Safest Student Areas in the UK: I Used Police Data, Not Vibes

Everyone has opinions about which areas are "safe" or "dodgy."

I prefer data.

Using the UK Police API, I analyzed crime statistics for 1,300 student properties across the country. Here's what I found.

Methodology

For each property in our database, I pulled crime data from the UK Police API within a 1-mile radius. I then:

• Counted total crimes in the last 12 months
• Broke down by category (burglary, violence, antisocial behaviour)
• Calculated year-on-year trends
• Compared similar areas

Important note: Scotland isn't included because Police Scotland uses a different system. Scottish properties are marked separately.

The Safest Cities for Students

Based on average crime density around student properties:

| Rank | City | Avg Crimes (12 months) | Verdict | |------|------|------------------------|---------| | 1 | Exeter | ~50 | Very safe | | 2 | Bath | ~65 | Very safe | | 3 | York | ~75 | Very safe | | 4 | Cambridge | ~85 | Safe | | 5 | Durham | ~90 | Safe | | 6 | Lancaster | ~95 | Safe | | 7 | Norwich | ~100 | Safe | | 8 | Plymouth | ~105 | Reasonable | | 9 | Southampton | ~110 | Reasonable | | 10 | Sheffield | ~120 | Reasonable |

The Riskier Cities

These aren't "dangerous" - they're cities. But crime rates are higher:

| Rank | City | Avg Crimes (12 months) | Reality Check | |------|------|------------------------|---------------| | 1 | London | 500+ | City centre density | | 2 | Manchester | 300+ | City living | | 3 | Birmingham | 250+ | Large city | | 4 | Liverpool | 200+ | Varies by area | | 5 | Bristol | 180+ | City centre high |

Important context: Higher crime numbers often correlate with:

• City centre locations (more people = more incidents)
• Nightlife areas (alcohol-related incidents)
• Population density generally

This doesn't mean YOU will be a victim. It means more stuff happens.

Crime Types: What Actually Matters

Not all crime is equal for student safety. Here's the breakdown:

High Concern

• Burglary: Student areas are targets. Lots of laptops, phones, bikes.
• Robbery: Rare but serious. Usually occurs at night.
• Violence: Some related to nightlife, some random.

Lower Concern (But Still Annoying)

• Antisocial behaviour: Noise, littering, minor stuff.
• Criminal damage: Vandalism.
• Drugs: Usually possession, not dealing near student housing.

Area-by-Area Breakdown

London: The Full Picture

London varies MASSIVELY by area:

| Area | Crime Level | Notes | |------|-------------|-------| | Zone 1 | Very high | Dense, tourists, nightlife | | Stratford | High | Busy, but improving | | Wembley | Moderate | Residential, reasonable | | Lewisham | Moderate | Improving rapidly | | Hampstead | Low | Posh, pricy, safe |

The pattern: Central = more crime. Outer zones = less crime, longer commute.

Manchester

| Area | Crime Level | Notes | |------|-------------|-------| | City Centre | High | Expected for a city centre | | Fallowfield | Moderate | Student area, some burglary | | Rusholme | Moderate | Mixed residential | | Didsbury | Low | Residential, nicer |

Birmingham

| Area | Crime Level | Notes | |------|-------------|-------| | City Centre | High | Dense city centre | | Selly Oak | Moderate-High | Student area, burglary target | | Edgbaston | Moderate | Mixed |

How to Use This Information

1. Don't Panic About Numbers

A "500 crimes in 12 months" sounds scary. But that's for an entire area, covering thousands of people. Your personal risk is much lower.

2. Focus on Prevention

Most student crime is preventable:

• Lock your door (seriously, many don't)
• Don't flash expensive gear
• Be aware at night
• Secure your bike properly
• Get contents insurance

3. Check Your Specific Property

We include safety scores for every property based on crime data for that exact location. Check the property page.

4. Consider the Trade-offs

Safer areas often mean:

• Further from city centre
• Less nightlife nearby
• Possibly boring
• Lower rent (often)

Riskier areas often mean:

• Central location
• Better social scene
• More convenient
• Higher rent

Year-on-Year Trends

Some interesting patterns from the data:

Crime Decreasing

• Many Manchester areas (surprisingly)
• Sheffield student areas
• Parts of Leeds

Crime Stable

• Most university cities
• Mid-sized towns

Crime Increasing

• Some Bristol areas
• Parts of London (zone 1)

My Bottom Line

Safety is personal. Some people want the safest possible area. Others prioritize location and accept moderate risk.

Here's my framework:

Prioritize safety if:

• You're anxious about these things
• You have expensive equipment
• You want to walk home late worry-free
• Peace of mind matters more than convenience

Accept moderate risk if:

• You take basic precautions
• You want central living
• You understand cities have crime
• You're street-smart

For most students, "moderate" crime areas are fine with basic precautions. The horror stories you hear are outliers, not the norm.

Check safety scores on any property →

Based on UK Police API data, December 2025. Scotland not included.