14 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in London
- Westminster
- Kensington and Chelsea
- Camden
- Hackney
- Haringey
- Islington
- Peckham
- Hammersmith and Fulham
- Brixton
- Tottenham
- Tower Hamlets
- Harlesden
- Newham
- Croyden
1. Westminster
The most dangerous neighborhood in London is Westminster. Home of Buckingham Palace, Westminster is one of London's most visited districts with countless attractions. However, many careless tourists have found themselves in theft and pickpocketing. With a population of 227,609, Westminster's crime rate is 260% higher than the UK average. Property crime is a major concern in Westminster, with theft, robbery, burglary, and car theft being common. Other crimes such as assault and drug use are common as well.
2. Kensington and Chelsea
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is the smallest and most densely populated neighborhood in London. With a population of 156,197, Kensington and Chelsea has a crime rate that is 40% higher than the London average. The area is often associated with theft, burglary, and drug activity. Violent crimes such as stabbings, homicide, and assault have been reported as well.
3. Camden
Part of the larger Middlesex area, Camden is a major shopping and retail destination for visitors. With a population of 24,538, Camden's crime rate is 39% higher than the London average. Theft is a major problem in Camden with the area having the highest rate of bicycle theft in London. Common criminal incidents in Camden include assaults, stabbings, robberies, and various types of theft.
4. Hackney
Hackney is a district located in East London that includes part of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The population of Hackney is 279,665, with a crime rate that is 30% higher than the national crime rate. Hackney has one of the worst theft rates in London, with both vehicle and bicycle theft being common. Violent crimes such as assault and robbery are common as well.
5. Haringey
Haringey is a borough in North London that is ranked as being one of the poorest areas in the city. The city has a population of 264,130 and a crime rate that is 27% higher than the national UK crime rate. Violent crime is a major issue in the area, with assaults, homicides, weapons possessions, and robberies being common. Haringey also has one of the worst burglary rates in London.
6. Islington
Due to its classic London character, Islington has been the subject matter of many famous English novels such as Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist. This north London borough has a crime rate that is 23% higher than the London average. Islington has a high violent crime rate, with robbery and assault being common. Drug use, car theft, bicycle theft, and pickpocketing are common as well.
7. Peckham
Peckham is a residential district located in south-east London. With a population of 14,500, Peckham has a crime rate that is 14% above the London average. Both violent and property crime are problems in Peckham, with many parts of the area suffering from neglect. Assaults, drug use, stabbings, and robberies occur at disproportionately high rates in Peckham.
8. Hammersmith and Fulham
Hammersmith and Fulham is a borough in west London that is known for having three professional football clubs within its borders. The crime rate in Hammersmith and Fulham is 106 crimes per 100,000 people, which is 13% higher than the London average. Property crime accounts for the majority of incidents, with theft, burglary, and larceny being common.
9. Brixton
Brixton is a district in South London that is known for its Afro-Caribbean culture. With a population of 78,536, Brixton has a crime rate that is 10% above the London average. Brixton is a rapidly gentrifying area, with theft and burglary being the most common types of crime. Most crime in Brixton occurs in concentrated areas that haven't yet been renovated.
10. Tottenham
Tottenham is a large borough located in northern London with a population of 129,237. This working-class neighborhood has a crime rate that is 8% above the London average. The majority of crime in Tottenham involves theft and property crime, with smaller incidents of assault and robbery. By taking precautions such as securing personal items, Tottenham is far from being the most dangerous neighborhood in London.
11. Tower Hamlets
Home of the mighty Tower Bridge, Tower Hamlets is a large borough and tourist center in east London. Tower Hamlets has a crime rate of 100 crimes per 100,000 people, which is 6% higher than the London average. Much of the crime in Tower Hamlets involves theft, with drug trafficking being common in the area. Violent crimes, assault, and weapons possession charges are common as well.
12. Harlesden
Harlesden is a neighborhood in northwestern London that is known for its immigrant population and for being the unofficial reggae capital of London. Harlesden has a population of 17,162 and a crime rate that is 5% above the London average. Harlesden is a working-class neighborhood with most crimes involving theft, burglary, and assault.
13. Newham
Newham is a neighborhood in East London known for its Medieval history and for being the site of the 2012 Summer Olympics. Newham has 99 crimes per 100,000 people, which is 4.5% higher than the London average. Property theft, including car and bicycle theft, are common in the area. Common sense precautions should be taken when visiting the area to avoid pickpocketing and theft.
14. Croydon
Croydon is an area in South London containing much of the city's service and retail sectors. There are 86 crimes per 100,000 people in Croydon, which is 4.1% higher than the UK's national average. Much of the crime in Croydon revolves around theft and assaults. Knife violence is common with most criminal incidents happening around Lansdowne and Wellesley Road.