Sure, planning a trip with your friends/partner/family is fun, but sometimes, the best tonic for the soul is a solo adventure.
With the UK opening up in time for British summer and its travel corridors now open to select countries – including the USA – this might just be the perfect time to plan that trip. The UK is home to some of the most quintessentially charming spots you’ll find, with no shortage of things to do. It’s a teeny, tiny island but it sure packs a punch! Sunny beer gardens, seaside towns, gastro-delights and cutesy cottages in the country…. For all our complaints about the weather, we’ve gotta say – we kinda love it here.
The UK is SO easy to travel around, and a great starting point if you’re looking to get stuck into somewhere new, alone, for the first time too. Win-win!
We asked the six-two team for insider tips on the best places to take a solo UK holiday and they didn’t disappoint…
1. Norfolk - Jess, social media executive
I’m lucky that I get to visit the North Norfolk coast and a little village called Brancaster (which is a retreat in itself) quite often. But lately I’ve been stalking West Lexham’s Insta page. West Lexham is the perfect place to travel solo – you could stay on the estate in the Norfolk countryside and not really need to go anywhere else! It also offers some of the dreamiest accommodation: treehouses, bell tents, barns and cottages, if you’re looking for a peaceful bolthole. They also run holistic and wellness retreats, including yoga, sound therapy, star gazing – the list goes on. The best bit? It’s an eco-friendly paradise.
Getting there: 2.5-hour drive / 3-hour train ride from London
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2. The Cotswolds - Lottie, head of content
Picturesque pubs, amazing delis and epic dog walks (a trip with your pooch counts as a solo holiday, okay) – this cluster of villages is the English countryside at its best. From Burford to Bourton on Water, you can basically eat your way around the villages, drinking in the traditional honey-coloured stone houses along the way. There are so many local foods to try – from cheeses to pastries – and with plenty of cafes instead of posh restaurants, you might feel less intimidated when it comes to eating out. Don’t miss Daylesford’s organic farm shop.
Getting there: 2-hour drive / 2.5 hour train ride from London
3. Dublin - Gaby, producer
Dublin seems to have a never-ending supply of things to do. It’s so easy to be a solo traveller here. I love the Irish Museum of Modern Art, wandering around Trinity College and the Guinness Storehouse (it’s like visiting a theme park dedicated to the classic Irish tipple!). Pack your itinerary with activities and you’ll 100% fall in love with the Irish way, or you can just browse the shops – Grafton Street is a world-famous shopping street – and wander along the Grand Canal if you’re on a budget.
Getting there: 1-hour flight from London
4. Sheffield - Izzy, web content merchandiser
This city is great for a solo break as it’s so easy to navigate. Sheffield is also one of the greenest cities in the UK so it gives you the best of both cool city vibes and a little nature, too. Check out Sheffield Botanical Gardens, the Antiques Quarter if you love vintage shopping or you can even get a local bus all the way into the Peak District if you fancy a hike. I’d stay in a central hotel so you can pretty much walk everywhere, or you could always rent a city apartment if you want your own space.
Getting there: 1.5-hour drive / 50-minute train ride from Manchester
5. Bristol - Liv, email producer
You just can’t get bored in Bristol. I’d recommend doing a fun street art walking tour where you can join and meet new people (and spot a few original Banksy works!). I love walking around Clifton as it’s such a cute area with beautiful houses, book shops and cafes. A great way to finish the day is by watching the sunset from the Clifton Suspension Bridge (if you’re lucky with the weather). If you’re there for a while, you could book a day trip to Bath, which is just 15 minutes away by train.
Getting there: 2.5-hour drive / 1.5-hour train ride from London
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6. Margate - Bunty, design project manager
This formerly trashy English seaside town has had a renaissance of sorts. Only an hour or two from London, Margate has cute-seaside-town-gone-trendy vibes in spades. Think cutesy pubs, record stores and galleries. If the weather’s nice, have a stroll along the beach, take in an exhibition at the Turner museum or get a drink at the row of bars overlooking the beach. Not to mention, the revamped mini theme park, just a few steps from the shore. Dreamland has all the rides for the brave – and not so brave.
Getting there: 2-hour drive / 1.5-hour train ride from London
7. Rye - Rachel, head of brand
Rye in Sussex is perfect for a solo getaway in the UK. This quaint English town is all cobbled streets and antique shops. I also love browsing the local charity shops. There’s a great independent local cinema plus heaps of good places to eat – from modern health food cafes to seafood and pub grub. And the bonus is you’re only 10 minutes from the stunning Camber Sands beaches which stretch for miles and miles.
Getting there: 2-hour drive / 1-hour train ride from London
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8. Isle of Skye - Ali, social media manager
Okay, so the Isle of Skye isn’t the easiest to travel to, but that’s part of the appeal. If you’re looking for a remote and stunning solo escape this is it. The ethereal landscape will have you falling in love, and if you’re an adventurous solo traveller, there’s SO much to see. Here, waterfalls rush into the sea, cows swim from the mainland out to islands (YEP) and you can even spot dolphins and whales just off the coast (June and July is great for this!). You can always bolt it onto a longer trip to Scotland.
Getting there: 5-hour drive from Edinburgh
9. Brighton - Dom, six-two writer
Once budget airlines started to pop-up British seaside towns became bit wistful and nostalgic. You know: dilapidated buildings, empty arcades, amusement piers that once teemed with Victorian day-trippers populated by a lone seagull eating cold chips. But not Brighton. With its buzzing nightlife, amazing live music and winding lanes with quirky shops selling all sorts of curiosities, it’s a bit of a rarity: a future-facing coastal town. Plus, the locals are so friendly that you’re bound to make some friends when you’re exploring solo.
Getting there: 2-hour drive / 1-hour train ride from London
For updates on all the latest travel information in line with COVID-guidelines head to Gov.uk .
As of April 19, currently anyone who wishes to travel to the UK must provide evidence of a COVID-negative test prior to departure, and is required to self-isolate upon arrival.