A guide to solo travel in England and Wales

Things to consider

Before you choose a place to stay, it helps to think through a few practical things. These are the choices that make the biggest difference to a trip alone in England and Wales, with options for each depending on what you are after.

What you want from the trip

Start with the feeling rather than the map. Do you want a few days of quiet, a city with something on every evening, a walk with a view at the end of it, or a celebration? Knowing the answer narrows the choice quickly, because the right base for a slow weekend by the sea is quite different from the right base for a walking trip. It also tells you what to look for in a stay, from a lounge to sit in to a pub downstairs.

Getting there and around

Travelling alone without a car works well in much of England and Wales, and it saves you parking and the drive home at the end. Main lines link most cities and many coastal and national park towns, and buses fill many of the gaps, although rural services can finish early in the evening. Before you book a stay, check how you will get from the station to the door, and what time the last train or bus leaves if you plan to go out for the day.

• If you wantto arrive by trainYou may preferA stay within walking distance of the station. Our stay cards say how far.
• If you wantto keep fares downYou may preferAn Advance ticket, which is only valid on the train you book. National Rail says they can usually be bought up to 12 weeks ahead.
• If you wanta railcard for oneYou may preferThe 16-25, 26-30, Senior, Network, Veterans or Disabled Persons Railcard. Railcard.co.uk explains who each one is for.
• If you wantthe freedom of a carYou may preferA stay with parking and somewhere to eat within walking distance, so you can leave the car once you arrive.

Wales without a car. Traveline Cymru plans door-to-door journeys by bus, train and on foot, online or on 0800 464 00 00. TrawsCymru runs medium and long-distance buses across Wales, and fflecsi is an on-demand bus in some rural communities that you book in an app. Transport for Wales also offers Passenger Assistance, which you can book if you would like help at stations or on trains.

Staying connected and looking after yourself

Phone signal varies a lot between towns, valleys and coast paths, so it is worth a quick check before you go. Ofcom’s mobile coverage checker shows predicted coverage for a postcode, indoors and outdoors, by network, although Ofcom notes that no signal level guarantees coverage all of the time. Check the postcode of your stay and of any walk you have in mind, then download offline maps so you are not relying on a signal to find your way.

A few habits help any trip run smoothly. The Suzy Lamplugh Trust suggests checking the time of the last bus or train, waiting in a well-lit place near other people, and keeping your phone charged. If you are heading into the hills, the Mountain Rescue advice published by Ordnance Survey is to share your route and expected finish time with someone and stick to it. For walks in the countryside, the Countryside Code covers the basics: plan ahead, tell someone where you are going, give livestock room and take your litter home.

• If you wantto switch offYou may preferA stay with little or no signal, with your plans shared before you go and a paper map, which needs no battery.
• If you wantto stay in touchYou may preferA stay with good predicted coverage on your network, or wifi, checked before you book.
• If you wantcompany on a walkYou may preferA guided walk or a walking group for the day, with local knowledge and people to chat to.

Money and the price of a room for one

Some hotels and inns price by the room rather than the person, so a double booked for one can cost the same as it would for two. Others offer a rate for one, and some have true single rooms, which can be good value if you do not need the space. Pricing varies so much from place to place that the quickest way to know is to check for yourself, which takes a minute. Our three price bands are based on the cost of a room for one night.

• Search for one guestNote the price for your dates and room type.
• Search again for two guestsSame room, same dates, same site.
• Compare the twoIf they match, the room is priced per room. If one guest is cheaper, there is a rate for one.
• Look for single roomsSome stays list true singles. Our stay cards mention them where we know.

Travel adds to the total too. If you take the train often, a railcard takes a third off many fares, and an Advance ticket on a fixed train can help on longer journeys.

Eating alone

There are plenty of ways to eat well on your own, from a counter seat with a view of the kitchen to a quiet table in a hotel dining room. Some people love lingering over dinner with a book; others prefer something quick so they can get back to the evening. Think about how you like to eat at home, and whether you want the trip to feel the same or completely different.

• If you wantto watch the kitchenYou may preferA counter or bar seat, which can be easier to book for one.
• If you wantto try a bit of everythingYou may preferSmall plates, which suit one better than sharing menus built for groups.
• If you wantdinner without going outYou may preferA pub with rooms or a hotel dining room, so dinner is downstairs.
• If you wanta quieter roomYou may preferAn early or late sitting, or room service if you would rather stay in.

Our guide to eating out alone has more ideas, plus stays where dinner is downstairs.

Type of stay

Hotels, inns, guesthouses, hostels and cottages each feel different when you are on your own. A hotel takes care of everything and often has someone on reception around the clock; a guesthouse is smaller and more personal; an inn puts dinner and a bit of life downstairs; a hostel with private rooms is good value and makes it easy to meet people. Think about how much independence you want, and how much time you would like to spend around other people.

• If you wanteverything taken care ofYou may preferA hotel with a restaurant and 24-hour reception.
• If you wantsomewhere small and personalYou may preferA guesthouse or B&B, where the hosts know the area.
• If you wantdinner downstairsYou may preferAn inn or a restaurant with rooms.
• If you wantto meet peopleYou may preferA hostel with private rooms and a shared kitchen.
• If you wantyour own front doorYou may preferA cottage or cabin, with a shop and a pub within reach.

Our recommended accommodation for every kind of trip

First, six stays we would book for a trip alone, each within walking distance of a station or tram stop. After them, our guides go into each kind of trip in more detail, each with its own picks.

Six stays you can reach by train

These are in no particular order, from our list of independent stays across England and Wales. Each card notes anything worth knowing before you book.

Some links earn us a small commission. It never changes which stays we pick or what you pay.

1. On our list

   The Bar Convent

   York, North Yorkshire

   £££Budget

   • True single rooms in a working Georgian convent, with a garden, café and guest kitchen
   • A few minutes’ walk from York station

   Trade-off: the superior singles are up a narrow staircase with no lift, and there is no parking.

   See the stayPrices vary by date
2. On our list

   The Pilgrm

   London, Greater London

   £££Mid-range

   • Nook rooms with one single bed, plus a restaurant, bar and big lounge
   • About five minutes’ walk from London Paddington

   Trade-off: rooms have opening windows but no air conditioning.

   See the stayPrices vary by date
3. On our list

   The Erskine Arms

   Conwy, Caernarfonshire

   £££Mid-range

   • A Georgian coaching inn with a restaurant and bar, close to the castle
   • Near Conwy station, with Llandudno a short hop by train

   Trade-off: rooms above the bar may hear pub noise.

   See the stayPrices vary by date
4. On our list

   The Grand Hotel Tynemouth

   Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear

   £££Mid-range

   • A Victorian seafront hotel with a restaurant, bar, lounge and room service
   • On the Metro, about 25 minutes from Newcastle

   Trade-off: some rear rooms are reported to run warm, so ask for a sea view.

   See the stayPrices vary by date
5. On our list

   Timbrell's Yard

   Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire

   £££Mid-range

   • A converted riverside mill with a restaurant and bar
   • Close to the station, with Bath along the towpath

   See the stayPrices vary by date
6. On our list

   The Angel Hotel

   Abergavenny, Monmouthshire

   £££Treat yourself

   • A coaching inn with a restaurant, bar and room service in a town known for food
   • About ten minutes on foot from Abergavenny station

   Trade-off: it hosts events, so some weekends will be busier.

   See the stayPrices vary by date