Solo Trip to London!

This is my solo trip to London, three days over Valentine’s Day weekend 2026, tacked onto a work trip in Finland. I’d been saving London for exactly this: my first real solo trip somewhere I could wander in English without a spreadsheet or a travel buddy. Borough Market, a Rick Steves walk along the Thames, Stranger Things: The First Shadow in the West End, afternoon tea at the Savoy, Shakespeare’s Globe in the rain, and yes, 42,000 steps on Saturday alone.

If you’ve read my other solo write-ups (12 Hours in Tokyo on a Layover on the way back from Vietnam, or a Solo Bike Trip in the San Juans from Seattle), same vibe: one person, a short window, figuring it out as I go. When I’m turning a layover into a real day out, I lean on the same muscle I used for my Narita layover guide: lockers, timing, and not missing the flight home.

More on alyssaoutside:

• 12 Hours in Tokyo on a Layover
• Narita layover guide
• Solo Bike Trip in the San Juans
• How to Plan a Trip to the San Juan Islands

At a glance: Valentine’s Day weekend 2026 · 3 days · extended stopover after a Finland work trip (first solo trip, first 5-star hotel) · stayed at Sea Containers on the South Bank · Borough Market, Rick Steves along the Thames, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Shakespeare’s Globe, Savoy Prestige Afternoon Tea, Churchill War Rooms

Why London, and why now

LONDON! When I planned my first international trip, about 3 years ago now, London didn’t cross my radar. Well, it did, but as a “let’s do later.” Not as quirky as Prague, ancient as Rome, and the people there spoke English. It was sitting in my back pocket as the perfect solo trip. And now, my friends, the solo trip to London has arrived. I had been visiting Finland for work, and my layover back home to Seattle had me stopped in London, so I wondered… could I make a quick trip work? Yes, reader, I did 🙂 Oh! So that’s a magpie? Oh! So that’s the telephone booth? Years of English books and movies, finally in 4D.

Where I stayed

For my solo trip to London I stayed in the Sea Containers hotel, right on the South Bank (of the river Thames, for my American comrades, it’s the main one), my home base for the weekend. Getting off the Underground (tube, a word I never said aloud during my three-day solo trip), I walked along Blackfriars Bridge along the Jubilee line towards the hotel. London greeted me with warm sun on a beautiful Valentine’s Day. Fine, London, you can stay on the list.

Side note: London must have been showing off because I was told that it rained every single day in January and it had been an extremely dreary winter. But Royal London thought I, Princess Alyssa, apparently deserved the sun.

After storing my bags (carrying two laptops and an iPad wears out the back too quick), I sought out food in Borough Market.

Saturday: Borough Market, the Thames, and the West End

The line at The Black Pig

On a trip a few years ago outside of a restaurant Italy, Marcy and William, an older couple from Florida, told me something I haven’t forgotten: “When traveling, try to go to places with lines.” (Yes, at Disney, debatable.)

The queue and the sandwich

I didn’t really know what to get when I arrived at Borough Market. Food markets usually overwhelm me. Too much choice. I’d been avoiding the internet on purpose, but I was hungry.

I did see a massive line at The Black Pig, with a worker dedicated to getting people through the black ropes quickly. One person took the order on the side. You would walk past all the workers manning the 4-5 Big Green Eggs (the grill). Then they would call your name into the holding pen of hungry customers.

Following Marcy and William’s advice, I hopped in line and ordered “the best one.” “The best one” turned out to be these delicious pork sandwiches cooked in “the big green egg” slow cookers.

This area of the market had small colorful pop-up tents in a relaxed outdoor area, with lots of different food vendors. It felt much more open on the outskirts of the market, rather than in an interior hallway or storefront. Crowded, yes. But not as crowded as a summer Saturday, I bet. Shoutout to Marcy and William for their great recommendation.

Stadium seats and starlings

Directly in front of The Black Pig was a set of stadium-stair seats making it easy to oversee the market. After getting my sandwich, (I guess it’s now Elisa Outside) I walked over to the steps and took a seat. Feeling vaguely like a student group, eating my sandwich, it hit me: “Damn, I was in London.”

