Lovely things to do in London on your own? Ideas please!

[noshiforever]

I fancy a trip to London, haven't been for years, but really want to go alone without dragging the kids round. They have been more recently and aren't fussed about going again so soon.

But what to do whilst I'm there? I'd book a lovely hotel of course. What do you all like to do if you have a day or weekend in London alone?

I live here too ... I think a lovely hotel, a gallery, an early show, people watching, and a nice dinner.

Where are you thinking of staying OP? I've always wanted to stay at Hazlitt's. Please do that and report back!

Spitafields market for lunch, drinks on Brick Lane, Afternoon stroll around Tower Hill, Dinner on the Southbank and Cocktails at the Shard! I would totally include Tea at Fortnum and Mason or Sample treats at Borough Market. Late night stroll around Covent Garden or Carnaby St. 🙂

V and A is a gorgeous museum.

The V&A
Lunch at the Ivy

I’m hankering after my old life

@doadeer

I love visiting St Paul's by myself. I would walk around the old city.

I would go for food in soho as so many amazing choices.

There are endless options it depends what you like!

Oh yes, St Paul’s for one of the evening services. Beautiful.

I'm so jealous at the fact you are happy to go alone I would soo love to be that brave and fantasise doing all those lovely things! I would say visit a museum, stroll around one of the many lovely gardens, have a nosy at some posh shops, have a nap (I'm with the other poster on that one!) then a lovely show and dinner. Pure bliss! Enjoy!

@PegasusReturns

The V&A Lunch at the Ivy

I’m hankering after my old life

Ditto 😢

Glass of wine at the V&A in the amazing cafe, wader around a few of the galleries, browse the shop.

Ditto at the Tate or Tate Modern - maybe get the riverboat between the two, wander along the South Bank, hope there's an interesting food market along the route, watch the tourists trying to pacify over-tired children queuing for the big wheel and smile because it's not me having to do that 😁. Cross over the bridge to the houses of parliament, wander up to trafalgar square ...... so much to do....

I lived in london for 20+yrs and would go back in a heartbeat if I won Euromillions 😉 Really looking forward to getting back up there for the odd day of just mooching around.

All of the above! But what kind of activities do you love? Walking around, museums, galleries, shops, architecture, etc?

I'd go to the theatre at least once - so much good stuff on at the moment, it really depends what kind of thing you like. Exhibitions I want to see: Turner's Modern World at Tate Britain, Unfinished Business (about women's rights) at the British Library, Design Biennale at Somerset House.

I would like some tasty street food & a guided tour around Highgate cemetery

@denverRegina

Why is everyone "mooching" on this thread 😂

Surely there's more to London than mooching and galleries?

There certainly is. But mooching is a sport best played solo and OP probably doesn’t get much chance for that! I would totally mooch given half a chance.

Great idea to go to Highgate Cemetery. A really interesting place to visit and the tour was very good when I went.

There are a few other good walking tours, depending on what OP is interested in - architecture, history, churches, literature, scandal, celebrities. The London Ambler walks are very good on history and architecture and less focus on the touristy and sensational than some of the bigger companies.

Where would be the best location for a visit like this?

I'm so jealous at the fact you are happy to go alone sad I would soo love to be that brave and fantasise doing all those lovely things!

@FairyDust123456 just try plunging in and you'll love it. Is it the solo activities or the hotel stay that worry you? I started doing things alone because I got fed up with dragging along dh and dcs who weren't really interested in the show/exhibition/museum I was keen to see. I love not having to worry about making sure other people are enjoying themselves. I think we all need time on our own doing things we enjoy.

@advancenames it is most definitely the solo activities! There are soo many things I feel I miss out on because others are just not that interested. One day I will try to take the plunge, maybe in my weeks annual leave in July. I would relish in it, I've just got to be braver and not worry what others think (although, pretty sure really noone would care if I was on my own!)

Ooh! There’s nothing lovelier than a summer day meandering in London.

We Went to the V and A last week and it was gloriously quiet and cool. There are some good special exhibitions on too.

I’d supplement that with a wander around Kensington High Street and Hyde Park.

Some other great suggestions on this thread. I’m pocketing them for a rare day off 🙂

@FairyDust123456 I used to be like that. I'd get really anxious about going to a theatre or museum on my own. Once I'd tried it a few times it was fine, and now I notice that there are always lots of people on their own at all of those places. I hope you try it during your week's leave - it's such a shame to miss out on things you'd enjoy.

Whenever I come to London my first day is always the same. I wake up early in the morning and take the tube to green park. It’s lovely to walk around green park and St. James’s park early in the morning when there is nobody around but occasional runner. I walk to Trafalgar Square and drink coffee and have pastry on the steps in front of national gallery. A short stop in waterstone’s and a walk to Victoria tower gardens. Cross the bridge and walk on the south bank to tower bridge. Cross the bridge and go to st. Katharine’s docks where I usually have lunch. Take bus 100 to museum of London where I usually spend an hour or two. Then a rest in postman’s park, one of the most beautiful green corners of London. Walk back to St. Paul’s cathedral and walk to river down the Victoria embankment to Westminster bridge. There is a lovely bar at the end of Victoria embankment. I have never been, but I always promise my self to go next time. Instead I usually take the bus from Westminster bridge to Piccadilly and have dinner there at a pub. I hope you’ll have a lovely stay in London.

@FairyDust123456

I'm so jealous at the fact you are happy to go alone I would soo love to be that brave and fantasise doing all those lovely things! I would say visit a museum, stroll around one of the many lovely gardens, have a nosy at some posh shops, have a nap (I'm with the other poster on that one!) then a lovely show and dinner. Pure bliss! Enjoy!

I have taken loads of trips alone since having kids. I feel like I need the peace and solitude! It's a joy to please yourself for the day/weekend. There are some things I wouldn't do, like eat out alone in the evening but pretty much everything else is done solo by many other people, especially in a place like London. Nobody would even raise an eyebrow at you doing any activity in London alone during the day surely?

You should definitely try it!

I'm slightly jealous of you going alone too. Not the museums, galleries, etc, I'm OK to do that alone. But restaurants, cocktails, glasses of wine, pubs, that sort of thing. I always end up grabbing meals at cafes and sandwich shops and things on my own. And a lot of the time wandering around, theatres, mooching, parks etc, just seem nicer with someone to talk to about. But I keep meaning to go again, as it's an easy (if expensive) train journey away and I haven't been since well before Covid.

Absolutely amazing suggestions on this thread so thank you all. I'm planning my trip as we speak!

I am reading this thread with interest as I am going to London with my daughter as she's attending a course - I'll have 2 days by myself. Really looking forward to it.

Can I ask for restaurant recommendations - myself and 16yr old daughter on a Saturday evening? Nice, somewhere that will feel like a treat but not super expensive!

Africa2go what part of London are you wanting restaurant recommendations in?

Africa2go -Recommend Brasserie Zedel on Piccadilly

@notsureofname Thank you will take a look.

@giletrouge We're staying in a hotel not too far from Earls Court - but happy to explore