Travel

Reflections from Solo-Traveling through the UK

Aimee Xu May 2026 Cambridge · London · Bath · Stonehenge · Cotswolds

Table of Contents

Going Solo
Planning
Packing
Navigating
Top 5 Attractions
Shopping
Eating
Final Reflections

When I go on vacation, I'm typically a follower. I'm just someone who's down to vibe: nature, cityscape, museums, food. I don't mind letting others take the reins when travelling, so that way, I can go with the flow, turn off my brain, and relax.

Also, booking flights and hotels stresses me out because there are so many options, what if prices drop, and what if something happens where we can't make it? Chronic overthinker in action.

Yet, in the past year and a half, I have confronted my fear of booking travel head-on. The culmination of business trips, work conferences, flying back home, and navigating a long-distance relationship has made me quite the decisive booker and traveler (especially when the travel is on somebody else's dime).

Plus, I opened a credit card for this. It was time to go solo.

Going Solo

So what did I decide to do? Go solo-traveling to England!

I chose the UK because my good friend is studying at Cambridge, and two, because I love a good British accent. But seriously, having no language barrier was important to me because I wanted to be able to ask for help and directions without fumbling with Google Translate. On my first EuroTrip to France and Italy, my multilingual boyfriend carried. Now, I only had myself.

Planning

Call me a grandma, but I prefer reading travel books and blogs over sourcing ideas via TikTok and short-form content. The hidden spots that go viral on TikTok become overcrowded tourist traps by the next week. Plus, many brands and influencers target ads rather than offering genuine advice.

In the weeks leading up to my trip, I read how to find affordable hotel chains in Central London, how to navigate the tube and double-decker buses, and learned common British phrases. I saved all the places I wanted to visit in a Google Maps folder (super clutch). Instead of having a strict hourly breakdown, I created themes for each day: "Camaraderie in Cambridge", "Frolicking in Stonehenge", "Romanticizing the Cotswolds", and "Meandering through London." Thus, I wouldn't get stressed out if I was running behind schedule. I only had strict times on the stuff I had booked in advance.

Packing

I did my 7-day UK trip with a Cotopaxi 32L Mente Daypack. That's it!

Europe is way older than the US, and the roads reflect that. Since the places I visited also had cobblestone roads (and I was killing it at the gym), I figured I'd just carry everything. Just me, my toned back, and my fat backpack.

The secrets to solo traveling are the same secrets you need to walk through life: pack light and compartmentalize using packing cubes. I knew my stuff was coming back to the States less organized, and I'd be bringing more stuff back. I arrived at Heathrow with only my Cotopaxi but left with my Cotopaxi and my Longchamp Pliage bag (love her!). I folded her up on the way there, but coming back, she was filled to the brim with all the souvenirs and knick-knacks I collected throughout my trip.

Also, shout out to all my petite girlies out there! There's this misconception that petite women should never travel alone, but I disagree: we can pack more cute outfits in less space and get more leg room, all while having, on average, better cardiovascular health and longer lifespans.

Navigating

This was my biggest fear about solo-traveling internationally. Before my trip, I opened my NYTimes app and front page, London Became a Global Hub for Phone Theft. Of course, I started rage-baiting myself and began watching phone snatching videos. The two chatty British guys on my flight to England were like "Yes, I've seen it happen live!" or "Be careful. They target friendly, innocent-looking girls that look like you" (bruh, my stress was higher than the airplane).

Thankfully, I am writing this, phone in hand, and safely back in the States! I did not see any phone snatchings happen, but I also did not take any chances. I bought a phone wristlet, held my phone tight everywhere I traveled, and went into the shops when I needed to look at my Google Maps. I stayed acutely aware of my surroundings and asked friendly-looking people for directions instead of loosely looking at my phone while walking.

Being aware that pickpockets and phone snatchers exist made me act more carefully. Statistically, if you did not get your phone stolen, you wouldn't post about it online. Also, those who are posting their travels and experiences are more likely to get their phone snatched cause they have their phone out more!

London, and all the places I visited tbh, were super safe and walkable. The tube and bus are easy to use – just tap Apple Pay! Pinning all the places I wanted to visit on Google Maps made it easy to see what was in the area, and I knocked out all my pinned spots, simply because touristy areas are close by.

Top 5 Attractions

Prehistoric · Ancestral · Frolicking

1. Stonehenge 🗿

For all my fellow history buffs out there, you would know that Chapter 1 of history books always includes a snippet about Stonehenge. Something about it felt sacred, like I was part of something bigger, especially being there myself. The walk from Stonehenge to the Visitor Center was the freest and most at peace I've felt in a long time.

Thames Rocket Speedboat under London Bridge on Aimee Xu website

Modern · Rock Music · Speedboat

2. Thames Rockets 🚤

Exactly opposite of Stonehenge, but my 2nd favorite attraction. Something about being on the Thames, going 50 mph under the London Bridge and Tower Bridge, speeding past the ferries feels exhilarating. Another pro of solo traveling — you can book last minute cause plans for 1 are easier than plans for 4.

