Advice on day trips from London
 

The plan is to head back to London in the Spring. We will be taking my sister with us who has never been to London.

I am thinking of one or two days outside London…maybe 2 hours by train at the most. We’re open to any type of destination…maybe small town with some historic sites, gardens and good pubs. Also open to an outdoor-sy type location…something coastal possibly.

i have been to Bath…I liked it but didn’t love it (but not sure why). And, I’ve been to Canterbury which I did really like.

Any thoughts on Cambridge for a day trip? Is there enough to do in Windsor? Oxford vs Cambridge?

none of us would want to spend the whole day in museums. We’d like a mix of things to do/see. Thoughts? Your favorites?

My first choice would be Oxford (or Cambridge - but me personally prefer Oxford)

'Oxbridge' have very similar 'vibes' in the central areas where day trippers would venture . . . gentle rivers with punts, beautiful colleges and college chapels that would be called cathedrals in most places, wonderful museums, easy walkability.

One very good day trip would be train to Ely (about 70 minutes) and visit the cathedral, then train to Cambridge (approx 20 Mins) for the rest of the day, then train back into London. (depending on which train you catch, about 60-90 minutes)

Windsor is good but it's essentially IN London -- not really but it is much closer to LHR than is central London. So if all one is mostly interested in is the Castle, Windsor can really be done as a half or 3/4 day trip from the centre just like Hampton Court Palace. If you have time for one half or 3/4 day trip I'd consider Hampton Court, Windsor, or Greenwich.

Janis…you are quick! Thanks for your insight on Oxford.

i should say we did hit HCP on our last trip but would like to go back to Greenwich. It was a short trip mostly to cram in the Painted Hall as a last minute thing.

How about Brighton?

https://heyexplorer.com/what-is-brig...nd-famous-for/

I try to be :)

Just to clarify -- my 'Oxbridge' description was for both Oxford and Cambridge. Some prefer Cambridge for the Cam, the backs, Kings College Chapel, the Fitzwilliam Museum, etc. etc, . . . and some prefer Oxford for the Cherwell, Christchurch Meadows, Radcliffe Camera, Ashmolean Museum, etc etc.

All in all, for the casual visitor the two cities would be very similar experiences.

Any interest in Stonehenge? If so, I highly recommend trying to book a Stone Circle Experience where you are admitted to wander amongst the stones before or after regular visiting hours. https://bookings.english-heritage.or...673.1659574677

I liked Oxford more than Cambridge, and would take in Blenheim while there.
Hampton Court.

Inner access is awesome -- but the logistics from London is a bit difficult unless one books a very expensive commercial tour leaving London very early AM or returning late PM. For an independent visitor you'd really want to spend the night before in Salisbury for morning access, or stay the night after evening access.

Good point, Janisj.

You guys are so good.

KT—Stonehenge is of interest but I would definitely prefer a before or after hours experience as you are describing.

great suggestions and info so far and I need to look up Ely as that’s a new one for me.

Brighton —will check the link sent. Thanks …I don’t know much about it but assume we’d want to go on a nice day.

as always, I appreciate the replies and suggestions.

Brighton Royal Pavilion is one of the most amazing bldgs in England -- but you'd definitely want to visit on a pleasant day for the piers, beach etc.

Personally, I prefer Cambridge over Oxford, but there's not much in it.

There are trains from London to York that take 2 hours, some a few minutes longer some a few minutes shorter. But once there, there's no shortage of things to see and do.

Dover Castle is a nice excursion from London, along with other places in Kent eg Hever Castle. Some great pubs along the coast line. Ramsgate harbour is gorgeous, so is Whitstable, Kingsdowne is very picturesque with seaside pubs & a view to France on a clear day. You can have a really nice day out, not too far from London.

I was very impressed with Ely - https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com...19/loving-ely/

If you like gardens, definitely consider Kew.

If you're interested in the Tudors consider Hatfield House - according to Google maps it's a half mile walk from the train station.

If you're interested in the Romans, consider St. Albans. Or Chichester or Arundel Castle combined with Fishbourne.

Hi, if I had to choose between Oxford and Cambridge it would be Cambridge, because there is more of a small-town feel to it. Oxford is a city. There is just as much to do in Cambridge but I find it more charming.

