tower bridge

Things to do Alone in London

By Dom Bewley

We humans are social creatures by nature, craving the contact of others for the most part. However, there are times when all we want is to be with ourselves. And why not? Spending some quality time alone can be liberating. No longer are you beholden to the wishes of others. You can go where you want, when you want, and do whatever your heart desires. So if you're alone and want to go adventuring in London, what's stopping you? There's so much to do and see in the city, so head out and see if for yourself! These are the best things to do alone in London.

Featuring:

  • Museums
  • Art Galleries
  • The cinema
  • Plays and musicals
  • Lounge in a park
  • Walking tours
  • and more!
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Head to a museum

If your brain is thirsty for some of that sweet knowledge, why not head to one of London's many museums? You're spoilt for choice, as the city has some of the best in the world. You've got well-known greats like the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum right next door to one another. Or, try something a little unorthodox. The Museum of Brands gives you a great insight into how marketing and culture have evolved over the centuries. Be sure to check out the cringe-inducing videos of past television advertisements. Fantastic. Or, check out the London Transport Museum to see how London's iconic transport services have evolved over the years. Whichever you choose, visiting a museum is easily one of the best things to do alone in London.

Go to an art gallery

Feeling cultural? Stroll on down to one of the city's fantastic art galleries! You've got classics like The National Gallery and the Tate Britain, where you'll find famous paintings from periods past. Or, if you want something more modern, head to the Tate Modern or the National Portrait Gallery, where they have their yearly portrait contenders on display. And best of all, take as much time to look around as you like.

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Go see a flick

We can spend so much time watching films at home when we're by ourselves. Why not take that solo experience to the big screen? And don't just go to any old cinema. Treat yourself to one of the many Curzon cinemas dotted about London. Whether you're close to Soho, Mayfair, or Bloomsbury, there's a Curzon just for you. And, with a perfect mix of arthouse films and big-budget blockbusters on show, you can pick the perfect flick for your mood. With no one there to criticise your movie choice, it's easily one of the best things to do alone in London.

Catch a show

Want to add a little razzle-dazzle to your day? Why not hit the West End and check out a play or musical? See the wizarding wonder all grown up in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Watch Hollywood scribe Aaron Sorkin's take on 20th century classic To Kill A Mockingbird. Or, put on your best inspector's hat at Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap. For you musical lovers out there, there are classics like The Phantom of the Opera, and modern marvels like Wicked, The Lion King, or the hilarious Book of Mormon.

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Parklife

In the unlikely event that the weather is actually nice, why not take a stroll around one of London's many amazing parks? They're the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. You've got the big ones like Hyde Park and Regents Park, where you'll be regularly joined by dog walkers, joggers, and people lounging on the grass. If you're looking for a bit of party in your park visit, head to London Fields in Hackney. During summer, the park is full of fiery barbeques, beverages, and banging tunes. Or try Clissold Park in Stoke Newington, which has a more middling vibe.

Take a walking tour

If your legs are getting a bit restless, why not mix exercise with a little information on a walking tour? There are loads of them taking place all around London. If the sun is out and shining at its best, try a movie, music, or icon tour. These will take you to movie sets, old gig haunts, and other iconic London locales. Or, spice up your walk with some culture at a tour of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Learn about the history of the building, take a literal peek behind the curtain to see how the building accommodates modern performances, and much more. As you'll likely be in a group anyway, a walking tour is one of the best things to do alone in London.

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Sightsee

London is one of the oldest cities on the planet. With thousands of years of history, why not just walk around and see it all? There's the mighty Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge, St Paul's Cathedral, the Tower of London...the list goes on and on! Chart a course on your phone and set off, music in-ear, and see as many as you like. Or, if you want to give your legs a rest, step aboard a bus tour of London's best sights.

Check out a market and some delicious street food

Feeling peckish? Don't worry; London's got you covered. Across the city, there are numerous markets with some delicious street food choices to tickle any fancy. Perhaps the most famous is Borough Market, a winding maze of shops and food stalls. There, you'll find thousands of food and drink options to hit the spot. In South, Brixton Village offers a wealth of food and shopping options for any savvy buyer. Or, if you're looking for something a little more cool and modern, hit Boxpark in Shoreditch. With shops down below and bars up above, you'll find burgers, pizza, hotdogs, and much more to chow down on.

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Head to Kew Gardens

And finally, if you want to combine culture, nature, and fuel into one fantastic day out, head over to Kew Gardens. See the oldest pot plant on the planet, a Jurassic cycad palm planted in the 18th century. Explore the different Houses, all mimicking one of Earth's biomes, replete with indigenous plant life from across the globe. Climb the Treetop Walkway for the best views in London. It doesn't get much better than that—definitely one of the best things to do alone in London.

