Solo Female Travel in London

London, the capital city of the United Kingdom, is nestled on the banks of the River Thames in Southeast England. Known for its rich history and cultural diversity, it's an exciting urban metropolis where the ancient and the contemporary exist side by side. With globally iconic landmarks such as the historic Tower of London, the majestic Buckingham Palace, the eye-catching London Eye, and the architectural marvel of the Shard, the city presents an irresistible charm. London is also famously home to the British Museum displaying works from across continents and the centuries, a multitude of professionally manicured parks like Hyde Park, and vibrant markets such as Camden and Portobello Road. Not forgetting the city's celebrated theater district, West End, and the internationally influential center of finance, the City of London. Each corner of this sprawling city offers new discoveries and incredible experiences, making London a must-visit destination.

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Is London good for solo travel?

Safety:

Safety:Very safe

London is generally safe for solo female travelers. It is a busy city with a high level of security measures in place. The public transportation is reliable with CCTV on buses and trains, and metro stations are usually populated even late at night. However, as is the case in any major city, pickpocketing and other small crimes can occur, particularly in tourist-heavy areas. It is recommended to remain vigilant, especially at night, and avoid isolated areas.
Transport:

Transport:Easy

It is relatively straightforward to navigate London. There is a comprehensive network of buses, trains, and underground services that cover all areas of the city. Maps and signages are also clear and easily understandable. However, peak times can be crowded and might cause slight inconveniences. The city is also walkable, and cycling options are quite extensive.
Things to do:

Things to do:Fascinating

London is an exhilarating hub of culture, history, and modernity. From renowned museums and art galleries like the British Museum and the Tate Modern that offer deep dives into local culture and art, to exploring attractions such as the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace or the iconic Big Ben, every corner has something to offer. Shopping enthusiasts will love the varied street markets and high-end shops on Oxford Street and King's Road. Foodies can indulge in diverse cuisines, with every possible world cuisine present in London. The city also caters to nature lovers with beautiful parks like Hyde Park or Regent's Park where you can go for a quick retreat. Furthermore, the London theatre scene is a vibrant one and tickets for a show in West End is a must-have experience.
Food:

Food:Excellent

London offers one of the most diverse food scenes in the world. Regardless of your culinary preferences, you will definitely find something that suits your taste. From classic British dishes, indulgent pastries and afternoon teas to a vast variety of international cuisines like Indian, Middle Eastern, Italian, Asian, and many more. Whether you're vegan, vegetarian, or a meat-lover, there's something for everyone. You can find high-quality dining experiences spread across the various boroughs of the city. Street food markets are also a notable part of London's food culture, offering tasty treats and meals, often served by passionate locals. Remember to treat yourself to some British classic dishes while you're there like fish and chips or a traditional roast dinner. For sweet lovers, scones with clotted cream and jam are a must-try.
Budget:

Budget:Expensive

London can be quite expensive compared to other destinations. Accommodation, dining, and transportation costs are generally high. While it has several free attractions like its iconic museums, more renowned locations like the Tower of London or the London Eye do have entrance fees. However, there are ways to keep costs down, such as using an Oyster card for transport, eating at markets, and staying in budget accommodations.

Is London worth visiting?

Overall rating

4.5 /5

based on 81 experiences

Things to do

4.7/5

Safety

4.4/5

Food

4.2/5

Budget-friendly

2.9/5
Carme

Carme

Spain

Solo travel

Overall I had a really good trip, specially important being one of my first solo trips. I stayed on an Airbnb that was exclusively for solo travelling women that made me feel really comfortable and secure, the neighbourhood (Southfields) was great as well. I found London to be an amazing city in terms of safetyness, it of course has some dangers being a big city as all of them but compared to Rome for example (where I lived for a year), London felt super safe, I received no cat calling and wasn’t afraid to walk around alone. Price-wisely it can be expensive, especially the food out, so I would recommend booking a place where you are able to cook so you can save some money. In contrast museums were totally free and I found a lot of activities to do that weren’t expensive. Aside from this some shopping was included on my trip that did up my budget a bit ;). Overall I feel like you can accommodate the trip to your budget. Public transportation was nice, allowed me to get everywhere comfortably, specially the tube which was fast and counts with a ton of stations. You can pay simply with your credit card which is nice as well. Some of the stuff I loved were the vintage and second hand shops, the markets and restaurants from other cultures. But overall my favourite thing was the lively vibe of the city, at least during summer, and the kindness of the people I encountered <3.

