I logged over 30 miles walking around the city on my solo London trip, fueled by Taylor Swift songs and a great audiobook.
I would argue that London is the best city for solo travelers, especially for women. There’s no shortage of things to do in London (even alone!), historical sights, museums, markets for lunches, pubs for dinner where it’s not weird to dine alone, and the public transportation system is top-notch making it easy to navigate.
I just spent 3 days in London alone – these are all my travel tips for you to copy on your own solo trip!
My husband and I were in Europe for about a month to see Eurovision in Sweden but he flew home and I headed to London for a long weekend. It’s been years since I visited the city, I wanted to visit friend there anyways, and I was so pumped to just walk around and explore everything again.
No matter your age or what you like to do, I promise your solo trip to London will involve a lot of walking, so make sure you are wearing comfy shoes! I mostly wore my Twoobs and Sezane boots, but I have a whole list of my favorite walking shoes for Europe to check out if you need tips.
I honestly walked around 10-11 miles every single day, but it didn’t feel like a lot just because there’s so much to see.
London Is Huge – You’ll Want A Few Days
The thing about London that really threw me off, even though I have been before, is just how large the city is. It never stops. Unlike New York City where there’s a physical boundary of rivers to bounce you back into the city grid, London just keeps sprawling.
You can be on the underground for 45 minutes and only have gone a few neighborhoods.
3 or 4 days in London will be ideal so you can see all the highlights, but if you are short on time you can cut out some tourist activities to see just the stuff you think you’ll really love (don’t worry, I’ll help you make those decisions in this London guide!)
Step 1 For Your London Solo Trip: Get A Central Hotel
I highly recommend you book a hotel near a tube station, as you’ll be navigating the city via train the most. There’s really no reason to take Uber or Lyft as the underground is THAT good, and it will make your life easier if you are nearby a station.
I booked my room at the Citizen M Tower of London and had this epic view of the Tower of London, and Tower Bridge literally from my bed, it was amazing. London on your own can feel like a lot at the end of the day and I loved crawling in bed with this view and watching Bridgeron (season 3 had just come out a few days before my trip!!)
Anyways, the CitizenM was literally right on top of the Tower Hill tube station, so it was incredibly easy to get around the city. It’s also safe, since as a woman alone in London I never had to walk the streets late at night in the dark from the station since my hotel was literally on top of it.
Top Things To Do In London Alone
It’s been a while since I’ve done a solo trip and I was a little nervous at first that I wouldn’t have any fun or I would run out of things to do. I was thankful at first that Bridgerton just dropped since I was like “at least I have that as a back up if I need to retreat to my hotel!” but the opposite happened.
There is just so much to do in London even while traveling alone, I actually wish I stayed another few days to check everything off my list. And to eat more, gosh that city makes me wish I had more stomachs.
That all said, these are some of the things to do solo in London:
1. Taylor Swift Tour
If you’re a fellow Swifite, London is THE haven for us. I recommend you pop in your earbuds, load up a few of her albums and take a large walking tour around the city to see the spots she mentions in her songs.
Start at Camden Market where you can shop for gifts and grab bites at the street vendors. it’s crowded so best to go there in the earlier part of the day.
Then, walk over to The Heath to explore this stunning, wild park in London. Highgate Street is near there, too. Catch the train over to Shoreditch, a trendy neighborhood with cool shops and cafes.
Then pop over to Louis V on Bond Street and wait until another day for a trip to the West End (there’s so many tourist sights over there!)
Of course, end your day with dinner at pint at the Black Dog Pub. Great food, great crowd.
2. Borough Market
Borough Market is probably the most famous food market in London, though it can get busy during the weekends so I recommend going on a weekday for a lunch, or right at 10am when they open on a weekend to avoid the rush.
Because you are going to want to take your time wandering all the vendor stalls, sampling cheese, stuffing your face with paella or fish sandwiches or empanadas.
There are walking tours available if you want to hop into a tour group and hang out with people for a while. But you can also do this by yourself!
