8 UK food trips for solo travellers
How do you feel about travelling solo in the UK? Is it something you already do or is something holding you back? I travel regularly on my own (and love it!) and when I talk to others about the subject, it often appears that all they need is a little push of encouragement. So, here’s a few ideas to hopefully give you just that. It should be noted I don’t have a car, so my choices are centred around places that are easy to access via public transport.
Margate
A brilliant destination for food and art lovers. Direct trains from London in as little as 1.5 hrs, great food and a fantastic selection of independent shops mean there’s plenty to discover. Join a life drawing class with Studio Eden in the bar at The Fort Road Hotel and have a rummage through the extensive selection of vintage and antique kitchenalia, furniture and more at RG Scotts Furniture Mart. Soup, sandwiches, cake and coffee make a great casual lunch at Louie on Sea at the Turner Contemporary gallery, with a view over the beach and sea.
Fancy fish and chips by the beach and want to try a more sustainable switch from cod? Look out for hoki on the menu at Peter’s Fish Factory on the front. Sit at the bar at Sargasso for small plates like pumpkin fritti or head to Dory’s for all sorts of raw, pickled and cured seafood. Make plans for cocktails at Daisy, Bottega Caruso for pasta and check out High Dive Margate for a dreamy brunch of tacos and a horchata. Check out our guide to the best restaurants in Margate for all our favourite spots.
Where to stay:
Stay at Fort Road Hotel – located opposite the Turner Contemporary and only 15 mins walk from the station. Rooms are beautifully designed complete with organic mattresses, freshly baked cookies and Hæckels toiletries. Award-winning restaurant Colina is housed on the ground floor, and there’s a cleverly designed dual level basement bar. A relaxed and welcoming atmosphere mean you’ll feel right at home. The sort of place you won’t want to leave.
Doubles from £144, check availability at booking.com
Deal
A small town with some really great food, independent shops and vintage dealers makes Deal the perfect destination for a relaxed break. Arrive by train and explore by foot or bike. A long, flat path along the beach is easy and safe to cycle and you can head to The Zetland for a pint. Whether or not you are staying at The Rose, definitely pop in. They are open to non-residents for breakfast, lunch and dinner and their cocktails are excellent. For perfect fish and chips, head to Middle Street Fish bar (cash only) or if you’re walking along the beach, Walmer Fish & Chips is super friendly and delicious.
Explore the Aladdin’s cave that is Deal Deli and pick up edible souvenirs from The Merchant of Relish and Arno & Co. For dinner, book a bar seat at The Blue Pelican for Japanese inspired food, natural wines and sake. The weekly Saturday Market sells fresh local produce, vintage clothing, flowers, bread and more. Arrive early to secure the best pastries! Check out our guide to the best restaurants in Deal for more of our favourite spots.
Where to stay:
The Rose is centrally located and an easy walk from the station. Foodies will enjoy the excellent cocktails and brilliant breakfasts, whilst the bedrooms have Pelegrims toiletries in the bathrooms and organic Natutralmat mattresses, handmade in Devon. Each room is different and they’re all great.
Doubles from £178, check availability at booking.com
Deal Pier in Kent
Manchester
A city break with much to offer. Manchester is a walkable city with excellent public transport, making it easy and safe to explore alone. The Northern Quarter offers a great selection of independent shops, cafes and street art, perfect for solo wandering. The city centre is well-lit and bustling, even in the evenings, with plenty of great spots for dining solo. Head to Fort roastery and café for lunch – always a lovely atmosphere, attentive staff and lots of other solo folk. For a special dinner, book to sit up at the counter at either Erst (get the flatbread) or Higher Ground, where solo reservations are welcome, and the exquisite tasting menu allows you to try all sorts of things without sharing with anyone!
Where to stay:
Book a Living Space room at Leven and you’ll get a deep bath positioned in the bedroom, a separate sitting room and kitchen and an incredibly comfy king size bed. A great option if you’re on a working holiday and would like plenty of space to work, make snacks and still enjoy a calm, luxurious bedroom too.
Doubles from £120, check availability at booking.com
Higher Ground Manchester
Credit: Shaun Peckham
Totnes
A truly perfect mini break destination if you like to take things easy. Wander around the eclectic independent shops, watch a classic, cult or current film at the gloriously restored Totnes Cinema, head out into the countryside with a loop walk to Dartington or relax in the pub with a book. Pick up exquisite pastries from The Almond Thief and coffee from The Hairy Barista for the 90 min walk along the River Dart to Dartington. Get lunch at Montreal Style Bagels and explore Dartington Hall estate then go back to Totnes for the very best seasonal veg-centric small plates at The Bull Inn. Make sure you visit The Happy Apple if you’re self-catering and book lunch at The Parlour at Bredy Farm or Riverford Field Kitchen on your way home.
Where to stay:
The Bull Inn is an award-winning pub with rooms. Everything at The Bull is as natural and low impact as possible – it’s not only their food and drink which is organic, they also have organic mattresses and bedding. Follow them on Instagram @bullinn_totnes where they often share last minute bed and breakfast deals.