Posted: September 6, 2024
Things to do: 5/5Food: 4/5Budget-friendly: 1/5Safety: 5/5
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Cara

Cara

United Kingdom

Solo travel

London is a beautiful place and if you're new to the city, than its even more exciting and fascinating. It's a great experience for tourists and a must see if you ever visit the UK. I'd recommend jumping on the Uber boat (which serves all different stops along the River Thames) and gives you the opportunity to cruise through London.. Mark my word, it is nore beautiful at night when everything is lit up!

Posted: September 5, 2024
Things to do: 3/5Food: 3/5Budget-friendly: 2/5Safety: 4/5
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Group travel

It was excellent and safely to travel in London. I went to Harry Potter studios which I dreamed about it, and totally worth it. It was safe, you can walk everywhere, and use subway. I really enjoyed and wanna travel in London again

Posted: August 31, 2024
Things to do: 4/5Food: 3/5Budget-friendly: 2/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel

I stayed in London Solo in a hostel for 3 nights and I felt safe. I recommend to visit The Lookout, National history museum and Sky garden. I used public transport and walked to every location. I honestly had an amazing time. :)

Posted: August 18, 2024Experienced: January, 2024
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 3/5Safety: 3/5
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Solo travel

I traveled to London for a summer break, and stayed near Bayswater underground station, and had everything near by either by underground or walking. I felt safe and lived in a comfortable area, and even when returning home to the hotel at 11 pm I still felt safe. I can recommend staying in this area when travelling solo.

Posted: August 17, 2024
Things to do: 4/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 4/5Safety: 5/5
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Sarah

Sarah

Germany

Solo travel

I spend a little time in London and also in Oxford. I feel really safe. I stayed in a hostel close to the city centre. That was also very good. There is so much to do and the transport really good and easy to handle

Posted: August 10, 2024
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 4/5Safety: 5/5
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Skylar

Skylar

Canada

Solo travel

London was alot more underwhelming than I expected. Everything was super expensive and just kind of the same everywhere. It’s just a normal busy city nothing too special about it. The girls I met up with were super nice and without them I wouldn’t have had a good time.

Posted: August 9, 2024
Things to do: 3/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 2/5
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Georgina

Georgina

Hungary

Solo travel

I visited many museums in London and, as a foodie, I tried a lot of great places to eat. I went to Borough Market and also experienced a Korean robot restaurant/convenience store. The city was really busy, so sometimes I felt overwhelmed, but overall my experience was really good.

Posted: July 31, 2024
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Olivia

Olivia

United States

Solo travel

I COULD NOT RECOMMEND LONDON MORE!!! I felt so safe in London, and the public transit was super easy to navigate. Being out after dark I did not feel uneasy at all. So much to do and see could easily be a week trip!

Posted: July 18, 2024Experienced: March, 2024
Things to do: 5/5Food: 3/5Budget-friendly: 3/5Safety: 5/5
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Family travel

We went there to the Harry potter Museum. It was fantastic. We also travel to Yorkshire and I can recommend the small town for a nature trip. It was perfectly for a family trip. We felt welcomed everywhere and people were friendly and helpful. It was safe.

Posted: July 11, 2024
Things to do: 5/5Food: 3/5Budget-friendly: 4/5Safety: 5/5
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Is London safe for women?

Safety rating

3.5 /5

Based on 82 experiences

Crime rates rating

2.5 /5

Based on 82 experiences

I’m a girl in southwest London and I find it safe if you know the area you are in. I wouldn’t however walk with headphones in just in case. However, I never have an issue being out clubbing and getting home safe.

Posted: September 3, 2024
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Central london is relatively safe and well lit. It helps that there is almost always workers in the tube stations. The biggest concern is having your phone stolen by men on bikes - the police will do nothing to help you.

