The Ultimate Guide to Solo Female Travel in London

This is a guest post by Alice.

London is one of my favourite cities in the world. I love the energy, the history, the famous sights, the skyscrapers, and the beautiful parks and gardens. It’s a city with so much to offer and it’s also one of the easiest cities to travel solo. 

I’ll be completely honest – I’m not typicaly a solo traveller. I usually explore the world with my fiance, but I recently got back from one of my first solo adventures and it was to London. I found everything so simple. From getting around the city to finding things to do, to finding places to eat. The whole experience was fantastic and I’m even planning another solo trip there soon!

So, if you plan on travelling to London alone, here are my top tips to make it as enjoyable as possible. Trust me, despite being a pretty big city, exploring London solo isn’t half as scary as it seems:

Best Places to Visit in London

There are lots of great places to visit in London – and I mean lots! The city is bustling with activity, from the infamous Buckingham Palace to the scenic London Eye. Here are a few places to add to your London bucket list.

Visit the Tower of London

The Tower of London is fantastic. Located on the north side of the Thames (near Tower Bridge), this historic structure was once part of London’s defences. You can see the Crown Jewels, the White Tower, the Battlements, a fairly gruesome torture exhibit, and much more. 

It can get pretty busy, so if you want to avoid the crowds, I recommend getting here early and visiting on a weekday, or book an early access tour.

Tickets aren’t cheap at £33.60 per adult. But if you enjoy history and want to dive into London’s past, there’s no better place to do it. Plus, you can see panoramic views over the Thames and Tower Bridge from the top.

Explore Westminster

When you see photographs of London, they’ll most likely have been taken from this area. If you’re exploring London solo, you can’t miss Westminster. It’s home to Big Ben, The London Eye, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, and much more. 

It’s almost always busy, so be extra careful with your belongings. But, there are always so many tourists that it’s pretty safe to visit solo. 

Get off at Westminster Station and you’ll be opposite the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. From there, you can walk across the bridge to the London Eye, or head past the Houses of Parliament to Westminster Abbey.

Top Tip: If you walk down towards the London Eye, cross the road, and walk down the stairs on the other side of the bridge, you’ll come across a great little photography spot. I recommend coming here on a weekday or early morning as it can get quite crowded. 

Visit the Natural History Museum

This attraction combines three of my favourite things: history, beautiful buildings, and free attractions! It’s one of the prettiest museums in the city and is completely free to enter. You’ll need to book tickets online though (the queue to get in is pretty horrendous otherwise),

Inside, you’ll find a huge array of exhibits all divided into different areas. You’ll find birds in one section, big cats in another, insects, fish and sea creatures, and much more. You’ll also be able to see a huge whale skeleton when you enter the museum.

It can easily take about half a day to see everything in the Natural History Museum. Especially if you want to read all the information, attend the shows, and explore all the interactive exhibits. But, this as it’s one of the best free things to do in London – and you can’t beat a freebie, right?

Admire the views from Sky Garden

Speaking of freebies, Sky Garden is another incredible London attraction that won’t cost you a penny. Located just a 15-minute walk from Tower Bridge, this gorgeous spot has grown in fame in recent years. But it’s not hard to see why!

It’s London’s highest public garden and, with a range of flowers, trees, and tropical plants, it’s literally a tropical paradise in the sky. You may also find a queue to get in here, even if you have booked a ticket (which I highly recommend), but it’s worth it for the stunning views over the Thames and Tower Bridge. You could even grab a bite to eat or a cocktail with a view as well!

Walk along the Thames

The most famous river in England, the Thames is pretty hard to miss since many of the city’s top attractions are perched along its banks. Going for a stroll along the riverbank is one of the easiest ways to see a lot of London. 

If you don’t mind long walks, start from Tower Bridge and walk all the way down to the London Eye. It’ll take about 40 minutes, but you’ll pass some iconic landmarks along the way such as Millenium Bridge (a great one for Harry Potter fans), Shakespeare’s Globe, and the HMS Belfast.

