Day trip from London in early October, Canterbury, Brighton, or ??
Feb 22nd, 2014, 04:49 AM
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Day trip from London in early October, Canterbury, Brighton, or ??
Hello again,
Last year I sought some advice about a day trip to York from this forum and it was great. I loved my time in York. So I've done York, Bath, Oxford, and Stratford upon Avon. I'm looking for a walkable town with interesting street life and cool eateries. Not looking to visit museums, cathedrals, etc.. Just see and feel something different. I'm thinking of Brighton or Canterbury, leaning towards Brighton. I like to walk as opposed to use public transport when possible.
Please give me your feedback and any suggestions of daytrips that are two hours away from London.
Thanks a lot
Last year I sought some advice about a day trip to York from this forum and it was great. I loved my time in York. So I've done York, Bath, Oxford, and Stratford upon Avon. I'm looking for a walkable town with interesting street life and cool eateries. Not looking to visit museums, cathedrals, etc.. Just see and feel something different. I'm thinking of Brighton or Canterbury, leaning towards Brighton. I like to walk as opposed to use public transport when possible.
Please give me your feedback and any suggestions of daytrips that are two hours away from London.
Thanks a lot
Feb 22nd, 2014, 07:48 AM
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Royal Tunbridge Wells would be an excellent choice for your wishes - no great cathedral to bother with (to me the main draw of a IMO otherwise ho-hum Canterbury - Tunbridge Wells (not to be confused with nearby Tunbridge) is great for walking - the older part of town by the old thermal water source - still there in a diminuitive state - it was a royal watering hole - literally for ages - vast parks and a thriving newer commercial part of town - no real museums or other sights to be bothered with and an easy train ride from London.
Brighton IMO would depend on the season - on a warm summer day it hops and the old pier is an attraction in itself but otherwise except for the narrow lanes in the shopping area there is not much there there IMO - like janis says.
Cambridge - not an Oggsford clone but kind of - different but the same! This would be my choice - close enough to London and all the colleges and punting on the river, etc. Places reeks of history and you may bump into Stephen Hawking!
Salisbury is a really neat town even if you do not go to nearby Stonehenge - check out Old Sarum right in town - a great cathedral but not one you have to even go in to admire - but rather be awed by the cathedral close with old buildings all around and take the walkway along the river south of town for the neat view of the soaring towers of the cathedral across cow grazed meadows - a picture Turner or Constable or perhaps both caught on canvass in now uber famous works.
Winchester is also a neat cathedral town besides its cathedral a swell old town - neat for walking around.
Brighton IMO would depend on the season - on a warm summer day it hops and the old pier is an attraction in itself but otherwise except for the narrow lanes in the shopping area there is not much there there IMO - like janis says.
Cambridge - not an Oggsford clone but kind of - different but the same! This would be my choice - close enough to London and all the colleges and punting on the river, etc. Places reeks of history and you may bump into Stephen Hawking!
Salisbury is a really neat town even if you do not go to nearby Stonehenge - check out Old Sarum right in town - a great cathedral but not one you have to even go in to admire - but rather be awed by the cathedral close with old buildings all around and take the walkway along the river south of town for the neat view of the soaring towers of the cathedral across cow grazed meadows - a picture Turner or Constable or perhaps both caught on canvass in now uber famous works.
Winchester is also a neat cathedral town besides its cathedral a swell old town - neat for walking around.
Feb 22nd, 2014, 09:23 AM
#5
I've been trying to think of a smaller town with enough interest to give Esperanza a different sort of experience. I thought of Winchester but without the cathedral, for me it falls by the wayside, I think ordinary otherwise. Not bad, just not outstanding enough for the trip.
Henley is a place I like very much, pretty walks along the Thames and a more sophisticated town to walk around. And, I think, better restaurants.
She could even walk along the Thames Path after lunch to the next town with a station, Shiplake, for a 2 mile meander along the river. Or alternatively, go to Shiplake in the morning and walk to Henley before lunch, then home in the afternoon from there.
Henley is a place I like very much, pretty walks along the Thames and a more sophisticated town to walk around. And, I think, better restaurants.
She could even walk along the Thames Path after lunch to the next town with a station, Shiplake, for a 2 mile meander along the river. Or alternatively, go to Shiplake in the morning and walk to Henley before lunch, then home in the afternoon from there.
Feb 22nd, 2014, 11:03 AM
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Thank you everyone for taking the time to advise me on this. I've had a quick look at pictures of Winchester, Royal Tunbridge Wells, and Henley. From just looking at pictures and a quick reading, Royal Tunbridge Wells seems very interesting. I like the pics of the Pantiles.
