Day trips from London
Feb 10th, 2019, 05:52 AM
#21
You could look on https://www.hms-victory.com/, have a look at the Class 45 destroyers being warmed up there along with the Prince Charles aircraft carrier over the water and then pop down to Southsea Castle
Or come up to Leeds and look at the https://royalarmouries.org/venue/roy...ouries-museum/ before looking at the Henry Moores in the centre https://www.henry-moore.org/visit/henry-moore-institute
Or come up to Leeds and look at the https://royalarmouries.org/venue/roy...ouries-museum/ before looking at the Henry Moores in the centre https://www.henry-moore.org/visit/henry-moore-institute
Last edited by bilboburgler; Feb 10th, 2019 at 06:30 AM.
Feb 10th, 2019, 06:00 AM
#22
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Winchester-yes!!!
Thank you, jc_UK! Winchester it is - 100%. I had been planning to go there for a long time - no way I will miss it on my upcoming trip.
Arundel came back as a strong contender now, after I watched Dan Jones’s series “Secrets of Great British Castles” on Netflix yesterday.
Oh, I do need 10 more days, Janisj!😊... but I have to be back at work... However, my husband mentioned that he will join me next time. He loves England, so we will probably go to Portsmouth and stay for a couple of nights there, which will make a trip to Portchester very realistic. Well, it will be my fourth trip to England, but most definitely not the last.
At this point of our lives, we stopped traveling to as many countries as we can... we keep returning to our favorite destinations. Seven times in Italy, five times in France, four times in Spain, and Ireland is constantly calling us back after our first visit... I am not even talking about our favorite places in our own country... we go to NYC every month and to Acadia National Park in Maine every year twice a year...
Life is too short for sure...😊
Arundel came back as a strong contender now, after I watched Dan Jones’s series “Secrets of Great British Castles” on Netflix yesterday.
Oh, I do need 10 more days, Janisj!😊... but I have to be back at work... However, my husband mentioned that he will join me next time. He loves England, so we will probably go to Portsmouth and stay for a couple of nights there, which will make a trip to Portchester very realistic. Well, it will be my fourth trip to England, but most definitely not the last.
At this point of our lives, we stopped traveling to as many countries as we can... we keep returning to our favorite destinations. Seven times in Italy, five times in France, four times in Spain, and Ireland is constantly calling us back after our first visit... I am not even talking about our favorite places in our own country... we go to NYC every month and to Acadia National Park in Maine every year twice a year...
Life is too short for sure...😊
Feb 10th, 2019, 01:15 PM
#23
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For all those day rips if going by train as IMO you should if basing in London you are one of the rare persons to maybe benefit greatly by the of London Plus Railpass where you get X days of unlimited trains travel - just hop on - out of a longer overall period plus a return ticket by train from either of London's major airports - and no blackout periods like not leaving before 9 or 9:30 as cheaper tickets have (an early start to farther out day trips would be great) and no having to pin down exact return train - hard to do on a day trip. The validity area extends west to Bristol and Bath and north to Harwich Castle and Stratford and all of eastern England.
For more info (pass not sold in UK TMK) check: BETS: Britain; www.ricksteves.com; www.seat61.com.
For more info (pass not sold in UK TMK) check: BETS: Britain; www.ricksteves.com; www.seat61.com.
Feb 10th, 2019, 02:22 PM
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Understood in England always a chance.
Royal Tunbridge Wels I found surprising nice historic spa town with a park-like setting in pars - could easily be twinned with visit to Leeds Castle which for me was too new looking and marginally interesting on inside.
Hastings and Battle are good too - Hastings old seaside town and nearby Battle is a small bustling village where the original battlefield of 1066 when English King and forces were smote by the invading Normans - a signed path winds thru the old battlefield. There is also a partly ruined old abbey. It has a train stop right near the battlefield.
Royal Tunbridge Wels I found surprising nice historic spa town with a park-like setting in pars - could easily be twinned with visit to Leeds Castle which for me was too new looking and marginally interesting on inside.
Hastings and Battle are good too - Hastings old seaside town and nearby Battle is a small bustling village where the original battlefield of 1066 when English King and forces were smote by the invading Normans - a signed path winds thru the old battlefield. There is also a partly ruined old abbey. It has a train stop right near the battlefield.
