Travelling to London and Paris as a solo traveller

Why don’t you want to use public transport? It’s by far the most efficient way of getting around London.

Otherwise you can hail a black cab in the street - look for one with an illuminated “taxi” sign which means it’s available. However costs will soon mount up.

As for “the current best things to do” - have you read a recent guide book? What appeals to you? Why have you selected this cities? What do you think you might want to do? If gourmet food is important to you, have you read any restaurant reviews that have sparked your interest?

Church concerts: look at St Martin’s in the Fields and also there are often lunchtime concerts at the churches in the City (the old financial district east of St Paul’s Cathedral.)

Chris F. Just posted a link under England Reviews titled DLR to run tourist trains. You can check the link and read if it is something you are interested in.

For things to do and the food scene take a look at the TimeOut publications online for London and Paris now and in the weeks leading up to your trip. https://www.timeout.com/

If you are staying in four star hotels I’m sure they will be able to help you organize transportation and sightseeing practicalities.

In London, jazz club Ronnie Scott's might be up your alley. https://www.ronniescotts.co.uk

Hi! Maybe check out London Walks - very interesting. No need to prebook, just turn up if you want to join the walk. walks.com

I agree with Jane, if you are avoiding public transport, getting around both London and Paris all that leaves is walking or taxis, which will be both difficult and expensive.
Actually getting a cab is not difficult, there are cab ranks at many locations in both cities, including outside many hotels. In London, ask your hotel for phone numbers for "mini-cabs". These are cabs that can be called by phone, with pre-arranged pickups, but are not allowed to use taxi ranks or pick up in the street if not pre-booked.

And how are you getting from London to Paris if not by Public Transport? Driving from central London to central Paris will be horrible, slow and very costly if you want one-way hire.

There are few places in central London where you wouldn't be able to hire a black taxi, but demand can be high in the rush hour, at theatre/cinema ending time, and pub/club closure time. If you don't feel tech-confident enough to use an app, TfL publish a page with phone numbers - https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/taxis-and-minicabs/book-a-taxi - note that all numbers on this page are for fully licensed black cabs, not minicabs. Similarly I'm sure there are taxi-booking telephone numbers in Paris, although the call-takers may not speak English.

Robert, using the Tube is very easy. You buy an Oyster Card, fill it on the machine and off you go! Refill as needed. We seniors went all over London this way, never, ever needed a cab in a ten day stay.
Here are two very good,high level but not stuffy, dining experiences in Chelsea. We had a great experience at Elystan Street last year, celebrating a special occassion. Creative, delicious, upscale. Reservation needed.
Nearby, another good spot to dine is Medlar. They were both recommended by a friend who lives in Chelsea and we were so pleased with them.
For a pre-theater dinner, we we loved Northall at the Corinthian Hotel. Perfect meals, reasonably priced, beautiful dining room. It was a short walk to our theater.

I would encourage you to watch some videos on Youtube (including Rick's) and search this forum for advice on how to use the tube and metro systems in London and Paris. They are both very easy to use! Having a good city map with the metro/tube system indicated on it will be a great help. If you can't get ahold of a Streetwise map try StreetSmart available on Amazon. We used one of each in London this summer and actually liked the StreetSmart map better.

My husband and I are from a VERY small town in MN that does not have any form of public transport--not even a bus! When we went to Paris we had never, ever used a subway system before. After one time of figuring out where to go, we had no problem using the metro system. London's tube was even easier to use, in our opinion. Just don't be afraid to stop and check the maps posted in the hallway to check for the stop you want. No one will think you're weird or strange for stopping to look. If you're unsure and want to double check, ask someone. We found anyone we asked to be very helpful in both London and Paris. The metro and tube systems go everywhere and are so convenient, I can't imagine being stuck in traffic in a taxi instead of using the systems. Do some research and give it a try! If two people from MN who had never before used public transportation can do it, so can you!

Robert could not have been clearer. He does not want to take public transport. He has thought about this and made his decision. Let's stop trying to "convert" him and answer his questions instead.........

