Tips for solo trip to London

[MousyMcMouse]

Hi all! I have to be to London for work next month, and because I am in dire need of a break & I have some holidays left, I have decided to extend my trip for a few days and just "hang out", without DD or DH. Really looking forward to it.

I'm from Northern Ireland, but have been to London quite a few times and done most of the usual touristy things. I'm looking to have fun and relax, but will be on my own, so that's different.

Definitely want to see a musical, and wander around some of the department stores. Looking for tips on places (or areas) to stay (safe but not too expensive), to eat, and things to do! I love literature, history, theatre & quirky shops. Any tips?

Shows - try TKTS for half price tickets. You book them on the day of the show. Since Covid you can do it online. The earlier you look the more availability. We always stay right in the West End, so that we don't have to travel too far after a show.

So jealous! I love London used to get over for work conferences every December pre-covid. The Royal National is good if you are wanting to be near Russel Square, it’s a bit dated/basic but usually includes a breakfast which is great and it’s clean. There are loads of bus tour type groups but it is still quiet and feels safe and secure, kind of a hotel that knows what it does if that makes sense?

Otherwise I’d try and see a play in the globe, I saw the venue for the first time recently and wished I had time to go back for the evening. I’ve been to a few west end musicals and unless you live musical theatre I wouldn’t (I was the same when I went to New York, i could appreciate the performance as amazing but it wasn’t for me and wished I’d done something else with the money)

The British museum, the wellcome collection and the British library are things you can’t see anywhere else so I would do those rather than shopping, but if you are a shopper Liberty’s would be where I would go before Harrods.

Just have a fab time!

Sorry for the typos and when I said recent I meant pre-covid which is a bit scary…..

Tube to Holland park.. have a wonder around the huge villa's ( where Simon cowell and Beckham live) then...walk down to portabllo Road a d meanders

Premier Inn at Waterloo / South Bank?

Always something going on on the S Bank / in the Royal Festival Hall, and I like the RFH shop.

Fantastic walk along the river past the Globe, Tate Modern and on to Borough Market and all the little streets and shops behind there.

Spitalfields / Brick Lane is great for small shops etc.

Go up the Shard and have coffee, perhaps see a show at the Globe or do the London Eye. Maybe Southwark Cathedral if you like history. Walk over Tower Bridge, pop by St Katherine’s Docks then do Tower of London. Catch a Thames Clipper (or speedboat) to Embankment, walk up to Covent Garden, do theatreland then pop into National Gallery at Trafalgar Square.

Best musical if you like musicals is Back to the Future, was excellent.

For hidden history there is some cool Roman ruins under a church (All Hallows By The Tower) and I love the Temple where the knights templar dos their thing (that Temple tube is named after).

Defintely British Museum and NHM if you haven’t already.

Maybe the Harry Potter Studio Tour?

Hotels is hard and I don’t really know. Try booking.com and check the reviews.

V&A has a musicals exhibition at the moment which is free. Just love the v&a for a wander/coffee/shop.

The new shopping centre at Battersea power station is quite cool and has restaurants etc.

This looks nice and it is close to London Bridge
www.airbnb.com/rooms/17998254?irgwc=1&irclid=R4R2IbRTBxyNRUkWYTS-W0vKUkAwGb31mxT4Qc0&ircid=4273&sharedid=top-airbnbs-london-bridge-united-kingdom&af=108670796&iratid=9627&c=.pi73.pk4273_345768&irparam1=art-69664__par-7__act-para_title_link_click__dev-desktop__uid---UID--__tid---TID--&source_impression_id=p3_1673569888_GkxnxiQRcjgyv%2F5N

or you could see if any of the central London clubs have a room available.

Easy to get into the centre of town on the Jubilee Line for shows etc. You could pick bits up to eat at Borough Market, walk along the southbank (Gabriel's Wharf is nice), for shopping Liberty and Fenwick and window shopping on Bond Street, have a meal on Bermondsey High Street and catch the Kaffe Fasset exhibition at the Fashion Museum. Pull the stops out and have a cocktail at Aqua Shard.

You could try the youth hostels. They have private single/twin rooms.