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.