Someone mentioned London Walks. The same company also does Paris Walks. I did one in Montmarte and it was excellent. They offer a huge variety of tours . Here is the website. www.paris-walks.com Since you are staying in 4 star hotels, they should be able to assist you with any transportation needs. I stay in 2 and 3 star properties and staff there has always been helpful with taxis and other transportation. So you will probably get even more assistance. You will find many in Paris speak English, especially within the hotels. You might consider hiring a guide for a part of the day in each city. That would help you see some of the sights in the cities. If you were open to it, they could introduce you to the metro and you could decide from there if that might be something you'd be interested in. I live in a city without metro and limited public transportation options. I have found the metro in Paris very convenient and easy to use. You can search this forum as well as the general web, people have stated that there are groups of independent travelers that meet for dinner in London and Paris.
On several occasions my husband and I have gained valuable information from people sitting in restaurants right next to us. This is where we got the suggestion for Paris Walks.
If you have a smart phone, you might experiment at home with using Uber to gain some experience. On my next trip to Europe (Spain) I'll be using Maps.me to get around. I have been using it at home to gain some expertise at using it. Not that you will use that app, I'm just suggesting you can give some of the available technology a trial run at home to gain confidence.

Sorry Robert if I offended you by suggesting you try the tube and metro. As someone who has traveled to Paris and London and had never before used public transportation in the US, I was just trying to offer encouragement to try public transportation. Thanks to your post, Carol, I think I will be done offering my encouragement or thoughts on this forum. I've read too many posts, like yours, that scold people for what they write.

@slbdaisy, I too have been quite surprised by comments on this forum. Is that the tone they use in their day to day personal interactions? We all give our opinions and don't deserve to be attacked for them. While Carol does make a good point she could have stated it differently. However, while the OP deserves to have specific questions answered, I don't see anything wrong with providing gentle suggestions and encouragement and then it is up to the OP to make his/her own decisions. From one Minnesota Nice person to another, I hope you will continue to provide encouragement and comments.

I also don't think there is anything wrong with the gentle suggestions about reconsidering public transport since it is the backbone of London and Paris. I know that in many USA cities, public transit consists of a local bus system that runs every 30 minutes and is very impractical for getting around. In London, you can be on the tube and have a Member of Parliament on your left and a lecturer from the London School of Economics on your right, a very different situation than the typical city bus in the USA.

From the OP, it looks like money is no object. But, even if you have money for black cabs, there are plenty of times where the tube is going to be quicker rather than having the fare add up in a black cab stuck in traffic

I like taking the bus in London and Paris. After years and years of the metro/tube, which are admittedly efficient and wonderful, I am done with them. I too am now trying to conserve my walking and stair climbing in these 2 cities, which is a daunting task.... but every little bit helps. I don't see anything wrong with avoiding the metros. For the bus, you do need good maps or a smartphone application like "citymapper" to plan out a route, but this was a cinch in London and Paris. I also use cabs when appropriate. A friend of mine used Uber a lot in Paris a year ago and found it wonderful. Taxis in Paris are not easy to flag down everywhere, usually you need to go to a taxi stand. Taxis in London, particularly in the special central zone, have higher rates, particularly after the theater gets out. But if you want to go this way, you should!
I also recommend the concerts in St. Martin in the Fields church, in London, and also their Cafe in the Crypt. I went to a free organ recital at Westminster Abbey recently that was nice. I also enjoyed strolling in Kensington Gardens. And I saw 2 wonderful plays in the West End.
In Paris, I recommend the classical music concerts in La Madeline or Ste. Chappelle. So many great places to eat, but earlier this year I really enjoyed dinner L'Ami Jean (make reservations). Cozy friendly atmosphere, I think it would be fine to dine solo there. Also like Bistrot Vivienne, Bistrot Paul Bert, and Carrette tea room.

I have taken Paris Walks and Paris Greeters walks, which are both very good. Check their websites.
I assume you have a good guidebook to help you plan, as well as doing a lot of internet research.

