Things to Do in London Alone: Five Options for Different Moods
Things to do in London alone: Ponder one work of art, reserve the seat for the film you’d like to see, or use your lunch hour as an outing. Doing London on your own means you decide how fast and where to go.
First up, pick what might work for you today: some downtime, a bit of exercise or the buzz of a gig. These five choices give you plenty of options for a few hours, with scope to switch.
Visit a gallery at your own pace
Top tip; A trip to central London art can start at the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square. Instead of trying to go through every room select a few paintings or do a theme, for example, portraits or views.
It’s a pleasure to look at something slowly. Read a placard, move back from the painting, then revisit a detail you didn’t see the first time. On your own, you can grant all of a work the attention you desire.
Check visitor information for the gallery in advance of your visit, in particular for a specific exhibition. Admission or booking requirements may vary between general collection visits and temporary exhibitions.
Share the atmosphere at a live show
Grouping up for a seated performance at a comedy club in Covent Garden. It’s a collective evening activity that doesn’t require forming a group. It provides a common talking point for everyone, but chatting to others in the audience is not obligatory.
Know what your seating arrangements will be when you book. Your assigned seat may not be the same as one you choose, so speak with the venue to ensure that you will get the seat you need to facilitate comfortable access.
Allow yourself time to reach your seat. And set your food and travel arrangements according to when it will end as well as when it begins.
Enjoy the show There is no requirement to join in when it’s time for audience participation. Just follow the instructions of the performer and the rules of the venue.
Stroll with a destination to reach Get out of here and walk to a specific destination.
Let one walk have two ends, and leave the middle open for wandering. That gives you some structure, without dictating exactly where you have to go.
Option 1: The shortest route from Trafalgar Square, along the Strand to Somerset House and finishing by Temple station. Stop for buildings or to take pictures along the way.
Plan your route ahead of time and specify the exit station. Daylight conditions increase the visibility of unfamiliar environments and allow you to admire the architecture. If the weather worsens, cut down your route and travel to your destination.
Make lunch or dinner the outing
Give a meal its own scheduled time of day. In Soho, for instance, Choose a restaurant with the sort of menu that catches your eye and schedule time for it.
However, if you enjoy watching food preparation then find out if there’s a chair in front of a kitchen counter. Alternatively, for an extended meal and a book, look at the table. When booking double check what’s available rather than looking at photos.
Reading material If you’re visiting a restaurant alone for the first time, a simple lunch is often a good choice over the more time-consuming tasting menu. Take a book or magazine to read if it enhances the experience.
Should your dinner precede the entertainment have some time to order, eat and pay. Leave enough space in between to sample both.
Choose a film for a low-effort evening
Does a film date work on a night when you’re up for sitting down and focusing on something? Choose a film that appeals and then work out the screening that makes the most of your time. As one option for a South Bank adventure, check the BFI Southbank programme.
Book your return journey when making your plans, taking into account introductions or advertisements plus the length of the film. Additional features can be added to special screenings so check the event listing.
Seating information Pick where you’d like to sit: in the front for greater immersion, or further back for a wider view.
Keep the plan manageable
Do one highlight and possibly one side trip nearby. A gallery tour and a meal makes one perfect day. Staying in one spot keeps more of your day open for experiencing the destination.
Decide a budget that covers transport and food. Make sure you have all access arrangements and booking details, use TfL’s journey planner and get your return home sorted. Pack another, more appealing option for an outdoor day out, should the weather turn.
Don’t plan the whole day. You might want to have another coffee, spend a little longer looking at a painting, go home earlier. When exploring on your own, you don’t have to stick to a plan so it’s often better to follow your interests.
