There’s something wonderfully liberating about travelling alone and the following trips fulfil all the best aspects of being solo. No compromises to be made, no itineraries discussed; get up when you want, eat what you fancy, do nothing or everything, talk to the friendly person next to you at breakfast, or pop in your headphones and ignore them completely. When I’m travelling alone, I become the best version of myself; the most decisive, the most charming, the most curious. I see more, go further, strike up conversations with people I’ll never meet again, yet always remember. And even after 25 years of travelling, I still get the same feeling of satisfaction when I’m home – a quiet sense of pleasure that I did it all on my own.
1. Brixham, Devon
The Berryhead Hotel – surrounded by six acres of gardens with lovely views across Torbay – is a rare find: a hotel with single rooms that are actually half the price of doubles (from £88 B&B, berryheadhotel.com). It’s an easy walk into picturesque Brixham, where the town’s fishing fleet fuels a clutch of excellent restaurants; pull up a seat at the counter at Simply Fish, a family-owned restaurant where diners pick their choice of seafood from the fresh fish counter (simplyfishrestaurant.co.uk).
2. Wells-next-the-sea, Norfolk
Vast skies, tranquil beaches and a delightfully slow pace; the Norfolk coast is a great choice for a solo trip. Book a Cosy Room at the charming Crown Hotel (from £180 B&B, crownhotelnorfolk.co.uk), where a complimentary cream tea is the perfect excuse for a lazy afternoon with a book in the comfortable lounge. On a non-cream tea day, book one of the 11 tables at the Wells Crab House, where the friendly team serve delicious seafood, including single oysters and taster portions of everything from crayfish tails to cockles and rollmops (wellscrabhouse.co.uk).
3. Camber Sands, East Sussex
Morning yoga classes come free at the lovely Gallivant (from £215, thegallivant.co.uk) – a great way to meet fellow guests – along with a weekly programme of classes, encompassing everything from wine-tasting to garden tours. Combine sociability with solo walks along the great swathe of sandy beach at Camber Sands and pop up to the historic town of Rye for supper at the Fig (thefigrye.com), with super-friendly staff and a menu of Ottolenghi-esque small plates.
4. Tenby, South Wales
Pack walking boots for a stay in Tenby, where the Pembrokeshire Coast Path leads out on to spectacular clifftop scenery, with the town itself – famous for its picturesque harbour with pastel-hued houses – a lovely friendly spot to return to and ideal for a solo foray. Stay at Trefloyne Manor (trefloyne.com), five minutes’ drive out of town and pop in for a spa treatment at the cute Dovecote spa. Pull up a bar stool at Twelve (twelvetenby.co.uk), where the friendly bar staff can advise on the ideal glass to match a trio of tapas-style plates – the perfect amount for one.
5. Bude, Cornwall
Get chatting to locals with a kayaking, paddleboarding or surfing class with Free Wave Surf Academy (freewavesurfacademy.co.uk), or mix solo strolls along Summerleaze Beach with a dip into the town’s artisan market (Wednesday to Saturday, 10am-3pm). Settle in for a supper of small plates ideally suited for one at Temple (the roof terrace, overlooking Summerleaze, is a dream on warm evenings) and stay at the Beach at Bude (from £195 B&B, thebeachatbude.co.uk), a charming Victorian house with rooms decked out in a New England seaside style – with self-catering apartments also available.
6. Buxton, Derbyshire
Fancy a solo spa treat, but don’t want to be marooned in a secluded hotel? The Buxton Crescent Spa (from £193 B&B, ensanahotels.com) lies at the heart of the Peak District’s most vibrant town, combining thermal pools – including on the rooftop – with a wide programme of treatments. Beyond the hotel, Buxton is an easily navigable, friendly place; spend an hour browsing the 40,000 secondhand titles in Scrivener’s Books (scrivenersbooks.co.uk) before lunch at Noonology, where hearty brunch dishes sit alongside vegan poke bowls and pleasingly indulgent cocktails (noonology.co.uk).
7. Hay-on-Wye, Powys
Bookish Hay is ideal for solo travellers; bookshops come with armchairs and assistants who are happy to chat and recommend, there are great walks from the centre of town, and the Granary (thegranaryhay.co.uk) is a convivial place for lunch, offering homemade pies, veggie dishes and inventive salads (strawberry and goat’s cheese is particularly good). Atelier Hay is a tranquil bolthole above an art gallery (from £170, three-night minimum, atelierhay.co.uk) and if you run out of something to read, the 24-hour open-air Hay Castle Honesty Bookshop ensures you never go to bed without a good book.
8. Ludlow, Shropshire
Surrounded by the rolling hills, Ludlow’s high street is dotted with boutiques, delicatessens and cafés – perfect for a spot of people-watching. A walk along the River Teme gives wonderful views of Ludlow Castle; finish up at the Green Café (thegreencafe.co.uk) where small plates of broccoli with melting cheese and orange spice or Ludlow farm steak with green harissa mean you can try two or three dishes without feeling you’ve over ordered. The Cliffe at Dinham (from £120 B&B, thecliffeatdinham.co.uk) is a charming restaurant with rooms, 10 minutes’ walk from the centre.
