Like any sprawling capital city, London has a higher crime rate than other areas of the UK. But don’t let this dampen your spirits, there are still some places in London where you can feel secure…

Whether you want to move to London or to change the location in the city, it’s advisable to swat up on the area, especially about crime statistics. In order to help you to choose the best place to live in London, AZ Locksmith has analysed data from the MET Police’s official crime statistics to find the safest places to live in the city.

There are some London boroughs, you may be surprised to hear, where the crime rate is less than the UK average. Furthermore, these areas are also affordable, so you can save money and feel safe.

The 5 safest places to live in London

1 Richmond
The Borough of Richmond upon Thames in south west London is one of the capital’s most wonderful areas. It was founded as a royal retreat in 1965. The borough is home to the National Physical Laboratory, Hampton Court Palace, Kew Gardens and Twickenham Stadium. The crime rate in Richmond is 54 crimes per 1,000 citizens.

2 Bexley
 The Borough of Bexley in south east London has plenty of green space, including Danson Park and Foots Cray Meadows. It is also the home of the National Trust’s Red House, a Grade I listed Arts & Crafts property built in 1859 for the artist and socialist William Morris. Bexley was also named London’s happiest borough based on what people tweet about in a study produced by data analysts Tekja in January 2016. The crime rate in Bexley is 56 crimes per 1,000 citizens.

3 Kingston upon Thames
The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, also in south west London, is the oldest of the four Royal Boroughs in England. Kingston is home of many restaurants, shops and other attractions, such as a Richmond Park, Coronation Stone, Chessington World of Adventures, Rose Theatre and so forth. The crime rate in Kingston upon Thames is 57 crimes per 1,000 citizens.

4 Sutton
Sutton, in south west London, is considered to be a great place to raise a family. There are a lot of green spaces, like Oaks Park Manor Park, good schools, weekly farmers’ markets, a busy town centre and many other wonderful areas in Sutton. It is also the home of two historic lavender fields. It is noteworthy that Sutton has been named as the most ‘normal place in Britain’. The crime rate in Sutton is 57 crimes per 1,000 citizens.

5 Harrow
Harrow in north west London has various good schools, like Harrow School for boys (which was attended by Sir Winston Churchill). Harrow-on-the-Hill has eight conservation areas, one of which has a high proportion of listed buildings and Georgian architecture. It is also noteworthy that it’s quite affordable. The crime rate in Harrow is 63 crimes per 1,000 citizens.

Want to know more? Click here for a list of the most dangerous London boroughs