Posted: September 3, 2024
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Meet locals in London

Meet local women in London who are open to meet up for a coffee or a drink, show you around, give local advice or practice a language with.
María

María

About Me

I'm a Spanish woman working for a human rights charity in London. I have lived in this city half my life and love showing it to people. I have a part time business doing animal care and also practice massage therapy. I love nature, food, dancing and the arts. I'm sober and LGBTQI+ friendly

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Tamara

Tamara

About Me

I'm a freelance UX and service designer, currently community manager for a small non-profit. I enjoy solo travel as an introvert, going at my own pace and planning my day, but sometimes miss sharing experiences and adventures with others. I tend to stay in boutique hostels with female dorms or Airbnbs. (I'm always up for sharing accommodation or rentals!) I'm a foodie (vegetarian), coffee lover, culture vulture, love urban photography and just coddiwompling around. I don't drink much (maybe socially) and am not a party person. I kind of had an existential/early mid-life crisis during the pandemic, feeling like I'm missing out on life and what if the next year brings something even worse!? So I cancelled my lease in London and went travelling. As a millennial I'm unlikely to but my first home any time soon, and 50% off my income went on rent, so in order to save up (and work part time for my mental health), I'm house and pet-sitting. My itinerary: 🇵🇹 Portugal until 15.5. 🇪🇦 Spain 18.5.-1.7. 🇧🇻 Denmark 1.7.-20.7. 🇸🇪 Sweden 20.07.-22.7. 🇬🇧 UK 29.7.-24.8. 🇭🇷 Croatia 24.8.-20.9. If you'd like to follow along with my trips, you can find me on Instagram 📷 @coddiwomplingdumpling ✏️ Also! Please contribute to my list of hostels with female-only dorms if you discover a gem https://www.google.com/maps/placelists/list/D8OAFWAR7H21iTMn_rV_iYLuA9M6qQ

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Local tips

I think London is safe for women, but be careful of pickpockets and having your phone out without paying attention, the rise of people snatching phones put of hands while on a bike, is increasing. London doesn't habe to be expensive, there are many free museums, galleries and places to see. Our transport system is good, so you don't have to stay in central London and pay for really expensive hotels.

Posted: August 3, 2024
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Aleksandra

Aleksandra

United Kingdom

As a local who has lived in London for six years, I have some recommendations for travelers visiting this vibrant city. London is fairly safe, but like any big city, it's important to exercise caution. Keep your belongings secure and be aware of pickpockets, especially in crowded tourist areas. For museum lovers, I highly recommend the Victoria and Albert Museum. It's absolutely gorgeous and has a lovely courtyard garden where you can enjoy a coffee if the weather is nice. During the colder months, there's a stunning cafeteria inside. Just across the road is the iconic Natural History Museum, famous for the whale skeleton in the main hall. Don't miss the earthquake simulation room on the last floor, which replicates one of the biggest Japanese earthquakes in the last decade. Both museums are free to enter. On a good day, a walk along the South Bank is a must. Start at the Millennium Bridge and make your way along the river to Big Ben. While you're there, I'd suggest skipping the London Eye – in my opinion, it's overrated and overpriced. For food, Chinatown is a great spot for Chinese cuisine. If you're in the mood for steak, Flat Iron is superb, and you can even get free ice cream if you visit the location by London Bridge. For tapas, try Lobos, which offers a fantastic dining experience. Most restaurants require booking and have limited walk-in capacity. Enjoy your visit to London!

Posted: June 22, 2024
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Tallulah

Tallulah

United Kingdom

London, like any city can be unsafe. Personally I have never witnessed anything, but you have to be vigilebg and take care of your belongings. Id you see anything unsafe its easy to get away from i.e the tube can be unsafe but its quick and easy to get of at the next stop. It’s easy for London to get crowded if you at an event or during rush hour, so I would typically avoid traveling around between 7-10am and 4-7pm. If you stick to the touristy, well known areas. Walking round at night is as safe as any other city. There are normally lots of people about.

Posted: June 3, 2024
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London is a very safe place to visit. There are a lot of places to visit that are free of charge, like the British Museum, History Museum, and War Museum. You can find all kinds of cultural food. At night, it's really safe and normally very busy, especially on weekends.

Posted: April 23, 2024
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London is a safe place for travelling as a solo woman traveler. I did it many times. The food is good as you get to discover many cuisines from around the world. I would advise to stay within central London (zone1) in order to not spend too much on the transport as it is expensive especially during peak hours.

Posted: April 17, 2024
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If you’re going outside of the city centre I recommend using a taxi at night. Either Uber or Bolt will be the cheapest options. If you have to get the bus at night, do it go onto the upper deck. Save money by going to larger supermarkets/superstores, convinience stores and smaller ‘metro’ or ‘express’ shops are more expensive. If you’re staying for a long time, use an Oyster card as payment issues are easier to track and refund. If you’re there for a short time, you can use your contactless card on all public transport. Museums and parks are free to enter, E.g the National Portrait Gallery (Trafalgar Sq), Natural History Museum (South Kensington) and the Science Museum (South Kensington).