9. Keswick, Cumbria
Who says shepherd’s huts are only for couples? The Mount B&B has a beautiful hut for singles only (three-night break £240 B&B, themountkeswick.co.uk), with a woodburning stove and lovely garden views, with the chance to join other guests for breakfasts around the communal dining table in the main house. This is serious walking country, with footpaths from the front door; reward yourself with Mexican-inspired tapas at Es Bar (esbarltd.co.uk), with bar seating, dogs welcome and a breezy, chatty atmosphere.
10. Lavenham, Suffolk
The most picturesque of Suffolk’s historic wool towns, Lavenham has a slow-paced arty feel, with a number of art galleries and boutiques that offer an excellent afternoon’s browsing. Number Ten Wine Bar & Kitchen (ten-lavenham.co.uk) is a convivial place for lunch or supper, with giant barrels providing great tables for one, while the Swan at Lavenham has a cocoon-like warmth, with cosy bedrooms beneath original 15th-century beams (Lavenham rooms are ideal for singles, from £171 room-only, theswanatlavenham.co.uk), and a boutique spa. Dogs are welcome at both places.
11. Canterbury
Set within the Cathedral grounds, the Canterbury Cathedral Lodge is a unique place to stay, with single, en suite rooms (from £92 B&B, canterburycathedrallodge.org), with views straight across to the 1,400-year-old church. The rate includes free entry to the cathedral (usually £15), with the city’s historic streets just outside the door. Don’t miss lunch (or just a shopping spree) at the Goods Shed, a daily farmer’s market and restaurant, serving produce from each of the stalls; two starters (maybe octopus, clams and ’nduja or cheddar and truffle beignets) make a perfect meal for one (thegoodsshed.co.uk).
12. London
Perfect for a solo jaunt, Citizen M has four breezily hip outposts, where the pod-sized rooms are ideal for one (from £155, citizenm.com), and the open-plan bar/lounge/restaurant downstairs is a comfortable place to hang out. Borough Market has a great range of places that offer counter dining; Arabica (arabicalondon.com) offers lip-smacking Middle Eastern small plates and super-friendly staff, while Wright Brothers (thewrightbrothers.co.uk) is so compact it’s almost rude not to start chatting to the person next to you.
13. York
With an easily walkable historic centre, boasting both York Minster and a picturesque tangle of pedestrianised streets, York is ideal for a solo weekend break. Book a counter seat at Skosh (skoshyork.co.uk), to watch small plates of Orkney crab papads, paratha with whipped aubergine brinjal and Peruvian chocolate tart roll out, and stay at No 1 Guesthouse (from £138 room-only, guesthousehotels.co.uk), where the well-stocked pantry means there’s always something to nibble on if you fancy a break from eating alone.
14. Edinburgh
Plan a packed itinerary for a trip to Edinburgh with the Kimpton’s Stay Human concierge, which offers a variety of curated experiences – from city walking tours to coffee tasting or personal shopping – all bookable before you arrive. Book a City Single (from £252, ihg.com) and spend an evening at Eleanore, where high stools at communal tables encourage chat between locals and visitors, and the pared-down menu of artfully presented dishes is ideal for a solo dinner (eleanore.uk).
15. Bristol
Buzzy and bohemian, Bristol combines West Country warmth with a hip urban feel and a clutch of excellent galleries – from contemporary artworks at the Arnolfini to more than 70 artists, makers and designers at Spike Island (spikeisland.org.uk). Book a Broom Cupboard or Shoe Box at the hip Artist’s Residence (from £185, artistresidence.co.uk) – small rooms with striking artworks that are perfect for one – and bag a seat at the bar at Marmo (marmo.restaurant) for their excellent value set lunch (two/three courses £22/25) or a dinner of Italian small plates.
Book yourself into a retreat that’s perfect for pampering solo guests
1. Homefield Grange, Northamptonshire
Offering tailor-made programmes for everything from weight loss to detox or simple rest and rejuvenation, Homefield Grange offers the chance to restore internal balance with a focus on self-care (homefieldgrangeretreat.co.uk).
2. The Glasshouse, Essex
The UK’s first purpose-built wellness retreat, The Glasshouse in Bulphan, Essex, offers a daily programme of wellness activities – from hiking and mindfulness to plant-based cooking – set in seven acres of countryside (glasshouseretreat.co.uk).
3. Gaia House, Devon
For those looking for a more spiritual retreat, Gaia offers silent meditation retreats from various Buddhist traditions, led by experienced Dharma teachers. Group retreats last from two to 10 days (gaiahouse.co.uk).
4. Glen Dye, Aberdeenshire
Making the most of the spectacular surroundings, Glen Dye offers a wellness programme of foraging walks, forest bathing, wild swimming and Vinyasa yoga, with breathing workshops and a wood-fired sauna to relax in (glendyecabinsandcottages.com).
5. The Detox Barn, Suffolk
Book a weekend retreat, courtesy of the dynamic Gavin sisters, who offer yoga classes, guided walks and meditation, vegan suppers and an “intention- setting” session around an open fire (gavinsisters.co.uk).