Doubles from £145, check availability at booking.com
Credit: Rachel Hoile photography
Glasgow
An easy to navigate centre, along with a very simple subway system makes Glasgow straightforward to get around. Casual dining options are strong, and museums and galleries abound. Combine with Edinburgh (a 45 min train ride away) for a two-centre holiday of great contrast!
A visit to the Scottish National Trust’s Tenement House gives a fascinating insight to a Glasgow home belonging to a single woman in the early 1900s. Now a precious time capsule, the museum offers a unique opportunity for present-day visitors to connect and empathise with the past. Her kitchen has been beautifully preserved and recipes and kitchenware she used are on show.
Where to stay:
Stay at the Z Hotel for a super central and truly incredible value option. Make sure you sign up to their (free) membership for free early check in and late check out where available, free wine and cheese in the evening and unlimited free barista coffee in the friendly and welcoming bar/reception area.
Doubles from £50, check availability at booking.com
South Coast (from Eastbourne to Rye)
The trainline running along the Sussex coast stops at lots of great places and makes a solo, car free trip an easy option. Start at Eastbourne: design fans will love Port Eastbourne – every inch of the hotel will have you snapping pictures for your interiors inspo board. A journey from Eastbourne to Hastings could include stops at Bexhill-On-Sea for a bit of brocante rummaging and a cream tea at the De La Warr Pavilion, then St Leonards for great shops and lunch options. From here, carry on to Hastings, an easy 20 min walk along the front.
Head to the tall, black, wooden fishermen’s huts on the beach of Hastings Old Town. Pick up a dressed crab from RX Fisheries (right by the Fisherman’s Museum) and a bag of chips from a nearby fish and chip shop for the perfect beach picnic. The Royal is right next to the station in St Leonards. The owner and head chef’s CVs include time at St John, Great Queen Street, The Canton Arms, Moro, Hix and Petersham Nurseries and all this experience is evident on a menu that is unpretentious and full of the best of the season. Enjoy brown shrimp on toast and sticky toffee pudding with Jerusalem artichoke ice cream. If you’re heading towards Rye, fantastic lunch options include The George in Rye in the town or 30 mins drive to the north east, Tillingham Wines – a vineyard with a restaurant, rooms, wine tours and tastings of their low-intervention wines. A wine tour and tasting can be booked for £70, including a 1.5hr tour of the vineyard, with a tasting of 4 wines, followed by a leisurely 3 course seasonal lunch.
Credit: @saltwickmedia
Where to stay:
For some true luxury, stay on at Tillingham for their ‘Tranquility Retreat’ package (fizz on arrival, a 60 minute facial or massage in your room, late check out and a farmhouse breakfast are all included) and they have 3 dog friendly rooms and offer regular yoga classes and creative workshops.
Doubles from £205, check availability at tillingham.com or mrandmrssmith.com
Topsham
Topsham is less than 20 mins on the train from Exeter and once there everything is within walking distance. A fabulous outdoor lido (open April to September) is worth the trip alone but antique shops and great pubs make Topsham an ideal destination for a relaxed trip. You can also head to the beach at Exmouth in less than 10 mins on the train. There’s a lovely circular walk starting at Topsham Quay that takes in The Goat Walk and the Bowling Green Marsh Nature reserve. Continue on the Exe Estuary Trail if you fancy a longer walk. A pint and a pack of crisps at The Passage Inn, overlooking the estuary is a must, as is the walk to the incredible Darts Farm for lunch. Book dinner at The Salutation Inn, where fish and seafood is their specialist subject – there’s even a fishmonger at the front of the hotel. Head to the bright pink Bridge Inn for a ploughman’s and a pint before you leave. Apparently, it was the first pub Queen Elizabeth II ever visited (officially!).
Where to stay:
Stay at The Salutation Inn. It is centrally located with incredibly comfortable beds and great breakfasts. There’s also an upstairs kitchen for the use of hotel guests – tea and toast to take back to your room after the pub? Yes please! They have a separate apartment too, where dogs are also welcome.
Doubles from £165, check availability at booking.com
Credit: Nick Hook
Bath & Bristol
Two cities, only 11 minutes apart but offering vastly different experiences. The independent food scene in Bristol (see our full guide to the best restaurants in Bristol) is famously strong but don’t sleep on Bath – it has some great options too and a completely different vibe. Both are easy to explore on foot.
The bakery and café options in Bristol are so strong that you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to pastries and great coffee. Farro, Harts and Bristol Loaf are all excellent options. Book a seat at the counter at Korean restaurant Dongnae for their incredible value set lunch or explore the harbourside and the many food options in the shipping containers at Wapping Wharf. For dinner, check out exciting pop ups and residencies at The Scrandit on the historic Christmas Steps, head to Redland for handmade pasta at Little Hollows or go all out with the incredible tasting menu at Wilsons. Cocktails at the bar at Filthy XIII or Her Majesty’s Secret Service are always a treat.
Where to stay:
The Clifton Lido (restored Victorian outdoor pool with treatment rooms and a great restaurant/bar overlooking the water) now also offers rooms in their five-bedroom Lido Townhouse just over the road. Guests can purchase access to the Lido Pool and Spa at the discounted rate of £15 per person per day.
Doubles from £115, check availability at booking.com
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Credit: Benjamin Pryor
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