I went to the cinema by myself last night

[TeaAndCakeFTW]

And didn't self combust with embarrassment!

I always thought, yeah right, when people said they loved going by themselves, but I'm a bloody convert!

Really didn't feel self conscious or care that I looked like I was the only one on my own. Although I did sit right at the back. Next time I'll sit centre row, a few rows in, I think I didn't get the best effect from the sound where I sat yesterday.

But I'll definitely be going again.

What else is great to do by yourself/can I discover?

I'm not sure why it makes others uncomfortable but some people cannot help themselves but to point out you are on your own.
I was once sitting on a bench in woodland enjoying the peace and birdsong and an older couple asked if I was okay!
Need some witty replies!

I love going to the cinema on my own, my local one is an Everyman so I have something to eat and a drink while I am watching.

I'm currently sitting in the cinema cafe bar reading this thread! Love a solo cinema trip and I really want to see this film with limited screenings so I'm fucked if I'm going to miss it because nobody can come with me.

Theatre trips are the next step OP!

I do too and am a social person otherwise.

i really enjoy it and think it’s great. You can’t even speak when you are at the cinema don’t very much seems like a solo activity anyway

I don't get the embarrassment factor. I'd be more embarrassed to be the kind of person who doesn't do stuff alone! I have 3 kids and Dh and a too busy life so I love being alone.

I go for coffee a lot maybe twice a week. I sometimes go to the cinema but I'm not a huge movie fan.

Once a year I take a weekend 'off' and go alone somewhere involving an overnight stay. I usually go to the country and hike and book dinner in the hotel I'm staying in but sometimes a restaurant. Last year I went to a tourist town about an hour away and pretended to be a tourist, I even bought tacky tourist souvenirs and went to a music session in a pub and joined in a singalong. Once I flew to a resort in Spain for 3 nights and ate out alone every night, took long walks along the promenade and drank cocktails by the pool. It was bliss.

I love going to restaurants, theatre and cinema by myself; particularly the latter. For some reason, if accompanied, I get anxious if the other person / people are enjoying themselves. If going to a restaurant / pub I take a book and revel in some alone time. I'm obviously polite re any interactions - usually with staff - but rebuff any other intrusive approaches.

I love going to the cinema on my own. It means I can sink into the film and enjoy it for what it is without worrying if my cinema mate is enjoying it as well. I also love going to the pub on my own. I travel on public transport for my commute so every evening take 20 minutes out before getting on the bus to sit in a new pub, have a small glass of wine and just read a chapter or two of my book.

I love cinema on my own! I also really like going to a bar in the early evening on my own with a book. I often sit at the counter, so I can chat a few words with the bartender and then order a glass of wine and read a book. It's quite liberating, you need to pick a nice kind of wine bar. But it's definitely a great way to have a glass of wine without opening a bottle at ho.me !

Well done for taking the leap OP and what a great thread.

i went to the theatre on my own this week and could see at least another 4 or 5 solos from my seat. I’ve another theatre visit planned next month - in this case it’s a more expensive affair involving travelling another city and the faff and expense of finding someone who would be interested/available was just to much hassle.

i also love galleries and museums on my own and plan to do more solo travel when I retire next year. I like the idea of going to concerts alone as my DP isn’t a big music person, however what puts me off is that there is often a lot of faffing before gigs really get going. At least with the theatre and cinema you know what the start time is, with gigs you have to hang around wondering when the main act will start.

My DD in her mid 20s did her first solo cinema trip recently and I’m pleased that she’s following my lead!

I've lived alone now for two and a half years but it's really only the last twelve months I've started venturing out on my own and I'm totally hooked ! Theatre, cinema, pub lunches with my dog, and next week I'm staying in a dog friendly hotel for a weekend and visiting a couple of galleries, I love the freedom of not having to consider someone else's likes and dislikes and do what the hell I like 🤣

I sometimes like going to the pub alone. Having a pint or two and reading. Sometimes chatting a bit to the staff, regulars or just randoms.

When I was working visiting homes in East London in the evenings I often found a pub to sit and do my admin and have a Guinness after my shift. Also I'd always need a wee!

Some of them were pretty dire tbh! A lot of male heads swivelling when a lone 30 yo woman comes in to an incredibly insalubrious looking estate pub at 10pm.

But I always enjoy it. Nobody was ever rude or actively unpleasant. The ladies toilets were sometimes a bit on the whiffy side to say the least. Which was a bit scary when they seemed to have zero female customers?!

I even occasionally got some old gent to buy me a pint! Haha.

I did this once. Was a nearly empty cinema. Myself and one other. Just as the film started two men came in and sat down right next to me. Laughing and joking and making noises the whole time. Made me feel very uncomfortable. The entire cinema was empty. And they choose to say next to me a women on their own. Never again

I've been a couple of times to see live screenings of the Royal Ballet.

@Andtheworldwentwhite

Did you not move seats, or complain to the staff?

I'm sorry you had that experience, it shouldn't have happened. I'm even more sorry that it has put you off going again

I like doing lots of things on my own. I go for a walk or bike ride alone very frequently. I also like going to museums, stately homes etc on my own and I spent a solo day at the zoo recently.
I like doing all those things with other people too, but there's something nice about being on your own, doing everything at your own pace and not needing to think about anyone else. I don't think there's anything strange or embarrassing about doing things on your own.

I love going to the cinema, theatre or to eat on my own. I get anxious if other people are involved - even husband - if they're enjoying it, comfortable, food ok etc. My problem but really only feel relaxed if on my own.

Honestly, eating out alone is a lovely experience! No one looks at you funny. Lovely glass of something you fancy, delicious plate of food and people watching or a book! It's fab.

I like going to a nice pub/bar alone and settling in with a book or my laptop for some writing. Galleries are good, too, then a nice cup of tea and some lunch afterwards. The theatre, too. Long hikes with a picnic.