Is Peterborough Safe for Travel RIGHT NOW? (2024 Safety Rating)

Safety Index:

* Based on Research & Crime Data

Even though Peterborough is two hours from the nation’s capital, the town is popular with professionals who work there.

Five trains depart the station headed for London every hour.

This cuts down on the travel time by 35 minutes each way.

So, it’s not surprising that Peterborough is considered a commuter city.

Living in this city to the east is also convenient for those who are a fan of the coast.

Heacham South Beach is one of many places to catch the sea with only an hour behind the wheel.

Perhaps these amenities are why 215,000 people call Peterborough home.

The museums, parks, and residential activities make the town feel like the perfect travel destination.

However, it’s important to understand all sides of a place.

Here, we’re going to discuss how safe Peterborough, UK really is.

Warnings & Dangers in Peterborough

OVERALL RISK: LOW

When it comes to crime in Peterborough, visitors should beware. The town's crime rate is 65% higher than any other place on the east coast. It's almost 50% higher than all of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Peterborough is rated as the most dangerous city in all of Cambridgeshire's 262 cities. Unlike other places with high crime, this town has more violent crimes than property crimes. Travelers going through Peterborough should take all precautions and keep valuables locked away.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

Both taxis and public transportation are considered safe options to get around in Peterborough. The trains and buses are very well-connected around the city as well as to other cities, including London. Standards in the transport industry are kept high, which is a big benefit for locals.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM

A few years back, there was an uncomfortable increase in pickpockets within Peterborough borders. Criminal activity had increased in the years prior until it was happening a little too often. Once police put out a warning, and people were taking even more precautions, the pickpocketers backed off a bit. These efforts have helped keep the numbers low, but visitors should always be wary of scams and strangers with unsavory behavior.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW

As far as natural disasters go, Peterborough is pretty lucky. The area is far inland enough that it doesn't catch anything brought in by the North Sea. Even so, the area has been known to flood. Flooding is rare but when it has hit, it comes after a rain deluge, so perhaps it's quite predictable.

MUGGING RISK: HIGH

An ongoing problem to hit Peterborough has been mugging and robbery. Most recently, knives have been trending as the most common weapon used in these attacks. More often than not, a knife is used to threaten but isn't typically used. However, these attacks have involved stabbings. Victims have been grocery shoppers, delivery drivers, and pedestrians. If visiting Peterborough, take extreme caution when out and about. Do not do anything to stand out, especially in regard to shows of wealth. Travel in groups when on foot, if possible.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

There haven't been any acts of terrorism taking place in Peterborough. At most, a young man was arrested for giving out a terrorism-leaning pamphlet. The community is very much against terrorism and the paths that lead there. Citizens are encouraged to call for emergency services if they have any suspicions.

SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM

A scam that has been noted by the local officials has to do with the Household Support Fund. Apparently, someone calls claiming to be from the government agency. Whilst on the phone, they ask for bank account info in order to deposit a sum of money. It should be noted that HSF does not call asking for card details and won't deposit funds on the same day. A scammer will not leave their name or contact info, real employees will.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM

Generally speaking, female solo travelers are safe in Peterborough. Most women who travel alone already take extra precautions. So, the crime rate is something that has been thought of. The incidences of women travelers being attacked are all but non-existent. However, due to the crime rate, it would be important to stay on guard, regardless of preparation.

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

Here's a sentence you probably don't hear every day. The water here is some of the hardest in the country. Aside from the water meeting health standards, there may be benefits to it. Hard water is associated with calcium and magnesium, which can be good for your mineral intake.

Safest Places to Visit in Peterborough

Any place can sound scary when you focus on the dangers.

Now we have an opportunity to talk about the good spots.

Topping off the list is Hampton.

This neighborhood to the south is popular with young professionals.

Part of the draw is activity.

Alive with restaurants and recreation, Hampton is the safest area in Peterborough.

Next on the list is Yaxley.

A village feel, Yaxley is all about community with plenty of children’s activities.

Visitors will find playgrounds, cafés, and family-themed restaurants.

On the east side of Peterborough is Whittlesey.

The town centers around the weekly market.

Here, consumers and business owners alike come to trade for produce.

In addition to a unifying love of fruits in vegetables, Whittlesey is home to a community college.

All three of these areas offer a welcoming environment and almost nonexistent crime rates.

Places to Avoid in Peterborough

There are a few places in Peterborough that you should avoid if possible.

For starters, City Centre, located exactly where you imagine it might, has the highest number of reported crimes.

In one month, over 350 crimes took place in the area.

City Centre is a popular place for shopping and there’s even a happening nightlife.

That kind of attention is clearly attracting unsavory characters.

Despite the abnormally high number in City Centre, the city has an average of 60 crimes a month.

The next place to avoid is Millfield, which had 159 crimes.

A third of those were violent crimes.

Around 30 crimes were property-related.

Rounding out the top three places to avoid in Peterborough is Dogsthorpe.

In the span of 30 days, 101 crimes were committed there.

Once again, violent crimes took the largest percentage of types of criminal behavior.

Just behind are property crimes.

