Being single should never be the thing that holds you back from going out and having a good time. As a woman in her 40s with no partner or kids, I know how easy it is to feel like everyone else has company. Most of my friends are married or knee deep in family life, so I’m used to riding solo.

I’ve been in and out of relationships for most of my adult life. But I’ve never let singledom be the reason I miss out. We only get one life. Don’t wait for someone else’s schedule to give you permission to enjoy yours.

Here are some of the fun things I’ve enjoyed as a singleton:

Hiking

There are so many options when it comes to hiking. I love hiking on my own. Short hikes, long hikes, hikes in the city, hikes in the hills. You name it, I’ve done it. I’ve also met some incredible people through hiking. There are so many hiking groups out there. If you’re new to the idea of group hikes, don’t be put off by thinking that everyone will already know each other. Most people tend to join group hikes on their own. And hikers tend to be pretty friendly, human beings (not that I’m biased)! So you’ll always find somebody to talk to.

Hiking taught me early on that being alone doesn’t mean being lonely. Whether you’re hiking solo or out with a group, there are so many benefits to getting out there. And being in nature really is great for the soul.

Exploring new places

I’ve always loved exploring new places. When I lived in London, I had a bucket list of places I wanted to visit. Places that were off the traditional tourist trails. I managed to tick most of them off during solo dates with myself. And it’s something I’ve continued to do now that I live in Sussex, too. Whether I’m trying out a new coffee shop or visiting a village/town/city I haven’t been to before, as long as I have my camera or a book, I can lose myself for hours exploring.

And the bonus of doing it solo? You can go wherever you like, whenever you want, and there’s no one else to try and please. Solo exploring has become one of the ways I remind myself I’m capable and curious. It’s given me a kind of confidence I never knew I had.

Holidays

I LOVE solo holidays! I took my first solo holiday in 2015. Since then, I’ve travelled solo to mainland Spain, Portugal, Italy, Iceland, and Ibiza (apparently, I love countries beginning with I!). I’ve holidayed on the south coast of England on my own too. There’s nothing better than going to a new country and exploring at your own pace.

I flew to India on my own at the end of 2019, too. Although I joined a group out there, who I then travelled with for 15 days. Some people in the group knew each other; others, like me, went solo. But it was easy to make friends with other group members throughout the trip. Iceland was meant to be a completely solo trip, but I met two lovely ladies on the transfer to the hotel, and we became travel buddies for the trip, which then resulted in us going to Bucharest together earlier this year.

Eating at Restaurants

The first time I went to a restaurant on my own, I hadn’t long moved to London. I had to go across London for a meeting, so I decided to treat myself to some food while I was there. I didn’t want to just pick something up from a fast food chain, so I went and had a proper sit-down meal at Pizza Express. I’m not at the point where I randomly treat myself to meals out (more for the sake of my purse strings than anything), but if I’m away on holiday, sightseeing or travelling for work, I’ll happily go and eat out at a restaurant, solo. And if you’re worried about feeling awkward, take a book or your phone and busy yourself with that.

If you can eat a meal out alone, you can do almost anything.

Going to the Pub

Trips to the pub are basically a staple of English life. I love a good pub. Even though I don’t drink! I just love the atmosphere (most of the time). But, until recently, I’d never been to one on my own. When it was announced that Arsenal’s Champions League final against PSG would only be shown on TNT Sports (not a TV package I have!), I knew I was going to have to JFDI (Just Fucking Do It – if you were curious!).

I did a bit of research beforehand to find out which pubs near me were showing the game, and then contacted them, letting them know I was coming on my own and to find out if I needed to book a table. They sent me a lovely reply, which instantly put me at ease and made the experience feel safe and comfortable, even before I arrived. I didn’t need to book, but I made sure I arrived at the pub nice and early to get a good spot for the game. In fact, I arrived so early, I was the first one there 😂 A few minutes later, a group of lads came in. They spoke to me instantly, and didn’t make me feel weird for being a solo female. And neither did they try and crack on to me, which was also reassuring 😂

The room soon started to fill, and I found myself sitting and chatting to a Swedish man who was over visiting his sister. So, although I went solo, I had company for a good chunk of the afternoon, which was also lovely, and it’s definitely something I would go and do again.

Cinema

On paper, this should be one of the easiest things to do on your own, largely because you sit in silence for most of the experience! But for me, this one took a while. I’m not sure what it was that held me back. Perhaps the fear that I would stand out like a sore thumb amongst the families and couples. But I was desperate to go and see Black Panther, and I had nobody else to go with. So I popped along to my local cinema in Clapham at the time, got myself a drink and a family-sized bag of chocolates, and settled down to watch the film. And I loved every second of it.