While sitting there, I watched these little black starlings diving onto the stairs stealing food. There was a small child throwing food around, a little enabler for these pesky birds. Loads of couples on dates (Valentine’s Day!), plus families and friends. I loved being a little observer in the crowd.

Crumble, coffee, and back to the hotel

After I finished my sandwich, I wandered around to figure out what’s next on the menu, and obviously, it was dessert and coffee. Next to The Black Pig was The Humble Crumble, which sold crumbles. A crumble is a baked item, but leans more on the laurels of its berries than its bread (yeast?). It usually is a sugary berry mixture with a sprinkling of flour, turned crumbly bread in the oven. I love making them with blueberries when they are in season. The Humble Crumble is a level up, with different assortments of berries and ice cream and chocolate toppings. This was so good, but quite messy. I headed back to the stairs for people watching. (Even on a crowded Saturday like this, it was easy to get a seat… another W for solo Alyssa.)

I went to Monmouth Coffee, which was on my way out of the market. It was in a red brick building on a corner, a little up the road from the open area of The Humble Crumble and The Black Pig. Monmouth had an interesting take-away policy. You had to place a £5 deposit for every take-away cup. They were made of reusable material with black rubber lids and a rubber warm-hands thing. It had a Monmouth logo on the side. I ordered a London Fog, and decided to just keep the mug and use it as a souvenir. Mostly so I could continue my stroll back to my hotel as planned. I was tired of people watching and wanted to decompress for a little bit.

After checking into my hotel and dropping off my new mug, I walked towards Westminster, south along the Thames, which is where the Rick Steves audio tour for London began.

Hostel vs Hotel

I remember when I was in Europe earlier, Rick Steves audio tours were a popular hostel recommendation. Rick Steves tours suit the fun-fact person in me (you know, one of those losers who loves a little tidbit). This flexibility was great since I wasn’t locked in with a group or meeting place. I was free to dawdle and explore as I saw fit.

However, I do think I missed the local and in-person aspect, and the casual socialization. In hostels people accept the social contract of meeting new friends. In hotels, we are moving through our own world. Stopping by a café or sitting in the lobby felt like I was catching glimpses through a window of other people’s world, but I could not ask about the snippets I heard. The lobby of the hotel wasn’t one of the big social lobbies where all the world comes to hang out. I’d looked at those, and chose to be right on the Thames.

Solo travel, even this brief, meant I could twist and turn my plans without checking anyone else’s energy levels. Stop something I’d paid for, leave early, whatever.

Tourist Guilt?

Doing really tourist things, like a Rick Steves tour, walking next to the London Eye towards Big Ben felt absurd and exciting! It was something I had to remind myself that it is okay to be doing this. It can be awkward being a tourist. I always feel a little guilty of enjoying tourist activities. I feel like a fraud, that I am not a local, my enjoyment of something is less than a local’s can be, since they are the only ones who know what is really cool.

On the riverfront that sunny Saturday, everyone was out. Dates, families, tourists, runners. People were holding hands (happy Valentine’s Day!), going on big family outings, snapping pictures. It felt like I was part of something and I felt the shame was gone. London is a place that locals want to be at, too.

As I walked along the Thames I just felt giddy. It reminded me of Seattle on a rare sunny day. Nobody wastes it.

A call from my mom on Westminster Bridge

At this exact moment, my mom called me, so curious about my London trip and how it was going. My mom watches every historical show there is, on Netflix, Hulu, or Prime, so she has a supernatural ability to recall information about the royal houses of Europe through the ages. She prefers historical dramas, with The Crown being her favorite, of course.

My mom, despite her love for European historical dramas, has never been to Europe (that is changing this summer, hehehe). On my other trips, she asks me about various things, like castles, safety, hostels (she doesn’t completely get the hostel thing), any interesting people or foods I have eaten.

Reader, she was over the moon for my London trip, in a way that she has never been so curious before. She wanted to know exactly what I was looking at in that very moment, she wanted to know exactly where I was going, and when I was going to see Buckingham Palace. It felt like the world had collided in a good way. I was on a beautiful Saturday talking to my mom and I felt like I belonged.

