I am so excited about this post! I want to give a big shout out to my friend Christina who helped with this post. She lived in London for two years and had so many great tips. I can’t wait for you all to read about my tips and tricks on building your best solo trip to London. Here is my introductory guide to solo travel: London.
What to do:
- Greenwich: Greenwich is a pretty awesome place to get a variety of activities done. If you are looking for cool places to take pictures, Greenwich college happens to be the place where Thor 2 was filmed. Greenwich is along the river so you can see lots of restaurants and shops where you can get great food and also pick up plenty of trinkets to bring back home. Make a stop at Greenwich village for locally made items and new foods to taste.
- Shoreditch: Shoreditch is a place that is know for its Indian food. London, and by extension Britain as a whole, has quite a large Indian population. Some of the best and most authentic Indian food that you will be able to find will be right in Shoreditch. If you are in the area you should also stop in Camden Market. You can never miss a good opportunity for some shopping.
- Take a walk: Christina recommends the walk along the river from The Globe to the London Eye but there is plenty of walking routes. You can check out the various parks, and if you aren’t much of a walker you can always find a bike rental.
- Museums: You will be happy to hear that you can find several museums that are free in London. From science to art there should be something for every type of traveler. There is Hunterian Museum in Holborn, Geffrye Museum in Hackney, Ragged School Museum in Mile End, Grand Museum of Zoology, and the Silver Vaults in Holborn. There are several other museums that you can see for less than £10.
- Theater: London is an area that is known for it’s love of the theater. You can find many of your favorite British actors in various plays around the city. There may even find some American actors there as well. You should be able to find a show for every night of the week. Through theater you will be able to experience London at it’s best and enjoy a safe activity for the night.
- Soho: Soho is an interesting place if you are looking for a fashion/ food combo area. It is also an area that is fairly easy to walk through.
Where to stay:
One of the advantages of staying in a European city is that there are plenty of hostels that are available. I can’t give you a specific recommendation on what hostel to stay in but I know from experience that it is a great way to save money. Most hostels are going to be dorm style where there are several people in a room and the bathroom is shared.
If you are like me and prefer more privacy then you should always be able to find a hostel that will provide a private room at a higher cost. From my experience I have been able to find a hostel room for less than $60 (US dollars) for a private and $40 or less for a shared room.
You can always do the trusted Airbnb. This may be a way to save money in other areas of travel. Depending on where you choose to stay you may save on your food budget because you can have a kitchen to cook in. You may also save on transportation cost by staying in locations that are close to activities you want to do.
“Couchsurf” is my last suggestion. Couchsurf is a whole app that is devoted to providing couches, sometimes beds, to people for free. I have looked into the app several times and it is usually people who love to make new friends and are looking for ways to be social. If you are backpacking or on a tight budget, this may be an option for you.
Safety tips:
I asked Christina about areas she would recommend people not to go to. She pointed out East London as the only real “meh” area that she wanted to bring attention to. Christina said that outside of that, London is a place that she has felt incredibly safe. She specifically mentioned Greenwich and Shoreditch as safe places.
When it comes to going to any major city there are always the basic safety risks to look out for. Watch all of your drinks and don’t leave them unattended. London bars close pretty early compared to America. You should expect that by midnight things are really winding down if not already closed. Still, getting smashed and wandering around by yourself is never option #1.
I always recommend an anti theft backpack for solo travelers. Really any traveler. I always travel with a backpack that doesn’t have any zippers on the outside. This way you are less of a target for someone to steal your things. All of the zippers will be against your back. This way it is easier to feel if someone has a hand where they shouldn’t.
I also recommend that you download an offline Google maps on your phone. These are maps of the area that will work even if you don’t have date. It always makes me feel safe that I can get back home.
There it is. My introductory guide to solo travel: London.