Counter-demonstrators took to the streets in British cities after at least 100 marches by right-wing extremists were planned for Wednesday night.
People were on the streets in cities including Bristol, London, Liverpool, Birmingham and Brighton.
More than 6,000 special police officers were deployed amid fears of a repeat of the violence seen across the country over the past week.
Some shops closed early and others boarded up their windows before the 8pm scheduled start.
Lawyers and other agencies working with asylum seekers have been warned they could become targets.
But as the night wore on, the large-scale far-right protests seemed to have stopped. Instead, counter-demonstrators took the lead.
In Birmingham, hundreds of anti-racism demonstrators – some carrying signs with slogans such as “No Room for Hate” and “Bigots Get Out of Brum” – gathered outside an immigration centre in the Jewellery Quarter.
A large group then marched into the city centre, but there was no sign of any right-wing extremist groups in the area.
Thousands also gathered in Bristol, Dan Whitehead said. There was a calm, relaxed atmosphere and some people were playing music, he said.
Shops, cafes and pubs in the city’s West Street, close to a law firm that deals with immigration issues, were boarded up early in the evening.
But Mr Whitehead said far-right groups were nowhere to be seen and police kept a low profile on the fringes of the crowd.
“They have no tools to counter the counter-demonstrations… Bristol is here to send a message,” he said.
“Love immigrants, hate racism”
Large crowds also flooded the high street of Walthamstow, east London, holding signs reading “Love immigrants, hate racism” and “Fuck the right wing”.
In Liverpool, hundreds stood guard outside an asylum seeker day centre following reports that a far-right demonstration would take place there.
people were heard beating drums and shouts of “immigrants welcome” and “fascists get out” were heard as police stood by.
The group Stand Up to Racism tweeted a picture of counter-demonstrators and the words “This is what a mass movement looks like”.
Crime correspondent Martin Brunt said there were reports of “small groups” of far-right demonstrators in Portsmouth, Brighton and Blackpool, among other places.
But he said fears that this could be the worst night of unrest yet seemed to have been dispelled.
He said previous intelligence suggesting 100 far-right protests was “credible”. Police will now analyse how this “horrifying scenario” could have been avoided.
Troubles began in Southport last week after three girls were stabbed in the Merseyside town.
In the days that followed, violence spread to several towns and cities amid false claims that the attackers were asylum seekers.
The prime minister and police warned that troublemakers would be dealt with swiftly and severely. Dozens of people have already been tried, and some have received prison sentences of up to three years for their roles in the riots.