Dom Bewley
Go City Travel Expert

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Things to do in London for couples

Whether you’ve been together six months or 60 years, there’s a wide array of things to do in London for couples. Strolling hand in hand through the grounds of palaces and stately homes, taking in views of the River Thames’ meandering path or soaking up some culture are just some of the experiences that await. Share in London’s historic wonders After six weddings and two beheadings, Henry VIII’s record as a husband may come into question, but it’s hard not to admire his taste in homes. Riverside Hampton Court Palace was his favorite residence, and the only Tudor royal palace in London welcoming the public. Having wondered at the Great Hall and historic kitchens, save some time for tackling the famous maze together – like couples have been doing since it was first planted in the 1680s. Continuing the theme of important London homes is Hampstead’s Keats House. The 19th-century romantic poet John Keats lived in the building for less than two years. However, as visitors will discover, in this time he not only wrote Ode to a Nightingale beneath one of the garden’s plum trees, but also fell madly in love with neighbor Fanny Brawne. And all before dying of tuberculosis at the age of 25. The magic figure at St Paul’s Cathedral is 259, the number of steps leading to the Whispering Gallery. Forming part of the 65,000 ton dome, it has the intriguing property of amplifying even the slightest sound around its walls. Couples who make here also get a close up with the focal point of Sir Christopher Wren’s original 17th-century structure. Check out London’s food scene Couples in London looking for a foodie treat are well catered for. The capital’s list of places to be wined and dined is a long one, meeting all tastes, budgets and dietary requirements. Though there may be more shared benches than tables for two, one of the newest kids on the block is Maltby Street Market in Bermondsey. A short walk from Tower Bridge, Venezuelan arepa share the space with Ethiopian wat and Chinese gyoza in a celebration of world cuisine. More traditional dining experiences still don’t have to cost the Earth. Home of the capital’s Bengali community, Brick Lane is the cherry on top of the cake of London’s love-affair with curry. Even so, prices are a fraction of those charged by celebrity chefs and London’s 60 or so Michelin-starred restaurants. If you abide by the idea that couples which drink together stay together, look no further than a cocktail-making class. Guided by the skilled hands of a professional mixologist, you’ll get to create a perfectly-balanced Old Fashioned, Dark and Stormy or Cosmopolitan. Alternatively, you could go one step better and take a tour of the Beefeater gin distillery, revealing just some of what goes into making the spirit so popular with bartenders across the city. Enjoy views of the Thames Even dirty old rivers – to steal a phrase from The Kinks’ 1960s classic Waterloo Sunset – have a certain innate romance. Take to its banks pretty much anywhere along its 215 mile course, and you’ll have to agree the Thames is no different. Actually one of the cleanest rivers in the world, it’s further reaches are home to otters, dolphins and seals in addition to landmarks known the world over. What’s more, there are several ways for couples in London to enjoy the majesty of the Thames. The classic way is to take to its waters, with river cruises slipping up and down stream between Westminster and Greenwich. When it comes to timing, sunset is difficult to beat, and is known as the golden hour for taking in the city’s panoramas. Boarding a Thames cruiser isn’t the only way to fully-appreciate the capital’s lifeblood. A completely different perspective is offered from a gondola of London’s first cable car, the Emirates Air Line, connecting the two sides of the river via a journey which takes in the entire Greenwich Peninsula. At dusk the journey is extended, so you have even more time to admire the panoply of sights below you. Climb the O2 Arena and the only thing immediately beneath your feet will be its white canopy. However, to either side of the walkway hanging 50 meters above the ground, the river unravels in all its glory in either direction. Take in a show William Shakespeare’s words have echoed through the centuries. Where better to relive the romance of Romeo and Juliet or Anthony and Cleopatra, or the bromance of Prince Hal and Falstaff in Henry IV than Shakespeare’s Globe? Outside of performances, tours detail some of the theater’s most captivating tales, such as the time an audience member’s breeches burst into flames alongside the original playhouse. Meanwhile, the velvet-clad seats of Covent Garden’s Royal Opera House is the foremost destination for opera and ballet. The West End has shows to suit any couple, with contemporary playwriting, musicals and classic plays all fighting for attention. When it comes to foot-tapping fun, there are venues large and small where it’s possible to let your hair down. They include the likes of the Sky Garden, hosting regular concerts to continue the traditions of the capital’s legendary music industry, which has given voice to everyone from David Bowie to Amy Winehouse. London’s Madame Tussauds – the first wax works to hold the name – is a great option for couples in need of a rainy-day activity. It’s array of famous faces from British history and worldwide popular culture are one way to get close to your idols. Movie lovers also have the option of taking in a multitude of sites forming backdrops to some of the silver screen’s best-known scenes including the James Bond franchise, Paddington and Bridget Jones’s Diary. Save on things to do in London for couples Reserve your hard-earned cash for spoiling your significant other by saving on London attraction admission and exploring more with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
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The top free things to do in London