Also outside of London - a day trip out to Richmond, and another day to Hampton Court Palace. They are both sort of London still, but with travelling will take up a good part of the day.

We did Stonehenge and Woodhenge on the way to Bath, driving down from the north. I think we also visited Salisbury (and its cathedral) on that trip, it's close to the 'henges. That was all quite a long time ago now and Salisbury has faded for me, Bath has not.

Lavandula

Wow…these are the replies I dream of…

hadn’t really considered York but thanks for that suggestion (as long as the Duke is no where near).

gardyloo…interested in why Cambridge over Oxford for you, if you are open to sharing

Dover…love the comment on great pubs along the coast

loving this! Thanks and more please!

One thing re Dover -- The castle is one of the most interesting sites in England -- All on on one site you'll find a Roman light house, Medieval castle, victorian barracks, WWII tunnels/communication centre/Hospital. But the city itself is a dump. The castle is high on a bluff up a very steep road so you'd want to take a taxi from/to the station for sure. You really wouldn't want to be wandering around the town - but the castle alone easily fills most of a day.

re the Oxford vs Cambridge Debate - over the 5 years I lived in England and the probably 30-ish people I've taken to one or the other -- its really is 50/50 which one they enjoyed most. It is very subjective -- Sassafrass and I prefer Oxford, Gardyloo and Lavandual prefer Cambridge . . . and we're ALL correct :) You honestly couldn't go wrong whichever you chose. Oxford is the much larger city -- but that is including the industrial suburbs etc. The central area where the colleges, museums, etc are pretty similar in size and ambience.

another suggestion is Sissinghurst in Kent -we went to Hever castle the same day

Stratford Upon Avon?

We were on a tour that took us to Windsor Castle...grounds and inside. This was ages ago but I wonder if there's something available. That same tour included Oxford...Bodleian Library a must.

Looking forward to your TR, denisea!

I like Salisbury quite a lot, and not just as a stopover en route to Stonehenge. The Cathedral is one of the most beautiful in England. There is one of the few remaining original copies of the Magna Carta in the Chapter House of the Cathedral. There are some very nice walks you can take in Salisbury, one with a famous view of the Cathedral, with a meadow in the foreground.

Wells is not far from Salisbury, and also has a very beautiful cathedral. It's harder to reach by public transportation, as it has no train station.

If you’re interested in recent history as well, Salisbury is of course the site of the 2018 Skripal poisonings.
Our cab driver obliged us with a tour of locales when we mentioned it. Russians!!

Pretty much the same reason as others have given. Cambridge is smaller but feels considerably smaller than Oxford; less bustling, I guess. Both offer superb architecture of course but to me the sight of King's College Chapel from across the river is one of the best in England. https://goo.gl/maps/zDc3idWgWVsEeXs16

Windsor Castle. We toured this castle,St. George Chapel where Megan and Harry were married, and the royals are entombed.
The Castle is adjacent to the town’s main street where you can get lunch. Buy tickets for Windsor Castle in advance.
Oxford is lovely city and we enjoyed our time walking around the campus.

There’s also Stratford Upon Avon but I must admit I’ve not been there for a very long time. I also prefer Cambridge to Oxford partially since it’s got a smaller town feeling compared to Oxford as mentioned above but probably also since it’s brings out the nostalgia of my carefree youth.

We did London Walks for Salisbury and Stonehenge. It was a really wonderful tour and was a lot of fun. I don’t think they have it going right now but might by next spring. Something to think about.

I love having all this great insight. You all are making great suggestions and it will be hard to decide (and I love that)!

janisj- your Dover comments are priceless-we have to take the good with the bad.

i have never even heard of Sissinghurst—so I gotta research that!

Salisbury—have definitely heard the cathedral there is a must see.

Not sure why Stratford on Avon hasn’t crossed my mind…choices, choices!

Sissinghurst is the magnificent garden built by Vita Sackville-West (author, lover of Virginia Woolf and husband of Harold Nicholson -- major players in the Bloomsbury Group).

It is totally doable as a day trip from central London. Trains from Charing Cross to Staplehurst run every 30-ish minutes and take less than an hour. Staplehurst is 5 or 6 miles from the garden -- you'll want to pre-book a taxi.

