sanderskn

What are everyone's favorite day trips from London? I especially like history.

MmePerdu

Asked and answered so many times:

http://www.fodors.com/search/results...ndon+day+trips

justineparis

I really enjoyed Bath,,, not just for the "recent" history but also for the ancient Roman history, I also enjoyed visiting the Clothing and Costume museum, and ( ok maybe a bit different) I enjoyed reading the memorial plaques in the church near the Baths.

jamikins

I highly recommend London Walks for great and affordable day trips from London

http://www.walks.com/London_Walks_Ho..._/default.aspx

justineparis

Bath is an easy daytrip to do on your own.. and that's how I recommend you do it.. I have been twice.. once on a bus tour that did Stonhenge and Salsibury as well as Bath, and the first time I went, I went on my own.

I thought since I had already been once that the shorter visit time afforded on the bus tour wouldn't bother me.. but it really did.. we had to whiz through the Baths, and did not get much free time to see anything else.. just a bit of shopping if one wished really.. you didn't feel free to wander away too much in case you missed the bus.

I like bus tours for brief tastes of sights, so I am not anti bus tour.. I just feel Bath is worth a whole day .

jamikins

I agree Justineparis...that's why I always recommend London Walks. They don't tend to try to cram 3-4 places in a day. Their Bath trip is only Bath for the entire day, two walks - morning and afternoon - and spare time for lunch and taking in a couple sights on your own.

I hate those bus tours that try to see half of England in 8 hours!

Mary24

Agree with London Walks. Have done lots of their day trips. My favourite so far (not done Bath and some others yet) is Winchester, also really liked their day trip that included Chartwell, their full day Cotswolds tour and the Colchester trip.

justineparis

jamkins that does sound good! May have to try it myself when we get back there ( and we would return for sure)

nytraveler

If you can do only one I would do Hampton Court Palace. The center of a lot of Tudor history, has many costumed docents talking about life at the time, great grounds and a fascinating maze. Easy trip from London - you may want to return by boat.

latedaytraveler

SANDERSKN,

Try this for a variety of options:

http://www.beenthere-donethat.org.uk/

PegS

We just came back from London and did Dover Castle as a day trip. Fast train to Dover Station from St. Pancreas in just over an hour, plus quick taxi ride up to the castle. We loved seeing the vast Medieval castle plus the tours through the wartime tunnels, which brought the history into the 20th century.

dutyfree

I work for the airlines so go to London quite a bit. I just did a day trip up to Bletchley Park last week and loved it. This is 40 minute trip north of London ( take a train out of Euston Station).It is where a group of codebreakers broke the Enigma machine of the Nazis thus shortening WW2. It is also the home of the Colossus computer that began the age of computers. Absolutely fascinating,gorgeous property and one of my favorite day trips!

sanderskn

PegS, thanks I am very interested in Dover.

Thanks latedaytraveler for the link.

dutyfree: I will save Bletchley for a future trip when I can get my husband to England in a few years (this trip I'm going solo). He is a veteran and loves military history. Thanks for the tip!