Travelling Alone
 

I will be going to London this summer on vacation. I am a female who will be travelling alone. Do you have any suggestions or warnings for me?? My options are for 6 or 12 days and I am not sure if 12 days would be too long on my own???<BR><BR>I am considering staying at City University. Has anyone stayed in these residences before?? I would appreciate any help?

I haven't stayed at any of the university halls (several London schools rent to visitors) but you will be fine on your own in London. I go to London a couple of times a year - about half the time by myself. If you can afford to go for 12 days, do so. You could take one or two day trips out of the city - Bath, Canterbury, Cambridge or Oxford would all be good choices.<BR><BR>Taking a couple organized walking tours would also be good - either from Original London Walks or any number of other companies or non-profit orgs. many are listed in Time Out. (Original London Walks are usually recommended by many Fodorites. it is a company owned by an ex-Pat American and is very good but there are otheres that are just as good)<BR><BR>Having a studio or 1-bedroom flat really is convenient - you will have a lot more space than in the normal B&amp;B.<BR><BR>And don't be nervous about being out at night solo. In fact, being on your own allows you to get the best theatre seats at the 1/2 price TKTS booth. They always have great single seats when sometimes 2, 3 or 4 together will be worse.

I love to travel alone. It allows total freedom for what you want to do (or not do) each day. Haven't been to London so can't advise about that, but I would go for 12 days. The first few getting oriented and over your jet lag are always kind of lost to me anyway.<BR><BR>No warnings other than the obvious. Attempt to look confident even if you're not feeling that way. If you get flustered find a cafe, nice hotel lobby, library, museum and sit down and get your bearings. Carry the business card of your hotel so if you get lost you can catch a taxi back (or ask directions).<BR><BR>Suggestions... take a good paperback if you aren't used to eating in restaurants alone. Get take-away food and have a picnic in a park or your room (clean up after yourself some hotels are funny about this).<BR><BR>Don't overschedule tourist activities. Some of the best days can be simply wandering around a neighborhood that strikes your fancy. Good luck!

I travel a lot both alone (usually business) and with my family. While I haven't been to London alone, I certainly would be very comfortable doing so. Have taken the subway all over and walked a lot in London and never felt uncomfortable in the parts of the city tourists usally visit. I would love to have 12 days--there is so much you can do, but definitely would spend some of that outside of London. Trains are very convenient--if I were going, would try to visit Oxford and/or Cambridge and maybe Bath. I agree with taking a book in restaurants. you may not want or need it, but if service is slow, I feel much more comfortable reading rather than just looking around. Another favorite thing I do when travelling by myself is shopping since I never get to do that with the family--teenaged boys have no interest in shopping for women's clothing. Even if you don't buy anything, it's fun to look around.

Depends on your personality. While I enjoy being at home alone at times, I've found travelling alone not to be my cup of tea. I really enjoy having someone I know to share the new experiences with, romantic evening strolls, discussing the day's discoveries, making the next day's plans, etc. So if I had to go it alone, I'd opt for 6 days. BUT I know people who have a great time travelling alone, so there's really only one way for you to find out.

Domi<BR>I would opt for the 12 days but spend part of the time outside London in the country. It's a totally different experience. If you type &quot;solo&quot; in the text search &amp; click on United Kingdom on the right &amp; then click find, you'll get lots of previous posts about solo travel in the UK. One in particular is a trip report of a woman traveling alone to London &amp; the Cotswolds. This Fodorite found a tour guide in the Cotswolds who drove her around &amp; she gives the contact info in the string. Sounded great.<BR><BR>I personally would not do a flat rental alone. If you stay in a B &amp; B you are more likely to meet people at breakfast. Even if you don't, at least you're sitting with others. A flat can be cheaper with more space, but also more isolating. Can't advise about the university.

