Is London a good idea alone?
Discussion
I've got a week off at the start of April with nothing to do, turns out a return train ticket to London is £26, so I think that's my plan.
In the past I've stayed at the Dorsett in Shepherd's Bush, which is a lovely hotel and is well priced for the nights I'm planning to go, but I've only ever been there when I've been going to a gig round the corner.
I think this time I'd want to stay somewhere a bit more central so I don't have to travel a few miles east each morning to get to the bit of London everyone thinks of as London. There's a hotel by Tower Bridge which isn't badly priced but the building was voted the second most hated building in London
I guess my question really would be whether central London is a good idea for a couple of days of milling around when I'm there on my own, or whether it's a riskier option than somewhere else?
In the past I've stayed at the Dorsett in Shepherd's Bush, which is a lovely hotel and is well priced for the nights I'm planning to go, but I've only ever been there when I've been going to a gig round the corner.
I think this time I'd want to stay somewhere a bit more central so I don't have to travel a few miles east each morning to get to the bit of London everyone thinks of as London. There's a hotel by Tower Bridge which isn't badly priced but the building was voted the second most hated building in London
I guess my question really would be whether central London is a good idea for a couple of days of milling around when I'm there on my own, or whether it's a riskier option than somewhere else?
Absolutely a great place to be on your own, nobody else cares who is doing what and with/without whom. Nobody looks twice at someone in a café, pub, restaurant etc on their own. It's utterly normal.
From where on Earth can you get to London for £26 quid though, it's more than that to get there and back from Reading in a day (without a Railcard).
User name checks out, by the way.
From where on Earth can you get to London for £26 quid though, it's more than that to get there and back from Reading in a day (without a Railcard).
User name checks out, by the way.
Robmarriott said:
I guess my question really would be whether central London is a good idea for a couple of days of milling around when I'm there on my own, or whether it's a riskier option than somewhere else?
Why would it be risky?It's London, not Lebanon.
Use the same common sense precautions in regards to valuables, etc as you would in any other big city in the world and it'll be fine.
You'll get lots of suggestions and lots of questions asking what sort of things you like mooching around doing.
But my basic answer is that the South Bank around Borough Market is the geographical "centre" of everything in London (it's on the bend in the river) with great access, particularly for pedestrians, across several bridges. And you will get more for your money hotel wise than around Tower Bridge, which is a bit East for most purposes.
But my basic answer is that the South Bank around Borough Market is the geographical "centre" of everything in London (it's on the bend in the river) with great access, particularly for pedestrians, across several bridges. And you will get more for your money hotel wise than around Tower Bridge, which is a bit East for most purposes.
Skodillac said:
Absolutely a great place to be on your own, nobody else cares who is doing what and with/without whom. Nobody looks twice at someone in a café, pub, restaurant etc on their own. It's utterly normal.
From where on Earth can you get to London for £26 quid though, it's more than that to get there and back from Reading in a day (without a Railcard).
User name checks out, by the way.
If you are prepared to commit to specific trains well in advance there are some excellent deals - you can get Manchester to London return for around £35.From where on Earth can you get to London for £26 quid though, it's more than that to get there and back from Reading in a day (without a Railcard).
User name checks out, by the way.
I did the same a few years ago, my mrs had a training course down there for a week, so I stayed with her but was left to my own devices all day every day.
I really enjoyed it, took in all the usual touristy sights, and just explored the city, had a great time. Was actually a bit disappointed in the evenings having to spend time with her instead of doing exactly what I wanted!
I really enjoyed it, took in all the usual touristy sights, and just explored the city, had a great time. Was actually a bit disappointed in the evenings having to spend time with her instead of doing exactly what I wanted!
Skodillac said:
Absolutely a great place to be on your own, nobody else cares who is doing what and with/without whom. Nobody looks twice at someone in a café, pub, restaurant etc on their own. It's utterly normal.
From where on Earth can you get to London for £26 quid though, it's more than that to get there and back from Reading in a day (without a Railcard).
User name checks out, by the way.
Wellingborough. I can actually do it for £18.99 if I do different times and 80p cheaper if I do the split save thing!From where on Earth can you get to London for £26 quid though, it's more than that to get there and back from Reading in a day (without a Railcard).
