I'm interested in authentic historical sites and beautiful scenery--any suggestions for day trips out of London would be appreciated. Would the lake country require an overnight stay? I'll be in London for a week during March.

The Lake District is a long haul from London and would not be possible for a day trip. There is so much to do in and around London, your short stay will be full. You could go south to Brighton to see the Royal Pavilion and the town itself. From Victoria Bus Station, you could take the Green Line bus to Windsor for half a day and on to Hampton Court for the rest of the day. You can stay as long as you wish and just wait for the next Green Line bus to come along. You could take a train to the Costwolds for the most beautiful and scenic area and villages. Just about any town you choose would be terrific, Broadway, Chipping Camden and on and on. A day trip by train to Bath is possible also.

Louis: I lived just north of London for a year.
I would recommend going down to Westminster
Bridge get on a tour boat and go down to Greenwich.
Will take about 45 minutes. Greenwich is beautiful
city with museums, etc. Also take a train down to
Dover to visit White Ciffs, Dover castle. You can
also take Hovercraft to Calais, France. Only
about a 30 minte ride over channel. Train down to
Dover is about 2 hours I believe out of Waterloo
station (I think). I have done this many times
in one day. If Hovercraft is not operating the
large catamaran will be. Hovercraft does not
always operate in winter or if water is too
rough. Check this all out at American Express
Travel office just south of Leicester Square in
London. Regards, Ed

you might want to consider a day trip to York. Get an early start-- train leaves Kings Cross Station around 7:30. You can be in York in two hours, maybe a little longer. This is a very interesting town. See the Minster; walk around the medieval walls and castle; stroll through the Shambles. You can get the train and be back in London by 10:00 that night.

I have done numerous day trips from London. My favorite is south to Portsmouth where you can visit the historical ships, H.M.S Victory, H.M.S. Warrior, & the MaryRose. For historical purposes you can
take day trips to Bath(while there take a boat ride on the scenic AVON river.) Also can do a day trip by train & local bus to Stonehenge, Salisbury, & Old Sarum. Have done dayt trib to Cardiff & Caerphilly
Castles in Wales, to Windsor castle. Have also taken day trips to Stratford, Warrick & the Cotswolds - that is a good mixture of history & scenery. Have gone to Dover & Leeds castles, & Cantebury. Have
gone to Nottingham & was pleasantly surpised by the history(in addition to Robin Hood) in that area. Have
even done Edinburgh(fantastic historical & scenic area) by overnight train from London & the return to London the following afternoon or evening. Go to a book store & pickup the latest copy of Britain
by BritRail. It gives some very good ideas on daytrips & how to get there & what to do.

My wife and I have been taking day trips from London for many years. You state that you will be in London for only one week and you of course will want to spent a lot of time visiting the London "must do's". It would seem that you will only have time to do one or at the most, two day trips. My opinion is to visit Leeds castle. Great grounds with lakes, ponds, a maze and even a vineyard. For a trip futher afield, I would visit York. Much to see and only about two hours from London. Enjoy!