Westminster, the protest, and a book in my head

My Saturday afternoon–evening was quite busy. I walked on Westminster Bridge. Rick told me about historical town of Westminster and London town as I walked toward Big Ben, and it was indeed big. I looked at the little red phone boxes and realized exactly why these represent London/UK to the rest of the world. I haven’t seen that many places with them, and it’s just surprising they are still around.

My original plan was to follow the tour exactly, which included a stop at the Prime Minister’s house. However, there was a large protest happening at that time, so I ended up walking around to the north, closer to where the Churchill War Rooms are; from there, I kept going. I honestly spent most of it walking and looking at tourist sites based on Rick Steves’ tour, and just observing the streets of London.

I personally didn’t realize until I got there that London’s skyline is quite unimpressive. Yes, Big Ben and the London Eye are quite distinct, but it does not hold a candle to New York and even Seattle’s Space Needle. On the ground, in the streets of London, it was so grand and deep and beautiful.

The Rick Steves tour ends at the National Gallery, which was a solid walk from Westminster Bridge. I kept people-watching as I walked east and ended up stopping in a Lush.

Elif Shafak’s London

I recently read the book before going to London, There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak. It was an unexpected London book. I had known it was about discovering the Epic of Gilgamesh, but did not know how in depth it would go into London’s history. It was split into three parts, two of which were in London, 2014 and 1840s. The London story was focused on ink and printing press culture, including Charles Dickens. Did he actually care about the plight of the poor, despite it being a prominent theme in his novels?

Mudlarkers trudged through the Thames shore in search of treasures. In the 1840s the river was much more polluted, and impoverished mudlarkers would hunt not for treasure-level wealth, but people just looking to survive. It also touched upon cholera (it was a very water-themed book, believe it or not).

In modern day, one of the characters just moved into a houseboat. Altogether, it felt like I had just taken a refresher course on London. While I roamed around this city, I looked for the shores of the Thames, the secret underground rivers, the mudlarkers, and houseboats. It was practically the first thing Rick Steves pointed out, and I wonder: did the author get inspired by Rick, or is this the common knowledge from people who grew up in London. We will never know.

42,000 steps and Stranger Things on Valentine’s Day

Bunsik and the theatre

I had to Uber instead of taking the train back, or else I wouldn’t have time to eat. By that time, I was at like 30,000 steps, so I had been moving all day and my feet started to hurt. I quickly went home to drop off my camera and get ready, before walking to the theater where I was going to see Stranger Things: The First Shadow. After crossing the Westminster Bridge (again), I speed-walked to the West End where the theaters were. I had a 20-minute buffer to get some food before I needed to get to the theater, so I let my eyes and nose and stomach find me something to eat.

I saw Bunsik Leicester Square and the line looked packed, so I figured it had to be good. I was able to order, get my food, and grab a seat at the window (the only seat in the house because I was one of the only solo people there on Valentine’s Day). It was a little strange, not my beloved Costco hot dog, but I enjoyed trying the new flavors.

I had never been so grateful to be going solo on Valentine’s Day. The theater had been almost totally sold out, except for a few solo seats. I was able to snag one (still pricy, mind you) 4 rows back from the front only a couple weeks before. The theater was quite beautiful: 50s aesthetic everywhere (The First Shadow is set in the 1950s), including Henderson’s at the merch stand. I loved it: spooky, funny, very Stranger Things, and a nice tie-in to season 5.

12th Knot rooftop

Afterwards, I walked briefly through the West End, and then called an Uber to get back to my hotel. I wanted to check out the 12th Knot rooftop bar since it was not open on Sundays, and it claimed to have an extraordinary view of the Thames at night. It did not disappoint view-wise, but I could tell the vibes were not quite right for me. The music was blasting, but everyone was sat down at tables or couches, so it was a mix of being uncomfortable to talk to people you don’t know. I simply walked up, looked at the view and headed back down.

That being said, I definitely didn’t have my rose-tinted glasses on. At that point, I had walked nearly 42,000 steps in a single day, and had been up since 4 am since I had flown in from Helsinki. So warning, dear reader, make your own opinion of the hotel. It just might not be a great fit for sleepy solo travellers.

