There are two UK singles holidays dedicated to highlighting the lived experience of people who are single in our society, whether by choice or happenstance.
National Singles Day is celebrated on 11 March each year. It was created to not only empower those who wish to identify as single, but also to emphasise the importance of positive self-esteem through accepting and loving oneself, without the need for validation through a partner. It aims to counter the cultural belief that one needs to be in a relationship in order to be happy. Another aim is to highlight the challenges that single parents face.
Singles Awareness Day (or Singles Appreciation Day), celebrated annually on 15 February, is a half-cheeky, half-serious riposte to the preceding Valentine’s Day. Where the one celebrates love, romance and the joys of relationships, the other responds with a light-hearted celebration of personal independence and the benefits of being single. It also takes a not-so-playful jab at the commercial aspects of Valentine’s Day.
These singles holidays are meant as a reminder that one doesn’t have to be in a relationship to enjoy life, often delivered with glee. They also have a more serious agenda, recognising the crucial role of platonic love in our lives, which we express through our families, close friends and animal companions.
The joys and challenges of singles holidays
Without wishing to be cynical – and firmly in the spirit of Singles Awareness Day – the best part about solo holidays is that they’re just so much simpler. You don’t have to consider anyone other than yourself. You’re completely free to go where you want, when you want and how you want.
That’s if you’re completely on your own. Holidays for single people with children can be quite challenging, on the other hand. They can throw up logistical challenges – both expected and unforeseen – that can make single traveller holidays pretty stressful if you don’t prepare ahead.
In the same breath, solo travel for women can present its own unfortunate pitfalls. However, the numbers of “wander women” are steadily rising, and it’s an empowering and emancipating experience. It’s a great opportunity to do some mental house-cleaning, giving you a chance to declutter your mind and refocus on your own needs. Of course, this is true for anyone embarking on solo holidays.
To help you make the most of National Singles Day and Singles Awareness Day, here are some ideas for taking solo traveller holidays, including advice on when you travel alone with children and on solo travel for women.
Practical tips to enjoy solo holidays safely
- Research the destination. Find out which neighbourhoods to avoid on solo traveller holidays, what public transport is available and if it’s safe to go out alone at night as a woman or elderly person.
- Carry everyday travel paraphernalia like cameras, wallets, medication and electronic gadgets in a good quality day bag on your person, rather than in a backpack or luggage bag.
- For singles holidays with children, choose a destination that has safe, supervised kids’ entertainment, so that you can take a break by yourself for a couple of hours to rejuvenate.
- If you’re out partying at night, watch your drinking. There’s nothing wrong with having a good time, but don’t take it to the point where you end up disoriented in a strange place. Unfortunately, this is particularly applicable to solo travel for women, but anyone can find themselves in a compromising situation after a few too many.
You can read more expert tips for solo holidays on our website.
Solo travel in the UK
The UK is generally a very convenient place for singles holidays, and you can easily reach many great destinations on the rail or bus networks. Otherwise, most of the major cities have airports offering quick flights from one part of the country to another.
It’s also a safe country in which to travel alone, including for elderly travellers and those with limited mobility. All the transport companies, stations and airports offer formal personalised assistance programmes for passengers with limited-mobility needs or hidden disabilities, including the elderly. You can also get assistance if you’re travelling alone with your children, and most transit hubs have feeding rooms if yours are still little.
How to spend the day on solo holidays
On Singles Awareness Day and National Singles Day, there are plenty of ideas for day-trip holidays for single people in different parts of the UK.
Brighton is on the south coast, easily reachable from London. It’s Britain’s traditional holiday destination, known for its Royal Pavilion and pier. It has equal amounts of seaside sunshine, food and entertainment, as well as great nightlife. Other coastal singles holiday destinations include Blackpool, on the Irish Sea, and Cornwall, in the far south west. You can spend the day in the little villages on the so-called Cornish Riviera, visiting ancient ruins and old fishing ports or exploring local art hubs.
If you live in the area of Manchester or Sheffield, you can easily reach Peak District National Park, where you can spend the day hiking or wandering through the village museums. There are plenty of kids’ amenities, too, if you travel alone with yours.
Similarly, if you want solo traveller holidays further north in England, you can go to Lake District National Park for some quiet solo contemplation in nature. Here, you can visit Beatrix Potter’s house, if you have children with you, or treat yourself to a feast at the Michelin-starred The Old Stamp House Restaurant.
You can take a ferry across to Ireland or Northern Ireland. Discover historic Belfast, with its complex history, or soak up the music from buskers in Dublin, one of the most musical cities in this part of the world.
Holidays for single people
The Scottish Highlands are a wonderful place to hire a car and head out on daylong solo holidays. Visit John o’ Groats, virtually on the northern tip of the UK, and the nearby Castle of Mey. Then, take a slow drive through the Glencoe region, simply absorbing the unforgettable scenery.
If you live towards the south-west end of England, you can take a road trip through the Reading region, stopping at Stonehenge on the way, and heading for Exeter and Bath. Here, you can spend the day exploring some of the finest Roman ruins and restored buildings in Britain.
Single holidays
Travel a bit further and you’ll reach Wales, where you can spend solo holidays on day trips, driving through its fabled green valleys and visiting Snowdonia National Park or Brecon Beacons National Park. Or tour the Welsh castles, starting with Cardiff Castle and making your way to Caernarfon Castle and Conwy Castle. You can also see the aesthetic old resort of Portmeirion, created in 1925 to resemble an Italian fishing village.
On the east coast of the UK, you can visit the famous white cliffs of Dover if you live down south, or spend National Singles Day in the Scarborough area if you’re from up north. The latter is near North York Moors National Park, or head a little way north from Leeds to go to Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Solo trip
And, of course, if you’ve never been to London, there’s no better way to visit the specific landmarks, museums and other attractions that appeal to you the most – on solo holidays, you always have the final say. Spend the day on a tour of the city’s famous pubs, visit the Imperial War Museum and the British Museum or just wander around taking in iconic landmarks like Nelson’s Column, Cleopatra’s Needle, Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey.