Eat street food in Camden Market

Camden Market is one of my favourite spots in the city to grab lunch. I always remember coming here with my mum when I was growing up. We’d wander around the stalls but always end up buying a big bowl of Chinese noodles. It was delicious!

But, there’s lots more than Chinese food here. You’ll be tempted by pizza, hot dogs, tacos, smoothies, deep-fried chicken burgers, Sri Lankan curries, Katsu chicken, and much more. Then, don’t even get me started on the sweets! If you love street food, you will fall in love with Camden Market.

Visit Notting Hill

From the vibrant, grungy Camden to the pretty, pastel Notting Hill, this area of London has much more of an upscale vibe. This is where you’ll find the famous Portobello Market, historic gems like Alice’s Antique Store, and film scene favourites like the pink house from Love Actually. 

One of the best things to do here is to simply have a wander. Explore colourful streets like Lancaster Road and Farm Place and visit the gorgeous Holland Park where you’ll find the Japanese-inspired Kyoto Garden.

How to Get Around London

One of the things I love most about travelling solo in London is how easy it is to get around. The London Underground can get you anywhere within the city centre and the overground can get you to the outskirts and other places in the UK. 

Unfortunately, train strikes are pretty common in London, but the buses (although slower) can get you anywhere the trains can.

For the Underground and London buses, you can buy an Oyster Card or your debit card to pay. An Oyster Card is a prepaid card that you can buy at the larger stations. The card itself costs £7, but you can then top it up every time you travel to London and then swipe it at every station. You can also just swipe your debit card (or credit card, Apple Pay etc) on the ticket barriers. 

There are also zone caps for transport in London. These caps mean you’ll never pay more than a certain amount per day for your travel. As a tourist in London, you’ll typically be in Zones 1-3, meaning your daily spend will cap out at £9.60, no matter how often you use the underground, buses, the DLR, trams, and light trains.

Top Tip: Remember to always use the same method to pay for your public transport in London. If you use different methods, for example, Apple Pay for one payment and then your contactless debit card for another, they won’t count towards the cap and you may be charged more.

How to Meet Others while Travelling Alone in London

In such a busy city, it can be tricky to meet new people, especially when everyone always seems to be in a hurry. But, here are my favourite ways to make friends when travelling alone in London.

Group tours

There are so many tours available in London, from free walking tours to double-decker bus tours with afternoon tea. If you’re looking to meet new people, I suggest walking tours as you’re much more likely to be speaking to others during these.

Hostels

Hostels are a great way to meet people from all over the world. Most solo travelers will stay in hostels either for the affordability or to make new friends. There are lots of great hostels in London (such as Wombats or St Christopher’s Inns) and many of them have evening activities, games rooms, or bars which are great ways to be sociable. You can also simply strike up a conversation with someone in your dorm room.

Pubs

This may seem like an unusual way to meet people when travelling, but the British love their pub culture. People will often head down to the pub after work and it’s often easy enough to start a conversation with someone at the bar. 

How to Stay Safe in London

It’s so important to stay safe in London, especially if you’re traveling alone. The city is generally a very safe place to visit and you’re not likely to encounter any violent crime. Follow these simple rules to ensure your safety in London:

Don’t flash your valuables

Like many cities in Europe, the most common problem in London is pickpocketing. I’ve personally never been pickpocketed in London and I’ve visited the city countless times. However, a girl in my dorm room on my last trip had her phone stolen. So, unfortunately, it does happen. 

The only thing you can really do is to be careful with your belongings, especially in crowded areas. Ensure anything valuable is hidden or secure. For instance, if you have a camera, put it away when you’re not using it and ensure the strap is securely around your wrist when you are. 

Likewise, invest in a secure bag. Many backpacks have lockable compartments and, if you’re putting things in our pockets, ensure those pockets have zips.

Stick to touristy areas after dark – avoid alleys and back streets 

London is a touristy city, but if you head slightly off the beaten track, you’ll find a lot of alleyways, and back streets that might be less secure. Try to avoid these at night if possible and stick to the busier, well-lit areas.