I've been to London a number of times. All were alone except for once. My recommendation is 6 days, not 12. Not that I couldn't spend 12 days there, because I'd love to. It just that I woudn't go anywehere the first time for 12 days - just my personal comfort level. <BR><BR>I'd rather leave after 6 and say &quot;Can't wait to get back&quot;, instead of leaving after 12 and gasping &quot;...finally, I get to go home.&quot;<BR><BR>Someone recommended the London Walks. I've only been on one (Jack the Ripper) and it was very good. I'm sure the others are fine, too. And they'll give you the opportunity to meet others for a couple of hours.<BR><BR>Know the closest tube stop to your hotel and it's hard to go wrong. Best of luck.<BR><BR>Tim

I have been to London 4 times alone, and stayed 10 days each time. You definitely won't get tired of it in 12 days! I researched extensively about what I wanted to do and see, and that paid off. It's very easy to get around on the tube, and train trips for the day outside of London are also easy to do. Cambridge was a lovely daytrip. Also close to London for great daytrips are Hampton Court, Greenwich, Windsor, Hampstead Heath. And the London Walks are really quite good - I met some nice people doing that. The nighttime walks are especially good for a solo female. And definitely go to some shows! I would never do that alone in the U.S., but thought nothing of it over there. I always felt quite safe at night in London, as there are so many people walking around and riding the tube at night. You will have a wonderful time -stay 12 days!!

I've travelled for months alone, and have a great time. You'll definitely meet people along the way - I once made a very pleasant acquaintance on one of the London Walks. <BR> <BR>I've stayed at the residence halls in London - be aware that while you have kitchen access, there are no dishes or pots for you to use - just the fridge, so take some cutlery with you. <BR> <BR>You'd have a better chance of making friends to sightsee with if you stay at a youth hostel, though, so you may want to consider that option.

I've visited London alone several times. You'll have a great time, but do lots of research~I love all the museums! Definitely opt for the 12 days (if you're going to fly 6-9 hours you may as well stay as long as you can), but why not take the Eurostar to Paris or Amsterdam for a few days? Or perhaps take the train to Edinburgh, or rent a car and spend a few days in the country, tour around East Anglia, or Cornwall and Devon, or Wales. Driving on the left isn't that hard, and you'll meet some wonderful people in the little country pubs.

Thank you to everyone who replied. There was lots of great info.<BR><BR>One more thing I need help with, is whether I should buy a pass for the subway (underground)?? Does that same pass cover all city buses as well??

I have met many women who travel alone, from so many countries. There are perhaps a few more problems for a women traveling solo compared to a man. But all of the women who I have met have been very happy with their adventures. 12 days is not too long. Some women traveling solo do so for months.

Domi, Yes I would suggest that you buy your underground pass before you go. I travelled alone to London this past October for 1 week. The pass was convenient and cheaper and covered buses too (however, I didn't use the bus because the tube was so easy). I always felt safe walking and taking the tube even late at night. There may be areas that you may not want to explore late at night but you should be able to identify those with a good travel book (London for Dummies is a good one and of course Fodors). If you opt for a hotel instead of City University I would suggest you try a fairly small hotel. I think you'll find that the staff will give you a little more personal attention and although some of the larger, chain hotels are beautiful I somehow think you miss out on the warm, cozy &quot;English&quot; experience and you get lost in the shuffle. If you can afford to stay for 12 days by all means do. You won't run out of things to do. After you've seen all the major tourist attractions try to take in some of the many street markets. You can really find great bargains and it's a great place to &quot;people watch&quot;. There are a lot of websites to research hotels if you put &quot;hotels+London&quot; in your browser. Have a wonderful trip. I'm saving for my next trip there.

I love traveling to Europe and, except for two trips, they have all been solo. I love solo travel. No one pushes you out of the museum before you are ready (and I take a LONG time in some of those places), you can go to whatever you want in the evening without negotiating and you meet a lot of interesting people along the way.<BR><BR>The only &quot;down&quot; part about solo travel is eating alone. I tend to eat in more pedestrian places alone than if I was with someone. That to me is no big deal compared to the freedom you gain.<BR><BR>I do miss having a navigator when I drive in Europe. I have to memorize the route ahead of time, but, if I take a wrong turn (and I sure have), I just end up somewhere else seeing something I hadn't planned to see.<BR><BR>Have fun!

you can buy a weekly tube pass at the airport.