Robert,
In Paris go to O'Chateu for a wine class. We took a wine and cheese class that included five French wines with food pairings. It's in a beautiful wine cellar and the class sits around a large table and you can't help but meet your classmates. O'Chateau Website

Hi Robert,

I don't have first-hand experience on your requests, but, a quick google search with key words brought up some suggestions. (Links below)

You can also check out the RS tour itineraries and look at key highlights and pick out what sparks your interest. Taking into consideration you prefer to not walk a lot (on a tour) or take the bus/metro, perhaps you can browse through itineraries to get an idea of what is offered in these two cities and customize your own from there.

Of course, some activities may not be date available, but you can at least get an idea. If you are able to plan your day or night in a sequence that makes sense, you can save on taking a taxi too often.

https://www.viator.com/Paris-tours/Food-Wine-and-Nightlife/d479-g6

https://www.wineunearthed.co.uk/wine-tasting-days-courses/wine-tasting-london/

https://londonwineacademy.com/all-our-courses/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpZfqqdy83AIVFozICh3EQQd0EAAYASAAEgK6nfD_BwE

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Products-g187147-zfc11891-zfg11868-Paris_Ile_de_France.html

https://www.viator.com/Versailles-tours/Shows-Concerts-and-Sports/d763-g11

Also, you can browse this:

https://www.viator.com/Paris-tours/Transfers-and-Ground-Transport/d479-g15

That is a start. Have fun planning. I hope you have a wonderful trip! I am sure you are looking forward to it.

Thank you all so very much for your many replies and suggestions!
I will definitely check out the jazz club in London and the wine tasting while I am in Paris, these are the kind of things that I really enjoy doing. Also, thank you for the tip about the church concerts - this is a great passion of mine. Any other suggestions along this line are absolutely perfect thank you very much.
I would like to thank each and every one of you for taking the time to reply to me and I appreciate the discourse concerning the use of public transport in each city. I have not taken offence to anyone's tone or comments concerning this matter and after much deliberation I have decided to use public transport while I am visiting Paris, I used it as a young man and found it easy to use, after reading a lot of things I have found an easy guide to follow here - https://insidr.co/using-public-transport-paris/
I do appreciate any other recommendations concerning public transportation in Paris and the above suggestions for more recommendations.

Again, thank you so much in taking the time to reply to me and I'll reply quicker this time!

In Paris, I have taken a number of classes at Cook’n with Class. In addition to a number of cooking classes, I’ve taken their food and wine pairing class twice. You will get an excellent meal with 5 courses and 5 wines. Basically, a chef will prepare the meal in front of you and a sommelier will choose 5 different wines and give you a lesson on French wines. https://cooknwithclass.com/paris/course/food-wine-pairing-class-paris-2/

In Paris, I have heard there are concerts in the incredibly beautiful Sainte Chappelle, so definitely check into that. Just a small note from a non-expert concert-goer. These church concerts can be delightful, but the quality may not be the same you might get at the Met in New York. So if you're a discerning listener, keep that in mind. I went to a candlelight concert at St. Martin's, in London, and enjoyed it much.

On riding public transportation in either city, sometimes it can be more efficient to take the Tube or the Metro. But I can understand your hesitation - my parents feel the same way. One way to test the waters is to arrange for a private tour, in either city, that includes taking public transportation with your guide; that way, you can become comfortable with the systems with a companion.

LondonWalks are delightful. Also, I am not much of a guided tour person, but I have taken several tours by ContextTravel, in Italy. The quality of their guides is very high, they are very knowledgeable and have a passion for what they're talking about. The tours are never more than 6 people.

For using public transportation in Paris, for those of us who are not tech savvy, the map book "Paris l'indispensible 3 plans par Arrondissement" is very helpful. Included in 3 separate maps are locations of (1) metro stations and (2) bus stops both showing route details and (3) street maps. This map book is available in train stations and kiosks all over Paris for about 7 euros.