I have to admit, I much prefer a smaller, independent cinema to one of the big chains, but I’ve been to both on my own and have always really enjoyed the experience. Just think, there’s no arguing over what film to watch, and nobody sharing your snacks! Perfection!

Theatre

I’ve only done this once, and the only reason I haven’t done it since is purely down to circumstances. When I lived in Kingston, I had a fantastic theatre right on my doorstep. I was desperate to go to their Ted X Kingston event, and I knew it would be difficult to get anybody to come with me as it was a full-day event. So I had a JFDI moment and booked myself a ticket. I had a great time, and in the breaks between speakers, the people next to me were really friendly, so I never really felt alone. But events like this are perfect, because you really don’t need to speak to anyone unless you want to.

Unfortunately, since leaving Kingston, I haven’t really lived anywhere with an active theatre scene. At least not right on my doorstep. But if there was something I really wanted to see, I wouldn’t hesitate to go on my own.

Spa days

I haven’t been on a spa day for so long! But I have got one coming up, and I can’t wait. Spa days make a perfect solo activity. I always take a book with me to catch up on some reading in between treatments or dips in the pool. I find weekdays much better for solo spa days as there are often fewer couples (just in case couples canoodling in spas gives you the ick!). It’s also a great opportunity to switch off from the outside world for a few hours. In fact, the spa I’m heading to at the end of this month doesn’t even allow you to take your mobile phone poolside, so mine will be firmly shut in my locker! It’s the perfect way to hit the reset button.

Exercise

This might sound like a bit of an obvious one if your chosen choice of exercise is going to the gym or going for a run. But what about if you really want to try a new class, or join a sports club? I’ve done both of these over the last year. I signed up for a Flow Dance class at my local dance studio at the beginning of 2025, which I absolutely loved. Going on my own for the first time was pretty nerve-racking. Not only was I going somewhere new, but I had never done Flow Dance either! But within a few weeks, I had fallen in love with it.

Unfortunately, the classes weren’t cheap, so I went off to find something more affordable. I soon discovered a women-only football training session was being started around the corner from me. I decided to go along and give it a try. It was clear that a few of the girls knew each other, but others didn’t, and I was made to feel instantly welcome.

Joining a sports club can be a great way of improving your social life too, as many teams train in the evening and go for drinks afterwards or organise socials. I’m taking time out of playing at the moment to focus on my new love of running, but I would love to join another club again in the future, whether I know members or go along as a complete newbie.

Go to events

Events can be just as fun, sometimes even more fun, when you go on your own. Whether it’s joining 1.5 million other people in London to celebrate your team winning the Premier League for the first time in 22 years, or something small and local, going to events solo can be a lot of fun.

Arsenal Victory Parade

I went to the Arsenal parade on my own, surrounded by over a million fans, and it was electric. There’s something powerful about choosing to be part of a moment like that without waiting for someone to come with you. You get to soak up the atmosphere, move at your own pace, and feel completely part of the energy without having to worry about losing people in the crowds.

The Photography & Video Show

Wandering around the NEC, dipping in and out of talks, demos and stands at my own pace was a lot of fun. No rushing, no compromising, no “shall we go here or there?”, just following whatever piqued my curiosity.

The Battle of Lewes

There’s something magical about turning up to a local historical reenactment on your own and letting yourself get swept up in the atmosphere. It’s the kind of event where you can linger, wander, and people‑watch without feeling like you’re dragging anyone along.

Eastbourne Airshow

A perfect example of how going solo lets you enjoy big, busy events on your own terms. I could stand where I wanted, move when I wanted, and take photos to my hearts content, without annoying anyone!

A photography course

Learning something new on your own is such a confidence boost. You meet people naturally, you get to focus fully, and you don’t have to worry about whether someone else is enjoying it. It’s just you, your curiosity, and the freedom to explore.

Don’t wait to enjoy your life

As I wrote this list, I felt a huge sense of pride that I’m not reliant on anyone else to live a fun-filled life. Of course there are moments when I think it might be nice to have a partner to share things with, or more friends to spend weekends with, but I don’t let these moments define me.

Whether you’re riding solo by choice, circumstance, or have a partner who isn’t always available; don’t wait for someone else’s diary to align with yours. Go out, explore, try things, meet new people, and make your own memories.

Your life is happening now.

And you deserve to enjoy every second of it.