London’s reputation as unsafe is beginning to drive visitors away, warns LTDA Chairman
- Perry Richardson
- Sep 23
- 2 min read
The Chairman of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA), has raised serious concerns over London’s declining global image as a safe and attractive destination for international visitors.
Writing in the LTDA’s latest TAXI magazine, Paul Brennan warns that perception alone is enough to damage the capital’s economy, and says urgent action is needed from City Hall to restore confidence.
Brennan shared his observations after a trip to Florence, where he encountered large numbers of American tourists. Conversations revealed a pattern that troubled him deeply. “As soon as they asked the ‘where you from’ question and I responded with ‘London’, their response was depressingly consistent: ‘We wanted to go to London, but it’s not safe.’ It was truly alarming to see how far London’s reputation has fallen across the pond,” he said.
According to Brennan, many American visitors are now choosing European alternatives such as Florence, Barcelona and Rome, which they perceive as more welcoming and secure. “Here’s the brutal truth: perception is reality. You can point to crime stats all day long, but if tourists think London is unsafe, they simply won’t come. And they’re not coming. That means fewer bookings for hotels, fewer meals in restaurants, fewer fares in taxis, fewer Great British Pounds spent across the city.”
The LTDA Chairman criticised the London’s Mayor for failing to respond with a coherent strategy to counter these views. “Meanwhile, what is our mayor doing? Other than raising taxes, damaging the road network, and paying fortunes to a night czar who achieved nothing, I’m not sure. It certainly isn’t ensuring our city’s image doesn’t plummet. Where’s the campaign telling the world London is, in fact, safe, open, and worth visiting? Where’s the urgency to protect billions in tourism revenue? It doesn’t appear to exist.”
Brennan argued that a more visible police presence could begin to address concerns. He noted that simple, practical enforcement on street-level crime would have an immediate impact.
The article also warned that London is losing more than just casual visitors. Major events are beginning to relocate to other UK cities. “Earlier this year the Brit Awards were yet another event that decided they are packing up after 25 years and heading to Manchester. Should anyone be surprised? Every event that leaves takes jobs, spending, and prestige with it. Hotels lose bookings. Restaurants lose diners. Shops lose customers and we lose passengers taking them from one venue to the other.”
Brennan suggested that London’s standing as a cultural and commercial hub is at risk of erosion, with economic benefits shifting outside the capital. “Our mayor via Transport for London has spent years shipping jobs and operations outside of London. Londoners keep footing the bill, while the benefits go to Sheffield, Nottingham, Northern Ireland, and seemingly anywhere else but the capital.”
The LTDA fears that if action is not taken quickly, London could find itself bypassed by international tourists and major cultural events. Brennan concluded: “If nothing changes, London risks becoming a city people bypass, not the destination they once fought to be part of. Its false perception of a dangerous and completely unsafe city needs to change – and change quickly.”
