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-   -   Best Side Trips from London? (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/best-side-trips-from-london-655023/)

janisj Oct 26th, 2006 08:51 AM

You have received more good suggestions that you can possibly use. Give this thread to your grandson and let him research and deicde which <b>ONE</b> looks best to him. You won't have time for more than one out of town trip - if that.

My personal choices (when considering both interest and convenience) would be

1) Hampton Court Palace or Windsor/Eaton
2) Warwick/Oxford
3) Greenwich
4) Stonehenge/Bath
5) Brighton
6) York (maybe the best of all but a bit too far for a convenient day trip when there are great places so much closer to London)

But something may really impress your grandson and he could choose any of them.

I would never consider Leeds castle for a teenager. As castles go it is really no great shakes. Pretty dowdy actually. It does have glorious gardens/grounds - but not really most 16 yo's cup of tea.

bellini Oct 26th, 2006 09:39 AM

I'd echo the suggestion of Warwick Castle- we've taken lots of visitors there, young and old and they've all enjoyed it.
Train journey of 1.5 hrs from London Marylebone.
Otherwise Windsor Castle and Eton College.. does he like sport? How about a rugby or cricket or soccer match?

jblack44552 Oct 26th, 2006 10:17 AM

i definetly agree with Brighton. The pier is lots of fun for a 16yr old. Great fish and chips. Warwick also terrific with a wonderful castle

waring Oct 26th, 2006 10:35 AM

&quot;But it also has a large gay population....Just incase a chap is reading this and does not know how gay this place is,and is going there to find a nice girl.....&quot;

If you work the logic through, so much the better for straight chaps, who are in short supply

emmalee_71 Oct 26th, 2006 02:13 PM

Ok everyone has pretty good ideas. I took my nephew to Stonehenge and Avebury circle. He really like this. Avebury can be more fun that SH as you can walk around and touch the stones. Windsor Castle is cool but Warwick castle could be better and is about 2.5 hrs from London. Salisbury Cathedral is gorgeous if he is into Architect as is Oxford The roman baths in Bath are very cool. It really does depend what he is into and if he is happy to do all this or would rather go to an English football game and watch the brits sing a few footie songs which can be great fun!!
Brighton as someone suggested might be good. Let us know more on personality. Tower of london and changing of guard can be good and the London eye !!

PIPERPAT Oct 26th, 2006 03:53 PM

WOW!! Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm going to pass them along to him and let him choose. Thanks a lot. Pat

Heimdall Oct 26th, 2006 11:50 PM

Some clarification here: PWAbbot mentions the 'Imperial War Museum (Tube: Lambeth North/Southwark)' and I mentioned the Imperial War Museum at Duxford near Cambridge. They are two separate branches of the same institution. Duxford would be worth visiting if your grandson is airplane-mad, but if not, stick with one of the other suggestions.

bellini Nov 8th, 2006 06:23 AM

Just to confuse things- there's also an Imperial War Museum North in Salford (nr Manchester). The one in Lambeth has the most variety of exhibits. Would he enjoy the creepy things in the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford?? Shrunken heads et al

audere_est_facere Nov 8th, 2006 06:31 AM

On the plane theme, there is a much easier to get to museum - the RAF museum in Colindale (on Northern line) which is great. It certainly appealed to my inner 16 year old.

nona1 Nov 8th, 2006 08:36 AM

How about a theme park? Thorpe Park and Chessington are easily reached from London.


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