London is one of the best cities in the world for pretty much any activity you can think of, whether that’s bar hopping, visiting museums, attending a theatre show, sightseeing or shopping. London is also a traveller’s paradise, with activities to suit every type of tourist, whether families, solo travellers or business travellers.
But today, we’re focusing on solo travellers, and the things to do in London to make your experience as worthwhile as possible. Solo travel is easy and effortless in London, with the best array of activities, places to go and sights to see, so let’s take a look at some of the best things to do in London for solo travellers.
Take a sightseeing bus tour
These red open-top tour buses are commonly associated with London, and are one of the best ways to view the city’s top sights and places. Hop-on hop-off tours, as these buses offer, are a foolproof way of getting around and taking in the city sights. The top sights you can usually see on bus tours include Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, Big Ben and the London Eye.
The best thing about a hop-on, hop-off bus is that you can board or disembark at whichever point you want, so if there’s a site or spot that you most want to see, you can head there directly without worrying about additional transport. Prices for tickets usually vary depending on the type, and you normally have to book your ticket in advance, but you can find amazing deals and ticket packages everywhere.
Try a craft class
There are hundreds, if not thousands of craft classes to partake in across London, from pottery and painting classes to more unique crafts like kintsugi or origami. If you’re a solo traveller, joining a craft class means you can have something tangible to show for your trip, and something that can make the trip all the more memorable and worthwhile.
Craft and art classes are also a great way to meet new people, so if you’re alone and want to make some new friends on your trip, this is a great way to do so. We’d recommend a kintsugi class– kintsugi is essentially where you join broken pieces of pottery together with gold-coloured glue to form golden cracks and lines in the pot–, or a sip and paint class, which is self-explanatory in that you sip alcohol and paint!
Catch a theatre show in the West End
Along with Broadway in New York City, London’s West End theatre is among the highest standards of theatre in the world, and London is rife with prestigious and high-end theatres that show a whole host of stage adaptations and musicals. Key areas to check out when considering watching a theatre show include Shaftesbury Avenue, Leicester Square, Strand and Tottenham Court Road, but you’ll find theatres dotted across many streets in West London.
London’s Theatreland is definitely a must-visit when in the city, and the best part is that you can attend theatres alone, which will probably work out cheaper as you won’t have to pay for multiple tickets. Some of the best shows currently playing in London’s West End include Les Misérables, Moulin Rouge, Back to the Future the Musical and The Great Gatsby.
Take a food tour
Another thing London is known for is the markets – Broadway Market, Camden Market, Spitalfields Market, Portobello Road Market, you name it. From vibrant street-food stalls and fresh produce to antique furniture and vintage clothing, London’s markets are colourful and eclectic. The best thing about London’s markets is how widespread they are, so no matter which borough or area of London you’re in, you’ll likely stumble across a market of some kind.
Camden Market and Portobello Road markets are among the best known and celebrated in the city, so they should definitely be high on your itinerary. Aside from the markets, there are several boroughs and districts of London that offer the best food scenes in the city, such as Chinatown, Soho and Covent Garden, where you’ll find a range of authentic dishes, cuisines and cultural delicacies.
Take a day trip out of London
While you’re more than likely to find everything you could possibly need and want in London, sometimes it’s more fun to get out and see the surrounding towns and cities to get a better taste of the local culture. If you’re in London for more than 4 days, we’d recommend ditching the big city in favour of some smaller towns or cities, and luckily London is surrounded by the best.
The best cities and towns to explore outside of London that you can reach in under two hours by train include Brighton, which is known by many as ‘London by the sea’; Oxford, known for its university and stunning architecture; Cambridge, which is also known for its university, river and architecture, and Canterbury, which is particularly appealing to history or culture enthusiasts.
Go Museum Hopping
Its museums galore in London, from the British Museum and Natural History Museum to the Science Museum and Tate Modern. Museums are the perfect way to learn more about London’s rich history, culture and art scene, and many are either free or affordable, so if you’re running on a tight budget then you should definitely check them out. Often housed in opulent and striking buildings, most of London’s museums are grand affairs that can’t be missed.
It’s normally recommended to book the more popular and well known museums in advance, however most of them can also be paid for on entry too. Taking a tour of the best museums in London is a perfect affordable experience— a great starting point is the British Museum or National Gallery, and each museum is different from the next.
Try your hand at a cookery class
If there’s one thing London is known for, it’s food, but we’re not talking street food or market stalls, we’re talking high-end fine dining establishments combined with casual pubs and bistros. If you want to get an authentic taste of London’s food scene, a great activity to try is a cookery class. You can find a wide range of cookery and baking classes across London, some of which are hosted by highly decorated and even celebrity chefs.
Of course, you could just take a food tour around London’s restaurants, but cooking the food yourself under the guidance of a chef is a perfect way to enhance your knowledge and understanding of cooking techniques and what goes into making the food you eat. You may be able to find cookery classes in London hosted by the likes of Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver, Michelle Roux Jr. and Raymond Blanc, among others.
Stroll through the park
Amongst London’s bustling urban cityscape, you’ll find refreshing pops of green across the city with London’s parks. London is rife with parks and green spaces, with the likes of Hyde Park, Finsbury Park, Greenwich Park and Kensington Gardens usually taking the top spots for the city’s best loved parks.
How you spend your time in London’s parks is entirely up to you, but you can expect to find a wide range of activities within the parks such as wild pond swimming, boat trips, sports, live performances and more— or, you could simply enjoy a stroll, a bike ride or sit and relax and enjoy the beautiful views, some of which include London’s skyscraper skyline.
Go on a river cruise
One of London’s key features is its River Thames, where you can experience boat trips and cruises as one of the best ways to see the city sights. One of the most popular river cruise routes is from Kew Gardens to Westminster, which allows you to view many of London’s top landmarks and sights in around a 1hr 30 minute trip.
If you want a more scenic trip around London and perhaps a more peaceful experience than if you chose to take a bus tour, then a river cruise would be ideal. The best part is that the river cruise is actually very affordable, with tickets starting under £20 for adults, so even if you’re on a tight budget you can still experience this.
Frequently asked questions about London
Is London safe for solo travellers?
Yes, London is known for being generally safe and easy to get around for tourists. While petty crimes like pickpocketing or theft can occur in tourist areas, you’ll most likely have no problems or concerns when visiting.
How much should I budget for a solo trip to London?
This depends on the type of trip you’re looking to have and how long you’re there for. A budget traveller could likely get by easily in London on around £100-£200 per day, while luxury travellers may spend upwards of around £500-600 per day. You need to consider accommodation, transport, food&drink and attractions, plus extra for shopping or recreation, but if you stick to budget restaurants and hotels and take the underground, you should have more money left over.
Where should I stay in London as a solo traveller?
Anywhere you stay in London will give you an amazing and fulfilling experience, but some of the best areas to stay include Marylebone, Soho or Shoreditch. Each of these areas offer great transport links, a wide range of hotels, restaurants and attractions and excellent nightlife.