I just got back from a week in London by myself and it is one of the easier places for a woman traveling alone. At the theater you often get very good seats because odd-sized parties have left single seats open in a row. I felt very safe walking from the tube at night - more so than in other cities. Londoners are very kind. I probably got more help and advice than I actually wanted or needed!<BR><BR>I can't say enough about the walking tours. I went on five of them - its a great thing to do in the evening when you can't afford another play and don't want to go to a pub alone. On four of the five walks, I informally &quot;buddied&quot; up with another solo woman traveler or with a pair of women travelers and if schedules would have permitted, would have been shopping later with them. Also, most of the evening walks conclude with a visit to a pub and that gives you a great excuse to meet people without having to sit alone in a pub.<BR><BR>A final suggestion for evenings on your own - late nights at the museums and galleries. Most are open late one night a week. I enjoyed my evening at the National Gallery. Much less crowded and NO SCHOOL CHILDREN!<BR><BR>Have fun - it's great to occasionally take a trip where yoiu can do exactly WHAT you want WHEN you want and for AS LONG as you want.

I always have the best time when I travel alone to a place where I have a friend or two. This way I am by myself, but have someone to go to dinner with or spend an afternoon with. I went to Lisboa two years ago with my husband, Keith. He drove me nuts. I wanted to see all the sites and he wanted to sit at cafes drinking Sagres beer and go to discos until 5 AM. After having a terrible fight, which ended in me throwing all of his clothes out of the hotel window and into outdoor restaurant below, we decided never to travel overseas together. He just went on a cruise with his friends in December and I couldn't have cared less. London is a city that doesn't make you uncomfortable to be alone because so many people are young and single. My Aunt Pat and Aunt Judith live in London, as my grandmother, Mathilda, was born there.

You've gotten some great replies. BTW:LSKahn is a pro: don't know her but I have seen enough of her postings over the years to know that she knows what's she's doing.<BR><BR> My thought doesn't fit this trip [your English is wonderful] but may be apt for the next one: Consider signing up for a school of some sort: language, cooking, whatever. I am a language school guy and the minute I get there I've 15 friends who can advise me on what to do and how to do it but whom I can take or leave as I like. That coupled with normally staying with a local family gives me local knowledge and contacts but doesn't obligate me to include any of them in my activities. It's a great way to taravel solo - access to company but no obligation to partake!

domi: there is really no reason you have to buy a transport pass ahead of time. Just one more thing you'd need to remember to take. You can buy a 1 week pass after you get to London. The price is slightly cheaper than the ones you can buy from home. And you can buy one for the zones you actually need. For most visitors, a zone 1 pass is the best buy - but if there are a lot of places you want to visit in zones 2 and 3 you could get exactly what you want.<BR><BR>The passes are good on all buses, night bises, tube and trains in London. If you get a zone 1 pass and do travel outside (Hampton Court, Greenwich, Kew, etc) you simply buy an inexpensive supplement for that journey.<BR><BR>After your first week, consider another 1 week pass. For 4 or 5 days, a seven day pass is cheaper than buying daily travel cards.

by all means, go! just got back from a 7-day solo trip, and it was just awesome. everybody is so nice and helpful, it only rained once (imagine?), and the tube systems are so easy to use.<BR>like my friend said (he's also been there once, alone), you go to london for some &quot;culture&quot;, among others. <BR>overall, my 7 days seemed so short that i am sooo going back soon.