Feb 10th, 2019, 03:09 PM
#26
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Royal Turnbridge Wells
Royal Turnbridge Wells looks very atmospheric. I read about it in my “Day trips from London” guidebook as well as about Hastings and Battle.
Thank you you so much for your suggestions, PalenQ!
Thank you you so much for your suggestions, PalenQ!
Feb 11th, 2019, 04:16 PM
#27
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Leeds castle was a big disappointment for me.it was years ago and the only 2 things I can remember besides the disappointment were the Dog collar museum and the grotto.. Personally I loved Hever castle ,Sissinghurst, Hatfield House and Eltham 100% more than LC.
Kenwood house is charming, interesting art gallery ,a lovely day in in the park -lovely cafe there too.
Kenwood house is charming, interesting art gallery ,a lovely day in in the park -lovely cafe there too.
Feb 11th, 2019, 04:35 PM
#28
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Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Hatfield House
Thank you, northie! Maybe Leeds Castle is not as fabulous as I thought. I also read a bit about Arundel Castle and found out that it was completely restored and remodeled in the 19th century, so it is not as genuine as I expected.
I was so drawn to castles because of our visit to Dover Castle, but now I understand that Dover Castle is one of kind - it was amazing to see how the 12th century castle had never lost its military significance from medieval ages to the WWII time. And I really cannot even count how many castles in Europe I have seen in my life, so maybe it is a good chance to do something different.
I am thinking about a day trip to Richmond upon Thames and see both Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Hatfield House. I am not a gardener by any stretch of the imagination, but I adore botanical gardens, so I hope it is a good idea for a sunny day. What do you think?
Thanks a million! To see everything I want in England might take a couple of months😊
I was so drawn to castles because of our visit to Dover Castle, but now I understand that Dover Castle is one of kind - it was amazing to see how the 12th century castle had never lost its military significance from medieval ages to the WWII time. And I really cannot even count how many castles in Europe I have seen in my life, so maybe it is a good chance to do something different.
I am thinking about a day trip to Richmond upon Thames and see both Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Hatfield House. I am not a gardener by any stretch of the imagination, but I adore botanical gardens, so I hope it is a good idea for a sunny day. What do you think?
Thanks a million! To see everything I want in England might take a couple of months😊
)
Feb 12th, 2019, 11:26 AM
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Bodium Castle is about as good as they get:
https://www.google.com/search?q=bodi...iw=639&bih=614
https://www.englandforever.org/bodiam-castle.php
https://www.google.com/search?q=bodi...iw=639&bih=614
https://www.englandforever.org/bodiam-castle.php
Feb 12th, 2019, 12:14 PM
#38
Pal -- googling again are we? Yes it is lovely (I've been 4 times and stayed a nearby B&B just a couple of years ago) But a day trip from London would be pretty difficult since she'd have to take the 90 minute train ride to Battle and then a taxi the 10 miles to the Castle. And because there is nothing around it she'd have to pay the cab driver to wait for her to return to either Battle or to Robertsbridge for a train back to London.
If you are going to help vinonobile by googling day trips - at least look for practical ones.
If you are going to help vinonobile by googling day trips - at least look for practical ones.
Feb 12th, 2019, 12:46 PM
#39
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Absolutely Canterbury! I was wondering why you hadn't visited there yet?! Completely charming and a great little town. What about venturing N / NE and visiting Liverpool and also York? Both cities are unique in their own way and there are trains to get you there. Just some "non-castle" suggestions to add to the mix. Have a great trip!
Feb 12th, 2019, 01:04 PM
#40
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Thank you, Janisj! No, Bodium Castle is way too complicated for me.
Thank you, Huitres! My husband and I visited York in September 2018 and I desperately fell in love with this charming town. So glad we had two full days there! I visited York Minster at least four times over the course of two days... it is such a treasure.
Liverpool is too far for a day trip, but Canterbury will not be missed this time. Planned Canterbury only for April 29th and nothing else. It looks fascinating and I cannot wait to be there.
Thank you so much!
Thank you, Huitres! My husband and I visited York in September 2018 and I desperately fell in love with this charming town. So glad we had two full days there! I visited York Minster at least four times over the course of two days... it is such a treasure.
Liverpool is too far for a day trip, but Canterbury will not be missed this time. Planned Canterbury only for April 29th and nothing else. It looks fascinating and I cannot wait to be there.
Thank you so much!
