London is one of the most welcoming cities to visit for solo travelers. With so many young tourists and backpackers, it’s a great place to meet new people and discover a unique culture.
With an open, friendly and cosmopolitan atmosphere, a visit to London offers all the perfect ingredients to make for the trip of a lifetime.
Where to Stay
The key to traveling solo is finding the right accommodation that will connect you to fellow travelers. London leads the way when it comes to offering a new generation of hostels that are designed to bring together backpackers and young travelers from all over the world.
SoHostel is one of those places. Located right in the heart of London in the bustling Soho district, this clean and modern hostel has an amazing bar/lounge and hosts special events all week long, from Karaoke and open mic night, to live music and band performances. Plus they organize a free walking tour of London, a great way to meet new people.
If you’re looking for something a little more private then stay in St Christopher’s Inn at the village which is the UK’s first capsule hostel. These Japanese style mini capsules provide everything you need for a great nights sleep, and make you fresh and ready to spend the day exploring London!
What to do During DayTime
Borough Market
There’s nothing like exploring Borough Market, the oldest of London’s food markets that has been operating for over 1,000 years! This is the place to go to experience the sights, smells and tastes of quality London food. You’ll find everything from meat, dairy and fish vendors to bustling cafes, restaurants and bars. Many of the stalls will allow you to sample their produce.
Visit The Sky Garden
One of the coolest places to hang out is on the top floor of London’s Sky Garden. Take in panoramic views from the tallest public garden in the capital. On a clear day, you can see up and down the River Thames, with great views of many iconic sights like Big Ben, the London Eye and Tower Bridge.
Chill out at the City Garden Bar, which serves some of the best cocktails in town, and wander through the beautiful green spaces. Entrance to Sky Garden is free, although you have to reserve a ticket in advance to get up there.
Head to Shoreditch
London’s East End is considered to be the up and coming part of the city, and Shoreditch is its epicenter. It’s best to visit on the weekend when the streets are bustling and the bars are full of young local Londoners. As you walk around, you’ll notice lots of colourful street art, including works by the famous artist Banksy, and this is a real hipster area.
Colombia Road Flower Market is open every Sunday, and is a great place to chill out and spend a few hours. Spitalfields Market and Brick Lane are also must-see places in Shoreditch, with lots of interesting market stalls and boutique shops open throughout the day.
Rent-a-bike
London has 75 municipal bike station dotted all over the capital and renting a bike is a really fun way to see the sights if the weather is good. Simply find your nearest bike docking station and pay a £2 hiring fee. This gives you 30 minutes of free biking and you then pay £2 for each additional 30 minutes.
Go biking along the Southbank of the River Thames, where there’s a bike path that passes some of the major sights like Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and the London Eye. Alternatively, ride the bike into one of the beautiful royal parks such as Hyde Park or Regents Park, where there are hundreds of cycle paths that wind through the landscaped lawns and beautiful woodland.
What to Do At Night in London
Bars
Britain is famous for its drinking culture, with pubs and bars dotted all over London and across the UK. Sit down at a local pub to taste some of the best booze whilst at the same time meeting friendly locals.
With great food and a welcoming atmosphere, pubs are a great place to eat evening meals when traveling solo. You’ll find a pub located on practically every street corner, and to this day pubs play a key part in the British way of life. The pubs in Kensington are some of the best.
Clubs
Head to Camden for the best clubs and nightlife. One of the most popular places isKoko, which first opened its doors over 100 years ago. Koko is a major part of the Camden music scene, with legendary past performers including Madonna, the Rolling Stones and Elton John!
After attending a gig, head to Camden Market, where the food stalls and restaurants are open until late, and the area is packed with young people chilling and having a great night out.
Night at the Museum
London is famous for its world class museum’s that offer free entrance to the public. What most people don’t know is that the museums sometimes open late and put on unique and fun experiences for adult visitors.
The Natural History Museum runs regular after hour events, including exhibitions, talks and science demos on the last Friday of each month. They even run sleepovers, called Dino Snores for Adults, several times throughout the year. Enjoy a 3-course meal, live music, stand up comedy, shows and quizzes and then spend the night sleeping under the dinosaurs!
The Science Museum also run adult-only late night events on the last Wednesday of every month and are themed around all types of science-related subjects, from exploring the planets of our solar system to juggling and hula hoop workshops!
Theatre & Concerts
Watch a play or musical in the West End of London, with lots of theatre shows taking place every night. Some of the classic productions that have been showing for decades include Les Miserables, Wicked and Mousetrap.
London is also one of Europe’s most important cities for musical events, so make sure to look out for major rock concerts and festivals that take place throughout the year.
Photography
Check out some great photography of London to get inspired for your visit!
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