Where to in London for a solo trip?

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I've got the opportunity to go for a solo trip for 2-3 nights child and DH free and I'd like to go and have a mosey around London. I'm not massively familiar with it and have only been 6-7 times in my 42 years but I'd really enjoy some time to visit some historic places / palaces without anyone whinging at me!

Does anyone have any recommendations in terms of where to stay? Where to visit? Where to eat so I don't look odd being on my own?!

Budget isn't huge so can't stretch to Michelin starred restaurants or 5* hotels but would prefer something better than a Travelodge.

I'm not into loud, trendy, city type places so if there is anywhere that's quieter or quaint (if there is such a thing in the capital) then that would suit me nicely. Anything with a bit of history attached. I'm prepared to bob around on the underground so quite happy travelling about to visit places. I want to fit in as much as possible!

TIA

Loving the advice thank you!

I think Premier Inn is probably the best bet and I do like their comfy beds.

Can't wait to pootle around on my own and please myself looking at "boring history stuff" without being rushed or moaned at!

Sunday is the cheapest night to stay in London and Tuesday the most expensive usually.

La gaffe in Hampstead was cute when I stayed. Also used air bnb in Kensington, very quiet and lovely round there

That's interesting. I'll have a play around with dates and days. I don't have a set time when I have to go.

Whats the cheapest way to travel on the tube? Last time I went I just tapped my debit card in and out of each station but I'm wondering if there's a more economical way?

DH knows about these things but I want to organise it myself feeling stubborn and independent

Debit card is much easier and just as cheap as anything else.

I could potentially go early in the morning, spend two nights and come back late which would save a nights accommodation. It's only a couple of hours away on the train. I just want to make sure I have enough time on my own to see everything I want to.

Oh that's good. I'll do that then 👍🏻

Also recommend Richmond, easy to get to central London. There are bits of the Tudor palace; sadly only the gatehouse.

I've always liked around Bloomsbury, stay near Euston or King's X, you know what yours getting with PI or Travelodge. You can walk through Tavistock Square, visit the British Museum, walk to to Holborn, Lincolns Inn Courts, the City is full of history, a uber river trip down the Thames, they go to Hampton Court. Don't get a tour bus unless you find a cheapo on Wowcher, the traffic is awful and you can get London buses everywhere. Sunday is the cheapest night to stay.m

I go to London in my own all the time and no one looks at me oddly.

I recommend staying at a chain hotel a bit out of the centre but close to a tube station. You will save a fortune but get somewhere clean and nice. IHG of Premier Inn are my favourites

Alternatively look at secret escapes. Sometimes you can get an amazing bargain at somewhere really nice and more central.

Use the Tix app to get yourself a cheap theatre ticket. You can get brilliant seats when going solo.

Enjoy.

Where to eat so I don't look odd being on my own?!

Eat by myself a lot and no-one notices, especially centrally.

If you want a fabulous feelgood show, I recommend "Guys and Dolls" at The Bridge theatre (direct Tube from Belsize Park to London Bridge).

yes! I recommend this 1000%.

Get a standing ticket, they are only about 40 quid and they are the BEST “seats” in the house, I promise you. Not at all tiring to stand, and you really feel part of it.

I went by myself one day as I had a day’s random leave to use up (I live in London) , then went back later and did it again with DH a few months later. It’s awesome.

My favourite place for an evening out when I'm on my own is the Royal Festival Hall. In case you like classical music;

A very niche random history thing is the old operating theatre near Borough.

https://oldoperatingtheatre.com/

combine with with a lunch at Borough market which has loads of stalls with sit up counters and where you would not look odd in the slightest eating by yourself. I like the Malaysian one there and the one that does Argentinian steak sandwiches.

This might have some good ideas - I like the look of the Luxury Inn - De Beauvoir is a nice area full of history while Dalston is very foodie and it's £100 night https://www.timeout.com/london/hotels/the-best-budget-hotels-in-london

There are lots of great, free things to do in London (museums especially) and lots of early eating deals...

Yeah it caps your daily fare at a travel card rate.

I think you should make this an annual event,it's important to have time to do 'you' things that way you won't be tempted to fit too much into your break.

