Getting home safely after a night out
Choose the return route while you are still fresh, keep a backup option and make sure the last part of the journey works.
Before heading out, work out how you will get back to your accommodation. The last ten minutes of the journey often deserve more thought than the main train or bus: the stop may be unfamiliar, the entrance difficult to find or reception closed.
Save the address and entry instructions offline. Check the final service and decide what you will do if you miss it. Include that backup in the evening's budget rather than hoping a cheap option will appear later.
Choose a route you can follow comfortably
Use well-lit, active streets where practical and avoid an unfamiliar shortcut simply because a map says it saves a few minutes. If a situation feels uncomfortable, move towards a staffed venue or other place where you can ask for help.
The FCDO's solo-travel guidance recommends planning transport, using licensed operators and agreeing contact arrangements with someone at home. It does not rank whole cities as safe or unsafe, and neither should a simple holiday checklist.
If you are travelling with friends, agree how to stay in touch if you separate. Check that everyone has a working way to get home, especially if one person has been holding the tickets or paying for the group.
Check the vehicle before getting in
For an app or telephone booking, compare the registration and driver details with the confirmation. In London, for example, TfL's night-travel guidance distinguishes licensed taxis from minicabs, which must be booked through a licensed operator. Other cities have their own systems.
Do not accept an unsolicited ride merely because the driver knows the name of a nearby hotel. Use the official rank or the pickup point shown by the service you booked.
Keep enough phone charge for the return, but have the address and a backup payment method available separately. If someone is unwell or you suspect spiking, seek help and stay together. Our spiking guide explains when the priority should be medical care rather than getting home.