London’s reputation for being expensive (just check out the house prices), doesn’t mean vacations in the British capital have to break the bank. Many major museums are free to enter, whilst parks, markets and even some concerts will cost you absolutely nothing, leaving you free to spend your cash on other things. The list of free things to do in London is a long one, so here are a select few that will leave you quids in. Explore London’s museum collections Starting out with just 38 paintings in 1834, The National Gallery on the northern side of Trafalgar Square now has close to 2,500 artworks hanging from its cloth-lined walls. Concentrating on a mere 700 years of European art roughly corresponding with the years 1250 to 1900, some of its most famous works include da Vinci’s Virgin of the Rocks, van Gogh’s Sunflowers and Turner’s The Fighting Temeraire. Cross the Thames at Hungerford and Golden Jubilee Bridges and you’ll be perfectly located to continue your tour of free things to do in London at Leake Street Arches, the capital’s foremost space for graffiti and street artists. The freedom to spray means it never looks the same for long, and now also plays host to a Polish kitchen and board game café. Food sadly isn’t welcome at the British Library’s Sir John Ritblat Gallery, whose free permanent exhibition space includes some of the most important documents in British history. These include Magna Carta, a symbol of liberty and law to this day, and handwritten manuscripts by everyone from author Charlotte Brontë to Beatle Paul McCartney. Picnic in the park Nearly as many trees as residents, 14,000 species of wildlife and 3,000 parks – it’s no wonder London became the world’s first National Park City in 2019. Its public green spaces have acted as shared backyards, in some cases, for centuries. Its largest is Epping Forest, an area of woodland untouched since the time of William the Conqueror in 1066. Mountain biking and walking are popular pastimes here, with multiple short walks allowing visitors to soak up the spirit of the place and catch sight of its wild deer. Hampstead Health’s Parliament Hill also has a small population of muntjac deer, although it’s far better known for its panoramic views of central London, spanning from The Shard to Canary Wharf. For a sense of what you might expect at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew without the entrance cost and tube journey, there’s the Barbican Conservatory. An oasis of greenery, it’s London’s second-largest indoor garden, containing some 2,000 plants erupting from every surface. Pull back the leaves and you’ll also find a hidden pond filled with koi carp and terrapins. Take part in ancient traditions Things to do in London for free aren’t limited to the capital’s static attractions. Head to Buckingham Palace for mid-morning and you’ll be able to admire the pageantry of the marching bands involved in the Changing of the Guard. The full ceremony lasts 45 minutes, with the changeover between guard battalions taking place at 11AM. The best viewing spots go early, but Hyde Park’s southern boundary offers a crowd-free space to watch the mounted troops arrive and depart from Wellington Barracks. Whilst it’s not possible to enter the palace during the ceremony, it is usually possible to enter the neogothic splendor of the Houses of Parliament a short distance away. Members of the public are able to see the goings-on of the House of Commons (the green-benched lower house) from the perch of the Strangers Gallery. Along the way you can grab a glimpse of Westminster Hall, the oldest part of the complex and where royals lie in state. No pre-booking is required to visit Pugin’s pre-Raphaelite artworks or parliament’s central halls, although the Strangers Gallery fills up quickly for Wednesday’s Prime Ministers Questions. Less confrontational in nature are the free concerts taking place in churches and auditoriums across the capital. Often used as rehearsals to later paid events, classical works can be heard at a number of locations, including the bright interior of St-Martins-in-the-Fields off Trafalgar Square, Morley College’s Waterloo Center and Regent Hall on Oxford Street. Visit London’s top markets All walks of London life buy and sell at its plethora of markets, with voices from all over the world demonstrating why London is known as a city where everyone is welcome. When it comes to color and Instagram posts, make a beeline for Sunday’s Columbia Road Flower Market, which is packed full of blooms. The shadow of Waterloo Bridge plays host to the Southbank Centre’s daily book market, whose row after row of secondhand tomes are sure to include that out-of-print classic you’ve been searching for, in addition to a select pick of artworks old and new. The nearby space behind Royal Festival Hall also hosts a Friday – Sunday pop-up street food market, with aromas that drift towards the Thames sightseeing cruises mooring up at Westminster Pier. Back in east London, the stalls of Old Spitalfields Market sit beneath Victorian ironwork dating to 1876, though its history stretches back to the 1600s. Once a fruit and vegetable wholesale market, today’s stalls are a trendy blend of soul food spots, homeware and boutique fashions, with antiques taking over each Thursday. Take a stroll Getting out into fresh air is relatively easy, and as well as its parks and green spaces, London has numerous walks. The obvious place to start is the Jubilee Walkway, unveiled to mark 25 years of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign in 1977. Connecting many of London’s major landmarks, it runs for 15 miles, with the most popular stretch lining the south bank of the Thames from Lambeth Palace to Tower Bridge. Meanwhile, Regent’s Canal provides a place to wander without the crowds, taking in Paddington Basin, Little Venice, the howls of ZSL London Zoo’s wolf pack and popular Victoria Park along the way to its terminus on the Thames at Limehouse. You certainly won’t be disturbed by the residents of Brompton Cemetery, a grade I listed space containing around 35,000 memorials dating back to the 1830s. Among them you’ll find the graves of suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst and the scientist who discovered the cause of cholera, John Snow. Other ways to save in London There are a huge number of free things to do in London. But they’re not the only way to save when visiting the British capital. The Explorer Pass from Go City saves on admission at many of London’s top visitor attractions without you having to make any decisions on what to do beforehand. What’s more, all you need is your phone to get started!
Ian Packham

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