Living in any city comes with a certain level of risk. The more people live there, the higher the local crime rates are likely to be, but this does not make a city unsafe to live in. London is among the most desirable places to live in the world, even with a population of more than 9 million people. However, whilst for many would-be movers, it's the glamour, culture and heritage of London that appeals to them first, for others, it’s about peace of mind, privacy, and the feel of the neighbourhood beyond the front door.
Drawing on the most recent data from the Metropolitan Police and local authority sources, the city-wide average for offences committed in London as of April 2025 is significantly lower than in previous years. Keeping this in mind, the following boroughs that are included in this list offer the safest residences in the city for the more cautious movers wanting to live a comfortable life in London.
Richmond upon Thames
Retaining its place at the top of the list of the safest borough in London for 2025, Richmond’s allure is deeply rooted. This affluent corner of southwest London offers a near-idyllic blend of riverside living and village-like charm, just a 20-minute train journey from Waterloo Station in the city centre. Residents enjoy one of the city’s most expansive green spaces in the form of Richmond Park, home to herds of deer, beautiful woodlands and panoramic views from King Henry’s Mound.
The borough is ripe with stunning period homes, most typically from the Georgian and Edwardian periods, and particularly around the Richmond Hill area. Local life unfolds at a gentler rhythm compared to other areas of the city, with weekend markets, boutique shopping in the town centre, rowing clubs, and ample space for dog walks. In many respects, Richmond exemplifies what it means to live in a picture-perfect, secure neighbourhood that still feels unmistakably like London.
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Sutton
A name which may be unfamiliar to many newcomers to the capital, but for those who prize security, schooling, and space, Sutton is one of the most secure choices in the city and consistently ranks among the safest boroughs in Greater London. Although on the southern outskirts of the city, Sutton’s appeal lies in its calm suburbs, and the area is far from disconnected. Regular trains reach London Victoria or London Bridge station in around 30 minutes, making it a pragmatic, not to mention safe, choice for commuters.
Residential areas like Cheam and Carshalton Village offer a mix of well-maintained Victorian and Edwardian housing. Sutton has a strong sense of community, with local events taking place in expansive green spaces like Grove Park and Manor Park, and an ever gentrifying high street. The area is reminiscent of what many parts of South London were like to live in as communities before major development and expansion fueled the city’s growth, providing safe and secure areas to live for residents.
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Harrow
Harrow continues to hold its reputation as one of the capital’s safest North London boroughs. What sets the area apart from neighbouring boroughs is that Harrow manages to retain a village-like quality in some parts, whilst in others, the streets are busy with the hustle and bustle of big city energy. Known across the world for its mercurial private school, one of Britain’s most historic independent educational institutions, Harrow harbours a sense of gravitas that's further enforced by the prominent period architecture.
The hilltop surrounding it is particularly scenic, dotted with cobbled streets, Georgian houses, and sweeping views across west London. Away from the more historic areas, locales like Pinner and North Harrow are defined by quiet, leafy green streets, and a housing stock dominated by Edwardian townhouses and interwar period semi-detached properties. Linked to the city centre via the Metropolitan line of the London Underground and fast train services to Marylebone, the area is extremely liveable, especially with so much green space to enjoy, including the likes of Headstone Manor Park and Harrow Recreation Ground.
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Merton
Merton remains one of south-west London’s safest boroughs to live in. The borough strikes a chord between prosperity and modernity, with families, professionals, and retirees all drawn to Merton for its schools, transport links and mixture of calmer streets and neighbourhoods, with bustling village-like areas.
Wimbledon boasts beautiful period properties and a thriving independent community, with cafés, boutiques, and riding stables that lead out onto the famous greens of Wimbledon Common. Areas like Morden and Colliers Wood offer diverse housing stock, while still benefiting from good transport links to Central London. There’s a strong tradition of civic pride in Merton, reflected in well-kept streets and active neighbourhood groups. Whilst certainly busier than other areas on this list, Merton offers a safe and secure option for living in South London, with multiple addresses to choose from.
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Wandsworth
It isn’t hard to see why Wandsworth remains one of the most desirable boroughs to live in near Central London. Thanks to a distinctive mix of riverside living, up-market residences and neighbourhoods, and of course, a much lower crime rate compared to other central areas, Wandsworth is an attractive prospect with the bonus of being that little bit closer to the city centre. The borough stretches from the cobbled streets of Putney and Wandsworth Town through to the highly sought-after family homes of Earlsfield and Southfields, offering an idyllic slice of London living.
One of Wandsworth’s key appeals is the absence of an overarching town centre, eschewed in favour of multiple thriving neighbourhood hubs. Battersea Park and Wandsworth Common provide generous open space, while the Thames Path offers scenic cycling and walking routes through the city centre. Blending Victorian terrace houses with post-modern apartment blocks like those found in Nine Elms, Wandsworth benefits from having one of the lowest council tax rates in London, adding to its appeal for both families and professionals. It’s a borough that thrives thanks to safer streets, affluent neighbourhoods, and its centralised location offering endless possibilities for residents.