Punting on the River Cam on Aimee Xu website

Calm · Sunny · Relaxing

3. Punting on the River Cam 🚣

What a cool tradition. Would totally do it again. Everyone is on the river — saw a Bachelorette party, a canoe race, and a ton of punters. It's making me excited for wakeboarding and paddleboarding this summer!

grid ceiling of British Museum on Aimee Xu website

Extensive · Ponder · Introvert

4. British Museum & Afternoon Tea 🏛️

Bought the all-inclusive tours from their app. Learned so much from the Romans to the Indian Independence Movement. My favorites were the Statue of Tara and the Trillion Dollar Campaign. Also, reserve in advance for afternoon tea. I loved the grid-shaped ceiling that reflected on the floor - architecturally stunning. I could spend hours here while still being critical of the museum's repatriation scandals.

Banksy Statue in Central London on Aimee Xu website

Provocative · Anonymous · Why didn't I think of that?

5. Banksy Statue 🎨

A new Banksy was erected in Central London while I was there, and I was one of the first people to see it. The statues, which show a man (seemingly a politician) being blinded by his own flag. I loved it. Banksy's medium is typically 2-D, which makes me wonder: is Banksy a person or a collective? I'm convinced its the latter.

Shopping

London is 1 of the 4 Eurocentric Fashion Capitals of the world (alongside Paris, NYC, and Milan). I was particularly impressed by Farm Rio, Sandro, and Aime Leon Dore. (Although who wears Farm Rio in gloomy London? Although it was so sunny when I went, and I was very tempted to buy this $200 top.)

Eating

Another pro of solo traveling is that a party of one can get in anywhere, even without a reservation! Plus, I can order, eat, and pay at my own pace (which is quite fast, honestly).

British food gets a bad rap, but I thoroughly enjoyed my Scottish Egg, Sunday Roast, English Breakfast, and afternoon tea (did not care for black pudding and Yorkshire pudding). London is such an international city that you'll find the best cuisine from each culture. One thing I learned about myself on this trip is that I'm a huge foodie, but only when I'm eating with others. When I'm walking a ton, my hunger hormones do not kick in… add the adrenaline of being alone in a foreign country, I had some very oddly-timed meals.

I do not have a strong spice tolerance. I learned the hard way after eating shakshouka, I was out for the rest of the day with the worst stomachache. That's the difficult part of solo-traveling: if you get sick, you have to listen to your body and take care of yourself. I'm proud of myself.

Best Overall Meal 🦪

Fallow

Ate this before Romeo & Juliet, and all I could think about during the play was how good the food was (Sorry Shakespeare, but food > doomed love). I ordered oysters, short ribs, and beef tartar – damn, I still think about it. The restaurant also has a YouTube channel, so eating here was like meeting a celebrity. Definitely recommend making a reservation.

Best Sunday Roast 🍖

The Victoria

Needed something close to Paddington station, and the girls waitressing were so nice! I like British hospitality because they'll chat if you want to, but they largely leave you alone. The lamb shoulder and the toffee pudding was exquisite.

Best Market Food 🥪

The Black Pig

TikTok recommendations do know what they are talking about here. There wasn't much of a line (I did not go during peak season). "The Best One sandwich" had a splendid mix of spice, nuttiness, and meatiness. Tastes better one day later for some reason.

Best Breakfast & Best Hospitality 🍳

The Wellington

Did you know you can stay overnight in a pub? It's so convenient to watch football (American soccer) and cheer with random people, order a salad, and go back upstairs to your room after having a quarter pint of Guinness!

Best Company & Best Pub 🍺

The Fox Inn

The last weekend of my solo-trip, I spent in the Cotswolds. The effects of loneliness were starting to get to me, but the nicest mom-and-son duo (shoutout Barb and Stuart) invited me to sit with them and we had the best time! I was beaming when they told me how impressed they were when I was traveling by myself through the Cotswolds. Then, my AirBnB host Philly picked me up so I wouldn't have to walk home in the rain. Highlight of my trip.

Final Reflections

Even though it was a solo trip, it was the people I met and the friends I made along the way who defined the trip. International news tends to focus on the terrible, shocking things going on; read too much, and it soon sounds like a scary world out there. However, if you take the time to speak respectfully with everyday people and keep an open mind, you'll get it back tenfold. (Of course, still be constantly aware of your surroundings and talk in public spaces. It helps that I have a resting smiley face.)

It was seeing my friend Taylor thrive at her MBA program at Cambridge. It was my work mentor, Alan, giving me a tour of London after a long day at work. It was Lana, the stylish influencer on the train, encouraging me to get back on social media. It was the retired Florida couple on my Stonehenge tour bus who took my photos. It was my Airbnb host, Philly, going out of her way to give me rides around the Cotswolds (as I sat shotgun on the left side). It was Barb and Stuart who showered me with words of affirmation and beers after a long day in a countryside pub.

Until next time, England!