Why go away for New Year on your own
New Year is a natural moment for a trip. The year is turning, the days start to lengthen and a few nights away can feel like a proper fresh start. Going on your own means you can see the year in exactly how you want: dancing in a hotel ballroom, watching fireworks over a river or fast asleep by eleven in a cabin with no signal.
If you want company, New Year hotel breaks often bring guests together for a gala dinner and a party, and plenty of people come on their own. If you want to celebrate in a crowd, cities put on fireworks and street parties. And if you would rather a quiet night, a coastal town or a cottage lets midnight pass with a glass of something by the fire, ready for a long walk the next morning.
See the year in exactly how you want.
From this guide
Things to consider
There are many ways to see in the New Year away from home. These are the choices that make the biggest difference to a New Year break alone.
Budget
New Year’s Eve is one of the busiest nights of the year for hotels, and many sell packages of two or three nights with a gala dinner included. Prices tend to drop sharply from 2 January, so a trip that starts on New Year’s Day can be much better value. Think about how much the night itself matters to you. Is it the main event, or would you rather spend on a longer, quieter stay? Our three bands are based on the cost of one night, for comparison.
If the date matters less than the trip, arriving on New Year’s Day or 2 January often brings prices right down.
A party or a quiet night
Start with how you want midnight to feel. Do you want to be in a room full of people counting down, outside watching fireworks, or somewhere so quiet you barely notice? Each is easy to arrange on your own, and the kind of place you choose will make the decision for you.
- If you wanta partyYou may preferA hotel with a gala dinner, a band and a midnight toast.
- If you wantfireworksYou may preferA city hotel within walking distance of a fireworks display.
- If you wanta quiet nightYou may preferA cabin, cottage or small inn, with an early night and an early walk.
- If you wantcompany without a partyYou may preferA New Year retreat, with a shared dinner and a gentle gathering at midnight.
New Year hotel breaks
New Year hotel breaks usually run from 30 or 31 December for two or three nights. Most include a New Year’s Eve dinner, often black tie or dressy, with music or a party afterwards, and a late breakfast or brunch on New Year’s Day. Some add a walk, a spa session or a quiz. Look closely at the seating plan, as some hotels seat guests at shared tables for the dinner, which suits some solo travellers more than others.
- If you wantto dress upYou may preferA country house or city hotel with a gala dinner and dancing.
- If you wantto meet peopleYou may preferA hotel that seats guests together for New Year’s Eve dinner.
- If you wantyour own tableYou may preferA hotel that offers tables for one, or a relaxed dinner in the bar.
Where to see the year in
Where you spend New Year’s Eve shapes the night. London’s fireworks over the Thames are the best known, but viewing areas are ticketed and sell out, so it is worth planning ahead. Many other cities have fireworks or street parties, and in Wales, Mountain Ash has long hosted the Nos Galan road races on New Year’s Eve. On the coast, a harbour town at midnight can be lovely, with boats sounding their horns and fireworks over the water.
- If you wanta big displayYou may preferLondon, with a ticket for the official viewing areas, or another city with its own fireworks.
- If you wanta local traditionYou may preferA town with its own New Year event, such as Nos Galan in Mountain Ash.
- If you wantsomewhere peacefulYou may preferA coastal town or countryside cottage, away from the crowds.
New Year’s Day
For many people, the morning after is the best part of a New Year trip. A clear, cold walk on the first day of the year is a lovely way to start, and many coastal towns hold a New Year’s Day dip for charity, which is a sociable thing to join. Some people like to catch the first sunrise; others prefer a long brunch and a slow afternoon by the fire.
- MidnightSee the year in, however you like.
- MorningA lie-in, or the first sunrise of the year on the beach or a hill.
- Late morningA brunch, or a New Year’s Day dip with a local group.
- AfternoonA long walk while the light is good.
- EveningA quiet dinner, and an early night.
Getting there and back
Travel around New Year is usually easier than at Christmas, but there can still be engineering works on the railways between Christmas and New Year, and fewer trains on New Year’s Day. If you plan to travel home on 1 January, check the timetable before you book. If you are heading to a big city event, look at how you will get back to your hotel after midnight, as transport can be busy or limited.
- If you wantto walk home after midnightYou may preferA city hotel close to the celebrations.
- If you wantnot to travel on the 1stYou may preferA stay that runs to 2 January or beyond.
- If you wantan easy journeyYou may preferA stay near a mainline station, booked with your return train in mind.