General FYI: I really did like my hotel, but I would generally book somewhere way more central. It felt like I was walking 30 minutes back and forth across the bridge, just because it wasn’t faster to take transit. It is great for doing things on the South Bank, like Borough Market, Shakespeare’s Globe, and the Tate Modern, but it just wasn’t that easy to go to the other main tourist spots… hence the 42,000 steps on Saturday. I could have planned a little better by not taking my camera with me so I didn’t have to return home, but so it goes, ya know?

Sunday: Rain, the Globe, and a British Museum mix-up

Today’s weather was completely different from Saturday’s sun. It was rainy. This was no Seattle mist, but solid rain, and I had wished I had grabbed one of those umbrellas from the hotel. I was quite soggy. Note to future self: London is an umbrella city.

Globe tour in the rain

I went and grabbed coffee on my way to the first stop of the day: Shakespeare’s Globe. I had a tour reserved, as a friend recommended it. The Hamnet film, adapted from Maggie O’Farrell’s novel, was going through the Oscar rounds, so people were paying extra attention to Shakespeare and his family. It was something to visit the exact replica of the place I had seen in the movie.

Earlier this year, I read By Any Other Name. The premise: a woman wrote the story, and Shakespeare claimed work by people who could not publish under their own name. So I was walking through the Globe (open-top theater, rain coming in) thinking about why people still argue over Shakespeare. Who was he, really? What did he actually write? Romance, war, death, anger. Same drama components as always.

Sorry, got lost in my musings there. Not my best work of empathy. I somehow imagined everyone in the 1500s lived in shacks. (Sorry, 1500s people.)

Tate Modern and the British Museum bust

After the Globe, which was maybe a 5-minute walk from my hotel, I went to the Tate. On the plane ride I read Martyr!. It’s about finding meaning and what it meant to be a martyr and die with a purpose (perhaps the opposite of Soul, the Disney movie).

One of the characters is an artist. She wanted to explore the nowness of art. So she went into every gallery she found, looking for what people were making in that exact moment, rather than art from the past. That really stuck with me. When I’m traveling I usually go where everyone says to go. The book reminded me I can show up at galleries and look at art from the last few years, not just the canon everyone tells you to see.

Tate Modern (about an hour)

That’s how I found myself rushing into the Tate Modern. I had just about an hour in there since it wasn’t on the original schedule. I had read that book after making all my bookings and I just felt… inspired to take a peek, to see what is happening now. The 6th floor had an Afrofuturism show, and then I walked to each piece, admiring what people my age were creating. Flowers, lines, and bright colors usually pull me in, and I tried my best to notice symbolism and pay attention to who created the piece. Not an art critic. I just tried to look.

British Museum: no ticket

After the Tate, I headed towards the British Museum and grabbed lunch on the way. (I got burgers and a margarita. Yeah, very American, whatever LOL.) Here’s my little mess-up: past Alyssa thought she had booked reservations to the British Museum, and I remember almost booking them, but then I remembered too late. No email. No ticket. I’d already gotten myself an hour across town in the rain.

Since the museum was so packed due to school break that week, I could not visit the museum. Small issue. No matter. Quick pivot! No Rosetta Stone, but I still had a palace, a gallery, and afternoon tea on the calendar.

Buckingham Palace and a Double Decker Bus

This small misstep actually gave me time to do a few different things: I took a double decker bus to Buckingham Palace. I was not there to see the changing of the guard, but honestly, that didn’t really pique my interest. Still got to walk around the area and see the palace, which was so cool! Parks in other cities are my favorite, because so many people are there often, hanging out, leisurely.

National Gallery in 30 minutes

After Buckingham Palace, I headed to the National Gallery to look at their greatest hits. There was no real plan, since this wasn’t on the original schedule. When the museum is The Activity of The Day, I will do a full sweep, bottom to top floor, every single art piece in the building. I remember spending like 6 hours in the Louvre. Statue gardens, Louis the 16th’s rooms, the works. I loved calling in my European history knowledge from high school and my Engineering the Renaissance class from college, to set context for the artwork.

