What is the crime rate in Kensington and Chelsea?

Kensington and Chelsea has a high crime rate, with recent data from late 2025/early 2026 indicating around 190 crimes per 1,000 residents, often rated 8/10 for overall crime severity in England and Wales. The area is heavily impacted by high-volume theft (often targeting tourists and shoppers) and vehicle crime.

What is the crime rate in Chelsea and Kensington?

Kensington and Chelsea is the second most dangerous borough in London. The overall crime rate in Kensington and Chelsea in 2025 was 129 crimes per 1,000 people. This compares poorly to London's overall crime rate, coming in 51% higher than the London rate of 85 per 1,000 daytime population.

How safe are Kensington and Chelsea?

Kensington and Chelsea has a 106.9% higher crime rate than the UK average. In Kensington and Chelsea, the crime profile is led by violence and sexual offences, accounting for 19.0% of all incidents (36.0 per 1,000 residents). This is followed closely by anti-social behaviour at 18.7% and shoplifting at 11.5%.

Is Kensington and Chelsea a good area?

Kensington is one of the most affluent and desirable areas to live in with its mix of grandness and charm. The Royal Borough has been home to the monarchy since 1689, home to several members of the Royal Family.

Is it safe to walk around Chelsea at night?

Yes, many Manhattan neighborhoods are safe to walk in at night, particularly areas with active nightlife, such as Greenwich Village, Chelsea, and the Theater District. However, stick to well-lit main streets with foot traffic, and avoid isolated areas and dark side streets.

Newsnight:Mary Ann Sieghart on why Kensington and Chelsea is Britain's Monaco

Which celebs live in Kensington and Chelsea?

Kensington & Chelsea Residents include(d): Stella McCartney, Rowan Atkinson, Eric Clapton, Madonna, Bernie Ecclestone, JK Rowling, Freddie Mercury, Paul Smith, and Roman Abramovich.

Where to avoid in London at night?

That said, across recent years (patterns visible in Met and ONS dashboards) the highest volumes of theft and street-theft reports tend to be concentrated in central shopping and nightlife boroughs — notably Westminster (West End, Oxford Street, Leicester Square), Camden (markets, busy streets), Lambeth (parts of ...

What is the poorest part of London?

The poorest parts of London are concentrated in boroughs like Tower Hamlets, Hackney, and Newham, especially regarding income deprivation for children and older people, with pockets of poverty also in Brent, Barking & Dagenham, and parts of Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea. These areas face high rates of poverty, with some wards like Northumberland Park (Haringey) and Stonebridge (Brent) being among the most deprived. 

Where do most stabbings happen in London?

Croydon and Hackney see the most stabbings. Knife crime jumps there, often tied to gangs. It is advised to people and tourists to not visit those areas alone after midnight. Moreover, the police department is actively engaged to deal with those knife stabbing crimes in Croydon and Hackney.

Is Kensington safe at night?

Kensington & Chelsea consistently records one of the lowest crime rates among Central London boroughs. According to the Metropolitan Police, the area sees approximately 39 reported incidents per 1,000 residents annually, compared to the London average of 88 per 1,000.

Are Kensington and Chelsea posh?

Kensington and Chelsea has the largest proportion of posh homes in the city.

What is the ethnic makeup of Kensington and Chelsea?

The borough is home to people from over 50 different nationalities and over 80 languages are spoken across the population. The population is very ethnically diverse: 63.57% of the population identify as white, 11.87% as Asian, 7.87% as black, 6.64% as mixed ethnicity and 9.87% as other groups.

Which area of London is safest?

It compared police-recorded crime with year-on-year change in crime severity, reoffending and antisocial behaviour, and counted CCTV in public spaces to determine its ranking. The south London town of Sutton emerged as the nation's safest place to live.

Are Kensington and Chelsea safe for tourists?

Kensington and Chelsea consistently rank as the safest for solo female travelers because of its low crime rate, well‑lit streets, and strong community policing. The area also has many cafés and museums that stay open late, offering plenty of daytime and evening activities.

Which London borough has the highest gun crime?

Across the capital, 4,369 gun offences have been recorded by Police between November 2020 to November 2023. Most firearm crimes happened in Lambeth, according to a Freedom of Information request submitted to Metropolitan Police. Haringey saw the second most offences, followed closely by Kensigton and Chelsea.

What is the roughest area in London?

The area with the roughest reputation in London is Westminster, recording the highest crime rate of 432 crimes per 1,000 people in the year ending December 2024—though this is likely skewed by massive daytime footfall from tourists, which inflates the crime-per-resident ratio.

Where do most homeless live in London?

While inner boroughs like Westminster have historically recorded the highest rates of rough sleeping, there has been a noticeable shift. Street homelessness is increasing in outer boroughs, particularly in West London, where Ealing has reported some of the highest rates of rough sleeping.

What is the unhappiest city in London?

The least happy borough in London, according to Rightmove's data, was Barking and Dagenham. Coming in dead-last place out of the capital's 33 boroughs, the east London area ranked 220th nationally.

How to avoid getting mugged in London?

Plan your route and think about what to take with you, especially if you're going somewhere you haven't been before. Keep to busy, well-lit streets, walkways and paths which are more likely to be covered by CCTV. Only take licensed taxis or minicabs booked by phone or a mobile phone app.

Where is Beckham's house in London?

Holland Park, London

Exclusive properties on Holland Park W11 in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, UK. The Beckhams' primary residence is the impressive Grade II-listed home in Holland Park, West London.

Where does Rihanna live in London?

The Barbadian singer, who became a mother of two in August 2023, lived in the luxe suburb of St Johns Wood, which is teeming with celebrities. Kate Moss, Bill Nighy, The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards, and Sir Paul McCartney all count themselves as Rihanna's former neighbours.

What is the life expectancy in Kensington and Chelsea?

Our physical health and mental wellbeing challenges

Kensington and Chelsea has the highest life expectancy for women in the country (86 years) and the fifth highest for men (82 years). However, residents who live in some wards will have a much lower life expectancy than residents in other wards.