10 safest London boroughs in 2025

Looking for the safest areas to rent or buy a property in London? Here are the 10 boroughs with the lowest crime rates according to the 2025 data:

Home to several top-performing grammar schools, including Sutton Grammar, the borough is one of London’s greenest, with over 90 parks and open spaces. Sutton Ecology Centre & BedZED – the UK’s first large-scale eco-village, pioneering sustainable living.

• Violence and sexual offences: 20% lower than avg ⬇️
• Theft from person: 74% ⬇️
• Robbery: 59% ⬇️
• National Rail: Sutton station connects to London Victoria, London Bridge, and Blackfriars in around 25–30 minutes.
• Road Access: Close to the A24 and A217, leading to the M25. Easy reach of Surrey countryside while still being well connected to London.

This West London borough is known for its riverside lined with pubs, restaurants, and walking paths, making it one of the most attractive stretches of the Thames. Kingston University brings a youthful, creative energy to the borough.

• Violence and sexual offences: 35% lower than avg ⬇️
• Robbery: 63% ⬇️
• Vehicle crime: 51% ⬇️
• Bicycle theft: 67% more than avg ⬆️
• National Rail: Fast trains from Kingston and Surbiton reach London Waterloo in 20–25 minutes.
• Roads: Well connected via the A3, M3, and M25. Heathrow is around 30 minutes away.

This south-eastern borough is known for its leafy residential streets, strong schools, and relatively affordable housing compared to inner London. Around a quarter of Bexley is open space, with plenty of parks and nature reserves.

• Violence and sexual offences: 19% lower than avg ⬇️
• Theft from the person: 62% ⬇️
• Robbery: 55% ⬇️
• National Rail: Bexleyheath, Sidcup, Welling, Barnehurst, and Albany Park stations provide direct trains to London Bridge, Cannon Street, Charing Cross, and Victoria (journey times around 30–40 minutes).

Offering panoramic views of London, Harrow is one of the most ethnically diverse boroughs in London and has a large South Asian community. It has an excellent state-school network and is also home to Harrow School with alumni including Winston Churchill and Jawaharlal Nehru.

• Violence and sexual offences: 22% lower than avg ⬇️
• Possession of weapons: 43% ⬇️
• Criminal damage and arson: 35% ⬇️
• Tube: Metropolitan line from Harrow-on-the-Hill to Baker Street takes about 20 minutes. North Harrow, West Harrow, and other stations also connect via the Metropolitan line.
• National Rail: Fast trains from Harrow & Wealdstone reach London Euston in just 15 minutes.

Havering is one of the greenest boroughs in London – over half its land is green belt. Including Havering Country Park, Hornchurch Country Park, and Rainham Marshes (RSPB Reserve). Areas like Upminster, Hornchurch, and Rainham have a more “Essex village” character than inner London

• Violence and sexual offences: 14% lower than avg ⬇️
• Theft from person: 47% ⬇️
• Robbery: 29% ⬇️
• Elizabeth Line (Crossrail): Key stations include Romford, Gidea Park, and Harold Wood – fast trains to Liverpool Street (~20–30 minutes) and direct connections to the West End and Heathrow.
• Tube: Upminster is the eastern terminus of the District line.
• National Rail: C2C services from Upminster to Fenchurch Street in about 25 minutes.

Home to Kew Gardens (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Richmond Park (famous for its herds of red and fallow deer). The famous annual Oxford vs Cambridge Boat Race  passes through this borough!

• Violence and sexual offences: 31% lower than avg ⬇️
• Theft from person: 45% ⬇️
• Bicycle theft: 76% more than avg ⬆️
• Tube & Overground: Richmond station (District line and London Overground) connects directly to Central London.

Merton includes the leafy affluence of Wimbledon, the suburban feel of Raynes Park, and the more urban vibe of Mitcham and Colliers Wood. The Wimbledon Championships attract global attention every summer creating a lively atmosphere.

• Violence and sexual offences: 16% lower than avg ⬇️
• Robbery: 38% ⬇️
• Bicycle theft: 5% more than avg ⬆️
• Tube: Wimbledon (District line), South Wimbledon (Northern line), Colliers Wood (Northern line), Morden (Northern line terminus).

Bromley is the biggest of London’s 32 boroughs, with over 50% designated as green belt. Many areas (e.g. Chislehurst, Downe, Keston) feel like traditional Kent villages while still being within Greater London.

• Violence and sexual offences: 16% lower than avg ⬇️
• Theft from person: 46% ⬇️
• Vehicle crime: 10% more than avg ⬆️
• National Rail: Bromley South to London Victoria in around 16 minutes
• Roads: Easy access to the M25, A20, and A21.

London’s 2nd most populous borough is home to over 390,000 people. Several top-performing state and independent schools. It boasts a diverse character: from leafy, village-like Totteridge and Hadley to vibrant areas like Finchley, Golders Green

• Violence and sexual offences: 9% lower than avg ⬇️
• Robbery: 21% ⬇️
• Burglary: 10% more than avg ⬆️
• Tube: Northern line runs through the borough with fast links to Central London

Home to Battersea Park, Wandsworth Common, and a River Thames Path lined with pubs, rowing clubs, and views of Chelsea and Fulham across the river. Excellent riverside cycle routes link into Central London which is probably a reason for the high rate of bicycle thefts.

• Violence and sexual offences: 2% lower than avg ⬇️
• Drugs: 17% ⬇️
• Bicycle theft: 53% more than avg ⬆️
• Tube: Northern line
• National Rail: Clapham Junction (Europe’s busiest rail hub) connects to Waterloo in 10 minutes and Victoria in 7 minutes.

Methodology

• Data source: data.police.uk (British Transport Police, City of London Police, Metropolitan Police Service)
• Each borough is compared to the average crime rate in London (107 crimes per 1000 residents)*
• The formula for the Crime rate per 1000 residents is: 1000 x total number of reported crimes in borough/population of borough.

*We excluded the borough of Westminster due to its low number of residents.