Going to be in London march 24-April 2nd HELP ALL ALONE!

Hey everyone~ I am finally going to London and I can't wait. The person that I was planning on going with had to back out, so now I am stuck by my self. Any tips on how to meet people?the tube and bus systems?and any other good pieces info will be greatly appreciated. London is a huge  city and i am wondering if it's a good idea to go at all.
Thanks 
Amanda 

I wouldn't really reccomend talking to random people on the tube/bus or in the stations. It's kind of an unwritten rule that you DONT talk. I've met some nice people in youth hostles before. There is one...I think it was called St. Christophers Inn that even has a pub on the front of it! How long will you be in London? Where will you be staying?

maybe you can meet a good tour guide from this site...

and I disagree - say hi to anyone you want to say hi too.  the tube people would love it - they're all pretending to be disinterested and too cool for school, but deep down everyone would like to have someone say hi.  Everyone.

Keith

and I disagree - say hi to anyone you want to say hi too.  the tube people would love it - they're all pretending to be disinterested and too cool for school, but deep down everyone would like to have someone say hi.  Everyone.

Nice try at the positive thinking, Keith, but...  i dont think this is true. 

Yeah I would say be careful about talking to random strangers in London. There's a lot of nutty people there for one thing.  I'm not saying don't talk to ANYONE, just be careful, especially as a woman travelling alone. 

I think she meant 'any tips on the tube and bus system?' Not 'any tips on how to meet people on the tube and bus system?'   Right?

Hey everyone~ I am finally going to London and I can't wait. The person that I was planning on going with had to back out, so now I am stuck by my self. Any tips on how to meet people?the tube and bus systems?and any other good pieces info will be greatly appreciated. London is a huge  city and i am wondering if it's a good idea to go at all.
Thanks 
Amanda 

I think you should still come over...  a similar thing happened to me.
My friend and i were coming to London for a holiday, she backed out at the last minute, but i came over anyway, on my own.   To be honest, it was BETTER for me this way, because she was wanting to do all sorts of stuff that i wasnt interested in, so this way i could do what i wanted without having to worry about pleasing anyone else.

Mealtimes were awkward, cos i didnt like going to restaurants on my own, but erm... i lost a lot of weight! 

I didn't try to meet people... that wasnt my purpose in coming here. 
But one day i was in a pub, looking at a guide book and trying to decide where to go next, and a cute guy walked up to me and asked if i spoke English... i said yes, we chatted, and he asked me to join his table with his friends. 
I did... and several years later, i ended up marrying one of his friends!   

The first time I visited London I spent a weekend there by myself. I had a great time, and felt very safe.
I stayed at Bayswater, which has a lot of hostels and cheap hotels, and is within walking distance of Portobello Road (well, it's also within walking distance of, say, Oxford Street, if you like to walk...)

The tube is safe, or at least I felt safe (I was 21 at the time, and a woman), at all hours.

During the day there are hoardes of tourists everywhere. My advice is to try to look less like a tourist at night--walk determinedly, and without a map in hand. It could be that I am overcautious, but I never felt threatened one bit.

In general, don't look too much like a tourist (and keep that camera off your neck), they're the easy target everywhere, don't feel scared, and enjoy yourself!

I had so much fun walking around, taking the tube to random places (I had a weekend tube-pass) and seeing what was there. I also tried to get "lost" on my second day, but unfortunately I didn't quite manage (I seem to remember I was around Camden or Covent Garden), as one gets used to the streets/street names quite quickly...

I had so much fun walking around, taking the tube to random places (I had a weekend tube-pass) and seeing what was there. I also tried to get "lost" on my second day, but unfortunately I didn't quite manage (I seem to remember I was around Camden or Covent Garden), as one gets used to the streets/street names quite quickly...

Come out with me.  I have no problem getting lost and in fact was wandering around Soho searching for Tatty Devine(which I've been to many times) just last week.

The third time I flew into London it was by myself. I was staying in Manchester, but I had to sort out some stuff in London first. I had two huge suitcases, and the hostel I stayed at put me on the 5th floor. So I'm standing there, completely jet lagged, with two bags that weigh more than I do and there's no lift  I made it on my own almost to the third floor before I gave up. I just sat down and cried. Three really nice Australian guys took pity on me and offered to help me carry everything up.

I had so much fun while I was in London on my own. I got to do stuff that people had traveled with in the past didn't want to do. And I would do it again (but with less bags...lol) Just be careful. It's a huge city and while some people are nice, there are alot of people you probably wouldn't want to get involved with. As for the tube/buses, I never did the buses on my own in London. I got the 3-day tube pass, and that got me everywhere I wanted to go.

If you happen to get lost or need directions....don't feel bad about asking someone. Not everyone in England is socially inept.  The English may be more reserved but they can also be helpful when someone asks.

Enjoy your time over here!

I am going to be staying in Bayswater at a hostel called smart hide park (I THINK). I do know one person there that offered to help me out while i am there,,,,,it's just getting around that i am nervous about,never had to use a underground before. But I am still planning on going,,I can't wait!
Amanda

The tube is easy to figure out. just get a map of it (they give them for free) and a pass (a day, 3day or 5 day or whatever is usually cheaper than getting one everytime you go in or out) I had never done it on my own before, and I managed to only get lost twice! (and both times I just missed my stop, so i got off, got back on going back the other way!) good luck and have fun!!!

It's nothing to be nervous about... as the previous poster said, there are maps everywhere.   
And it's only a holiday... you're allowed to make the odd mistake! 

Yup - it's quite an easy mode of transport to use...I didn't have a problem at all when I moved over here.  I also came on my own a few years earlier & had a blast - ate in pubs, went out for curries...it was great!  Remind people that you're heading this way a bit close to the time and I'm sure a bunch of us would be up for going out for dinner and/or a drink!