Royal Tunbridge Wells, how far is the city center from the train station and what are the recommended must-sees? I would have around 6-8 hours there.
Canterbury is still on the list also.
Royal Tunbridge Wells, how far is the city center from the train station and what are the recommended must-sees? I would have around 6-8 hours there.
Canterbury is still on the list also.
Feb 22nd, 2014, 12:20 PM
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Brighton meets the brief (interesting street life and cool eateries) much better than the pretty but relatively staid towns mentioned up thread. I would maybe consider Canterbury too as it is a university town, but honestly, the others are wide of the mark.
In Brighton I like the Pavillion for a bit of ostentatious kitsch, the Lanes for window shopping some mouth watering antique jewellery (not the North Laine which is mostly crystals and joss sticks, though does have a few good coffee bars), Montezumas for a chocolate fix, bars and cafes under the arches right on the beach for brekkie in the morning, cocktails at night, various little art galleries scattered around the old town, and a taste of the trad british seaside if the weather lets you - pier, ring donuts, saucy postcards etc.
In Brighton I like the Pavillion for a bit of ostentatious kitsch, the Lanes for window shopping some mouth watering antique jewellery (not the North Laine which is mostly crystals and joss sticks, though does have a few good coffee bars), Montezumas for a chocolate fix, bars and cafes under the arches right on the beach for brekkie in the morning, cocktails at night, various little art galleries scattered around the old town, and a taste of the trad british seaside if the weather lets you - pier, ring donuts, saucy postcards etc.
Feb 22nd, 2014, 12:40 PM
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Lincoln should also have been on my list - often overlooked by tourist but the upper town itself is especially nice - a swell town - great exercise walking up that hill!
The train station is a short walk from everything of interest in Tunbridge Wells - it is not a huge town - not a small town either.
Battle is another possible destination - cute small town famous for the Battle where Richard the Conqueror defeated Saxon King Harold - walk thru the battle field that has been preserved and along the Pevensey Way the Normans took up from the sea - a nice footpath and you also see the sea, see!
The train station is a short walk from everything of interest in Tunbridge Wells - it is not a huge town - not a small town either.
Battle is another possible destination - cute small town famous for the Battle where Richard the Conqueror defeated Saxon King Harold - walk thru the battle field that has been preserved and along the Pevensey Way the Normans took up from the sea - a nice footpath and you also see the sea, see!
Feb 22nd, 2014, 01:39 PM
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https://www.google.com/search?q=cook...=1600&bih=1075
If into nice short flat walks I can highly recommend the one I took - a popular trek between Cookham and Marlowe in suburban London - in addition to the one in the Henley area too that Miss Prism mantioned.
If into nice short flat walks I can highly recommend the one I took - a popular trek between Cookham and Marlowe in suburban London - in addition to the one in the Henley area too that Miss Prism mantioned.
Feb 26th, 2014, 03:21 AM
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If you want some walking, I would suggest a BEAUTIFUL walk from dover to deal. You walk with the white cliffs on one side, the valley on the other, and a view of france far away if it is clear. You can stop half way through for the pub closest to france in london - the coastguard 
But, go on a sunny day like we did!
But, go on a sunny day like we did!
Feb 26th, 2014, 07:37 AM
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pub closest to france in london>
that would be England or the UK but definitely not London!
and yes I have done the walk from Sandwich to Deal - another sweet walk you may want to do if in the area - Sandiwch being one of the ancient Cinque Ports - on the sea - Deal has a unique-looking castle.
that would be England or the UK but definitely not London!
and yes I have done the walk from Sandwich to Deal - another sweet walk you may want to do if in the area - Sandiwch being one of the ancient Cinque Ports - on the sea - Deal has a unique-looking castle.
Mar 3rd, 2014, 03:05 PM
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The train station at Tunbridge Wells is central in the town itself, the top of the town is a busy shopping center, the bottom of the town is the Pantiles. Right opposite the station is Caverley Park Gardens, take a stroll through here the georgian houses were meant to rival Bath.
From the station to the Pantiles you should walk down the High Street, through Chapel Place (pedestrian walkway) across the road into the Pantiles.
From the station to the Pantiles you should walk down the High Street, through Chapel Place (pedestrian walkway) across the road into the Pantiles.
Mar 3rd, 2014, 08:21 PM
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Hi Esperanza77,
This website may be useful in your quest:
www.beenthere-donethat.org.uk/
Contains many suggestions for places to explore outside of London.
This website may be useful in your quest:
www.beenthere-donethat.org.uk/
Contains many suggestions for places to explore outside of London.
