Ideas for first time solo (anxious) traveller UK

[SueMacD22]

I’m in my mid-fifties and would like to get away for a few midweek days in February (in UK) and it will be the first time going on my own. I live in Ipswich but happy to drive to a location.
Preferably a town with lots of things to do in the surrounding area such as visiting stately homes, castles, museums etc. A town that’s not too crowded or busy as I suffer with anxiety and feel very self-conscious going into places to eat by myself so not too touristy. A big ask, I know, but would appreciate any advice. Thank you in advance.

Well for a start avoid half-term. Winchester, Salisbury or Canterbury might fit your requirements.

Check the opening hours of Stately homes etc because some run limited opening, or are closed completely, over the winter.
Maybe look around Ripon / Harrogate / Knaresborough area and that puts you within reach of York too?
Touristy places are actually good if you're anxious or self-conscious because a lot of other people are tourists and you'll blend in. I think smaller places that don't get a lot of visitors can feel more uncomfortable if you're not local and travelling alone.

I went to Buxton on my own and loved it, it was big enough to have lots to do but not too touristy. I am pretty happy in my own company but everyone was really welcoming and I never felt uncomfortable, I think I may have done somewhere bigger. I stayed in an AirBnB which was a room in a lady's house so there was someone who knew I was around, but she let me have my own space, just an idea if a hotel feels daunting. She was also great for tips on what to do / where to go etc... I have a DP but loved going away alone, I hope you enjoy whatever you do.

I'd echo the PP who said that touristy areas may actually be better if you're nervous about being somewhere on your own. In February, outside of half term (make sure you check term dates for wherever you go as they can vary across the country), such areas are unlikely to be very busy. That said, I'm sure you'll be fine anywhere.
I'm around your age and also suffer from anxiety but have had a number of solo breaks. Try to remember that, although you know you feel anxious, no-one else will. Instead, they're more likely to see you as a confident, independent person, precisely because you are doing things on your own. When I first holidayed alone, I was surprised to see just how many other women were doing the same. It's just that marketing and advertising tend to ignore us!
Have a great time wherever you go.

In February nowhere is going to be really crowded with visitors, though check when school holidays are to avoid them. Also check winter opening hours of museums.

Derby might fit your needs well, it's a compact town, so easy to get around, with various museums and galleries in the centre, plenty of restaurants to choose from, and a range of hotels.

Nearby there are some stately homes, including Kedleston Hall, and Chatsworth of course. If the weather is good you could take a trip into the scenic Peak District, though there's plenty to do in town if the weather is poor.
It isn't too far from where you live, so no long intimidating journey alone.

I’d agree on the Buxton/Derbyshire area. Look at the activities in Buxton, there’s a theatre, tourist tram and loads of interesting shops. You can even get a bus to Chatsworth and Bakewell.

Maybe somewhere at the top of the Cotswolds e.g. Stow on the Wold, Chipping Norton or Broadway. You’d be within easy driving distance of Stratford Upon Avon, Blenheim Palace, Warwick Castle and countless other good days out.

Oxford is lovely. Not overly busy compared to somewhere like London, but still a lot of tourists, which will make you feel less alone as a solo traveller.

What about a coach trip? I know quite a few solo travelers who go on these. There’s an itinerary (focus) and you’ll have company at meal times.
Plus, you just pay your money and turn up. Takes a lot of stress out of those first few times.

I did a few of these when I first started out on my solo adventures until I felt confident enough to go it alone and “do my own thing”. Now I love to book a self-catering holiday let or caravan and just come and go as I please. Honestly, nobody bats an eyelid.

If you think about it, how often do you look at people walking around places and think oh look at that single/solo traveller? They might not be, they might work there, they might be running errands, they might have a hubby sat in a pub because trawling the shops bores him rigid. Nobody thinks anything of it.

I’d say the more touristy the better initially, until you find your feet and your confidence grows (it will). A more touristy destination will have lots of other to solo travelers and you won’t stick out like a sore thumb!

Go for it!

Edinburgh. Went solo there last February. It was fantastic.

@SueMacD22
@squashyhat has made a good call with Salisbury.

It is a tourist town, but not excessively touristy and also in February won’t be excessive.

