day trip from London; brighton? york?
 

I have a free weekend in London (prior to a biz trip) this Sat/Sun and am looking for recommendations on where to go. I will be traveling solo, am in my early 30's are have already been to the following places: Oxford, Leeds, Stonedge, Bath, Windsor. Am looking for somewhere where I can go via a train on a sunday (day-trip) and am considering either York or Brighton. Any other recommendations?

I like York much better than Brighton. Canterbury is nice, too.

York no doubt for the average tourist - to me along with Bath the finest English city outside of London - a full day will be very full.

Brighton has seen better days -- and except for the boardwalk and heritage piers not that much to see (save some royal building) - hands down York even though a lot farther away. Go to www.nationalrail.co.uk to see if you can nab online discounted tickets - lot cheaper usually than just showing up and buying.

The National Railway Museum in York, right by the York train station is fun for everyone - old royal trains, etc - it's free so easy to pop in for an hour or so - one of the mos popular attractions in England outside of London.

http://www.nrm.org.uk/

Check the branch of the York tourist office in the train station for maps and see if there is some attractions pass that will save money if seeing the umpteen interesting museums and stately houses, etc. Of course the York Minster should take first priority and is located a short walk from the train station.

Brighton on a nice hot Sunday will hop on the beach and in the many pubs attracting younger folk your age and younger - it also hops at night in that regard - so a whole different scene - depends what you are looking for.

York's nearly 2 hours each way by train (over 2 hours if you catch one that's not express). So . . . is that too far for a day trip? Brighton is 1/2 the distance or less.

There are other places, natch. Hampton Court Palace is a good day trip.

Sunday? Check the rail operator website to find out if there are any scheduled engineering works that could alter the timetable or cause delays and inconvenience with as replacement bus service. Brighton is a dump, why so many overseas visitors express interest in going there escapes me.

A few other recommendations: Portsmouth, Winchester, Salisbury, Arundel, Chichester.

Gordon R has good recommendations. Norwich is lovely too as well as Cambridge.

Royal Tunbridge Wells, close to London is also a gem - often overlooked - once a watering hole for nobles and well-heeled the town exudes a certain fading elegance - just loved it.

I have been to York three times and I can't imagine that a short trip would even touch the surface. I would leave York till you had more time. Just my impression and opinion.

Dover
Winchester
Oxford again?
York is theoretically "doable" but so much to "do" I'd save it for another time
Hampton Court is great--long half day
Greenwich is close but could fill up a day
Did you see Salisbury when you saw Stonehenge? (I'm assuming that's what you meant by Stonedge)

"Royal" Tunbridge Wells, you will be calling Hull "Kingston upon Hull" next P.. :-)

bilbo - I failed to see your satire - please edikate me on my presumed faux pas.

No one uses the word "Royal" when talking about TW. Like no one uses the "Forum" in Blandford Forum and no one uses the "Kingston upon" about Hull though, of course, Piddletrenthide is used in its full length :-)

And Stratford-on-Avon is just Stratford - thanks for the esoteric lesson! Now getting read to go to Blackpool-on-Sea!

I have noticed you do seem to have a 'Royal' fixation what w/ often recommending <i>Royal</i> Leamington Spa and <i>Royal</i> Tunbridge Wells . . . .

Well RLS is even trickier as most people call it Leamington, the Spa is only added by people in the marketing industry and others of a like, though using Spa carries no punishment, using the Royal is just non-U.

ok, so York is probably a bit far..although according to the schedule its about 2hrs away on a high speed train. I was thinking of Brighton more for a very different type of British experience..not historical but more laid back, beachy..see how the Brits relax :)
Otherwise, it seems Canterbury or Cambridge seem like nice options for a leisurely day in a cite town.

"cite town" ?

Not really a "high speed" train

I would go to Greenwich by boat on the Thames. You might ask if they also go around the Thames Barrier. We took one with commentary and then for an extra £ per person, we were delighted to see the O2 arena and Thames Barrier. We very much enjoyed touring around the former naval academy/Royal College and the Meridian. The Cutty Sark is also there for touring.

The variety of buildings - old and new - along the Thames was interesting as the commentary was good. We took the Thames River Services from Westminster Pier and the Westminster-Greenwich line with the Thames Flood Barrier.

I didn't buy the tickets but found the brochure so I could give you the correct name of the boat tour. They also stopped at St Katharines Pier to pick up people.

York deserves more than a day trip.

so the royals are frowned upon? Understandable to me, very understandable - I too would not want to be linked to this royal family!

Cambridge is a great short day trip - similar to Royal Oggsford but so so very different - been to both several times and not sure which one I prefer - I love em both!

But don't rule out York, IMO the best of real English cities (not university towns) on your list - so what a relaxing two hours on a train each way rather than one? You see more of the sheep-dotted English countryside that way.