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I love travelling on my own so I wanted to share my list of things to do on your own in London. There are loads of things to do in the UK’s capital city alone, whether you live locally or you’re just visiting.
From markets and museums, to places to eat, there are so many ways to have fun in London as a solo traveller. Read on for some of my favourite things to do when I visit the city alone.
Things to do on your own in London
London is the perfect city to visit when you’re on your own as there is absolutely no shortage of things to do here. Here are some of my favourites.
1. Take a free walking tour
A free walking tour is one of my favourite ways to see any city, especially if it’s my first time there. It’s a great way to get your bearings and learn more about the history and culture of a city.
Lots of people take free walking tours by themselves so you won’t feel out of place. This one takes in some of the best sights in London including St James’s Palace, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey.
Book a free walking tour of London
2. Old Spitalfields Market
There are loads of cool markets in the city and the Old Spitalfields Market is one of my favourites thanks to its amazing selection of food. It doesn’t really get going properly until about 11am but it’s full of quirky fashion stalls, arts and crafts and food from around the world.
Taking a wander round here is one of the best things to do in London on your own.
3. Sightseeing
There is A LOT to see in London so, if you’re on a budget, you can spend hours just wandering around the city and spotting landmarks as you go. If this is your first time in London, you’re going to want to tick off the big sights first.
Visit Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, and the London Eye. As you’re by yourself, there’s no one to hurry you along!
4. Little Venice
Little Venice is a lovely part of London for an afternoon stroll by the canal, especially if the sun is shining. Hop off the tube at Warwick Avenue to explore.
I strolled from here to Paddington and it was really peaceful, not like being in central London at all. I also stumbled across some cute barge bars – Darcie and May Green – on the canal in Paddington and the London Shell Co. where you can eat fresh British seafood on a tour of the canals.
5. Harry Potter free walking tour
I did this Harry Potter free walking tour when I was visiting London on my own and it became one of my favourite things to do in the capital. The tour takes you around some of the filming locations from the movies and some of the places that it’s said have inspired the books.
As I said before, walking tours are great to do when you’re on your own as there will be lots of other solo people there too. If you’re on a budget, a free walking tour is perfect as you just give what you want at the end of the tour.
Book a Harry Potter free walking tour
6. Portobello Market
The market on Portobello Road is the world’s largest antiques market and is open seven days a week with various different stalls. Saturday is the main day with a full street market, antiques stall, and new fashion stalls.
7. Visit the Notting Hill bookshop
I recently stayed in Notting Hill which got me thinking about the film starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts. You can visit the bookshop from the film which was a prominent filming location.
The bookshop is really cute with plenty of gorgeous books for children and adults. Unlike the film, it’s a general bookshop, rather than a travel bookshop, but there is a travel section inside.
8. Climb the O2
If you’re looking for something adventurous to do then Up at the O2 is for you. Going to the top of the O2 is so much fun and you get some fantastic views from the top.
It’s something that will give you a real rush and sense of achievement once you’ve finished. You won’t feel out of place going by yourself as there will be a group of you and chances are there’ll be someone else on their own too.
9. Thamesjet Speedboat Experience
Something else to get the adrenaline pumping when you’re on your own in London is the Thamesjet Speedboat Experience. This is an exhilarating ride in a speedboat along the River Thames.
You’ll travel at break-neck speeds through the water, twisting and turning as you go. It’s so much fun!
Book the Thamesjet Speedboat Experience
10. Walk along the South Bank
One of my favourite things to do when the weather is good in London is to take a stroll down the South Bank. Not only is it a lovely riverside walk, but there are lots of sights to see along the way including the Tate Modern, the Golden Hinde Galleon Ship, and Tower Bridge.
You can grab a coffee to walk with from one of the cafes here too.
11. Jubilee Market, Covent Garden
This is a slightly smaller market than some of the others on my list, but it’s a great place to pick up some souvenirs or just to have a browse while you’re exploring Covent Garden.
12. Vintage shopping at Brick Lane
If you’re looking for some antique treasures, vintage fashion, and some delicious street food then Brick Lane Market is the spot for you. There are three separate markets here that you can explore: Backyard Market, Brick Lane Vintage Market, and Ely’s Yard Food Trucks.
13. The British Museum
You can spend a good few hours looking around the incredible exhibits in the British Museum. The exhibits cover over 2 million years of human history and culture with everything from textiles and pottery to statues and artwork.
My favourite exhibit is the Egyptian one which has so many artefacts in it. The British Museum is free to get into too.
14. Take a trip on the London Eye
To get some of the best views in London, head to the London Eye. It’s the highest ferris wheel in Europe and provide panoramic view over the city.
On this 30-minute ride, you’ll see some of the most famous sights in the city from above. You can get standard tickets or skip the line tickets, which I would recommend if you’re visiting during a busy time.
15. Hop on hop off Thames river cruise
Not only is the hop-on-hop-off Thames river cruise a great way to see the city’s sights and learn more about them, but it’s also a good way to travel around London. There are four stops on the tour and you can get on and off as many times as you like throughout the day.
You can sit inside or outside and there’s an audio guide to tell you more as you cruise.
Book a hop-on-hop-off Thames river cruise
16. The Changing of the Guard
Pop down to Buckingham Palace on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, or Sunday from 10.45am to see the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. Another fun, free activity in London, the Changing of the Guard is a ceremony where the responsibility for the military security of the palace is passed over.
17. Explore Covent Garden
Exploring Covent Garden is another fun thing to do alone in London. There are theatres and markets here, as well as some beautiful shops, and plenty of places to eat and drink.