There are plenty of cafes and pubs/bars of various types with outside seating if it’s a good day and a few with cosy fireplaces if it’s not a good day

Stonehenge is the big tourist pull, which is outside of Salisbury and the Cathedral in the centre which is surrounded by ‘interesting’ things in the Salisbury close with art installations on the grounds, and museums within the close.

The town has interesting architecture, with some more obvious than others - a few shops have had historic elements kept as ‘features’ over the years, but if you look up above the ground floor shop fittings then you see a lot more history hiding just above normal eye levels.

If you don’t mind a room with the basics, and you hit the right timings then the cathedral college rents out spare accommodation (including access to their free parking)

sarumcollegehospitality.co.uk/guest-rooms/

Stonehenge has a few choices on how it can be viewed.
The worst view is to drive past on the A303, and it’s a real pain to be behind drivers who slow down to stare at the stones.
The proper way to view is to go via the visitors centre and pay for ‘entry’. This allows you to walk around the stones, with two options of the wider path or a more expensive option to get a bit closer.
For the visitors centre you need to arrive by tourist bus or drive yourself - both involve quite a walk to the stones unless you ‘upgrade’ to the shuttle bus.

travel-expertly.com/should-you-visit-stonehenge-in-february/

There is also a free option to walk an even wider public path past the stones. Either from Amesbury or on a near by track
If you have a camper van, or are willing to have a very rough sleep on your car seat then it’s possible to stay overnight on a track nearby to the stones.
(Don’t quote me on that as the track is usually open, but the time I planned to do it English Heritage put barriers up and closed the track, which was subject to legal challenge then reopened - but closed off when I wanted to - I ‘slept’ on my passenger seat in a truckers layby getting woken by lorrys pulling in or leaving all night, drove to a nearer lay by in the early hours and walked to Stonehenge, missed the photo opportunity that I wanted to capture, missed the fallback photo opportunity of a sunrise due to mist dissipating the sunrise which meant the sky went from dark to light in an instant, but managed an assortment of photos of sheep and hi vis night security between the stones)

If you are interested in the unusual then you can do the ‘novichock tour’ (there isn’t a novichock tour, but you can follow the route that Putins ‘tourists’ took walking around Salisbury avoiding the tourist spots)

Apart from the Premier Inn, you can check these other cheap yet decent inns as well https://journeywoman.com/travel-tips/accommodation/journeywoman-travel-tips-where-to-stay-in-london-uk/ Also, if you feel anxious you want to consider or get connected with a local London tour guide for museum tours, city tours, and other activities. Though, most solo travelers opt to have spontaneous travel. I bet your anxiety would go away after this trip. Enjoy and stay safe!

If you go Salisbury way then Old Wardour Castle is beautiful.

How about Bath? It’s my favourite place in the world. A solo trip to Thermae Bath Spa would be heaven. It won’t be busy in February (but do book the spa in advance). I love just walking around the town, Royal Crescent etc

Winchester is also a good call (but not as nice as Bath, or as much to do)

Closer to Ipswich

You can drive up along the coast to southern Norfolk and Castle Rising (prison of Queen Isabella), then head west to Framlingham Castle (prison of Mary Queen of Scots- they have some of her needlework in the museum on site) Also a great pub just outside the entrance and a good cafe just down the high street.

Then if super adventurous keep heading west to Bury St Edmunds and Abbey Gardens…it’s the ruins of Runny Meade cathedral where the Magna Carta was signed, lots of good places to eat around there too.

Finally, just West & north of that is Ely which has a magnificent cathedral and a lovely market town with a river walk and antique shops.

Then if you go south from Ely, there is Angelsey Abbey which was converted to a stately home and is one of the most popular National Trust sites due to the huge gardens and woodland trails. Great cafe and gift shop there too. Then you can hop back on A14 and head east back to Ipswich.

Marking as I am planning a lot of solo trips next year!

Derbyshire is beautiful and has many options. Derby isn't a nice city apart from the cathedral area.

Cotswolds is lovely and I see plenty of solo walkers, no one would bat an eyelid if they saw you walking around a town or village, I mean I live here and I do it all the time! There are loads of nice coffee shops etc. Evening meals on your own can be more challenging, I prefer to self cater so I can buy nice food in and watch Netflix but these days so many women travel alone for work etc I really don't think anyone would care. Plenty to do here, walking, lots of National Trust places, Cirencester is nice and not too big, plenty of shopping/mooching opportunities.