How safe is London? According to Air China, precautions are necessary!

In travel news this week is a controversial topic for you to weigh in on. According to BBC News, Air China’s inflight magazine has stated that precautions should be taken, when visiting areas in London, mainly populated by 'Indians, Pakistanis and black people’.

The magazine article also suggested tourists shouldn’t go out at night and that females need to be always accompanied when travelling. Apparently, a London MP has written to the Chinese ambassador to the UK, for an apology.

But this isn’t the first time safety advice has been issued, with regard to foreigners travelling to many top holiday destination. In 2014, the Daily Mirror reported that the UAE published a map outlining areas to avoid, following attacks on UAE nationals in London. The areas included Piccadilly, Oxford Circus, Soho, Queensway and Sheperd’s Bush. We have also published a list of London's top tube stations for pickpockets.

What’s our opinion on safety in London? By international standards, the UK is a safe country, with comparatively low levels of violence and street crime. In 2015, it ranked in the top 20 safest cities in the world, according to the Economists Safe Index.

As regular travellers though, we know that it pays to look out for yourself, especially at night, whether you’re in London, Sydney, Madrid, Dubai or on a cruise ship for that matter! Following these tips, you can enjoy the world’s top nightlife spots, with significantly reduced risk.

• Safe Travel Tips for Big Cities at Night
• Travel with friends or in a group, if you’re going to be out late at night
• Check out the local transport system, so you know how to get home without having to walk through areas you’re not familiar with
• Save local taxi numbers in your phone
• Stick to well-lit, busy streets when you’re heading to and leaving your destination
• Keep your valuables out of sight or, better still, don’t wear them travelling
• Don’t leave drinks unattended in bars and clubs
• Don’t accept drinks from strangers
• Avoid using ATM machines at night or in quiet/poorly lit areas
• Don’t leave your bags unattended
• Ensure you know the local emergency numbers

The bottom line is, these are simple rules that apply to any and all night time travel, whether you’re in your home town or an exotic country. There’s no reason you shouldn’t enjoy the fabulous nightlife opportunities on offer across the globe, with a little bit of good, old-fashioned common sense.