You’ll also find some fantastic street performers doing things like juggling and dancing in the area outside the Market Building.
If you’re visiting London at Christmas, then Covent Garden is an absolute must-visit. It’s so festive, with the biggest Christmas tree in London and the snow every hour.
18. Discover street art in Shoreditch
Shoreditch is one of my favourite areas in London as it’s got such a cool vibe. There are plenty of colourful murals to see in this East London borough so have a wander round and see what you can spot.
19. Wander round St James’s Park
Right next to Buckingham Palace, St James’s Park is a green space in central London that’s full of different birdlife and beautiful gardens. There’s a lake running through the middle of the park with a bridge and you can get some stunning views of London from here.
You’ll also see plenty of squirrels running around which was one of my favourite memories from my first trip to London when I was little.
20. Green Park
Another of London’s beautiful green spaces is Green Park, near Buckingham Palace. When it’s warm, it’s the perfect place to take a picnic for one or take a break from sightseeing.
There are places in the park to get food and drinks.
21. Go shopping
If you’ve got money to spend then there’s nowhere better than London for shopping. You’ll find whatever you’re looking for in London, including designer clothing, vintage finds, souvenirs, and food.
Head to Oxford Street and New Bond Street for some high end designer shops and don’t miss the epic department stores like Harrods and Selfridges. Visiting them is an experience in itself, you don’t even need to buy anything.
22. King’s Cross
King’s Cross has really improved over the last few years and there’s now plenty to do there if you’re on your own. You can wander along the canal, or sit on the giant steps and watch the narrow boats go by if the weather’s good.
There’s also Coal Drops Yard where there are shops, bars and restaurants which is a cool thing to do on your own in London. I love it here at Christmas as they sometimes have curling!
23. See a show
I love seeing a musical in London’s West End and it’s a great place to go on your own as you can sit and enjoy it. It can be difficult to find things to do on your own at night in London but this is a perfect solution.
There are musicals and shows to suit every taste from Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to Mamma Mia. My favourite show is Wicked – I’ve seen it three times!
24. Wander round Belgravia
This central London neighbourhood is a great place to explore on your own and it can be your first port of call if you arrive in London at Victoria Station. There are beautiful mews streets, pretty squares, and gorgeous shops to explore.
My favourite time to visit Belgravia is in the autumn when the shops and cafes all have beautiful autumnal displays.
25. Take an art class
If you fancy a more hands-on activity then a painting class could be a good option. It’s a great place to go on your own as there will likely be others there on their own too and you can concentrate on your painting if you feel nervous.
I’ve done a sip and paint class at the London Art Bar where we painted and drank wine and I really enjoyed it.
26. Chinatown
Chinatown in London is the largest Chinatown in the UK and offers plenty of delicious food to try. You can pick up some dim sum or dumplings or, if you’re self-catering, visit one of the Chinese supermarkets to cook something when you get back to your accommodation.
Where to stay on your own in London
From budget hotel chains to hostels, there are plenty of places to stay by yourself in London. I usually go for something that won’t break the bank because you don’t tend to spend a lot of time in your room on city breaks.
Point A Hotel
Without a doubt my favourite area in London is Shoreditch. It’s full of cool bars, great places to eat and arty types. Plus, there’s street art for days.
Point A Hotel Liverpool Street is just a stone’s throw away from Shoreditch High Street, Liverpool Street tube station and Spitalfields Market – a great base from which to explore the capital alone. Point A Hotel Liverpool Street is really swish and high tech with mood lighting and air con in the rooms as well as Hypnos beds and I can honestly say that I slept so well, compared to when I’m usually away from home by myself.
It was so super comfy that I actually didn’t want to get up to explore London! The rooms are pretty compact but they have been so clever with space, as you can store your suitcases underneath the beds and there are cupboards and cubby holes for storage in all sorts of places like by the bed and underneath the mirror
And speaking of mirrors, there were three big mirrors in total which I sometimes find lacking in budget hotels and so it was perfect for getting ready in the mornings and evenings. Without a doubt my very favourite part of the stay was the breakfast – it was incredible! Dubbed a continental breakfast, which can sometimes mean a couple of slices of toast and jam, there was so much choice.
Sweet and savoury pastries, bread rolls, fruit, cereal, yogurts were all on offer as well as hot drinks and juices. I feel like the presentation made it even better – everything was split down into individual portions in adorable little glass jars.
Top tip – opt for the bacon and cheese pastry, it’s absolutely delicious!
Book Point A Hotel Liverpool Street
Wombats City Hostel, Tower Hamlets
Wombats City Hostel is one of my favourite places to stay when I visit London by myself. If you’re on a budget, you can book a bed in a dorm room from around £30 a night.
If you don’t fancy sharing a room, you can also book a private room.
It’s got a great location in Tower Hamlets, just a short walk from several tube stations, making anywhere in London very accessible. It’s also got some fantastic social areas including a coffee shop and a bar, where you can meet and mingle with fellow travellers.
Onefam Hostel, Notting Hill
If you’d prefer to stay west, then Onefam Hostel in Notting Hill could be a good choice for you. This hostel has a younger, more party vibe and lots of social events, so it’s perfect if you’re travelling alone and looking to make friends.
They have a family dinner every night and they host different tours throughout London in the day time. I stayed in a dorm room here with just three other people and felt very safe.
It’s got a really friendly atmosphere and I spoke to lots of the other guests staying there too.
So there you have it – things to do on your own in London. I hope you enjoy these when you visit the city.
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