To book a solo weekend away without my partner?

DH and I often have a day or two away by ourselves. We'd both love a day pottering around Foyles! (followed by a show😂)

Yanbu, I say do it, and dump your partner if he's sulking and guilt tripping you over a very reasonable weekend plan.

His argument is he can’t afford to travel as much as he would like, so I should only go with him

This is the exact opposite of reasonable or logical! Is he being ridiculous just for the sake of it, or to try to shame or nag you out of doing something perfectly normal and common? The fact that he begrudges you something because HE (thinks he) can't (easily) have it shows a tendency to be selfish and unsupportive, which sucks in a partner.

If he can't afford to travel much then obviously you're going to do some travelling without him. If you agreed to "only go with him" then YOU would be travelling less than you'd like - the exact situation he rejects for himself. And that's not even digging into the possibility that you may enjoy solo travel for its own sake or prefer to travel solo for certain purposes. If you've been given money to buy books and he has no money, that's a great argument for going on your own, just for instance. Plus getting lost in books is a pretty solitary activity.

Have a great trip!

I take it you've never been to Waterstones Piccadilly? It's a great experience for book lovers. Also on Piccadilly is Hatchards, the UK's oldest bookshop. Plus the iconic Daunt Books in Marylebone. If you love books, it's absolutely worth a trip to London at least once in your life.

Good grief. Dump him. Even if he was a husband, this stance is unreasonable and a complete red flag. Of course you're not BU. I highly doubt this is the only thing he's a controlling dickhead about, and if it is then it won't be for long.

Of course you go!!! Been married over 15 years and dated a bit before, my DH has NEVER stopped me doing anything and encourages me to take time for myself and helps make it happen practically. You are an adult. Your partner is an adult. He is supposed to care and respect you. He is behaving like a child having a tantrum. I suspect this bleeds into other aspects of the relationship. I don’t know the details of your set up but think about what you want your life to look like going forward. I think we all want peace in some way. I don’t think this man is going to help with that.

He is batshit. I do stuff solo all the time, whether I’m in a relationship or not. My previous partner definitely had an issue with me travelling solo (I’m not talking 3 month treks around the Andes, but a quick city break or spa weekend for myself).

This made me feel really stifled in the relationship and it was one of the many ways he was controlling.

Yesterday I took myself on a solo date for lunch and to the cinema. Your London trip sounds amazing, and as a fellow book-lover, I need to check it out.

He needs to grow up; there are few things better in life than solo trips.

You’re clearly not a book lover if you think it’s “just some books.” Replace books with anything you’re passionate about and you’ll get it. He’s being massively unreasonable and controlling.

Also it doesn’t matter if OP only wanted to go to London to say she’s been in the train station and then come back - she can go wherever she likes, to do whatever she likes. There aren’t rules for visiting London.

Id be clear that you are your own person and will not be guilt tripped in to make your life smaller to suit him. If he continues to sulk I’d end things because if you stay in the him you will be battling any time you want something for yourself and the more emeshed you are with someone the harder it is to get out

Are you dating my ex? 😂. This was his argument, too, and something about it not being normal for couples to travel apart 🙄.