7 Best Things To Do Solo in London, England

This post has been a long time coming, and I can’t believe I’ve never written one before. England is a country I’ve flown into more than most, and even if I’m staying in London for one night or for a week, I’ve always had the best time.

These are things I’ve loved to do solo, and I hope you will too.

Table of Contents

Get Afternoon Tea

This has been one of my favorite things to do while in London. I find it easiest to dine with a companion at one of the more famous spots, like Fortnum and Mason, The Ritz, or Claridge’s. However, it’s very easy to grab afternoon tea at a hotel, bar, or even local tea house for one!

My all time favorite tea spot is Fortnum and Mason but, I must confess, I haven’t had tea anywhere else. That said, I have a list the next time I go to this beloved city. I’ll also add that, many tour companies offer afternoon tea rides on a bus, river boat on the Thames, or a river cruise with the London Eye add-on. You can also book afternoon tea tours at The Rubens at Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace Gardens, Afternoon Tea at The Milestone Hotel London, and a vintage bus that stops at Harrods for Cream Tea. These are perfect if you want to experience the whole affair solo but not completely alone.

If you’d rather a ore immersive experience and one with a bit more chit chat and likeiness to make friends, I would book the London Traditional English Scone Making and Tea Workshop.

Visit the Royal Palaces

As grand and marvelous as Buckingham Palace is, I prefer Kensington Palace due to its history with Queen Victoria (where she grew up) and the late Princess Diana. Many royals have lived in this palace and had private quarters renovated, but the main estate remains open to the public. It’s rich with history, and I love that it’s attached to Hyde Park and has its own Orangery Restaurant and a cafe (where you can get afternoon tea!). I highly recommend the Honey Cake. It’s the best I’ve ever had, and I dream of it often.

Walk Through The Many Parks

One thing about London is that they’re big on having a third place, and boy, do they deliver when it comes to parks. They’re everywhere, especially in the neighborhoods. I have spent countless hours walking through paths and trees, and finding famous statues within these parks. It’s utterly delightful.

Some of my favorite parks have been:

Hyde Park – to find the Peter Pan statue
St. James’s Park – to see the resident pelicans and views of Buckingham Palace
Regent’s Park – to wander Queen Mary’s Gardens
Green Park – for a quiet stretch of lawn near Buckingham Palace

See a Show at the Globe Theater

The one and only Globe Theater has housed so many incredible British, Scottish, and Irish actors throughout the centuries, including its very own William Shakespeare. Tickets are rather easy to get, but I recommend planning ahead and getting them in advance.

What’s unique about this theater is that it still has standing tickets for roughly £5, which is a steal and no different than standing at a concert. The productions are legendary and something locals attend often.

If you want a more imersive experience, they do offer a walking history tour of the theater.

Get a Meat Pie or Bangers and Mash

This is a no-brainer! You must try local food when you go to any city. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved both dishes while traveling alone.

What’s extra great is how easy it is to get a meal at the local pub. There’s always someone to chat with, including the bartender.

If you’re looking for Meat Pie and Mash, a great spot to try is M. Manze which has been running since 1902 and now have 3 locations. Definitely do some research before you go but, honestly, you can really pop into just about any pub and find it.

Check Out a Football Game or Watch at a Local Pub

This is something you can easily do solo or with a friend, but football is a huge part of British culture. It’s super fun to pop into a pub for a bite or a pint and watch the game with a ton of other strangers. Though it can get rowdy, it’s more friendly than you’d expect.

Going to a physical game is also a great spot to grab souvenirs for family and friends. Plus, the atmosphere is fantastic.