For individuals wishing to seek asylum in the UK, you are essentially asking the UK to protect you because you are a refugee fleeing a country where you will be subject to persecution.
This can be on account of one or more of the following reasons: race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.
You must be within the UK to claim asylum and show that you are not willing or unable to return by demonstrating a well-founded fear of persecution in your home country based on this narrow range of protected characteristics or activities.
It is important to apply for asylum as soon as possible, whether that is soon after arriving in the UK or if circumstances in your home country change while you are here.