Yet, for the National Gallery, I just jumped in. I declined an audio guide, and just found my way through the pictures. Van Gogh this way! 18th century Britain over here! I do still feel unaccomplished. There is a nagging feeling that I must return again, to truly appreciate all the art, but wow! The things you can see in 30 minutes is astounding. A pop in, and a Van Gogh. A peek around the corner, and there are Monet’s water lilies.

Afternoon tea at the Savoy

After the museum, I sauntered over to the Savoy for my afternoon tea. Afternoon tea was the highlight of my trip. 🙂 Whenever you enter the building a man in a fancy British outfit opens the door for you. You automatically feel like you’ve been upgraded. I walked through those doors, looked up at the gilt and chandeliers, and thought: oh, this is what people mean by posh. I headed to the Gallery, which is where my afternoon tea was. My bag + jacket were coat checked, and then I sat on a cozy chair, awaiting my turn to be called.

Walking in alone

Let’s state the obvious: I was alone, and that can be a little weird. I really don’t like to go out to restaurants by myself. Sitting at the bar or facing a window is fine. It makes it less weird and I am less noticeable and taking up less space. Here, at the Savoy, I wasn’t noticeable, but I was noticing. If I was in my room, I would be writing or scrolling or reading while eating, since it didn’t matter.

But here, it felt rude to be on my phone or read. I wanted to take in everything around me. The pianist playing gentle love songs on a big grand piano. The large golden chandelier that hung down like a stalactite in a cave. Waiters in black and white bustling in and out, holding teacups and teapots and silver platters.

Prestige menu and caviar

I got the Prestige Afternoon Tea, which, matching the name, started off with a glass of Laurent-Perrier Heritage champagne. What a start indeed. The main course had a variety of delicious sandwiches, like cucumber, egg, and salmon. Any time I finished one, the waiter would come back and bring me another. It also included a lobster & caviar tasting experience, which was the first time I had ever had caviar.

Official verdict: I must not have any taste because I really didn’t like caviar that much. Pad Thai beats this, honestly. I wonder if caviar is a big deal because of its rarity, more than its taste. The tea ended with lots of little pastries like a Citrus Mousse and Apple & Custard Compote. The freshly-baked scones were my favorite, but that is because I was a sucker for scones.

My mom, grandma, and I go to afternoon tea every year for my grandma’s birthday in December. We have been going for at least 5 years, and the tea spots in Orlando have diminished over time, so we have started going to the same one. We do love it, but it was so wonderful to go to a new tea place and see how the Savoy does it. I wish I had brought my fascinator, and had a true afternoon tea experience.

Lyaness, Wuthering Heights, and bed

Drinks at Lyaness

I walked back to my hotel Sea Containers after afternoon tea to get a brief break before my next activity. (Solo travel means you can book things nonstop with no worries if someone else hates that pace.) I had a reservation at the Lyaness Bar, which is allegedly the #1 bar in the world. In my opinion, the #1 bar in the world feels like an objective rating. Similar to the way I feel about Seattle coffee shops: the best coffee shop is the one that is a 5-minute walk from you. I think the best bar is the one that is close to you.

All to say, I was seated at the bar and enjoying my fancy drinks. In this situation, I didn’t really like sitting this close to the bartenders, because it was awkward balancing the chitchat and them needing to do their job. They were nice, but I wish I was at a table overlooking the Thames, and I could have kept to myself. Maybe I am just awkward and my solo trip desire for awkward conversations was ending.

Curzon and Monday morning

After the bar, inside the hotel was a Curzon movie theater playing Wuthering Heights. It was fun watching this British movie in London on Valentine’s Day weekend, and also a little silly. There were a lot of couples at this hotel, and I felt very silly being the lone wolf at this very romantic movie.

After the movie (which I liked BTW), I ended my night and went to bed.

Monday morning I squeezed in the Churchill War Rooms before my flight. A WWII time capsule in the basement, left mostly untouched for about 40 years after the war. Then back to the hotel for my suitcase, train to the airport, lounge, and a very long sit home.

What a solo trip to London!!