Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

Day trips from London

Search

Day trips from London

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 12th, 2019 | 01:37 PM
  #41  
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Portsmouth is another great day trip - not for the so-so large port city but for the National Navy Museum and its Historic Docks - I loved it, looking at all those historic ships and the old buildings and docks themselves.:

https://www.historicdockyard.co.uk/s...avy-portsmouth

https://www.google.com/search?q=port...w=1280&bih=625

Janis - yes I Google places I have been long ago and paste and copy for OP. Not sure what your constant snide accusatory approbation about that is. Portsmouth is an easy train ride and I believe Arundel Castle could be done too with it - Arundel may not be the oldest castle around but it has a very imposing appearance when walking from the train station to nice small town over which it hovers high above.

Hatfield House I really loved too - nice gardens and small village not far by train from London (Hatfield is just as famous for the Hatfield train disaster of about 20 or so years ago) - Hatfield House short walk from train station.

https://www.google.com/search?q=hatf...ih=625&dpr=1.5
PalenQ is offline  
Old Feb 12th, 2019 | 01:40 PM
  #42  
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
London - Off-the-Path Gems

London has many places that not so well known can be real charmers too~ from an old trip report of mine.
PalenQ is offline  
Old Feb 12th, 2019 | 02:30 PM
  #43  
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 0
I seriously doubt if one could do Arundel Castle and Portsmouth in a day trip from London. In fact, it's really not possible. Arundel Castle usually involves about a 5 hour train ride ( have no idea as to why that long ) with a change I believe, and then Portsmouth is about another hour or so. Even if one could find a faster train to Arundel, Still think it's too aggressive an itinerary. If one includes visiting times to both the castle, the Naval Museum and the historic docks, there just aren't enough hours in the day. And, while I enjoyed my short visit to Portsmouth several years ago ( visiting only HMS Victory ), I wouldn't put it ahead of some of the other options available.
historytraveler is offline  
Old Feb 12th, 2019 | 02:35 PM
  #44  
Original Poster
 
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
Very interesting thread, PalenQ! Thank you!

Unfortunately, I have very limited time in London, but I am very happy that Hatfield House as well as Ham House and Kew Gardens are on my list.

I had seen speakers in Hyde Park back in 1998. We were not too inspired by their loud Socialist slogans and quickly left 😊

I wish I could travel to London more often, but it is hard to do... I was so fortunate to visit 34 countries, some of them on business, some of them solo, majority of them with my husband... And we tend to go to the countries and cities we love several times, so how to find time to see all the gems London and England have to offer? I wish I could... and I am trying really hard... Well, I am so grateful for the opportunity to travel and see the world...With years, I learned how to enjoy what I can see and not to dwell on so many sights I had to miss... It was tough to learn how to do it, but there is no other choice.

Thank you, historytraveler! Arundel is off my list for now and Portsmouth might happen in the future, but with an overnight stay.

Last edited by vinonobile987; Feb 12th, 2019 at 02:38 PM.
vinonobile987 is offline  
Old Feb 12th, 2019 | 02:43 PM
  #45  
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
I seriously doubt if one could do Arundel Castle and Portsmouth in a day trip from London. In fact, it's really not possible. Arundel Castle usually involves about a 5 hour train ride ( have no idea as to why that long )>

Re-check schedules - it's 1:20 by many train to Arundel from Portsmouth and 1:20 on most trains from London to Arundel. London-Portsmouth is about 1.5 hours on fastest trains - so it's very possible - not recommending anything just pointing out options.
PalenQ is offline  
Old Feb 12th, 2019 | 02:57 PM
  #46  
Original Poster
 