3. Attend A Globe Theatre Play
Yes, THE Shakespeare Globe Theatre you probably remember from English class. The original burned down ages ago but it was rebuilt and now a unique venue to catch Shakespeare plays such as Much Ado About Nothing, Richard III , The Taming of the Shrew and more.
I’ve been a few times and I always have a blast at the Globe. They reconstructed the inside to look like how it would have during it’s heyday. There are standing room tickets and seats – I recommend a seat in the middle with the best view.
Grab dinner at the theater’s Swans Bar next door before popping over to catch the show!! You will also want to rent a seat cushion and a back rest since the benches aren’t the most comfortable. You can do that at the theater before you head to your seat, just look for the stalls!
4. Notting Hill + The West End Exploring
Pop off to the West End one day and soak in all the sights! There’s a lot to do over here but I love starting the day with breakfast at Farm Girl in Notting Hill and then exploring the neighborhood. Wander down to Portobello Road Market for vintage shopping and into the side streets.
The houses here are stunning, jaw-dropping sort of beautiful. You’ll want to weave your way down to Kensington Gardens, placing the famous The Churchill Arms on your way for a pint, or just a photo.
At Kensington Gardens you can lounge around, sit by the lake or make your way to Hyde Park to the Rose Garden. From here you can continue onto the shopping in SoHo or forge head to Buckingham Palace!
PS if you are a Doctor Who fan, head to Earls Court station before you go to Notting Hill in the morning to see the last Tardis!
5. Tate Modern
The Tate Modern is a world-renowned art gallery housed in the iconic converted Bankside Power Station. Home to the UK’s national collection of international modern and contemporary art, it boasts an impressive collection spanning from the early 20th century to the present day.
From Picasso and Matisse to contemporary installations, visitors can immerse themselves in a diverse range of artistic styles and movements. The gallery’s striking architecture and breathtaking views of the Thames further enhance the overall experience.
I always love visiting museums by myself so I can really take my time soaking in all the artwork without being rushed.
6. Explore Camden Market
Ok, Camden Market is a little overwhelming but so worth a stop. It can get crowded on the weekends and can feel a little like Venice Beach… but like the English version? It’s kinda of trippy but a lot of fun.
It’s packed full of colorful shops, food market stalls, bars and trinket stores. I went and grabbed a wrap while people watching for lunch one day.
7. Westminster + Big Ben
You can’t go to London without swinging by Big Ben and Westminster Abbey! Both are fairly close to each other. Take the tube to Westminster station and get out, then cross the River Thames to get that iconic view of Big Ben from the other side of the river.
Then, walk back to Westminster Abbey – you can decide if you want to go in or just view from the outside. As you can imagine, being the most famous London iconic means it’s always crowded so go in the morning if you can help it.
8. Take A Ghost Tour
If you’re looking for solo things to do in London with other people, take a ghost tour! There’s a walking ghost tour in the East End that leaves near the Tower Hill metro stop.
Explore Whitechapel, churches and dark streets at night with a guide who knows all the creepy history of London.
9. Venture Inside The Tower of London
I loved exploring the Tower of London by myself, it’s a very large space and it’s nice to take our time reading all the signs and deciding which section to go to. See the crown jewels, or the ravens, or the torture chambers if you are brave enough.
I recommend arriving right away in the morning about 25 mins before doors open to avoid long entry lines. Immediately head to the Crown Jewels to get that out of the way and then explore as you like. Keep an eye out for ravens!
10. Visit Harry Potter Sights
I’m a millennial I can’t help it!!! I love Harry Potter and there are so many Harry Potter filming spots in London to check out along with wizarding things to do.
- Harry Potter Walking Tour: If you want to make friends with other Hogwarts students!
- catch a Harry Potter Cursed Child Play in Theater District
- visit Kings Cross station and platform 9 3/4
- Drinks at the The Cauldron London bar
11. Soak In Art At The National Gallery
Over in Trafalgar Square you’ll find the National Gallery, which is always free to visit! If you’re a Doctor Who fan you recognise this museum from the Van Gogh episode (sobs). You can also find works by Jan van Eyck, Claude Monet, Caravaggio and more here.