What to look for
These are the details that make a New Year break easier on your own. Most are in the package details, or easy to ask about.
- What is included on the nightDinner, drinks and entertainment, or room only.
- The seating planShared tables or a table for one, whichever you prefer.
- A rate for oneAsk whether the package is per person or per room.
- A late breakfast on New Year’s DayMost hotels serve it later than usual.
- Somewhere quiet to retreat toA lounge or your room, if the party gets loud.
- A walk from the doorFor the first morning of the year.
Tips for a New Year trip alone
- Book earlyNew Year packages and city hotels near big events fill up well in advance.
- Decide on the night you wantParty, fireworks or quiet. It makes choosing a place much easier.
- Plan how you get backIf you are going out, know your route home after midnight.
- Ask about shared tablesSome hotels can seat solo guests together for New Year’s Eve dinner.
- Pack something to dress up inEven for a quiet night, it can make the evening feel special.
- Plan a New Year’s Day walkA short route from the door is a lovely way to start the year.
Our recommended New Year stays
These are the stays we would book for a New Year break alone, from hotels with a gala dinner to quiet places to see the year in. Each one comes from our list of independent stays, with notes on why it suits a solo stay and what is planned for the night.
Some links earn us a small commission. It never changes which stays we pick or what you pay.
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On our list£££Treat yourselfThe Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa
Bath, Somerset- A New Year’s Eve gala dinner, with a price published for one
- Bath on the doorstep and a full spa
See the stayPrices vary by date -
On our list£££Treat yourselfOld Parsonage Hotel
Oxford, Oxfordshire- A New Year’s Eve set menu in an art-filled small hotel
- A stroll from the colleges, museums and pubs of central Oxford
Trade-off: the room rate for New Year is not published, so ask for the price for one.
See the stayPrices vary by date -
On our list£££Treat yourselfWatergate Bay Hotel
Watergate Bay, near Newquay, Cornwall- Three nights over New Year on the beach, with a DJ and a choice of restaurants
- Solo travellers have been offered a discount on rooms
Trade-off: the solo discount is a general offer and may not apply to festive packages.
See the stayPrices vary by date -
On our list£££Treat yourselfSaltmoore
Sandsend, North Yorkshire- A tasting menu, fireworks and the spa on New Year’s Eve
- Big enough to keep to yourself, right by the beach
See the stayPrices vary by date -
On our list£££Treat yourselfThe Gallivant
Camber, East Sussex- Two nights over New Year behind the dunes at Camber
- A big sitting room to curl up in after a walk on the sands
Trade-off: prices are shown for two sharing, so ask for the rate for one.
See the stayPrices vary by date
New Year’s Eve is one of the dearest nights of the year, and packages often have a minimum stay. If you are flexible, arriving on 1 or 2 January can be much better value.
How we chose these
Every stay in this guide comes from our list, and a person checks each one before it is marked Reviewed. For New Year we also check what is planned for the night, whether there is a rate for one, and how easy the stay is to reach over the holiday.
Each stay in our guides carries one of three badges, so you can see how far our checks have got:
- Hand-Picked: A stay we have personally vetted, or spoken to directly.
- Reviewed: A stay a person on our team has checked against all four criteria and approved.
- On our list: A stay we have researched and scored, still waiting to be checked by a person.
Not for you if…
You would rather go away for Christmas, with a festive lunch and the build-up. Our Christmas guide might suit you better.
Questions people ask
What is included in a New Year hotel break?
Usually two or three nights with breakfast, a New Year’s Eve dinner and some kind of party or celebration. Check the details, as packages vary a lot.
Is it nice to spend New Year’s Eve alone?
It can be lovely. Some people go to a hotel party and meet others; others enjoy a quiet night and an early walk on New Year’s Day.
Do I need a ticket for the London fireworks?
Yes. The official viewing areas along the Thames are ticketed, and tickets tend to sell out. Check the Mayor of London’s website for details.
Are New Year breaks more expensive?
New Year’s Eve is one of the dearest nights of the year. Prices usually drop from 2 January.
Can I join a New Year’s Day swim?
Many coastal towns hold a New Year’s Day dip, often for charity. They are sociable and open to anyone, but the sea is cold, so follow the organisers’ advice.
Where can I go for a quiet New Year?
A coastal town, a countryside inn or a cabin all suit a quiet night. Book somewhere with a walk from the door for New Year’s Day.
