Traveling alone is one of the best experiences you can have. It helps you grow, learn about yourself, the world around you, and how you deal with it. It shows not only who you are, but who you can be, and that is a fundamental piece of knowledge.
And apparently, London is one of the most loved places to travel by yourself!
There is a ton of things to do alone in London, and here’s a few!
First of all, well you can join our tours and make friends on the spot! Reminder that they are small tours, so you can actually share the experience with like-minded people!
Other than that:
1. Museums!
- Tate Britain for the classics, Tate Modern to marvel at the genius of Picasso, Pollock and Warhol;
- British Museum for the history lovers;
- The National Gallery for… anyone who has eyes??
- Horniman if you’re a bit of a weirdo and want to see a gigantic suffed walrus
- Cinema aficionado? Check out the London Cinema Museum!
What is good is that many of these are also free – see this article for more free things to do in London.
2. Markets!
- Borough Market: covered by one of our tours, this is a food market dating back to the 1300, and it’s the best place to pick and nibble among grocers, butchers, fishmongers, cheesemongers and delicatessen from all over the world
- Columbia Road Market: it’s Sunday and you don’t know what to do? Dive into the convivial atmosphere of this flower market, very loved by Londoners
- Camden Market is actually five markets bunched up between Camden Town and Chalk Farm. The main ones are The Lock Market, hosting independent makers together with a tiny street food market on the water, and the Stables Market with its more alternative style.
- Maltby Street Market: the question is not whether you’ll find something to eat, it is “how many stomachs have you brought?” This is a street food market for the foodies, by the foodies. A must.
- Portobello Road in Notting Hill (yes, like the movie) is an ensamble of five markets connected where you can find fresh produce, clothing, second hand goodies, a flea market and especially antiques. Colorful, pretty, a good saturday morning.
- Greenwich Market, like the Borough and Coven markets, is an indoor market with a bit of everything, it’s a good way to spend a few hours on a rainy day. Wondering what to do in London when it rains? Find it here!
Visit a park!
London has pleny of parks for you o take a stroll, explore and pack a little picnic for yourself to sit down and enjoy the good weather!
- See the roses in Regent’s Park and climb Primrose Hill for city views
- Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is packed with activities, if you want to do things
- Hyde Park is a hub of activity throughout the year. Enjoy the perfect lawns and tree-shaded avenues Kensington Gardens, part of Kensington Palace. Hire a deck chair and take peddle-boats out on the Serpentine from March to October!
- Holland Park is home to peacocks and the beautiful Kyoto Garden, a gift from the city of Kyoto to mark the friendship between England and Japan.
- Crystal Palace Park has pretty Victorian dinosaur sculptures, and so does Battersea Park!
Theater or Cinema!
London has plenty of cinemas to catch a film, old or new, at Prince Charles Cinema, or Ritzy Cinema built more than a century ago! Check out more in this article right here.
It’s with the theaters that London really shows off: from the classic Royal Opera House to the the unique experience of traditional pub theaters, we have it all! Just pick up a copy of Time Out from the Tube and check out the listings for pub theaters and indie theaters too! More about them here!
The final suggestion we have for you, traveler to traveler, is this:
Wake up, go grab some breakfast at Camden Lock Market, if you want, take a walk among the many stalls there to browse and do some shopping (best souvenirs), then, head to one of the museums listed – if you want to do more activities in a day, avoid the National Gallery or the British Museum because they take hours to truly enjoy.
When filled with art and knowledge, time to get some steps in, so stop by The Borough Market or The Street Food Union in Soho (which goes super duper vegan on Saturdays) or if it’s Sunday then Maltby or Southbank Centre Market to grab a take-away lunch to eat in your park of choice, like Hyde Park or Primrose Hill, to eat gazing at a view over the City! If you’re in Hyde Park, check out the activities and join them! You could also take an organized tour to visit the East End or London’s graffiti, or a boat tour of the Thames!
After that, you might want to stick around Hyde Park for open air concerts and shows, or grab the best seat at a cinema or theater and get an after-show drink. If you’re uncomfortable sitting at dinner alone, find a list of places where eating on your own is the norm, like Kiln or Normah’s, as recommended by Eater London.
In the end, it’s all about enjoying where you are; it’s your trip, your rules!