London offers world class nightlife entertainment, including theatre, concerts, nightclubs and comedy venues. Read our tips for enjoying the city’s nightlife safely and accessing support if you need it.
Your evening
Try to plan ahead
- You might want to share with a friend where you are going, who you are going with and when you’re planning to return.
- Read our tips on planning your journey home and using London transport.
- Try to take a fully charged phone with you in case of emergency.
Whilst you’re out
- If you are going out with friends, try to look out for one another and stay together if you can.
- At night, try to stick to busy places where there is a lot of activity and good lighting.
- Pickpockets are rare in London, but may operate in busy areas. Try to keep your bag closed, and don't leave valuables on the back of a chair or by your feet where you can't see them.
- You might prefer to leave important documents (like your passport and BRP card) safe at home.
Drink spiking
- Spiking refers to when a drug or substance has been added to your drink without your knowledge or consent. Spiking can also occur by injection.
- Symptoms of spiking include lowered inhibitions, loss of balance, feeling sleepy, confusion, vomiting or falling unconscious.
- If you suspect that yourself or a friend may have been spiked, get help immediately by telling a friend, venue / security staff or Police.
- If possible, try to prevent the victim from drinking more alcohol, and don’t let them go home alone.
- Spiking will not be tolerated at UAL or elsewhere in our community. We should all be able to go out and get home safely on our own, and know that help is available if we need it. For more information, visit the Arts SU website.
Sexual consent
- At UAL we are committed to promoting a positive consent culture and raising awareness of support both within and outside the University. No one ever deserves to experience any form of sexual violence or harassment and it is never the survivor’s fault.
- This short online training module aims to start a conversation about what sexual consent means and challenge myths surrounding sexual violence. You will learn about consent, consent myths, how to tackle rape culture and where you can find support.
- Brook is a sexual health charity offering free and confidential advice to young people on contraception, STIs, pregnancy, wellbeing and more.
Access support
- Many venues in London now offer the ‘Ask for Angela’ for service. If you feel unsafe, vulnerable or threatened, you can discreetly seek help by approaching venue staff and asking for ‘Angela’. A trained member of staff will then support you by calling a taxi, venue security and/or Police.
- If you or someone you know is in immediate danger on a night out, seek assistance by alerting the venue or security staff as soon as possible.
- In an emergency, always call 999.
- UAL students can speak with someone from our Health Advice team about lifestyle (including alcohol, drugs and smoking), healthy eating, physical wellbeing and sexual health.
- If you would like to speak with a trained counsellor for support, free, one-to-one, confidential counselling is available to all UAL students.
- Students can also use the Tell Someone service to report racism, bullying, harassment or sexual violence and access support.
Source: Information on this page has been sourced from the Metropolitan Police.