User name checks out, by the way.
Muzzer79 said:
Robmarriott said:
I guess my question really would be whether central London is a good idea for a couple of days of milling around when I'm there on my own, or whether it's a riskier option than somewhere else?
Why would it be risky?It's London, not Lebanon.
Use the same common sense precautions in regards to valuables, etc as you would in any other big city in the world and it'll be fine.
Same as eating alone in a restaurant. I'm fine abroad but always feel very self conscious here.
London is perfectly safe unless you are really quite stupid. Don't wander the streets at night, pissed, waving your Rolex at the poor people and you'll be fine.
Cheap rail fares won't mean cheap hotels and restaurants. The sky is the limit there, but you'll find something for any budget.
London is great. Walking around the place for a few days is ace. London is an ancient city and very walkable. Go find the all the blue plaques and the reasons for the weird street names, or get a handle on the surrounding hills and the now underground rivers, or dig into the Roman stuff in the City, or ...
Cheap rail fares won't mean cheap hotels and restaurants. The sky is the limit there, but you'll find something for any budget.
London is great. Walking around the place for a few days is ace. London is an ancient city and very walkable. Go find the all the blue plaques and the reasons for the weird street names, or get a handle on the surrounding hills and the now underground rivers, or dig into the Roman stuff in the City, or ...
I work in London and stay down there a few nights a week. I usually stay close to the office within walking distance just to avoid battling for the tube in rush hour.
I tend to stay around Shoreditch/Spitalfields as that's close to the office, but I've stayed further afield and travelled in, most places feel completely safe at night and other than the fact you're self conscious of eating out alone no one else seems to care.
Nothing wrong with staying near tower bridge also, plenty of nice cafes/restaurants within walking distance also either side of the Thames from there.
I tend to stay around Shoreditch/Spitalfields as that's close to the office, but I've stayed further afield and travelled in, most places feel completely safe at night and other than the fact you're self conscious of eating out alone no one else seems to care.
Nothing wrong with staying near tower bridge also, plenty of nice cafes/restaurants within walking distance also either side of the Thames from there.
Away from the usual busy tourist spots in the West Ends, the City of London has some interesting history to explore. For examples:
https://www.thecityofldn.com/directory/city-of-lon...
There are other companies who offer walking tours on Jack the Ripper, great fire of London, pub tours (you will be taken to some really quirky drinking establishments, but things will get hazy after the 5th pub...
)
There are also some great drinking establishments and eateries, some with great view of the landscape e.g, sky garden (free 1 hour slot) or Horizon 22. The City is generally much quieter during the day time (which I prefer), but the abundance of drinking establishment in the City and the surrounding area e.g. Hoxton, mean a very lively time can be had if you fancy a late night.
https://www.thecityofldn.com/directory/city-of-lon...
There are other companies who offer walking tours on Jack the Ripper, great fire of London, pub tours (you will be taken to some really quirky drinking establishments, but things will get hazy after the 5th pub...
)There are also some great drinking establishments and eateries, some with great view of the landscape e.g, sky garden (free 1 hour slot) or Horizon 22. The City is generally much quieter during the day time (which I prefer), but the abundance of drinking establishment in the City and the surrounding area e.g. Hoxton, mean a very lively time can be had if you fancy a late night.
Robmarriott said:
That's the one. Any good? It's surprisingly cheap considering where it is and that view...
Pleasant enough, walked all over london from there and there's loads of places to eat nearby, walk 10 minutes saff of the river and you find proper boozers.The other side is ok, overlooks the dock but obviously don't get the view.
Stayed 8 or 9 times and always been ok, easy walk to Greenwich, Westminster or up the Shard.
Robmarriott said:
Booked it. 2 nights at the Tower hotel with a room with a bridge view.
Just need to pick where to eat and what to see, but that's the easy bit.
I've stayed there two or three times as the kids like it.Just need to pick where to eat and what to see, but that's the easy bit.
Once had a stunning view of the bridge like the pic above.
second time booked a bridge view, but the room was quite low and had a concrete pillor obscuring half the bridge.
Complained and ended up in a family room on the back of the hotel but with a nice view of the Canary Wharf buildings.
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