greg

Regarding language issue in Paris, in my experience, they don't even let you continue the conversation in French unless you are fluent. Practically everyone in the tourist facing business speak good English in Paris. I had more communication problems in London. We seemed to be using the same words, yet often I found we were talking about something else.

menachem

as for metro tickets in Paris vs a day pass: you'll find you'll use 2, maybe 3 tickets, a regular daypass is overkill, so is a carnet. If you're there on the weekend, you can buy the incredibly cheap mobilis pass that will last you a day. Tip: from Gare du Nord walk the few 100 meters to Gare de l'Est and buy your tickets at the metro station there. Both stations are more or less next to each other, but Gare de l'Est doesn't have the people coming off the Eurostar and Thalys who need to buy metro tickets, so there's no line.

Toucan

I too would stick with London only. I've only been there one time, last fall for 7 days, but we need to go back because of all the things we missed, and we were on the go literally from 8am to 10 pm every day!

Seven days will fill up very fast, especially if you go to Hampton Court and/or Windsor Castle. Highly recommend both and they are easy to get to with your Oyster card but they will take at least a half day each. Make sure to purchase an Oyster card before you leave then just recharge it if you need to there.

We never felt unsafe (even in Brixton) but I see how you would be concerned being alone. Also I'd suggest climbing St Pauls Cathedral, great view of the city up there.

janisj

>><i>Highly recommend both and they are easy to get to with your Oyster card but they will take at least a half day each. Make sure to purchase an Oyster card before you leave</i><<

To clarify a bit. You can't use an Oyster to get to Windsor. It is outside of London and requires regular train tickets - not London Oyster cards.

You also get to Hampton Court by train but Oysters do work for that journey - just make sure you have the zone 6 extension.

There is really no reason to pre-purchase an Oyster. Just buy it in any tube station. You can use the ticket machines - but I'd go to a staffed window and have the agent load the card for you. A zone 1-2 weekly travelcard plus some extra pay-as-you-go ££ to cover a trip to Hampton Hampton Court.

cathies

Geg I had the same problem in New York, on a couple of occasions I just looked blankly at the person addressing me, even though we were all speaking English! It was very weird.

To this poster though, I think there is plenty to do in London and the surrounds. When you get home you can start planning a Paris trip and see it properly.

walkabout

I am a single female and have traveled to London (and many other foreign cities/countries) solo. I'm a fan of long day trips; however, in your case I respectfully recommend that you spend the entire week in London.

You are a first-time visitor, only have 7 days, are apprehensive about the language,and a bit apprehensive about traveling solo. Factor in first-day jet lag, acclimating yourself to a foreign country, and just general disorientation, and I think doing a day trip to Paris would be a bit much. Besides, as others have pointed out, there are tons of things to do in London, and you can easily fill your week.

You might consider doing a day trip to Bath, which is lovely. Or perhaps Oxford. http://visitbath.co.uk/things-to-do
http://www.oxfordcity.co.uk/

I also take a boat ride to Greenwich whenever I am in London. Since you like strolling around and sightseeing, you might enjoy Greenwich, too. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...n_England.html

Here's an online weekly magazine that has lots of info about what's currently going on in London. You can also pick up a print copy at any newsstand once you arrive in London:
http://www.timeout.com/london

As a solo visitor I enjoy London Walks. You get a chance to do a bit of sightseeing with a group and it is very inexpensive. They are only about 2 hours long and there's no need to prebook--you just show up at the designated place and time. They also do day trips out of London: http://www.walks.com/

Here's a link to the half-price ticket booth in Leicester Square:
http://www.officiallondontheatre.co....-tickets/tkts/

I love London, and I hope you have a wonderful trip!

Ackislander

We are leaving for a two week trip to England and Paris today.

Having been to both many times, I also advise you to stick to London and areas nearby on this trip.

You will never see everything either city has to offer in umptyump trips, but you can have a not unreasonable sense of having mastered one in 8 days.

Mastered: being able to use the money without thinking; having a reasonable idea of where neighborhoods are, how they relate to each other, how to get to them and between them by bus or subway; how and where to order a meal or a drink; what they have in a supermarket (amazing); what kinds of cultural/historic/scenic places exist and which of them you enjoy.

