Only solo date guide you need for London #2
Juicy brains, big hearts, summer 2026.
I think summer needs a rebrand. How come we’re always hyper-fixated on having back-to-back plans with friends and lovers, when the sun is arguably some of the most energising, uplifting company to have around?
Here’s my theory:
The sun is so rare in London that we feel the need to take advantage of every sunny day, which leads me to,
We rarely see solo time as a rewarding way to spend a special day.
I get it — I’ve been dealing with feelings of loneliness, and the discomfort of confronting these lonely thoughts. But as life has proven to me time and time again, the only way forward is through. Move your body. Take action. Face the fears and anxieties you've been avoiding. Everything is a muscle.
A good, sexy life is a balanced one. In my ideal version, solo time serves as an opportunity to reflect and recharge creatively, emotionally, mentally, and physically — all so that we can reconnect with our people feeling plump and rejuvenated.
Unplanned, I recently spent the two May bank holiday weekends partly alone and mostly outdoors. When I get stuck in my own head, I find myself desperately searching for connection with something bigger — something that reminds me that the world is larger than my body, my feelings, and my thoughts. Nature is one of those things, and spring and summer couldn’t be better seasons for it.
If I were so lucky, this is how I’d start every sunny day: cycling to an empty park in the early morning with a book and an iced coffee, or going for a morning dip before weekend social plans.
For the past few weeks, the first solo date guide I published last summer has started going semi-viral, which I’m taking as evidence that (sadly) summertime sadness is real and we are all in need of more solo date ideas. So here’s my boots-on-the-ground journalism: part two of The only solo date guide you need for London. This one is specifically for Londoners searching for nature escapes in the city, with a bit on galleries, community groups, and money-saving apps, to make the most of the greatest gift that is time.
Juicy brains, big hearts, summer 2026.
Nature escapes
In the first guide, I talked about the Parkland Walk, Hampstead Heath ponds, lidos, and more. Here are some of my additional favourites that I’ve been enjoying since.
New River Path is a long footpath (28 miles/45 km) that follows the New River and passes through the London boroughs of Enfield, Haringey, Hackney, and Islington. Along the way, you'll come across Finsbury Park, the Haringey Warehouse District, Woodberry Wetlands, and more.
Sometimes, all you need is a straightforward, leafy path to clear your head and help you move forward.
Woodberry Wetlands was originally part of the Stoke Newington East Reservoir and was opened by Sir David Attenborough himself. After a walk immersed in nature, you'll reach an outdoor café called Coal House Café. During the last heatwave, I saw people solo reading and journaling, while I sat with my (ex) lover and listened to the birds and watched the people around us.
On the next sunny weekend, I’m looking forward to being part of the crowd solo reading, journaling, and taking in the surroundings, whilst a couple nearby falls in love. It’s funny how life works; we’re constantly switching between roles and sharing experiences. We're all the solo readers, lovers, baristas, and passers-by.
Coal House Café. Source: Coco Wedding Venues. London Loop, also called the London Outer Orbital Path, is a 150 mile/242 km footpath that winds through different parks, woods, and fields around the edge of London. There are 24 different walks to choose from, all connected by public transport (we love public transportation!). Use the walking app Go Jauntly to guide you through the routes with maps and visuals.
On a sunny Saturday in April, I did one of the walks with a friend. It was so special to explore the less-gentrified parts of London, especially at a time when conversations around place, belonging, and identity feel more politically heightened than ever in the UK. We all have a duty to stay curious and explore what’s unfamiliar.
The same friend who showed me the London Loop also told me about Green Chain Walk, which is a 50-mile/82 km route that passes through areas including Crystal Palace and Eltham Palace. A walk that ends at an Art Deco palace? I'd recommend it if you're looking for some artistic inspiration after clearing your head.
Small(ish) galleries
If you’re tired of rotating through London's major galleries like the Tate, the RA, etc., try these smaller galleries. They’re in addition to the ones included in the first guide such as Photographer’s Gallery, South London Gallery, P21 Gallery, and Autograph. Most of these are also close to one another if you fancy a full day of gallery-hopping.
Cork Street Galleries is a historic cluster of modern and contemporary art galleries in Mayfair. Some of my favourite exhibitions I’ve seen recently:
‘Love is a Practice’ by Tizta Berhanu at Tiwani Contemporary
A while ago, at a gallery I can’t remember, I saw the work of Kenyan-British artist Michael Armitage for the first time. Tea Picker remains so vividly in my mind.
Tea Picker by Michael Armitage (2023).
I’ve seen some great art at Satchi Yates, including work by Cato.
I don't know everything about art, but I do know that larger galleries can be more constrained by institutional and political pressures, in addition to broader cultural trends. In comparison, smaller independent galleries can be a great avenue for discovering local and emerging artists who are often tackling socio-political issues in refreshing and unexpected ways.
Community groups
Flock Together is a Black-founded group that started as a birdwatching club. It now hosts nature walks, community events, and more. If you're as passionate about the environment and its intersections as I am, I have a feeling you might even come across some like-minded people and make a few friends. You can sign up for updates on upcoming walks through the website or their Instagram, @flocktogether.world.
Nimi Collective is a London-based social club that aims to connect people through curated arts and culture experiences. I haven't personally tried it yet, but I saw it on TikTok and thought it was a cool concept. If you give it a go, let me know.
Ibraaz describes itself as "a brave space for art, culture, and ideas from the Global Majority." It's a cultural space that includes a library, bookshop, recording nook, and café curated around Tunisian-inspired hospitality. I'm subscribed to their monthly newsletter, where they share upcoming events, often including film screenings, music performances, food events, discussions, and workshops.
Money-saving app, adult learning courses, etc
In this economy, eating out isn’t as accessible as it used to be. But EatClub changed the way I approach it. It seems too good to be true, and I thought it was a scam at first, but you can get up to 50% off at genuinely good restaurants, pubs, and bars. Since downloading it, I've gone out to eat with friends, lovers, and even enjoyed a solo meal all on a budget.
Idea Store is where I’ve been taking French classes for half the price of most other places. Idea Stores are a network of community learning and library centres operated by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. They combine traditional library services, lifelong learning (adult education), community events, and council services within modern, accessible buildings. Other than languages, they offer loads of other courses, too, like pottery, drawing, and more.
Lastly, I’ve talked about the Bethnal Green Nature Reserve several times on TikTok and SubStack. I’m still volunteering here on a regular basis, and the latest update is that I’m starting a community-oriented climate adaptation course that they’ve just launched from summer through autumn. I’ve not only made friends through the reserve, but also learned about medicinal plants and practices, composting, gardening, and how to work with wider communities in general.
It’s a reminder that solo dates can not only connect you to people, but also to continued learning even as an adult.
Conclusion: youth is a mindset
This year, I’ve been more grateful than ever to live in a big city like London, where it’s possible to have a sense of extended youth. And I don’t mean youth in the stereotypical, irresponsible way often portrayed in the media. Rather, I mean a mindset that is constantly drawn towards expansion and possibility. Learning something new, trying new hobbies, meeting new people, and discovering new parts within yourself and your familiar cities.
Summer is for saying goodbye to your routines for a bit, leaning into what feels like liberation and freedom, and flocking towards what brings you joy like moths to a flame. And then moving on when it no longer serves you, whether that be people, patterns, or hobbies. Or at least, that's what I'm manifesting.
Hopefully, these solo date ideas are a way for you to reflect on what you want summer 2026 to be, and serve as a vessel to help you get there. Best of luck, and let me know if you try any of these places or have any recommendations of your own in the comments section!
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