Unveiling the 10 Most Dangerous Areas in England 

Whether you’re a native of England or someone planning a trip to this beautiful European country, it’s important to know your surroundings. There are areas in the country, an otherwise pleasant and beautiful place, where you might need to take some extra care. In the grand scheme of the most dangerous places in the world, England doesn’t come close to making the cut. That said, the most dangerous areas in England aren’t places where you should mess around.

The metric we’ll use to determine what the most dangerous areas in England are is within the nation’s police force area data tables. These tables, among other things, indicate the number of violent crimes reported throughout the year. The 10 locations below are the ones that contain the highest number of reported violent crimes, without specifying how that number relates to their population. Because of the way this data is collected, the crimes are broken down by geographic area as opposed to specific cities.

Of course, take the placement of these areas with a grain of salt. Just because you’re visiting one of the listed places doesn’t mean something bad is guaranteed to come your way, and just because you’re avoiding these select few doesn’t mean you’re immune to trouble on your trip. Always be aware and cautious, but always keep an open mind, too. That said, let’s begin our dive into the most dangerous areas in England.

10. Northumbria

The first place we’ll discuss, as well as the last on our list, is Northumbria. This area experienced 52,859 violent crimes in 2022 and encompasses the area between Tees and Tweed in Northeast England. Northumberland is home to the counties of Northumberland and Durham, which both house their fair share of historic properties and beautiful architecture. Bamburgh Castle is one such example, the gorgeous facility built in the 11th century. Yet, despite the area’s beauty, crime persists. There was a dip in crime when compared to 2020, but when compared to 2021, things have picked up quite a bit.

9. Thames Valley

Thames Valley is an ill-defined region of South East England, oriented around the River Thames. This is the next in our list of the most dangerous areas in England, as Thames Valley experienced 68,030 violent crimes in 2022. One can safely assume that the bulk of this crime took place in the city of Oxford, as it is the majorly populated area in the region. Oxford is a non-metropolitan area, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of tourists in the area at nearly all times. The rest of Thames Valley is, as the name suggests, comprised of nature. That is why while it is one of the most dangerous, it is fairly low on this list.

8. Essex

Next on our list is Essex, a county that’s located in Eastern England. In 2022, Essex faced 68,461 instances of violent crime. This area is both historic and rather large, with a population that exceeds a million people. With that in perspective, the severity of the number of violent crimes is minimized.

For some time, Essex was looked down upon by others in England. The area has its fair share of stereotypes, the most common being that of the ‘Essex Girl.’ This term was used as a pejorative against women of the area for some time, calling them promiscuous and otherwise unintelligent. This resulted in a public boycott of the paper The People when Prince William began allegedly dating a woman from Essex in 2004.

7. Merseyside

Merseyside is both a metropolitan and ceremonial county, and it’s located in the North West of England. This county is settled on the river Mersey, hence its name, but it is most notable for the city of Liverpool. Merseyside experienced 68,939 violent crimes in 2022, and it is fair to assume the majority of these took place within the confines of Liverpool. In fact, until the Industrial Revolution, the area of Merseyside was mainly rural. Because of Liverpool’s establishment as a major port, their position enabled them to expand. As in most major cities, it’s important to ere on the side of caution, but this certainly isn’t the most dangerous city in England.

6. Hampshire

There are many things that the county of Hampshire is known for. Whether that be the popular series “Downton Abbey,” or the home and resting place of author Jane Austen, violent crime is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the county’s name. Despite this, the county experienced 73,829 violent crimes in 2022, making it sixth on our list. This county is non-metropolitan and is home to the city of Winchester, the county’s administrative headquarters.

5. Kent

Now that we’re halfway through our list, it’s time to discuss Kent. With 76,927 violent crimes in 2022, this ceremonial county is geographically closest to continental Europe. Despite this crime rate, the county is actually considered one of the best areas to live in the nation. It is deeply historic, housing the city of Canterbury. In Canterbury lies the Canterbury Cathedral and the underground Canterbury Roman Museum. There is much to discover in Kent, and many regard it as a place that is certainly worth visiting.

4. West Yorkshire

Unsurprisingly bordering both North Yorkshire and South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire is a ceremonial county that is known for its historic architecture and gorgeous country landscape. However, it is unfortunately also known for its alarming crime rate. There were 132,689 violent crimes reported in the area in 2022, and violent crime makes up 41.4% of all crimes in the county. In comparison to the national crime rate, the area sits at a baffling 172%.

3. Greater Manchester

Located in the North West of England, Greater Manchester is a ceremonial county that houses, you guessed it, the city of Manchester. Rooted in industry, the county has a population of over 2.4 million residents. That’s why, while it is still high, the 141,100 violent crimes that took place there in 2022 are far from outlandish. With such a robust population, tragedies are bound to occur.

2. West Midlands

The West Midlands are a landlocked, ceremonial county, and they have secured their place on our list as the second most dangerous city in England. With 152,245 violent crimes taking place in 2022, it is interesting to note where these crimes were located. West Midlands is home to the city of Birmingham, and interestingly, the general crime rate in Birmingham is substantially larger than that of the West Midlands as a whole. A social city, frequent partiers, and heavy drinkers may contribute to this number.

1. London

Last on our list, but absolutely not least, is London. Let’s face it- the bigger the city, the more opportunity for some foul play. The greater London area is, of course, home to many established, upscale, and safe places. Despite this, there are always going to be some bad apples in such a large harvest. There are certain areas in and around London that are a bit seedy, to say the least, and this is why the number of violent crimes there reached 240,924 in 2022. London is popular for good reason, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still be careful.

Summary of the 10 Most Dangerous Areas in England

Don’t Let This Deter You

With all of this talk about the most dangerous areas in England, you might be feeling a bit hesitant to even visit. Despite those anxieties, a visit to England is likely to be nothing other than a positive experience. If anything, despite crime levels, the nation is actively getting safer. Compared to England’s pre-pandemic state in 2020, there was a 16% decrease in homicides, along with a 17% decrease in robbery offenses.

Basically, don’t cancel your upcoming holiday just because your destination found its way onto this list. It’s a general rule of thumb that more populated areas will experience more crime because there’s simply a greater population density. As long as you remain careful and keep your eyes peeled, there’s no reason not to make the most of your upcoming journey into the UK.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Mistervlad/Shutterstock.com