Guest Editor: 5 Solo Date Ideas
Looking for things to do in London? Author and Contributing Editor at Gay Times, Jamie Windust, shares their advice for getting out of your comfort zone and going solo. Find out how to enjoy alone time and make plans for yourself.
If there’s one thing we’re not going to do in 2024, it's feel embarrassed about spending time on our own. It’s Valentine's Day, and if you’re struggling with what to do - you’re not alone. Half the people inside that phone of yours are out enjoying themselves with their partners and the other half have given in to their inner Bridget Jones Core. But what if there was a third option? As someone who has taken themselves out for weekly dates over the past 12 months, I am here to offer advice and most importantly comfort, to those needing a gentle nudge to take themselves out for a magical time.
Core memories can still be made even if you’re flying solo. Whether it’s out for dinner, a trip to a vintage kilo-sale you saw on TikTok or a walk to your local coffee shop with a good book, they all count as moments to savour in your own company.
From a solo date veteran, my holy-grail piece of advice is to always remember that people are always more concerned with what other people think about what they're doing, than why you’ve decided to take yourself out for a delicious meal. If other people think that it’s weird, that’s fine because it’s simply not your problem! Don’t let other people's judgement discourage you from finding out what you like doing in your own time. Most of the time it’s jealousy disguised as judgement, and hopefully one day they’ll get to a place where they can do things all on their tod too.
I believe a prophet once said, “If they ain't paying your bills, pay them bi★★★★s no mind” and she was indeed correct.
Core memories can still be made even if you’re flying solo. Whether it’s out for dinner, a trip to a vintage kilo-sale you saw on TikTok or a walk to your local coffee shop with a good book, they all count as moments to savour in your own company.
From a solo date veteran, my holy-grail piece of advice is to always remember that people are always more concerned with what other people think about what they're doing, than why you’ve decided to take yourself out for a delicious meal. If other people think that it’s weird, that’s fine because it’s simply not your problem! Don’t let other people's judgement discourage you from finding out what you like doing in your own time. Most of the time it’s jealousy disguised as judgement, and hopefully one day they’ll get to a place where they can do things all on their tod too.
I believe a prophet once said, “If they ain't paying your bills, pay them bi★★★★s no mind” and she was indeed correct.
So, if you’re struggling to think of what you could do, here’s some recommendations for the perfect solo trip out:
1. The Fancy Dinner
At least once in our lives, we should all go for a fancy dinner with candles, ambience and a waiter that has truly memorised the menu back to front. The perfect spot for this? Randall & Aubin in the heart of Soho. Once a butchers back in the early 1900s, the prime spot is now a delicious fish restaurant serving as many oysters as one could desire. With solo tables and a view straight onto Brewer Street, it’s a delight for the solo diner who loves to people watch.
2. The Mooch
If you’re nervous about your solo ventures then a mooch is a great place to start. A simple trip to somewhere you’ve not explored before will suffice and the best spot in London for this has to be Greenwich. Take a walk from the tube station up the hill to the Greenwich Observatory, mincing back down to the village to inhale all of the smells and sights of the market. Finish off with a walk along the Thames Path and if you’re feeling fancy, catch the Uber boat back to Greenwich Peninsula to really end the date in style.
3. The Thrifty One
I get it, money’s tight and the cost of living truly isn’t easing up so if you’re looking for a budget day out, a trip to The Design Museum will tick all the boxes. Located in West London next to leafy Holland Park, you not only get to explore the many floors of the Design Museum, but you could also bump into Jamie Laing at any given moment. It’s a real thrill. Free to enter, the museum offers an insight into the everyday and shows you how some of our most beloved pieces of tech, architecture and fashion were conceived. Brains and beauty - what can I say…
4. The Brunch
A personal favourite of mine - cut through the noise of hungover girlies and couples on the edge of collapse on a Sunday morning and venture out for a solo brunch. Take a book or simply eavesdrop on other people's conversations, or throw in a podcast and immerse yourself into the perfect poached egg and avocado toast that is definitely ruining your chance of getting on the property ladder. Special shoutout out to Manny Dartin in Earlsfield who do the best poached eggs in London - find out for yourself!
5. The Cinephile
With awards season in full swing, what better way to spend an evening than getting to grips with this year's Academy Award nominees by taking a solo trip to the cinema. Simply slink into the back row with your popcorn, turn that phone off and melt into the magic of the silver screen. Extra points if you wear your comfies underneath a full length coat so you can sit in peak-comfort in front of the big screen.
So, let this year's Valentines Day be a chance to find out what makes you tick, and who knows, you might just fall in love that little bit more with the one person you’re destined to be with for the rest of your life - yourself.
1. The Fancy Dinner
At least once in our lives, we should all go for a fancy dinner with candles, ambience and a waiter that has truly memorised the menu back to front. The perfect spot for this? Randall & Aubin in the heart of Soho. Once a butchers back in the early 1900s, the prime spot is now a delicious fish restaurant serving as many oysters as one could desire. With solo tables and a view straight onto Brewer Street, it’s a delight for the solo diner who loves to people watch.
2. The Mooch
If you’re nervous about your solo ventures then a mooch is a great place to start. A simple trip to somewhere you’ve not explored before will suffice and the best spot in London for this has to be Greenwich. Take a walk from the tube station up the hill to the Greenwich Observatory, mincing back down to the village to inhale all of the smells and sights of the market. Finish off with a walk along the Thames Path and if you’re feeling fancy, catch the Uber boat back to Greenwich Peninsula to really end the date in style.
3. The Thrifty One
I get it, money’s tight and the cost of living truly isn’t easing up so if you’re looking for a budget day out, a trip to The Design Museum will tick all the boxes. Located in West London next to leafy Holland Park, you not only get to explore the many floors of the Design Museum, but you could also bump into Jamie Laing at any given moment. It’s a real thrill. Free to enter, the museum offers an insight into the everyday and shows you how some of our most beloved pieces of tech, architecture and fashion were conceived. Brains and beauty - what can I say…
4. The Brunch
A personal favourite of mine - cut through the noise of hungover girlies and couples on the edge of collapse on a Sunday morning and venture out for a solo brunch. Take a book or simply eavesdrop on other people's conversations, or throw in a podcast and immerse yourself into the perfect poached egg and avocado toast that is definitely ruining your chance of getting on the property ladder. Special shoutout out to Manny Dartin in Earlsfield who do the best poached eggs in London - find out for yourself!
5. The Cinephile
With awards season in full swing, what better way to spend an evening than getting to grips with this year's Academy Award nominees by taking a solo trip to the cinema. Simply slink into the back row with your popcorn, turn that phone off and melt into the magic of the silver screen. Extra points if you wear your comfies underneath a full length coat so you can sit in peak-comfort in front of the big screen.
So, let this year's Valentines Day be a chance to find out what makes you tick, and who knows, you might just fall in love that little bit more with the one person you’re destined to be with for the rest of your life - yourself.