Birmingham (England) stay safe · Birmingham (England) travel safety advice
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Birmingham (England) travel safety advice
Birmingham (England) travel safety advice
As with the rest of the UK, in any emergency call 999 or 112 (from a landline if you can) and ask for ambulance, fire or police when connected.
In general, Birmingham is a safe city. However, like most large cities, there are some good and bad areas. Certain suburbs (see below) have had their share of gun crime problems, but these are extremely unlikely to affect you unless you make yourself part of the larger drug gang problem. Avoid any offers of cheap drugs as you might be lured into a secluded place and then robbed.
Muggers in Birmingham tend to operate in groups of two or three, typically one will ask you a question (to judge whether you are local or likely to hit back) while the others move in behind you so they can force you to the ground. If you find this happening to you, then move to the side, so you have a clear escape path and cannot be grabbed from the rear.
The city centre is well-policed. The only trouble you might witness is a small scuffle on the Broad Street nightlife quarter as the nightclubs turn out in the early hours of the morning. However, take care at either end of Broad Street where the traffic flow speeds up.
It is advisable to stay away from the city centre when football matches between the city's two professional teams occur. Aston Villa and Birmingham City have a violent and raw hatred for each other, and violent clashes between supporters of both teams are a common occurence on match days. On other days, when the teams are playing at home against other teams, it is a little less unlikely for major violence to occur in the city centre, but you may encounter pubs full of chanting football supporters, and this may be intimidating for tourists.
As usual, common sense will keep you safe, avoid walking alone in deserted or poorly-lit areas, especially at night, keep your wits about you at cash machines, and do not get into unmarked taxis. The only higher crime-rate areas that tourists might want to visit are Aston and Sparkbrook: even these are fairly safe during daylight. Canal towpaths at night, if relatively near a road access point, can also be hazardous.
Every Friday and Saturday night, unofficial motor-races take place around the city centre ring-road (Queensway). Be aware of the danger that it presents to other road users.
Birmingham, like many other large cities, has relatively high incidences of STDs compared to the rest of the UK. Having unprotected sex is asking for trouble.
Avoid people in New Street, near the junction with Ethel Street, who offer you a free "stress test" as they are trying to recruit you into the Church of Scientology.
City Hospital (A&E), Dudley Rd (#80, #82 or #87 bus), +44 121 554 3801. Daily 24 hours.
Steelhouse Lane Police Station, Steelhouse Ln, +44 845 113 5000 ( ). Daily 24 hours.
Selly Oak Hospital (A&E), Raddlebarn Rd, Selly Oak (train to Selly Oak or #61, #62 or #63 bus), +44 121 627 1627. Daily 24 hours.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Birmingham (England)
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Birmingham (England) - updated May 2024
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Birmingham (England) Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.