Wandering Solo Through Time: Ajit Parlikar’s 13-Day Journey Across London
There is something undeniably thrilling about stepping into the unknown. It is like opening a book whose pages are still blank, waiting for your story to be written. “Travelling solo is about finding yourself,” a friend once said to me. At the time, I had laughed it off with a casual, “I already know who I am.” But as I booked my 13-day solo tour across London with Thrillophilia and their local partners, those words stayed in the back of my mind.
Was I really as self-assured as I believed? Would this journey push me to confront things I had not yet faced?
“The UK is so vast and layered,” I had read online. “Each city, each street, has its own story to tell.” That thought excited me - and, I will admit, intimidated me.
This was not my first time travelling solo, but it was my first adventure of this magnitude, spanning not just a country but an entire tapestry of cultures, histories, and landscapes. As I zipped up my suitcase the night before departure, I caught myself asking: Would I find joy in my own company? Would I make friends along the way? Would I leave with stories worth telling?
My curiosity outweighed my nervousness. “If not now, then when?” I whispered to myself as I boarded the plane, the weight of anticipation settling in my chest.
London is a City that Never Pauses
Stepping out of Heathrow Airport, I felt the cool May breeze on my face and the unmistakable hum of London - a city that buzzed with life no matter the hour. My guide Martin greeted me with a warm smile. “Welcome to London, Ajit. Ready to explore the heart of the UK?” he asked.
“Absolutely,” I replied, though my mind raced. Where do you even begin with a city like this?
Day one was all about settling in. At the hotel, I met a diverse group of travellers who would be my companions for the journey. There was Amelia from Australia, who had a laugh that could fill a room, and Miguel, a photographer from Spain who seemed to find beauty in every crack and corner.
The next morning, as we toured London, I admired the seamless blend of the old and new. “That is Westminster Abbey,” our guide said, pointing to the iconic Gothic structure. “A thousand years of history in those walls.”
We also walked past Buckingham Palace just in time for the Changing of the Guard, and I found myself lost in the ceremony “Imagine living here,” I thought aloud. Miguel laughed, “I think I would need a palace just to store my camera gear.”
In the evening, we wandered through Leicester Square and Chinatown. The energy was infectious. Amelia nudged me as we passed a bustling pub, “Ajit, ever tried a pint of British ale?” I had not, and that night, I did. Sitting in a cosy corner of Soho with my new friends, I realised how quickly strangers could become companions.
Into the English Countryside
The next morning, the city gave way to rolling green hills as we drove towards Cambridge. “This place feels like it is straight out of a postcard,” I said, gazing at the centuries-old colleges surrounded by the River Cam. A local student enjoying along the river called out, “Enjoying the view?” I nodded, thinking, How could you not?
York was next - a charming city with narrow lanes and a majestic cathedral that seemed to touch the sky. I joined Miguel in photographing the Roman walls at sunset. “The light here has a certain magic,” he remarked, squatting down to capture the golden hues.
With a medieval charm, Durham was a fitting end to the day. “If walls could talk, what stories would this castle tell?” I wondered aloud. A fellow traveller added, “Probably tales of kings, scholars, and the occasional ghost.”
Crossing Borders and Discovering Stories
I then travelled to Scotland which greeted us with dramatic landscapes and weather that changed as often as my mood on this trip - one moment sunny, the next, a misty drizzle. Edinburgh was a city of contrasts: historic yet vibrant, dignified yet lively. “You can feel the stories in the air,” our local guide said as we climbed the hill to Edinburgh Castle.
From the eerie beauty of Loch Ness to the rugged Highlands, Scotland was breathtaking. We stopped in Fort Augustus, where I tried haggis for the first time. “It is not as scary as it sounds,” Amelia reassured me, and to my surprise, I enjoyed it.
One of my favourite moments came on the boat ride across Loch Ness. The stillness of the water surrounded by the tall mountains felt almost extraordinary. “Do you think Nessie’s watching us?” I joked, and our guide smiled. “She only shows herself to those with pure hearts.”
Moments that Stay with You
In Cork, we celebrated a fellow traveller’s birthday. The hotel staff surprised us with a homemade cake, and we toasted with Chubitchi (a local drink). “Cheers to new friends and memorable journeys,” Amelia declared, and I could not agree more.
One of the most surreal experiences was boating on the crystal-clear waters of Dawki in Mawlynnong village. “It is like the river is holding up a mirror to the sky,” Miguel said, his camera clicking away.
On our final day, we explored Stratford-upon-Avon, which is Shakespeare’s hometown. Standing outside his birthplace, I felt a strange connection to the playwright. “All the world is a stage,” I murmured, and Amelia joked, “And we are all just players trying to find our next act.”
As we drove back to London, the reality of the journey ending began to sink in. “It is funny,” I said to Miguel, “I came here hoping to learn more about these places, but I feel like I have learned more about myself.”
“Travel does that to you,” he replied. “It shows you who you are when no one is looking.”
Read More: Thrillophilia London Reviews