London is great for this since the museums are generally free, something definitely not true in Paris. On the other hand, I have the sense that public transportation and decent food are less expensive in Paris. You are not going to want to bounce around from place to place in London the way you can afford to do in Paris.

If you are staying in a hostel, you can certainly take the Tube in from Heathrow, not just to save money but because the ride is almost incredibly interesting if you don't do it every day. It will give you a sense of how vast London is, how Edwardian, and how ethnically diverse.

As someone who is old enough probably to be your grandfather, I would urge you without being paranoid to turn on your "sketchy" radar, not so much for predatory guys but for needy or drama queen/king people who like to attach themselves to solo travelers. Someone you might want to share the day with on Day One may be a major drag by Day Three.

Elizabeth

I totally agree with walkabout: unless you become very sure you want to do it, don't burn up time, energy, and anxiety going to Paris for a day trip. You can spend a thousand days in London and barely start to know it.

I take frequent solo trips to London.

I'd say as soon as you get to the airport, stop by a newsstand and buy a copy of Time Out London, and spend some time studying it and making some notes. It really will guide you about things to do - the critics' picks are very reliable about the theater.

I'd say you should go to Leicester Square and pick up a half-price ticket for something at the official booth -- Time Out will explain how -- and if you study Time Out ahead of time and have a list, you'll make the best choice.

I personally try to go to the theater every single day I am in London.

FOOD: I care about food, ad I care about budget, so here are my tips: when I'm on my own I personally don't care about sitting in a nice restaurant and waiting to be served for most meals so:

1) museums, which are free, have very nice and fairly priced food in their cafeterias - it can be worth it to find out if there are any museums near you, or near where you're going, and pop into one just for lunch, as well as planing museum visits around a mealtime. I also find people to chat with in museum cafes as it's so natural to talk to another visitor about what she's seen, liked, etc.

2) large department stores also have agreeable cafeterias in them.

3) the Wagamama restaurants are great with their communal tables

4) if you like Indian food: keep a plastic bag in your pocketbook or carry-on: in train stations and some small food shops, giant hot samosas are sold for about a pound. For me this makes a perfect meal or half-meal to eat in my room or on a park bench, on the way somewhere - it's my favorite cheap bang for the buck. [plastic bag - because they're oily!]

5) if your travels take you through train stations - the food kiosks in the stations are open very late, so for a traveller they're a good place to pick up something to have in your room for the next morning. Something like a cheese sandwich keeps without refrigeration.

emily71

You will have a great time in London alone. Thousands of women travel solo to Paris and London(including me) and I've never heard anyone having a bad time. Don't be afraid to go out after dark in the tourist areas. I've lived in Chicago and DC and there are usually so many people out after dark in the main areas that with a little street smart, you should be safe. I'm more afraid of being trampled to death in the Underground after a late night play.

I recommend London Walks www.walks.com for both neighborhood walks and daytrips to other part of England. Especially if you're interested in history, this company has fantastic guides and it's a good way to meet others. I've traveled with them to Rye and Battle Abby and I still talk about it.

Don't miss seeing a play. If you don't care what one, the official-half price ticket booth at Leicester Square sells discounted tickets for that evenings performance. As you are a singleton, you sometimes get some of the best seats in the house-as I saw My Fair Lady in the seventh row. I'd leave Paris for another time, since there are so many things to see and do in London. Also over on the Tripadvisors London forum, there are usually meetups at a pub every month. I've been to a few and it's a great way to meet with both locals and fellow tourists in a non-threatening setting-plus it's okay if you don't imbibe.

As you can probably guess, I love London and have traveled solo there about 5 times. If you have any further questions, please let me know and enjoy my favorite city!

PatrickLondon

>>stop by a newsstand and buy a copy of Time Out London<<

The print version of Time Out is now a giveaway magazine, but not necessarily available everywhere. You might need to check their website:
http://www.timeout.com/london
http://www.timeout.com/magazine-distribution

johnnyomalley

If you're trying to pack light don't pack jeans. They are heavy and if you need to wash them, they take forever to dry. Pack some light weight pants or skirts/dresses with leggings.