For solo travelers
Advice and tips for single travelers in the U.K.
The dreaded "single supplement" technically only applies to people booking tours or packages—but there are penalties for traveling solo even for the independent traveler.
Some single penalties are implicit.
A single room at a hotel rarely costs exactly half of what a double one does (it's usually more like 70%–80%).
When two or three of you rent a car—even if only one person drives it—you still split that cost evenly.
Heck, there are even discounted rail passes and railcards for couples.
Then there are all the little extras.
There's no one to share the cost of the meal (perhaps you would have shared that secondo, and a bottle of wine).
It's sometimes tough to book a day trip, as they often have a minimum participant requirement before they'll go (though you can glom on to a trip that already has participants).
There are often menu items (risotto in particular) that require you order for a minimum of two.
The good things about traveling solo
That said, I spend the vast majority of my travel time going solo (part of the job, you see), and while it might cost a wee bit more, it's still extraordinarily fulfilling.
I get to do what I want, when I want. No negotiating over when to get up, what activity to do or sights to see, where to eat out, and where to head next. I am master of my own itinerary and my own daily schedule.
I tend to notice and absorb a whole lot more of my trip, since all of my attention is focused outward, on the destination, not split between what I am seeing and paying attention to the person or people I am with.
Advice for single women traveling in the U.K.
There is actually a whole section dedicated to advice for women travelers. » more
- Boldlygosolo.com - About single travel in general and maintained by Ellen Perlman, so it's full of good advice for solo women on the road as well.
- Solotravel.org - Not a bad resource, with some good destinations articles.
- Solotravelerworld.com - Another good solo traveler blog, though the tips sections are pretty slim (and msotly affilaite links).
- Nomadicmatt.com - Popular travel blog. Matt travels solo, so his advice is, by default, usually solo travel advice. Good section for women, too.
- Bestsingletravel.com - Lots of offerings, cleverly grouped into "18–35" and "40s, 50s, & 60s."
- Singlestravelintl.com - Tour company that only does singles travel—mostly cruises, and rarely U.K., but worth looking into.
- Viator.com - Offers a multitude of multi-day trips, from two days exploring beyond London, to three days of Welsh Castles, to five days of Cornwall or a week in the Scottish Highlands and Orkney Islands.Partner
- Sightsandsoul.com - Specializes in solo and sinlge women's travel in small escorted groups.
- Classicjourneys.com/solo - Good tour operator with several walking adventures in England, Scotland, and Wales aimed at solo travelers.
- Statravel.com - This travel agency can point you to a variety of small group student and youth tours.Partner
- Eftours.com - Since the 1960s, a top purveyor of educational, cultural-immersion, and service learning tours for students and youths.
- Gadventures.com - G Adventures is an excellent small-group adventurous tour operator, with small group sizes and a devotion to seeing its destinations more like an independent traveler. Not much on the U.K. at present—save for a small ship adventure sailing the Scottish islands and Norway coast—but worth checking out.Partner
- intrepidtravel.com -
Though rarely do they have U.K. offerings, Intrepid Travel is well worth checking out. it is one of only two only major tour outfits I know (along with G Adventures) of that makes a concerted effort to travel like real independent travelers—small groups (max of 12 people), staying in mom-and-pop accommodations and getting around by public transport rather than a big tour bus.
This fantastic Australian company marries an independent travel style with the expertise of truly knowledgeable guides and a focus on the cultural experience of travel. There are usually around 30–35 Italy trips on tap each year—though half of those will be longer overland treks across Europe and/or the Middle East (with Italy making up just a slice of the two– or three-week trip), and a handful are self-guided walks (no group to follow, just you, your itinerary, and your pre-booked accommodations).
Intrepid really does run a different breed of group tour. Let me put it this way: When my parents—who travel widely and on their own and normally would never have even considered taking a group tour—suddenly found themselves with airfare to Japan but no time to plan a trip, I suggested they try booking with Intrepid. They did—and they have raved about it every since. Nearly seven years later, they were still in touch with their guide via email.
- Oattravel.com - Overseas Adventure Travel is devoted to budget-priced, small group adventures with a focus on mature solo travelers.
- Goway.com - Good generalist tour and package company, with dozens of "Single Friendly" itineraries (occasionally, even including Ireland or the U.K.).
- Singlescruise.com - Books groups of singles (ages 21 on up, but mostly 35–55) onto cruise ships, offering its own onboard program of events and mixers—and, most importantly, matching you with a same-gender cabin mate (of roughly the same age) so you don't have to pay the dreaded "single supplement." Nice Northern Ireland itinerary.
Related
More on Solo travel
Couchsurfing and other hospitality networks allow you to sleep for free in other member's homes
Hospitality networks gather folks who are willing to put up fellow members in their homes for free or for a small fee
Sleep in a religious guesthouse or retreat at abbeys, monasteries, priories, and convents across the U.K. from just £45
Sleep for free on vacation by watching someone's house (and, often, watering their plants and feeding their cat)
Programs like WWOOF and Helpx let you barter your services for a free place to stay
If you love sailing, or just have an unquenchable taste for adventure and new experiences, you can sign on to help crew a boat just about anywhere in the world, including the U.K.
A network of free stone cabins where you can sleep off the beaten path in the U.K.
