Autumn, or ‘fall’ for our American friends, is a stunning time to visit the UK. London has warmer temperatures with a cool breeze, so you can stroll the streets in a light jumper or jacket, without having to worry about any weather extremities. Although, it can rain, so don't forget your umbrella! Autumn in London welcomes an array of artists and musicians, with many exhibitions and gigs from September – November. The pubs and cafes feel cosier this period too, their inviting lights on darker nights welcome locals and tourists inside for local pints and hearty British dishes. 

(The activities below can be spread across a 4 or 5 day stay or handpicked for a weekend break).

Visit one of London’s many independent coffee shops, there are so many to choose from, dotted across the city and neighbourhoods. If you are in Notting Hill, Mayfair or Kensington then Gulliam Coffee House is a popular choice for coffee connoisseurs – their coffee is single origin and unique in flavour. We hear their matcha is a cup of deliciousness too. 

Miel Bakery in Fitzrovia is the place to go for a post-shopping pick-me-up and the bonus is that their opening hours are every day, 7:30am – 6pm. So you can enjoy your early morning coffee or afternoon espresso without feeling panicked that they will close. 

Yeast Bakery at Canal Place has an array of ‘Cercle Swirls’, circular croissants filled with different flavoured creams and fruit. Our mouths are watering already. Or grab a freshly baked crusty baguette for a snack whilst walking along the canal. 

For the readers out there, you can also browse the latest bestsellers and get lost in a new novel with a slice of cake and cuppa at the London Review Cake Shop in Bloomsbury, just moments from the British Museum.

One of the most strange places in London, in the best way possible, is the Sir John Soane’s museum. The former home of architect John Soane, who built up a lifetime collection of objects that inspired him and caught his attention whilst travelling or out shopping in London. One room is covered in gold framed paintings, another filled with sculptures and another filled with 30,000 architectural drawings. It's a mesmerising sight and you can drop by for a meander around or book a private tour, which can be lead by candlelight and includes a drinks reception.

If modern art is more your thing, then no solo trip to London would be complete without an amble through the Tate Modern. This colossal art gallery is a spectacle on the bank of the Thames. Block out a few hours for this visit and immerse yourself in the work of various artists and great creatives of our modern world. Be sure to view the Tate Modern's website before you go and see which events and exhibitions interest you, such as the spellbinding Yayoi Kusama event. (Tickets sell fast, we advise booking in advance). 

As Virginia Woolf once said, to ‘walk alone in London is the greatest rest’. On an autumnal day take a walk through a London Park and admire the beauty of the brown and red falling leaves. Drink in the expansive skyline view from Greenwich Park or be charmed by the Rose Garden in the South-East corner of Hyde Park.

Do you have a dog you’d like to bring to London? Make it possible and stress-free by booking a pet friendly hotel stay. Take your pooch to the parks and explore the city together. Click here to book a pet friendly stay where Imperial London Hotels will look after everyone, humans and four-legged friends.

The queues are worth it for a cinnamon bun. Sweet, sticky and the perfect autumn snack, London has some of the best places for these Nordic baked treats. Hej coffee in Bermondsey or Elephant and Castle serve up cinnamon buns daily and if you have more time spare, Hej coffee offer fun barista experiences so you can learn a new skill. Or if you’re venturing into Covent Garden, then atmospheric Chestnut Bakery serve delectable cinnamon buns with a sticky glaze. 

You could head to the high street shops on Tottenham Court Road, and that’s not a bad idea when the autumn sales arrive in town. But to find real treasures and unique souvenirs, then the boutique and vintage shops in London are a must. Shoreditch is a trendy district with many boutique stores to browse through. Visit Luna & Curious for authentic gifts or Ally Capellino for a new bag. Labour and Wait also sells quirky homeware, so we recommend leaving some space in your suitcase. Don’t forget to go to the Brick Lane Vintage Market in the Shoreditch neighbourhood –

Chiswick is a great neighbourhood too for finding antique treasures in The Old Cinema. Or purchase new clothes at Iris Fashion and peruse the many charity shops. Our staff recommend Portobello Road for vintage and charity shopping in London too.

Bookworms can further explore independent booksellers across the city. Daunt Books is a firm favourite for solo-travellers and their stylish tote bags are worth buying to carry all your new novels.

On the Southbank, just under Waterloo bridge, you’ll find an open air book market open daily. Selling second-hand reads, this is where you can grab a bookish bargain and enjoy some time reading on a bench or nearby bar overlooking the river Thames, just like a local.

Don't forget to visit the literary quarter of the city, the Bloomsbury neighbourhood attracts bookish folk to the area all year. Discover more Bloomsbury bookshops and tick them off during your autumn trip.

There are many places in London which cater for solo travellers or locals dining solo. Padella, a fantastic pasta bar, which you’ll smell before you see it - is a sumptuous option for freshly prepared pasta and smiley service. You can find them in the atmospheric Borough Market. There’s also Story Cellar in Seven Dials, serving French food with a London flair, their cosy booths are ideal for dining solo on rainy autumn nights. 

Sometimes there is nothing better than a takeaway pizza. Hotel guests at City Sleeper or Royal National Hotel have laid back Blooms Pizza Café right on the doorstep. Order a pizza with your favourite toppings and you can soon be back in your hotel room enjoying your pizza, milkshake and a movie. Bliss! 

London has some of the best theatres in the world and it would be a shame to miss out on seeing a show. Don’t be put off by the stigma that London theatre is expensive because there are ways to see performances at a reasonable price. Some theatres have weekly lotteries and rush days so you can bag yourself a discounted ticket to see a show within a few hours or days. The National Theatre do a Friday rush and the Old Vic do a lucky dip.

For the ultimate UK solo break, especially for busy folk who don’t get much time for themselves, we suggest making time to visit a beauty salon in central London. At Iris Avenue in Bloomsbury, visitors can have a manicure or massage with a cocktail, what's not to love? Similarly Rachel's Nails & Coffee will paint your nails in your favourite colour whilst you enjoy a drink in their glamourous setting.

For a truly upmarket pampering, Harrods has a hair and beauty salon, for clients to book an indulgent facial. 

Solo travel is about treating yourself and recognising that you deserve something special. You could head to a drugstore and buy perfume there but where is the magic in that? London is filled with bespoke and niche perfumeries which are perfect for a little self-indulgence. 

Concoct up your own perfume in an old-world English perfumery, Floris’ flagship store on Jermyn Street is where royals such as Princess Diana have crafted their signature scents. Alternatively, peruse Bloom Perfume in the heart of Covent Garden or participate in an in-lab workshop and create a perfume to suit your taste and lifestyle at Experimental Perfume Club. This is also a fun activity for Halloween in London, making your own potions in style! 

Choose to stay in a hotel that’s crafted with solo travel in mind. At Bedford Hotel we have been welcoming solo travellers since the Victorian era. In our first year of opening in 1863, we even lit candles in our windows to invite people inside. 

Our single rooms are the ideal accommodation for an affordable place to stay in London and our restaurant on the ground floor looks out onto a private garden. In the autumn this garden is a place to take a breather from the hustle and bustle. Take a seat by the relaxing water feature and enjoy a glass of wine.