Winter Solo Trip, am I crazy?

Sounds like a great plan to me, with fewer crowds. Two things I notice in my off-season travels is that opening hours are reduced, and walking tours may be offered less frequently, possibly only on weekends.

I've been to London in January, and it was a great time to be there. We did museums, theater, and a number of LondonWalks.

Not a B&B, but I did a few solo days in London earlier this year at the Premier HUB in Soho and liked the location a lot. Easy tube access and lots of food options nearby. HUBs aren't for everybody, but I like small spaces when traveling solo.

It sounds like a great plan to me! You should have a wonderful time.

Go and have fun. Dress warm. No lines and fewer tourists visiting.

A very good idea. We spent Christmas in London a few years ago and enjoyed ourselves, did lots of walking in the city. Dress warmly, gloves, hat and warm coat.

Been there, done that.

NEVER a bad time to go to London.

Dress in layers.

Scarf, hat, gloves a must.

Sun will start to set at 4pm.

If first time London visitor stay in Westminster, Victoria, Kensington, Earl’s Court, Marylebone neighborhoods.

Go to theatre and more theatre.

Enjoy pub lunches: good soups and stews.

Research The Londonist, London x London, TimeOut London, A Lady in London, WhatsOnStage, and Eater London.

Research:
Alexander Fleming Museum
Horniman Museum
Leighton House
Bletchley Park

To see if any strike your fancy.

It is not crazy or if it is, I am just as crazy as you are! I leave in 6 days for a hit-every-museum London trip. I actually am wishing for cooler weather. If you want to check out my admittedly over planned itinerary click the link.

Not at all crazy! What’s not to enjoy about fewer crowds at sites, sights, pubs and restaurants plus a chance to get away during (what for me ) is the time of year I least enjoy. While not Jan/Feb, my husband and I spent 10 days in London one early March. Yes, weather was off and on crummy but it was crummy weather in London and not crummy weather, at home

There are bargains to be had on rooms, but based on my experience in 2019 they go quickly so book early. I ended up not going, in part because I waited too long to book and the prices went up as the dates got nearer.

My advice is to be close to a "good" tube station (i.e., with multiple lines or a useful one). Buses are also a good way to get around when traffic is light. You will have no trouble filling up a week - or even two. London Walks are excellent and go in all weather. Some museums have free docent tours (and they're all in English :-).

One thing to consider this coming winter is that fuel prices are soaring in the UK so heating may be somewhat to severely curtailed.

Go!
Last time I was there was early December in ‘18.
It wasn’t too cold, and just masses to see and do.
Off you go!

We went in November the first time I visited the UK. While it got dark early and was a bit nippy, it was also less crowded. Plus the London shops had their Christmas decorations up and after a chilly day of sightseeing there is nothing better than a hot cuppa or sitting in a pub.

Definitely, go on London Walks tours. I think if you go on more than couple you get a discount.. I have been on almost half of them and except for one, had a wonderful time to see London and talk with other travelers.

Check out Lancaster Hall Hotel for reasonable accommodation. It is near Hyde park and Kensington Gardens. I have two friends who have stayed there repeatedly each time they pass through London and were very satisfied and always recommend it.

My husband and I visited London for our honeymoon in January 2004. We enjoyed it thoroughly! We actually only had one rainy day. It was chilly, but I'd rather be chilly in London!

"I understand the weather most likely will be cold, wet and mostly without sunshine..."

You'll really be seeing London at its finest.
However, the weather is what you make of it and there's still plenty to do. If you're prepared for the worst weather you'll always be pleasantly surprised :)

The Wallace Collection, Soanes museum, the Courtauld in Somerset House and the National Gallery are my personal favourites anytime of the year, as well as the British Museum. The Wallace Collection and British Museum have afternoon tea if that interests you.

I like to stay in the Bloomsbury area, which has many affordable family run hotels and since it's near the University of London it also has a lot of great cafes that won't empty out your pocketbook. This area is also near the British Museum and has good tube connections. If you like museums you need to go to the Victoria and Albert Museum. I could spend the entire day exploring the V&A because they have the best collection of decorative arts and a café that is a work of art. Enjoy!

One advantage of January is that you will hopefully find pubs and restaurants somewhat less full than at other times of year. There will be those who are 'tightening their belts' after Christmas, and then there are those misguided folks who think that 'Dry January' is a good thing, and so stay away from the pubs. Which is a shame as I think that if you can find pubs with open fires (and they are worth seeking out) then there is no place more appropriate or atmospheric to spend a cold and damp evening.

I think it’s crazy to travel to Europe in the middle of the summer with mobs and mobs of North Americans heading over there at the exact same time! You are going at the perfect time to London and I hope you have a wonderful time!

Not at all.

This is good for destinations, too.

Elizabeth line will run from Reading to Abeey Wood without requiring any change at Paddington.

Ealing Broadway has good transport connections. Chiswick, Hammersmith, Richmond etc aren't far.

Definitely go on a nighttime London Pub Walk from London Walks. They usually wandered around some quaint London neighborhoods and then to warm up visit some historic pubs. My favorites were the Hampstead Pub Walk and Along the Thames walk.

Even if you don't drink, you can get a cola or just sit and talk to the other tour members.

I had a week trip to London and Edinburgh last January (2022). It was great, but my trip was definitely a focused one. I specifically was there to see a Vermeer painting on limited display at Buckingham Palace, and then trained up to Scotland to see another Vermeer. Weather was cool, but not miserable at all (I am from New England). Other museums I went to were not at all crowded (National Gallery, Churchill War Rooms), but I wasn't hanging out on park benches or anything. Still, I did mostly travel though both cities by foot. Do your trip and enjoy!

Do it! I go there at Christmas and it's a blast - even when most things are closed!

I went in February once, and it was fine, a little too empty, in fact, EXCEPT it was during school holidays, and hotels were hard to come by. The absolute consistently cheapest hotels (although not exactly full of olde Europe character) are Travelodge, and Premier Inn. Book as soon as you can. The days of winging it are gone, I think.

I too encourage you to go for it. For shorter days and lots of museum and theatre visits I love the Bloomsbury area. We’ve stayed in hotels LSE dorms and BnBs. This summer we stayed in a hotel (Bedford) that checked a lot of our boxes, spacious common areas, good breakfast, well appointed rooms, reasonable price double ~£160 with breakfast, walkable to the West End, museums and good transportation links right outside the door or around the corner. I would love to stay in this area again in the middle of the winter to explore the city when it’s not so crowded (and hot)!