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Travelling in London

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  • Written byUAL Communications
  • Published date 27 October 2022
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Keeping safe

London is an exciting city to live and study in and we want all students to feel safe here. It's important to be aware of the risks of travelling in a busy city, especially as the nights draw in and become darker.

Public transport

You can use CityMapper, Google Maps or the TFL journey planner to plan your route in advance via public transport. We recommend that you avoid sitting in empty train carriages if you can, or to sit on the lower deck of the bus if it's very quiet. Try to keep your valuables close to you and out of sight, as it can get busy on London transport. You might prefer to leave important documents such as your passport safe at home.

Taxi

If travelling by taxi, you can use the Transport for London website to find a licensed cab service. A licensed cab should have a registered licence ID number on the back of the vehicle just above the registration number plate.

Bike

If you are travelling by bike, using bike lights and bright or reflective clothing can help others to see you in the dark. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced cyclist, you might benefit from Transport for London cycling lessons. It's recommended to invest in a good bike lock and you might wish to mark and register your bike on BikeRegister or Immobilise. It's recommended to record details of your bike such as the frame number (normally found underneath the bike between the pedals or where the back-wheel slots in), the bike registration number and any other distinguishing features.

We have collaborated with Cycle Confident to offer free bike repairs to students. Bring your bike to The Crossing at CSM on Wednesday 16 November between 2-7pm and an expert will fix your bike and provide advice cycling safely.

Foot

Try to stick to busy routes where there is a lot of activity and good lighting. Some parts of London are poorly lit and may not be the safest route for you to take. We recommend not to text while walking and to look out for bikes and mopeds.

Protecting your phone

To protect your phone, we recommend setting a strong password or using biometric authentication such as Touch ID or Face ID. Most smartphones have features that will track your phone location, such as the ‘Find My’ App on iPhone or ‘Google Find My Device’ for Android. This can be useful if you lose your phone or if you suspect it has been stolen. You might want to register your phone and other electronics with Immobilise so Police can return them to you if they are found. It's also advisable to make a note of your phone's IMEI number - dial *#06# from your phone and keep a written note of the number. If your phone is stolen, call your service provider and quote the number. Your service provider can isolate your phone so no one else can use it.

Reporting a crime

Reporting a crime at UAL

If you have an urgent security concern, report it to the facilities staff at the building reception. Overnight security staff are always available outside the library if you are working there in the evening. Alternatively, you can report any incidents of damage, trespass or crime through the University's Security Incident Reporting Form.

Reporting a crime outside UAL

In the unlikely event that you’re a victim of crime, you can report the incident to Police:

  • In an emergency, always call 999.
  • If you're deaf or hard of hearing, you can use the Police textphone service 18000 or text them on 999 if you’ve pre-registered with the emergencySMS service.
  • If the situation is not an emergency, you can call 101 or report a crime online.
  • You can report a crime to British Transport Police by texting 61016.

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