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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?
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I like York much better than Brighton. Canterbury is nice, too.
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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.
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A few other recommendations: Portsmouth, Winchester, Salisbury, Arundel, Chichester.
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Gordon R has good recommendations. Norwich is lovely too as well as Cambridge.
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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.
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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.
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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.. :-)
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bilbo - I failed to see your satire - please edikate me on my presumed faux pas.
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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 :-)
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And Stratford-on-Avon is just Stratford - thanks for the esoteric lesson! Now getting read to go to Blackpool-on-Sea!
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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 . . . .
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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.
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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. |
bilbo: I only threw in the 'Spa' bit because that is how PQ always identifies the place ;)
Sorry - but I would definitely rule out York. I can't find engineering works this weekend . . . But it is too late to get any sort of discounted fares. So not only will it take 2 hr each way, it will cost £100 or more return. |
100 quid would make me rule out York! It's neat but not THAT neat!
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That is why the same advice doesn't fit every situation . . . the OP <i>did</i> state it would be this coming weekend . . .
Last minute, long distance train trips can be very expensive. |
In addition to having to buy the most expensive tickets, there have been many delays and cancellations on the Kings Cross / Waverley route in the past weeks; and, It just wouldn't make sense to spend 4 hours on a train for a day trip. I have done York as a day trip and wouldn't recommend it.
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ok..thanks guys. So York is out..its too far and too expensive.
So would you pick Canterbury or Cambridge? Feels like those are the 2 most interesting and beautiful cities. |
We did Cambridge as a day trip from London years ago and it worked out.
I also second or third Hampton Court--take the train down, then take the boat back to London so you can see what's along the Thames. Hampton Court is one of the most fascinating places we've seen on our travels. Greenwich would also be good--take a boat down, then walk under the Thames by tunnel and take the train back to London. Each of those would easily take a day, and they're not that far. |
Greenwich would also be good--take a boat down, then walk under the Thames by tunnel and take the train back to London.>
You mean the DLR - Docklands Light Railway or the overground train (which leaves from the Greenwich side) - take the tunnel to the DLR station near it end and this above ground elevated automatic train - just a few cars long - will take you on a panoramic tour of London's burgeoning Docklands with striking modern architecture everywhere - take it to Bank or Tower Tube stations. A neat experience - I always try to get in a car at the front of the driverless trains so I think I am driving. |
You can also take the overland train...frequent trains go into London bridge in about 5 mins which is WAY faster than taking the DLR to Bank.
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Well from Greenwich I think the fastest way into tourist London is by the Jubilee Line of the Tube - plus the Tube has a lot more frequent services than the train though that runs several times an hour I think and also can take you to Charing Cross and Waterloo Est I think.
But I suggest the longer yes slower DLR route because it lets you see the whole Docklands area - fastest no but more interesting and fun IMO. Just love the DLR, which also can take you to Stratford and the Olympic Stadium area if that interests you. Hampton Court need not take a whole day if you go by train each way - trains terminate at a station smack opposite the palace itself - just across the Thames. OP could do Hampton Court one day and then Cambridge or whatever the next day. And I agree Hampton Court is superb and sadly off many tourists' radars - to me the finest by far and most interesting of all the Royal Properties in the greater London area. It's a long boat ride from Hampton Court back to London I think - if you like to walk you can take the Thames Footpath from Hampton Court, following the north bank the whole way to Kingston and then take the train to London from there - about a 4-mile walk that I thoroughly enjoyed. |
The jubilee line doesn't run through Greenwich village area...it runs through North Greenwich where the O2 is...no where near Greenwich centre.
I plugged in for tomorrow at 10:30 and trains run every 9-10 mins and take 8-9 mins to get to london Bridge. Depends how much time you want to spend getting into central London again. But certainly the tube isn't an option from there! |
And yes all trains run through London bridge (unless there is engineering works) and can take you into charing cross, Waterloo East or cannon street.
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To experience a good part of the DLR you could take the DLR from Greenwich to Canary Wharf and change to the Jubilee Line there and hop on the Tube to take you to any place in London. Yes I agree trains are the fastest but I just love the DLR and think most folks would too.
But yes I was wrong in thinking Greenwich proper was served by Tube. |
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Haha Pal you are obssessed ;)
I commute on the DLR every day and it is quite pleasant outside of peak times. |
PQ googles 90% of his answers . . . could it be he's has never been to any of these places
Nah . . . ;) |
Well yes peak times can be a hassle and no chance of getting those vaunted seats right up front - the DLR has been so successful they had to make the trains longer and extend platforms. I doubt if janis has ever been on the DLR as she no doubt has never lowered herself to go to Royal Blackpool - not enough fancy tea rooms there!
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SShprints, re your question, since you have already been to Oxford, I would certainly choose Canterbury over Cambridge.
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PQ -- been on the DLR many times . . . last time was twice just this May to meet Patriick_London for a GTG and afterwards to get back to our flat at the Marina (when are <i>you</i> going to make it to a GTG? :-" )
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P.. RB LOL :-)
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(when are you going to make it to a GTG? :-" )>
nada interest in that my love - you know the Fodorgarch thing - even if you were there. |
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