“There are no stars so lovely as Edinburgh street-lamps”, remarked Robert Louis Stevenson in 1883, and 143 years later many students would not beg to differ. Thousands walk beneath these very same lights each week, whether journeying to Cowgate or walking home after a late study session in the library. But is Scotland’s capital at night a safe environment for students?
The issue of safety in the dark emerges primarily when discussing nightlife. Nightlife holds a strong position at the heart of university culture; according to data collected by Uber, Edinburgh boasts busier nightlife than both Glasgow and London. Despite this, the vast majority of students reported that they feel safe in Edinburgh in the dark; a survey conducted by The Student showed that 71.4 per cent felt this way. Often, it was remarked that Edinburgh feels considerably safer than other UK major cities, such as Dublin and London.
Ellen, a second-year student from east London, expanded on the contrast between the two capitals. “When I am out in London, I always have someone who knows where I am. I would never walk around after dark on my own, and before going out I need to have a clear plan of how I am getting home […] In Edinburgh, I don’t have to take any of the same precautions; I feel completely relaxed here.”
What contributes to this sense of security in Edinburgh? Many students commented that high foot traffic and well-lit streets are the key factors involved. The major thoroughfares — such as Nicholson Street — enjoy consistent street lighting, though not every street experiences such eternal sunshine. Historic closes and wynds carve their way through the city’s streets, and these dark alleyways — such as the steps connecting Chambers Street to Cowgate- are purposefully avoided by many students, the survey found.
The Meadows emerged as Edinburgh’s most avoided place during the night, as voted by 32.6 per cent of students, and this is a view corroborated by local residents. Whilst green spaces may be places of tranquillity during the daytime, an expanse of dimly lit land becomes all but desirable when night falls.
Princes Street, South Bridge, and Waverley train station were all also frequently named as unsafe by students. Unsurprisingly, this matches crime data recorded by Police Scotland; each of these areas falls under the City Centre neighbourhood of Edinburgh, which reports the highest number of crimes per 1000 people — 314.01— in the city. Many popular residential areas were reported as safer, however; Bruntsfield and Marchmont reported the lowest levels of criminal activity.
Yet in some cases, students become vulnerable before the walk home begins. Hannah, a first-year student, was in a nightclub during Freshers’ Week when a friend suddenly became unresponsive after drinking a beverage offered to her by an older man. “At first the man seemed harmless. He was dancing with our group and making everyone laugh […] the next thing I knew my friend was unconscious on the bathroom floor.” The ordeal resulted in her friend being taken to hospital.
Though rare, instances of spiking have steadily increased in Scotland in the last decade according to figures by Police Scotland, and disproportionately affects women. In 2025, 144 instances of spiking were recorded; 103 of those victims were female. Edinburgh is no exception to this pattern; men constituted zero percent of the 28.6 per cent who reported to The Student that they feel unsafe in Edinburgh at night. Hannah also recalled receiving minimal help from the club’s bouncers, and felt: “I had to deal with the situation on my own. They [the bouncers] were stood nearby, but did nothing to help separate the man from my friend when I was trying to get her home.” Currently in Scotland there is no specific law pertaining to spiking, and the Children and Young People’s Commissioner has called for a full legal analysis on whether this should be introduced, as it has been in England this year.
When travelling home after midnight, students who do not wish to walk must be prepared to pay a fee. The bus charges a £3.50 fee to all travellers between the hours of 12am-4:30am. This is a much lower rate than what is charged by popular taxi services such as Uber, with a 10-15 minute trip typically costing between £8-10. However, Uber offers more flexible and direct modes of transport than the timetable-dependent night buses, but ultimately students are able to decide which option is best suited to them.
Though the majority of students feel safe in Edinburgh, this feeling of security does not come without appropriate precautions. Safety clearly does not feel geographically universal, nor is it felt by every student. Vigilance is key to ensuring personal safety whenever venturing out in the dark, so that every Edinburgh student can experience the same joy in Edinburgh’s nightscape that Stevenson expressed many moons ago.