Be wise to scams

The amount of times I’ve walked past crowds of tourists watching “magic tricks” on Westminster Bridge that are actually people scamming you for money is unbelievable. Steer clear of anyone trying to offer you a free flower or a free bracelet, only use registered taxis, and always use a VPN when connecting to free wifi.

Stay in regular contact with friends and family

This is so important when you travel solo, but keeping in contact with loved ones back home can help ensure you stay safe. Always tell someone where you are going and if you’ve arrived safely and that way, if something were to happen to you, they’d be able to report it quicker.

Where to Find the Best Food in London

London is amazing for food. It has incredible restaurants with cuisines from all around the world, from traditional British fare to intriguing fusion dishes. Here are a few of the top places to eat in London.

Street markets

One of the best places to eat if you’re solo travelling in London is the street markets. I’ve already mentioned my deep love for Camden Market – honestly, if you don’t visit here, you’re missing out – but there are many other markets in London.

I recommend visiting Borough Market (my second favourite spot after Camden), Pop in Brixton, Old Spitalfields Market, KERB, and Seven Dials Market in Neals Yard. But, don’t limit yourself to this. There are lots of street markets in London and it’s always worth having a look around if you find one.

Food Courts

Another great way to find a huge variety of cuisines under one roof is to explore London’s food court scene. 

Food courts are a little like street markets except it’s much less of a grab-and-go and more of a school-canteen-style scenario. Nonetheless, you still have a lot of choices and these are usually pretty budget-friendly too. 

Some of my favourite food courts include Kingly Court, Mercato Mayfair, and Eataly. 

Chinatown

For authentic Asian cuisine in London, go to Chinatown. There is a range of great food, great prices, and such a vibrant atmosphere. 

The people who own restaurants here tend to be immigrants who have moved to London. You’ll find Chinese, Malaysian, Indian, Vietnamese and many more nationalities here, along with authentic and delicious food.

Traditional pubs

Lastly, you can’t go wrong with a pub in London. Many of these establishments date back years and serve a delightful array of British classics. Fish and chips, steak and ale pie, sausage and mash, and a traditional roast dinner are usually on the menu, so it’s a great option if you’re looking for a hearty English dinner.

The Best Time to Visit London

You can visit London all year round, so the best time to visit depends on what you want to see. 

November to December is the Christmas season in London. The city comes alive with festive lights, decorations, markets, and events. Plus, it’s home to one of the best New Year’s Eve fireworks displays in Europe. So, if you’re feeling festive, this is a great time to visit. 

Spring can be a bit rainy, but prices will be lower than in summer and crowds will also be smaller (excluding Easter and the Bank Holidays in May). For the best chances of good spring weather, visit between late April to May. 

Summer in London is always busy and expensive. But you’ll also find lots going on such as festivals, outdoor cinemas, and events. If you can deal with the prices and the crowds, you’ll also find the best weather in summer. 

However, my personal favourite time to visit London is in the Autumn. Late September to October is perfect with lower prices and smaller crowds compared to the summer months, and still sunny weather. Plus, the autumn foliage in some of the parks and gardens is beautiful.

If you love exploring big cities, you can’t go wrong with a solo trip to London. There’s always something going on and such a range of things to do. From huge museums to boat cruises to historical landmarks, skyline viewpoints, and beautiful parks and gardens, you can stay in London for a month and still not see everything. It’s also a fairly safe city with plenty of budget options and free things to do for solo travellers. Overall, you can’t go wrong with a solo trip to London and I hope this guide convinces you to book the flights!

About the author: Alice is the UK travel blogger behind Adventures of Alice. Through her blog and social media, she shares stories, itineraries, photography, and practical tips for exploring big cities and the great outdoors. Alice took her first trip abroad in 2016 and has since then been on a non-stop adventure! She created Adventures of Alice to inspire people to explore the unexplored and to show that budget-friendly travel can still be luxurious.