Posted: February 27, 2024
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London is mostly safe for women, with the exception of maybe a few neighbourhoods where there are a lot of middle eastern men, who will stare at you intensely like a piece of meat. Edgware Road is one such example. The women will also stare and judge, even when you’re dressed very “modestly” / conservative / not showing and skin or body shape or wearing any makeup.

Posted: February 18, 2024
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So you’re visiting London for the first time! My advice as a woman who has lived here for 7 years, and had my fair share of getting lost and feeling uncomfortably cramped on the tube, is this! - Walk as much as you can, not necessarily to avoid the tube (as this is a rite of passage), but you get to see so much more of London by walking (or taking the bus, although I would avoid the night bus alone.) - Downloading the Citymapper app is a must! It will tell you exactly what routes to take as well as timings. This will help you plan your journey so you don’t feel intimidated by the tube! - Head to the touristy places sure, but they can get super packed so I would either head there early in the morning or after the sun goes down. - To get a real taste of London, you need to head to Hackney, Notting Hill, Greenwich, and Little Venice. - As for Covent Garden, Southbank (all great but very touristy!), aim to head there on a weekday. - Avoid Oxford Street unless you want to go on a big shopping spree, but even then I wouldn’t recommend! - If you are a solo traveller and you’re heading out to bars/restaurants, look out for an ‘Ask for Angela’ sign in the loos if anyone makes you feel uncomfortable at any point! The bar staff will help. - Avoid Uber and download Bolt or FREENOW - best cab apps! Avoid black cabs unless you’re made of money. - If you’re taking the tube, there’s no need to wear your backpack on your front! We do have pickpockets like every other city, just keep your phone close to your body and your bags zipped up. - Londoners aren’t as rude as they’re made out to be! If you’re lost, ask somebody. 99% of the time they will help, unless they don’t know where they’re going themselves! Finally! Enjoy it. There are so many creative and wonderful hubs in London, just waiting for you!

Posted: February 12, 2024
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London can be a challenge but it's a lot of wonderful places to go. The tube is the best way to move, you can get everywhere. Delicious food that can be found at a resonable cost. The best way to find the beauty of the city is to gosto outro and walk around, but I would not advice after 10.30pm.

Posted: February 9, 2024
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Nour

Nour

United Kingdom

Yes London is safe for solo female travelers! Its one of my favorite cities in the world. You can even travel at night as a solo female traveler. It is well connected by tubes, buses etc and usually there is always people on public transport so ur not alone. Specially on weekends. Try not to walk alone after 12 am during the week. I would suggest you rent a lime bike and go to the nearest station or bus stop and get public transport. I would not spend too much time on the touristy areas like central London and west London. And try to engage with the real authentic London life. Visit museum they are mostly for free!! Visit Sunday markers in east London. Parks and canals are your friend for cheap nice hangout in summer and museums and cafes are ur friends in winter. East London hackney is my favorite area in London for food, bars, cafes, clubs, Sunday markets, pubs, canal walks, and super diverse and cool.

Posted: December 1, 2023
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Stay with locals in London

Stay with local women in London who offer free accommodation as part of cultural exchange. Hospitality exchange is a great way to meet new people, learn more about new cultures and experience destinations like a local.
María

María

London

Can host for:

3 days

About me

I'm a Spanish woman working for a human rights charity in London. I have lived in this city half my life and love showing it to people. I have a part time business doing animal care and also practice massage therapy. I love nature, food, dancing and the arts. I'm sober and LGBTQI+ friendly

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Caroline

Caroline

London

Can host for:

3 days

About me

Hi i am Caroline. I am 63 years old, teacher and cyclist traveller. I live in the amazing city of London. I like discovering new countries, yoga, eating good food and meeting new people. Looking forward to meeting you ladies in your country or in mine.

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Upcoming visitors to London

Connect with upcoming visitors to London who are looking for travel buddies or meet ups.
Nafisa

Nafisa

About Me

Hi! I’m Nafisa from Indonesia and I LOVE travelling. I lovee seeing sunsets, going on walking tours, sightseeing, taking lots of pictures, meeting new people, getting to know new cultures, going to museums and admiring pretty skies / buildings. My friends know me as being super bubbly and lively! So excited to travel and meet new people here!! 🤗❤️

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