United Kingdom
About United Kingdom
| Currency | Pound sterling (GBP) |
| Language | English |
| Capital | London |
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) is located off the northwestern coast of Europe, northwest of France, and is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the Irish Sea, and the English Channel. The UK is made up of England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and many smaller islands. The population is approximately 63 million people. Although the official language is English, other regional languages are recognised including Scots, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Irish, and Cornish.
The government is a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy. The chief of state is Queen Elizabeth II, and the monarchy is hereditary. The head of government is a prime minister.
The UK was the world’s first industrialized nation. During the 19th century, the British empire was at its peak and would have covered about one-fourth of the world. Two world wars and the withdrawal of the Irish Republic diminished the country’s strength and helped bring about the end of the empire. After World War II, Britain had to recover and redefine its role in the world. Today the UK has the world’s sixth largest economy with significant political, economic, and military power, and widespread cultural influence.
Recommended Vaccinations For United Kingdom
For Most Travellers
Hepatitis A Vaccine
There is a low risk of exposure to hepatitis A for this country, however, the vaccination is recommended.
Hepatitis B Vaccine
There is a low risk of infection with hepatitis B for this country, however, the vaccination is recommended.
For Some Travellers
Tick-Borne Encephalitis Vaccine
Vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis is recommended if travelling where contact with ticks might occur (camping, hiking, outdoor activities) during early spring to late autumn.
Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccine
A dose of Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is recommended for infants aged 6 to 11 months.
Polio Vaccine
NathNAC recommends that all travellers complete a polio vaccination course according to the UK schedule or their national programme.
Rabies Vaccine
Vaccination against rabies is recommended for travellers whose activities or employment may bring them into direct contact with wild animals or bats (i.e. adventure travellers, veterinarians, wildlife professionals, researchers, etc.).
Recommended Medications For United Kingdom
There are no recommendations for United Kingdom at this time.
Diseases To Be Aware of for United Kingdom
For Most Travellers
Hepatitis A
There is a low risk of exposure to hepatitis A for this country.
Hepatitis B
There is a low risk of infection with hepatitis B for this country.
For Some Travellers
Measles
A dose of Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is recommended for infants aged 6 to 11 months.
Tuberculosis
Travellers to this country are at risk for tuberculosis if visiting sick friends or family, working in the healthcare field, or having close prolonged contact with an infected person.
Hanta Virus
There is a risk of acquiring Hantavirus in this country through the consumption of food and water contaminated by an infected rodent or through rodent bites.
Tick-Borne Encephalitis
There is a risk of Tick-Borne Enccephalitis in some areas of this country. The transmission season varies, however, ticks are most active during early spring to late autumn.
Polio
The United Kingdom reported circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) detected in environmental (sewage) samples in London in May 2022. All travellers should take care with personal and food hygeine.
Rabies
Rabies has not been reported in the United Kingdom and is considered a low risk for travellers, However, it may occur in bats.
Safety & Security in United Kingdom
Personal Safety
The UK maintains a crime rate of 72 per 1,000 people as of August 2025, with England and Wales specifically recording 89.7 crimes per 1,000 people in 2023/24. You face higher risk in urban centres, particularly London, Westminster, and other major cities. Police recorded approximately 2.01 million violent crimes in England and Wales in 2023/24, though this represents a decrease from previous years. Pickpocketing and phone snatching remain prevalent in tourist areas and transport hubs, with Westminster recording over 60,000 incidents in a recent 12 month period. Theft accounts for the majority of property crime. Around 7.8% of people aged 16 and over experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2025. Emergency units treated an estimated 145,271 people for violence-related injuries in the year ending December 2024, though this figure is 31% lower than a decade earlier. Knife crime presents a genuine concern, with around 53,000 knife-enabled offences recorded in the year ending March 2025. London reported approximately 15,000 knife offences in 2023/24. The overall charge rate for crimes stands at just 6.4%, meaning the vast majority of reported crimes do not result in prosecution. Fraud and computer misuse continue to rise, with fraud increasing 7% and computer misuse rising 53% in 2023/24.
Extreme Violence
The UK experienced significant civil disorder in summer 2024 following a mass stabbing in Southport on 29 July that killed three young girls. The riots, fuelled by false claims and far-right groups, represented the largest incident of social unrest in England since 2011. Over 1,840 people were arrested with 1,103 charges as of July 2025, and more than 300 police officers were injured. The disorder included racist attacks, arson, and looting across multiple cities. Additional anti-immigration protests and riots have continued into 2025, with over 150 arrests and at least 40 police officers injured in protests focused on hotels housing asylum seekers. Knife homicides reached 262 in 2023/24, with sharp instruments used in 41% of all homicides in England and Wales during 2022/23. Government figures show nearly 50,000 serious knife offences were recorded between July 2023 and June 2024. London has the highest rate of serious knife crimes at 17.89 offences per 10,000 people. Young people remain disproportionately affected, with 57 persons under age 25 murdered with a knife or sharp object in 2024. Terrorism-related arrests occur periodically, though the UK has not experienced a major terrorist attack since 2017. Serious youth violence has become endemic in certain communities, with a 2023 survey finding 25% of nearly 8,000 children across England and Wales had either perpetrated or been victims of violence.
Political Unrest
The UK experiences regular protests and demonstrations, particularly in London. Between June 2022 and March 2024, police imposed conditions on 434 processions under public order powers, with 95% related to environmental themes and 4% inspired by international events. The summer 2024 riots marked the most significant civil disorder since 2011, with violent demonstrations significantly exceeding totals from 2020 and 2021. Large-scale disorder occurred across the UK between 30 July and 7 August 2024, with attacks on mosques and asylum accommodation. Anti-immigration protests have continued into 2025, with demonstrations and counter-protests occurring in multiple cities including Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle. Social media platforms play a central role in coordinating protests, with Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram used extensively. Pro-Palestine and pro-Israel demonstrations have occurred regularly since October 2023, with police recording 817 racially or religiously aggravated harassment offences in October 2023 alone, the highest monthly total ever recorded. Environmental protests, particularly by groups like Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion, remain frequent despite increased police powers introduced in 2022 and 2024. The government has been accused of criminalising climate protests, with UN special rapporteurs expressing concerns. Farmers staged mass protests in November 2024 and into 2025 against inheritance tax changes. Most protests remain peaceful, though police maintain significant presence at larger demonstrations.
Areas To Avoid
Westminster in London records the highest crime rate at 432 crimes per 1,000 people, though this figure is inflated by massive tourist footfall. Camden follows with approximately 195 crimes per 1,000 people, while Hackney records around 126 per 1,000. Other high-crime London boroughs include Kensington and Chelsea, Southwark, Lambeth, Tower Hamlets, Newham, Haringey, and Islington. Outside London, cities with elevated crime rates include Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Bradford, Coventry, Sheffield, Bristol, Leicester, and Nottingham. In Manchester, areas like Moss Side, Cheetham Hill, Longsight, and Salford experience higher crime levels. Blackpool has the highest violent crime rate among UK cities at 161.5 per 1,000 residents. Cleveland, particularly Middlesbrough, reports high rates of robbery and drug-related offences. Within London, specific neighbourhoods warrant extra caution including parts of Tottenham, Peckham, Elephant and Castle, Brixton, and certain areas of Hackney like Dalston and Shoreditch. Knife crime hotspots include London, Birmingham, Manchester, and the West Midlands, with West Midlands Police recording the highest rate at 178 offences per 100,000 population. Richmond upon Thames is generally considered the safest London borough with around 72 crimes per 1,000 residents. Rural areas and smaller towns typically experience significantly lower crime rates.