12. Explore London’s Parks
There are no shortages of huge, sprawling parks in London to visit. Grab a to-go coffee and stroll around The Heath, or Hyde Park. St James’s Park by Buckingham Palace has a nice little lake, and The Regent’s Park has a cool glass cafe you may want to grab lunch at.
13. Go Shopping
Most travel guides skip out on tips for good shopping in London but I got you covered!
- SoHo: iconic brands and luxury goods. Start at Oxford Circus and wander!
- Fortnum & Mason: an iconic London store that’s perfect for gifts!
- Notting Hill: for antiques and vintage items
- Shoreditch: for trendy boutiques
- Camden Market: for antiques and artisan goods.
Where To Eat On A Solo Trip In London
Here’s the problem with London: they have thousands of amazing restaurants and you only have one stomach!! Get prepared to eat, a LOT. And having fomo over places you didn’t go to!
Note: everything takes credit card in London, I didn’t need pounds once. Not even for street markets. You can decide if you want to bring cash or not but I don’t think it’s needed.
Walrus and the Carpenter & The Black Dog Pub
What I love about traveling alone in England and in Ireland is the pub culture. It’s never weird to awkward to show up to a pub alone, grab dinner and a pint.
There are literally thousands of pubs all over London and honestly, most of them will serve really quality meals and pints. You can’t go wrong with any of them but, two to flag are the Walrus and the Carpenter near Tower Hill station. I loved my pot pie here and their cask ales are the die for.
The other is the Black Dog Pub near Vauxhall which was famous after Taylor’s new album! I ate a tasty and incredibly huge fish fry and had a great time meeting other Swifties traveling alone!
For the later, I recommend walking along the river after dinner up to Big Ben for more sights.
Sunday Roast
London has a fantastic food scene but one of the classic dishes is a Sunday roast at a pub. Again, most local pubs with serve a Sunday roast but my local friend who lives in London raves about Blacklock Chops.
They have a few locations around the city and they all need reservations but if you are lucky enough to snag a table you will be treated to the best dang roast in your life.
Sketch Tea
High Afternoon Tea at Sketch is a must-experience. I’ve been twice now and it’s always been the most over-the-top, beautiful tea service. You may recognize their iconic bathrooms with egg shapes toleit stalls and rainbow ceiling.
Make sure to grab a table online in advance, but also set aside at least 2 hours for this experience. And, if you drink, a glass of bubbly is always worth the splurge here.
Tower Bridge Coopla Club
On a sunny day, head over to the Tower Bridge Coopla Club for tables right along the river with stunning views of The Shard and Tower Bridge.
I had a delicious plate of pasta here and a watermelon spritz that hit the spot.
Pret Manager
Pret is basically the Starbucks of London. If you need a quick cup of coffee or a sandwich on the go, this is a great, consistent place to head to. Throw a stone and you can probably hit 3 of them.
Alto on Bond Street
This famous rooftop is covered in lemons and is the most beautiful, relaxing place to grab happy hour drinks or bites.
Circolo Popolare
A very vibey restaurant decorated with 20,000 bottles. If you’re craving Italian food you’ll want to book a table here!
Swans Bar at Maison Assouline
Hidden inside a bookstore off Piccadilly Circus is Swans Bar, an upscale yet approachable cocktail bar. I sat at the bar and had the best martini of my life here.
I skipped mega tourist things like the London Eye just because I was only there for 3 days and wanted to prioritize other things.
But I honestly could have easily stayed another few days to squeeze those sights in. I’ll have to see them next time! I also wish I had more time to wander the Museum of Natural History since I walked through it quickly.
That’s what I love about London travel. You can come to the city 10 different times and still find new things to do.
If you have more London travel tips to add, drop them below so everyone can see!
