Capital city in Greater London, United Kingdom
London for solo travelers
Is London good for solo travel?
Europe's biggest city suits first-timers and long stays with world-class museums, food, music and transit. Rent and hotels are among the world's priciest, and weather is grey much of the year.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 5/5 · Excellent for solo travel |
|---|---|
| Locals | Polite but reserved |
| English | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Safety | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Solo women | Generally comfortable alone. Use licensed cabs or apps late and watch drinks in clubs; night buses and Night Tube are well used. |
How to meet people in London
Social hostels, run clubs, Meetup groups, language exchanges, pub quizzes, coworking events and free walking tours in Bloomsbury, Shoreditch and Camden make it easy to meet people.
Good things to do alone
- Browse free national museums on a weekday morning
- Walk the Thames Path from Westminster to Tower Bridge
- Eat your way through Borough and Maltby Street markets
- See live music in small Camden or Brixton venues
- Join a Sunday run in Hyde Park
Where to stay in London
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Shoreditch–Hackney | Nightlife, startups, street food, coworking |
| Bloomsbury–King's Cross | Museums, hostels, fast trains to Europe and Scotland |
| Camden–Islington | Markets, music venues, pubs, canal walks |
| Brixton–Peckham | Cheaper rooms, food markets, lively south London nights |
| Greenwich | Quieter stays by the river and park |
Solo travel across United Kingdom
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| London | 5/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Edinburgh | 5/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Bristol | 5/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Manchester | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Liverpool | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Glasgow | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Brighton | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Scottish Highlands | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| York | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Lake District | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Cornwall | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Belfast | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Cardiff | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Birmingham | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Newcastle | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Leeds | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Snowdonia | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Oxford | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Bath | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Cambridge | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Isle of Skye | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Cotswolds | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
Quick answers
Is London good for solo travelers?
Excellent for solo travel (5/5). Europe's biggest city suits first-timers and long stays with world-class museums, food, music and transit.
How do you meet people in London?
Social hostels, run clubs, Meetup groups, language exchanges, pub quizzes, coworking events and free walking tours in Bloomsbury, Shoreditch and Camden make it easy to meet people. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in London?
Spoken almost everywhere.
Is London safe for solo female travelers?
Generally comfortable alone. Use licensed cabs or apps late and watch drinks in clubs; night buses and Night Tube are well used.
More about London
Going to London solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in London meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.