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
Arundel

i also thought that it only takes 90 minutes to get to Arundel from London: this is why I included it to start with, but now I decided to postpone it for another trip.
vinonobile987 is offline  
Old Feb 12th, 2019 | 02:59 PM
  #47  
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 0
I did recheck train times and yes, the trains from London to Arundel take about 1 1/2 hours. Have no idea as to why I got 5+ hours. May have accidentally put in somewhere other than London as departure point.
historytraveler is offline  
Old Feb 12th, 2019 | 09:53 PM
  #48  
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,854
Likes: 0
You'll love Kew Gardens - peaceful (hopefully) and so much to see
northie is offline  
Old Feb 13th, 2019 | 02:20 AM
  #49  
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,168
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by historytraveler
Arundel Castle usually involves about a 5 hour train ride ( have no idea as to why that long ) with a change I believe.
Southern Rail are bad, but it really shouldn't take any more than 90 minutes from Victoria Station

And, while I enjoyed my short visit to Portsmouth several years ago ( visiting only HMS Victory ), I wouldn't put it ahead of some of the other options available.
I'd agree that Arundel and Portsmouth would be difficult in a day, and maybe Portsmouth isn't everybody's preference, but the relatively new Mary Rose Museum is superb.
For those who don't know, the Mary Rose was Henry VIII's flagship, sunk in the 1546. Because of the way it settled into the mud, about half of the ship is preserved (imagine slicing it down the long access.) The Ship was raised in the 1980s, has been undergoing preservation work ever since. The Museum takes the half a ship, then has been built that each floor corresponds with a deck - so the exhibits recovered from the see bed are displayed opposite the intact parts of the ship.



willit is online now  
Old Feb 13th, 2019 | 03:47 AM
  #50  
Original Poster
 
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
Mary Rose Museum

Now I know how to convince my husband to join me next time, willit!😊 Mary Rose Museum is something he is very interested in. He loved Kitty Sark in Greenwich and is s big fan of our own Mayflower in Plymouth, MA. Thank you for such a great tip!
vinonobile987 is offline  
Old Feb 13th, 2019 | 06:20 AM
  #51  
 
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by vinonobile987
Now I know how to convince my husband to join me next time, willit!😊 Mary Rose Museum is something he is very interested in. He loved Kitty Sark in Greenwich and is s big fan of our own Mayflower in Plymouth, MA. Thank you for such a great tip!
If he's fond of those ships then I'm sure he'll love going on HMS Victory and HMS Warrior.

HMS Warrior | Museum Ship & Venue | Portsmouth, Hampshir

https://www.hms-victory.com/

The new Mary Rose exhibit is so much better than the previous one, a truly fascinating exhibition and certainly not just for those interested in ships. If you search online there are always discounted tickets available for the Historic Dockyard and with the train from London serving Portsmouth Harbour you are a few minutes walk from the Historic Dockyard entrance. If you have time you can always walk to Southsea Castle from the Dockyard, taking in some of Portsmouth's historic streets. The castle is fully functional and may not resemble the mental image of castles that some people have but it's very interesting and it's good to share the view that Henry VIII would have had as he watched the Mary Rose sink. There's also a vrey good brewery there!

Southsea Castle
jc_uk is offline  
Old Feb 13th, 2019 | 11:21 AM
  #52  
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
If yous like historic ship museum consider in future the Historic Dockyards at Chatham on the Thames Estuary a short train ride from London -not as extensive as Portsmouth but I really enjoyed it - https://www.google.com/search?q=hist...ih=614&dpr=1.5

And I took a train from Chatham to the nearby Isle of Sheppey with its historic old main street and nice seaside:

https://www.google.com/search?q=isle...w=1280&bih=625
PalenQ is offline  
Old Feb 13th, 2019 | 12:22 PM
  #53  
Original Poster
 
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
Thank you so much, jc_UK and PalenQ! My husband will be very tempted to explore the old ships.

We both enjoy when tall ships come to Boston - it is a big event for our city.
vinonobile987 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bobnwa
Europe
12
Feb 21st, 2017 09:51 AM
BBgt
Europe
4
Feb 26th, 2011 08:36 AM
kmwjes
Europe
17
Jul 25th, 2006 12:20 PM
bookwurm70
Europe
5
Jan 27th, 2004 09:10 AM
Linda Allen
Europe
23
Feb 16th, 2003 06:56 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement -