necessarily. While rural areas typically have lower crime rates overall, they can have higher rates of certain crime types like rural theft, agricultural crime, and burglary of isolated properties. Additionally, rural areas often have longer police response times. Smaller towns and market towns tend to offer the best balance of low crime rates with good police coverage and community safety.

How often is the crime data updated?

Police.uk publishes crime data monthly, typically with a two-month delay. For example, January crime figures usually become available in March. Our safety scores are recalculated each time new data is published, so rankings may shift slightly from month to month. We also track 12-month rolling trends to smooth out seasonal variations.

Do these rankings account for unreported crime?

No. These rankings use reported crime data from Police.uk, which only captures offences that are recorded by police forces. The Crime Survey for England and Wales estimates that roughly 40% of crime goes unreported. However, reported crime data remains the most consistent and comparable measure across different areas, making it the most reliable basis for area-to-area comparisons.

Should I choose where to live based on crime data alone?

Crime data is important but should be one of several factors in your decision. Quality of schools, transport links, property prices, local amenities, employment opportunities, and community feel all matter. Use our full area reports (enter any postcode on PostcodeCheck) to see the complete picture, including broadband speeds, flood risk, energy efficiency, and more.

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