Courtesy of Terri Peters
I didn't grow up in a family that traveled. The first time I vacationed outside the US was on my honeymoon, and just a few years after getting married, our first child was born, significantly slowing down our travels. It's only been since my kids got older that I've been traveling to spots I've always wanted to visit, like Italy and Mexico's Baja California peninsula.
London has always been on my travel bucket list, but flying a family of four to Europe can be pricey. I'm 44 years old and have accomplished a lot over the last two years, from losing 100 pounds with the help of weight loss surgery to breaking up with alcohol and celebrating a year of sobriety. Recently, I decided to do something outside of my comfort zone and traveled to London all alone. As it turns out, it was a lovely city to visit on a solo trip.
Courtesy of Terri Peters
Sure, I've read about the London Underground (the tube) in books and seen it in movies, but actually landing at Heathrow Airport and hopping on the tube to get to my hotel felt surreal. I fly often, so the long plane ride from Florida didn't feel much different than other travels, but there something about stepping onto the tube was empowering. I realized I'd arrived in London and was about to go on the solo adventure of a lifetime.
To my relief, the tube was surprisingly easy to navigate. I found the line needed to get to my hotel and settled in to watch London roll by through the windows as I traveled.
Courtesy of Terri Peters
I stayed in the Stratford neighborhood of London at a fairly new Yotelpad hotel location. I flew direct from Miami to London and stayed at a Yotelpad in Miami, too, both before and after my flights. If there's one tip I'd give solo travelers, it's to stay at a hotel chain that's the same during every stop on your trip, as I found it comforting not to be disoriented by getting used to a new hotel as I changed locales and time zones.
After checking in, I spent the day exploring the area — including seeing the Olympic-sized pool built for the 2012 games — which came in handy later when I needed to hop onto the tube or grab a morning cup of coffee.
Courtesy of Terri Peters
From eating Indian food on Brick Lane to seeing Big Ben to shopping (and eating) my way through Borough Market, the trip allowed me to check off many things I've only dreamed about doing. And it was incredibly empowering to do them independently, even though I missed sharing the experiences with my husband and kids.
Would I recommend London to other solo travelers? Absolutely. Not only is the city easy to navigate between the tube, buses, and walking, but every Londoner I met was incredibly kind and helpful. Minus a few warnings about pickpockets, I never felt unsafe walking around or riding public transportation.
Courtesy of Terri Peters
My only regret is that I didn't stay longer. I had three full days in town plus travel days on each end, and that wasn't nearly enough; I barely scratched the surface of all there is to do in London. I can't wait to go back, and an added perk of going solo is that I've learned the London basics and can play tour guide to my family when I take them along someday.
Courtesy of Terri Peters
On my very last tube ride to the airport, I felt like a true London girlie. I stopped for a coffee and a toastie (think: the most delicious grilled cheese-like breakfast sandwich) and walked to the Stratford tube station, riding it straight to the airport for my flight home. A true Swiftie at heart, I couldn't help but hum "so long London, had a good run" to myself as I left.
A while ago, on a trip to Europe, I met a fellow traveler and shared with her that it was my first time there. "Isn't that embarrassing?" I asked. "I am in my 40s and have never been to Europe until now."
"I rebuke that statement," she said. "For whatever reason, you are exactly where you are supposed to be, and the time of your life when you're supposed to be traveling the world is right now." I've never forgotten her words, and I hold them close.
Traveling to London solo was an incredible experience, and, though it may have taken me 44 years to do it, the trip came at exactly the right time in my life. Sober, healthier, and happier, I was able to fully appreciate making it across the pond to a bucket-list city all on my own.