I�ll offer a little safety-related advice, but preface the comments by saying that I generally felt very comfortable walking all over central London at all hours of the day and night, and never had a problem. (I did have a few problems in South London, in Clapham, but you�re probably not going there.)<BR><BR>Here�s the advice.<BR><BR>1 Never, ever accept a ride offered by an unlicensed minicab driver. Regular taxis in London are incredibly expensive, so unlicensed drivers hang out on the street outside clubs etc in the early morning hours after the tubes close, and offer cheap rides. There have been some horrific stories of women being abducted, drugged, robbed and sexually assaulted by minicab drivers (even when travelling in groups of 2 or 3). By all means, use a minicab, but telephone for one and call a reputable company. I don�t have the number handy, but you could probably search this forum for the number of Swiss Cottage Cars.<BR><BR>2. Be very careful with your bank card. Most of the bank machine kiosks are on the street, not indoors. There have been a number of scams with these machines (eg inserting a device into the machine so that it takes an imprint of your card, mirrors rigged up so that people can read your pin number as you type it in), or simply people grabbing your card while you�re using the machine. Be careful where you choose to use a machine, use indoor machines if possible. Similarly, be careful if you use a bankcard to pay for purchases in a store or restaurant. (I`m not sure you�ll be able to do this with an American card anyway.) Since a PIN number isn`t used to approve the purchase (just a signature), it�s easy for an unscrupulous waiter or clerk to swipe your card twice and forge your signature. The same problem exists with credit cards, but at least �t�s not your money they�re playing with.<BR><BR>While I never thought I needed to use a moneybelt etc in London, and travelled everywhere with a small daypack without problem, I did see some problems with bank cards, credit cards etc as noted above. Be careful about these matters, and you should be fine.

It looks as though a number of people who have travelled with someone have the idea that you have to be joined at the hip with that person the entire trip. When my wife and I travel together, that doesn't mean we are together 24-hours a day--if she wants to spend a full day at the Louvre and 2 hours is my limit, she stays and I go and we agree to meet someplace later. Can't imagine anyone letting their travel partner spoil their trip just because they don't have the same interests 100% of the time. I agree with someone above who mentioned walking tours in London--we went on 3 of them, and all were excellent (actually I went on 3 as my wife wasn't interested in one of the pub crawl tours).

Domi,<BR><BR>I went to London by myself on my first trip alone.I was in my 20's and had never done anything like it before. This was before the internet was big and my sole information was on books. <BR><BR>If I had the info now that you are getting I would have had an even better time. If you don't want to waste the money on an apt try the residence halls. You will have people around if you wantthis way and not be totally alone. I stayed at a friend of a friends apt while they were away and then a hotel. I was terrified in the hotel as I did not have my bearings and it was a bit grubby and I could hear everything in the other rooms. I woke up thinking someone was coming into my room. I think I lost my comfort zone. <BR><BR>Now I would not hesitate to do it again. I personally was lonely but Taking tours you will definately meet people i.e night walks etc. I was not comfortable eating alone at the time and missed out on many things. Definately take a book if you feel awkward. Go wandwring around Portabello Market, The museums, See a show etc. You can be busy the whole time and be around people. I think I was too young and too uninformed when I went. I did have a blast shopping in the sales after and see things in my own time.<BR><BR>Definately DO NOT take minicabs. I have only done this with frinds who live there ans we all were going to the same place. You can always get a black cab if you are patient. Overall I think the evenings would be good to have something organised i.e. a show, opera, walking tours as thats when I felt the most restless and wanted to chat to people. The tube is great and you will find it easy getting around the city. <BR><BR>Let us know how you get on and enjoy!

Good for u in deciding to come alone. It depemds on yr personality - do u need someone there all the time? You will meet lots of people if you stay in backpacker hostels - the concept is not as well developed as it is in NZ or Aus. but the YHA is OK. Check em out via Google. <BR><BR>Go for 12 days - such a waste to go for just 6. Get out of the city - but go somewhere other than those old tourist chestnuts - Oxford, Cambridge, Bath. Nowt wrong with them - but there are other just as interesting places. York is the &quot;easy&quot; alternative - but, hey. why not really break out and go to the North - see Whitby, Durham Cathedral and the Yorkshire Dales? You can get to York by mainline train. From there it's a (small) adventure - lots of buses.<BR><BR>Go for it!!<BR>Hugs,<BR>J.