Be Safe In Birmingham

Safety

Birmingham is a large yet safe city and is well policed at all hours. However, there are areas that should be avoided after dark and Friday night scuffles on the busy streets such as Broad Street are quite possible. Particular areas to be aware of and possibly stay away from include Aston, Lozells, Newtown and Sparkbrook, which are all city suburbs.

As with any other tourist destination, keep your wits about you, especially when withdrawing money from cash machines.   Be on your guard when visiting  tourist hotspots and always take a metered taxi as opposed to an unmetered one. Pickpockets are still a scourge of the streets of Birmingham and tend to loiter around the main bus and train stations in the city. Use common sense where your valuables are concerned, such as don’t keep your wallet in your back pocket, strap your handbag around your body and never keep valuables in a bum bag.
 
Birmingham has an excellent road system and is fed by many major motorways, although special care should be taken on the roads around rush hour times as they can become extremely congested.

Police: 999

Health

Like elsewhere in the UK, the tap water is perfectly drinkable and there are no disease epidemics, although you should refrain from having unprotected sex as with anywhere else in the world today. Healthcare is very good and the city has some of the best government hospitals and private clinics in the country.

The emergency telephone number, which is the same from any phone in the UK, is 999. This number will put you in touch with the three main emergency services, ambulance, fire and police.

Birmingham City Hospital: +44 121 554 3801