London and Beyond: A Solo Traveler’s Journey
Day 1: Landing & Getting the Lay of the Land
Tower Bridge
I arrived in London in the early morning of late March 2025— it was cold, and I was glad I had my puffer jacket with me. Definitely not the kind of weather you can handle in just a sweater.
I flew nonstop from Raleigh-Durham to Heathrow and had booked a private airport transfer through Welcome Pickup. Best decision — my driver was waiting right at arrivals, and the ride into the city was completely stress-free.
I checked into The Waldorf Hilton, London, a historic hotel centrally located in Covent Garden. After dropping off my bags, I wanted to get a feel for the city without committing to any one attraction, so I hopped on the London Big Bus (hop-on hop-off tour), purchased a ticket at the bus stop.
The bus stop was literally just a few feet from the hotel — couldn’t have been more convenient. The tour has three routes (Red, Green, and Blue), and I rode two of them all the way through without getting off. The full loops took a couple of hours and were the perfect low-effort way to ease into the trip after a long flight.
Random street in London
River Thames
Day 2: Oxford, Stratford & the Cotswolds – A Countryside Escape
Early morning, I grabbed an Uber from the hotel to meet up with The English Bus Small-Group Tour and headed out from London into the heart of the English countryside. This wasn’t one of those huge tourist buses—it was just under 16 people, so it felt way more personal and relaxed. Over about 11½ hours, we zipped between three classic English destinations in a comfy, air-conditioned Mercedes mini-coach.
Stratford-upon-Avon
First stop: Shakespeare’s hometown! We spent a couple of hours wandering Henley Street, popped into Shakespeare’s birthplace, and explored the charming streets. It’s a small town, but packed with history—and a lot of charm.
The Cotswolds Village Circuit
Next up was the picture-perfect English countryside. We drove through Stow-on-the-Wold, Bibury, and Arlington Row, stopping in tiny villages with stone cottages, narrow lanes, and that classic storybook vibe.
Oxford
Later in the afternoon, we arrived in Oxford for a walking tour. Before heading back to London, I took a solo stroll around the city. I wandered along cobblestone streets, sipped coffee in one of the quaint little shops, and watched students pass by on their way to class. Honey-colored buildings and all that historic university charm made it feel like stepping back in time.
By late evening, I was back in London, and dinner was just a short walk from The Waldorf Hilton at a cozy little Indian restaurant called Sagar.
Flower store in village Bibury, Cotswolds
En route to a pub at Oxford University
Day 3: Stonehenge Wonders, Bath Charm & Castle Combe Magic
Stonehenge, UNESCO World Heritage Site
I spent Day 3 on another small-group tour with The English Bus — this one covered Stonehenge, Bath, and a “secret stop” that turned out to be Castle Combe. We left London in a mini-coach with just a handful of people, and the day ended up being a full 12 hours.
Stonehenge was our first stop. Seeing those 5,000-year-old stones up close felt surreal, and the audio guide added just enough history without overloading us.
Then we headed to Bath, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. I wandered through the city, visited the Roman Baths, walked past the Royal Crescent and Pulteney Bridge, and stopped at The Cornish Bakery for a warm vegetable pastry.
On the way back, we stopped in Castle Combe, the “secret place.” It’s tiny, peaceful, and unbelievably picturesque — stone cottages, a quiet stream, and barely anyone around.
The solo part of my trip ended on a high note — the next morning, I switched gears from solo explorer to girls’ getaway mode when my school friends arrived for our trip together for the next 3 days.
City of Bath, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Castle Combe, Cotswolds
