Solo Day Trip

[GucciGin]

DH and kids are away for a few days. I can't go due to work commitments.

I do want to spend some time alone home, however I also wanted to do a day somewhere, thinking London.

If you had 1 day to so something, what would you do? x

which part of the country are you based in? e.g. I wouldn't go to London for the day because it's 5 hours away!!

Midlands. I can get to London within an hour.

I’m in the Highlands and would also choose London, the plane is about as quick as the train to Edinburgh or Glasgow 🥲

But on that note, how about Edinburgh? Depends how long a journey you would be happy with but you could check to see if you can get the LNER/Azuma trains from near where you are!

I'd go to an art exhibition, get a fab early lunch, a theatre matinee, window shopping

You can't do Edinburgh as a day trip from the Midlands by train, you'd spend all day on the train

I mean, it’s just a suggestion from a stranger on the internet but London to Edinburgh on the LNER is only 4.5 hours, less if you’re near another station on the line 🙂

So nine hours travelling for a day trip?

@OneLilacGuide RTFT - i was referring edinburgh to the midlands (which is quite a large place!). 9 hours travel for a day trip is hardly a fun way to spend a day!

Nice places to wander, in the Midlands -
Worcester
Lichfield
Stratford
if you want to mooch round shops / visit Cathedral / have some lunch / visit a small museum

If you want paid attractions - Ironbridge has about 6 museums / Black Country Museum / West Midlands Safari Park / Think Tank

If you want free - Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery / Barber Institute

Quaint - Cotswold Villages

Tewkesbury , Evesham , Pershore

Or do you fancy hiking ?

I am confused.. I was the one who suggested Edinburgh (from the Midlands) so yeah I have read the full thread..

@OneLilacGuide but you only mentioned Edinburgh-London and the OP is in the midlands so that journey time is irrelevant!!

That’s why I said less if you’re near another station on the line.

And my original comment was But on that note, how about Edinburgh? Depends how long a journey you would be happy with but you could check to see if you can get the LNER/Azuma trains from near where you are!

For me, a 4 hour journey (8 hour round trip) anywhere is normal and I do it often for the day but I appreciate not everyone thinks the same.

Time to stop derailing this thread 🙂

As you are midlands I would say Cheltenham, unless you actually live in Cheltenham of course! Great cafes, great people watching and just a different vibe to the shops.

York is definitely doable in a day Ive done it with my son a couple of times travelling from Peterborough. I feel like there's so much in London you can't do it all so have to pick one thing like go to a show and food, or pick an area like Battersea, or river cruise and a museum?

I’m going to Hampton Court for the day when DH and DS are away. It takes 35 minutes from London Waterloo.

London is great for solo travel, but as PP have said, you need to really focus and plan otherwise it'll feel like you're rushing about and not actually enjoying anything. Choose the main thing you want to see (eg a specific exhibition / museum / show / shop), and then focus on the area/s nearby. Don't try to hop around town too much as it's exhausting and you won't get a sense of London in a day anyway!
In terms of restaurants, there are lots of good options with counter seating, which is perfect for solo dining.

Could you go down to London one evening, stay over and have a full day before heading home? It would give you more time and maybe feel like more of a treat too.