If you stay in Richmond then the buses were pretty empty and last year cost £1.75 for as far as you could travel in an hour - I don't know if that was a special promo but it made travelling much cheaper and in April all the Wisteria was starting to bloom andit was a lovely bus ride to Hampton court. We did a day in centra London on the Sunday and it was dead, completely different to how we've normally experienced it but it was in term-time there were much fewer holiday makers

Other things you could do - get out at Monument and climb it, much cheaper than other viewing points and has it's own interesting Fire of London history.
The South Ken museums are always busier although might be something on at Royal Albert if you like music, City of London Museum is much less crowded. Similar for The illustration museum in Kings Cross if you like that type of thing and there's a bookshop on a narrow boat which made the 'Rosie and Jim' fan inside me very happy to have a nose on there

If you do go to Richmond, there's a lovely walk along the river. You go over Richmond Bridge and turn left onto the towpath (pretty, dog walkers, boats etc). Walk along until you get to Marble Hill Park where there is a pretty house to visit (free entry but I think only some days of the week):

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/marble-hill/history-and-stories/

There is a nice café in this park.

Then you can carry on along the river to Orleans House Gallery (also free entry):

https://www.orleanshousegallery.org/history/courting-hanoverians/?_gl=19mv7re_upMQ.._gaMTkwMjc5NDEzMi4xNzA1Njg3OTY1_ga_J6GVR9HVW0*MTcwNTY4Nzk2My4xLjAuMTcwNTY4Nzk2My4wLjAuMA..

Carry on down a quiet road and by the river and you get to a really nice pub (good barbecues at the weekend but avoid rugby days):

https://www.whiteswantwickenham.co.uk/

Then if you continue you get to some very nice gardens at York House, and then this which is a personal favourite of mine:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Naked_Ladies

Carry on a bit more and you will get to a nice little street called Church Street, which has nice little independent shops and lots of places to eat:

https://churchstreetoftwickenham.org/

From here, you can get the bus back to Richmond very easily. Or go back along the river and take the ferry to the Terrace Gardens which is a short walk from the main part of Richmond.

https://www.hammertonsferry.com/

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g191301-d10751743-Reviews-Terrace_Gardens_Richmond_Hill-Richmond_upon_Thames_Greater_London_England.html

And Richmond Hill is lovely. The view from up here is absolutely beautiful.

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/marble-hill/history-and-stories/the-view-from-richmond-hill/
(scroll down a bit for the view as painted by Turner - his cottage that he designed and lived in is also in Twickenham - https://turnershouse.org/the-house/)

Archway premier inn is good.
Very near Hampstead and Highgate Cemetary.

Right by the tube station. Northern line straight down to town.

Excellent roundup of our part of London, BonjourCrisette.

Thanks! There is more as you know, but I feel like that might be enough for one day!

Wow I'm loving all these! I want to see all the shows now too, I'm going to need at least a week 😁 I love musicals, classical music, theatre. I could spend a fortune!!

I appreciate I'm very fortunate to get this time alone and want to make the most of it. I don't often have time away as DH works away a lot so I'm really looking forward to it.

I recently stayed at Nova hotel in canary wharf. Was about 180 per night (I've seen it cheaper, just depends on the day) Has a swimming pool, gym and sauna, resturant, bar and roof terrace with amazing views as it's 39 stories high! Walking distance to an indoor shopping centre with a food court (can't remember the name) Clean rooms, room service, free wifi. I thought it was great and a really good price!

Premier inn in Brixton is about £90/night in zone 2. It's straight down the Victoria line from Euston. It's very close to the tube, train and loads of buses and it is a brilliant vibrant place to stay with lots of amazing street food style restaurants.

I’m in London a lot for work and often eat on my own or travel around a bit if I’ve got time, no one will think anything of you being on your own ☺️ you can pick up cheap theatre tickets on the day from the booking offices and if you search online I’m sure you’ll find the website, sorry I really can’t remember it!

I work for a very lovely hotel chain, we have four 4 star hotels in London in great central locations. I would be happy to share my friends and family code with you so you get 30% off the price. I can’t be certain what the room rates are (they can be quite expensive given it’s 4 star so just being honest) so not sure if it will help you but I know the hotels are safe for a lone female traveller and a really nice standard.