Safety Tips for Traveling to Peterborough

Valuables Stay Home. As you may have gotten the drift, Peterborough can be a dicey place to hang out in. Doing everything you can to avoid any attention should be a priority when in the area. One of the best ways to do that is to leave anything shiny and expensive at home. If you must bring something, leave it in your hotel room and try to avoid wearing it at night.
Stranger Danger. Yes, that is a common phrase to teach children safety. It’s also a good one for adults to remember in Peterborough. With a crime rate revolving around violent crimes, no one can be your friend. Travelers often enjoy connecting with locals. It’s understandable. Avoid doing so at night or in isolated situations. Turn a stranger into a friend during the day and around others. Don’t be led off elsewhere.
Stay Connected. Whether the whole family is in tow or you’re in Peterborough on a solo adventure, stay in touch with someone back home. Make sure someone who cares about you has your location at all times. This should be someone willing to check in if you’ve been silent for a while. They should also be briefed on what to do if they can’t get a hold of you.
Look for Signs. When on public transit, be sure to take notice of the exits and other helpful information. The same can be said when in public buildings. Knowing how to escape if something goes wrong is imperative to your efforts. It can also be good for locating the loo.
Don’t Linger. With so many coming in and out of London on a daily basis, you never know who is getting off the train. If en route, don’t linger once you arrive, especially at night. You don’t know who was watching your movements. Some criminals can tell if you’re from the area or not and might make you a target.
Travel with Security. This goes for anyone traveling solo, but especially women. Even though Peterborough is viewed as safe for women, there’s nothing wrong with being prepared. Have keys in your hand that you can use to defend yourself when walking alone. Other items to pack would be pepper spray or a taser.
Stay Hydrated. Running around can really drain you. To avoid having any complications from being active, bring water wherever you go. Not only will it provide you with comfort, but you can also use it to throw on someone if approached for the wrong reasons.
Keep Doors Locked. Whether it’s in your hotel or car, keep things secure. You never know who is waiting for an opportunity.
Go Paperback. To avoid asking anyone for help, bring a map. Either print one of the areas you plan to go to or purchase a map you can carry around. If you need to take transportation, it will be easy to explain. Plus, who can trust electronic devices to not die before a charger can be used?
Research. Before arrival, use the maps to make a note of any place you plan to go. Don’t forget to mark where the closest hospitals, banks, and convenience stores are.

So... How Safe Is Peterborough Really?

Peterborough can be viewed as typically a safe place to visit.

Taking precautions out in public is the smartest way to go aside from avoiding strangers.

When you take into account things like natural disasters, the possibility of terrorist activity, or the likelihood of being scammed, there really isn’t much to worry about.

What you really need to worry about is getting mugged.

You’d want to be careful, but the crime rate shouldn’t keep you from at least checking out the town in daylight.

How Does Peterborough Compare?

City	Safety Index
Peterborough	70
London	68
Northern Ireland	56
Belfast	56
Edinburgh	70
Scotland	71
Glasgow	55
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)	43
Sofia (Bulgaria)	73
Siem Reap (Cambodia)	63
Phnom Penh (Cambodia)	61
Niagara Falls (Canada)	87
Calgary (Canada)	82

Useful Information

Visas

Where you're from depends on what type of visa is needed to tour Peterborough. Obviously, if you're from England, the city is just a drive away. The same goes for any residents of the United Kingdom. Also, if you're from any country in the European Union, the US, or select Commonwealth countries, you won't need a visa for up to six months. From elsewhere, the Standard Visitor visa is required and lasts for six months. Travelers from a country requiring a visa must apply online and should have an answer within a few weeks.

Currency

In all of England, the standard currency is the pound sterling. Similar to the American Dollar, there are 100 pennies to one pound. If you come with Euros, there are very few places that will accept it. The best place to exchange foreign currency is at the airport or banks.

Weather

Always bring a poncho or umbrella in the likely event of rain. The rain isn't usually solid or hard. What you can expect is sort of a heavy mist. This can happen any time of the year. Aside from rain, the temperatures are pretty mild. It doesn't really freeze or get sweltering. In the winter, there's an average high of 45 °F and a low of 35 °F. Spring warms up a tad to 55 °F, autumn is pretty similar. Summer tops out at around 70 °F.

Airports

The closest airport is Cambridge Airport, 31 miles away. Other domestic airports within 60 miles are London Luton, London Stansted, and Birmingham. If you're looking for a longer flight, London Heathrow is bigger but is about 77 miles away. The easiest way to get to any airport is by train or car.

Travel Insurance

Due to the uncertain nature of Peterborough, both in crime and otherwise, it would behoove visitors to invest in travel insurance. This would cover anything stolen or lost during transit. It's always wise to plan for anything and be prepared if it happens.

Click here to get an offer for travel insurance

Peterborough Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Jan 4° C

Feb 5° C

Mar 7° C

Apr 9° C

May 12° C

Jun 15° C

Jul 17° C

Aug 17° C

Sep 14° C

Oct 11° C

Nov 7° C

Dec 5° C

Average High/Low Temperature

Temperature / Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	7	8	10	13	17	20	22	22	19	15	10	8
Low °C	1	1	3	4	7	10	12	12	9	6	4	2
High °F	45	46	50	55	63	68	72	72	66	59	50	46
Low °F	34	34	37	39	45	50	54	54	48	43	39	36

United Kingdom - Safety by City

City	Safety Index
Aberdeen	63
Bath	81
Belfast	56
Birmingham	44
Bradford	42
Brighton	67
Bristol	58
Cambridge	78
Canterbury	79
Cardiff	64
Coventry	41
Dundee	60
Edinburgh	70
Exeter	77
Glasgow	55
Inverness	73
Leeds	56
Leicester	43
Liverpool	56
London	68
Manchester	44
Newcastle upon Tyne	72
Northern Ireland	56
Nottingham	56
Oxford	66
Peterborough	70
Salford	43
Scotland	71
Sheffield	74
Southampton	65
Surrey	77
York	83

Is Peterborough Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

United Kingdom : Safety by City