English Countryside
 

I am traveling to London next week and will have six whole days. I would like to take a day trip out of the city (on public transit) but I haven't had much time to think about where I should go and what I should see. Any favorites out there people really love?

Your options ate limitless . . . your title says 'countryside'. Do you want to walk in the country -- or mainly just get out of London?

Easy city breaks would include places like Oxford, Cambridge, Salisbury/Stonehenge, Bath, Canterbury, Windsor, Winchester.

And if you decide to go to Cambridge you might add Ely:

https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com...19/loving-ely/

Plenty of bookshops have guides on precisely this topic, and you could try getting some examples at
http://www.wegoplaces.me/walks-near-london/
http://www.walkingclub.org.uk/book_1/

Personally, I like the walk from Manningtree station through "Constable Country" via Flatford Mill to Dedham, and back; or from Tring to Ivinghoe Beacon and back; or Baldock to Ashwell and back.

But any of these walks will take up pretty well a whole day, and I wonder if you will really want to when you have so little time here. Don't forget you can get a fair bit of walking through greenery <i>in</i> London: if walking through the parks from Trafalgar Square to Kensington is still too urban for you, there is Hampstead Heath, or the Thames Path from Richmond to Kingston and Hampton Court.

I overlooked the fact that you're talking about this coming week. Keep an eye on the weather, and bear in mind it's getting dark by about 6.30pm. Maybe I'm over-cautious but I'd stick closer to London: on that first link I gave you, the walks around Ashtead Common or Box Hill might be more sensible, in terms of timing, than some of those further out.

You could amble through Virginia Water, a huge garden near Eton.

Thanks everyone! My question was more along the lines of, "If there is one thing outside of London I should not miss, what do you suggest?" But I will certainly look at all of these. Thanks, again!

You might consider Hampstead Heath, including Kenwood House (also Fenton House, Keat's House, 2 Willow Road) and a stroll around Hampstead Village. Strictly speaking you're still in London but you'll feel far away. Highgate Cemetery is also nearby, for a complete change of pace.

How about getting a train to Sevenoaks and visiting Knole House. It is surrounded by a huge deer park so really does feel like countryside.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/knole
It is a very regular train service taking just ovre half an hour. Knole is 1.5 miles easy walk from teh station. The house is superb and the grounds are pretty good too.

>>Thanks everyone! My question was more along the lines of, "If there is one thing outside of London I should not miss, what do you suggest?"<<

Hundreds. Again - your title says 'countryside', so are you asking for a-not-to-be-missed country amble, or just a great place to see outside of the city.

But basically you are asking the equivalent of 'what one thing is a 'must' near New York?'. There are many 'musts' you will miss even IN London -- so what sort of things are you interested in specifically?

Pretty cities -- Bath or Oxford fit. A castle or palace -- Windsor or Hampton Court fills the bill. IN London -- Greenwich or Hampstead Heath. A Ginormous park w/ gardens/walks/etc -- Windsor Great Park http://www.windsorgreatpark.co.uk/en


Or countless other options.

Consider doing one of the London Walks Explorer Days, using public transit

http://www.walks.com/other-tours/day-trips-from-london/

The weather's looking good for country walks this coming week - getting warmer (up to the high 50s/low 60sF) and apparently some good chances of sun and very little rain.