If you are leaning this way you'll want nice weather, so don't decide ahead of time which day you'd visit. Spring is a great time to visit . . . .

Maybe I should hire you janisj as our personal consultant! So much to learn about bit excited to be going back to London…still a long way away and no way to speed time up.😉

OOPS -- WIFE of Harold Nicholson -- but their relationships were 'complicated' so maybe a Freudian slip :)

Happy to be of service . . . The biggest problem is you will run out of days loooooong before you run out of day trip possibilities.

Well that’s always the case but I see it as a reason to return over & over.

You don’t need to go anywhere near Dover town centre where it’s not particularly nice. Some residential areas are ok with Victorian architecture. But that’s not why you’d go there. Note Dover is a town, not a city, the main ferry port for France. So it is going to be a bit rough around the edges but you aren’t going to see any of that. The suggestion was all about visiting the castle, pubs under the white cliffs & other pretty places along the coast.

Oxford University doesn't have a campus.
The colleges and exam buildings are dotted in and amongst the centre of town. The teaching laboratories for science in particular are further north next to the Parks and along Banbury Road. The sports fields and sports facilites go as far out as the ring road.

If you are going to Oxford for a day or better still a night there are some worthwhile tricks to adapt
1) You can stay in college, especially out of term time or in "colleges" that are not affiliated to the University (often odd-religious) but are housed in interesting buildings offering semi-student accom.
2) Open times for visitors are strictly adheared to so if planning a wander around be aware of when you can visit. Mainly that is in the afternoon
3) College chapels often have services around 6pm or 6:30pm and you can gain admittance if you ask. Obviously you have to behave but it can be a sublime experience to sit and listen
4) The two of the three main Museums are world class. The Pitt Rivers is more a wild collection of the weird but worth time just to be amazed what he picked up
5) In and out of term there are often music events in the evening, staying over one night gives you access to these, though you could always take a late train back to London
6) Shopping in the centre of town is either touristy or UK main street. However there are two areas worth looking at, the covered market which is a blast and offers lots of little tea rooms etc and Little Clarendon Street
7) Punting,

Very appreciative of the additional Dover info and the specifics on Oxford. Exactly what I was hoping for.

Interesting info re: Chichester as I just heard about Tinwood Estate (nearby)which certainly aligns with my love of Sparkling Wine but I don’t know the area and how doable it is without a car (and would definitely want a pretty day if we visited).

Exactly -- no one was arguing with you. That is why I explained that getting off the train they wouldn't want to wander around the town but take a taxi straight up to the castle and spend the whole day.

https://www.universityrooms.com/en-GB/ makes access easy

I took a bus from Chichester to Fishbourne. Looks like a bus will get you to within a half mile of the Tinwood Farm. (Google maps has bus info.)

This site is also worth knowing about and you might get a discount if you arrive by bus: https://www.wealddown.co.uk/

Definitely a fan of staying in an Oxford or Cambridge college. These days rooms are typically en-suite and come with breakfast. When I stayed in Christ Church Oxford I was able to eat dinner there one night too. (But I preferred my stay at Keble.) Last time I was in Oxford it was overrun with day visitors, Cambridge was a bit quieter.

Great Thursdays…appreciate that link!

Hi Denise,

2 days outside London is a tough one, but two of the most popular places to see is Windsor and Stonehenge.

My advice would be to take a train from London Waterloo to Windsor & Eton, which usually runs every 30 minutes and takes just less than an hour. There you can see Windsor Castle, take one of the Duck River Tours and also just wander around the town, which is lovely as well as stay later in the evening and see a show in the theatre which is right by the castle.

To see Stonehenge isn't so easy by public transport - so I would probably recommend a tour company to take a direct tour to and from Stonehenge as seen here. Its one of the leading attractions in the UK and Spring is one of the best times to see this sight, and with the visitor centre and cafe there it means you have time to relax, see the Stones and also have some food and a wonder.

Also, dont rule out the Cotswolds... there are some amazing places to see there - check out Bourton-on-the-Water for more details.

Enjoy!

Do you think The Cotswalds are OK for a day trip? We are looking to do a few day trips via train outside London.

When we walked around the university at Oxford many years ago, everyone was wearing academic robes.