London in March with family
 

We will be visiting London in late March for 11 days. We have 3 girls aged 11 to 14. We have free accomodation in London but want to spend 4-5 days outside the city. Any suggestions on places to go by train? Our kids will only take so much scenery so the side trips need to be "fun", i.e. not too many museums. Thanks.

If you search on "day trips from London" at the top you'll bring up a thread on this very subject asked not long ago.

Most day trips (assuming that is what you mean) do take in scenery and historial (museum-ish) stuff :-)

If the girls like shopping you might go to Bicester, which is an outlet mall about 1 hr outside of London via train. (mall has buses that run from train station to stores).

Winchester is a nice day trip, only 1 hr out of London. Lots of stores to poke around in, nice cathedral and low on museums. I personally like Winchester very much.

Arundel Castle is another favorite of mine, in the town of Arundel - it's not overly touristy and the town is cute (but not alot of stores). It's about 90 min. ride by train.

The girls might like Brighton, about 1 hr ride. It is on the channel and there are beaches (march may be cool, but we were there once on a cool day and still had fun).

Highly recommend Bath. My daughter loved the costume museum there and I'm sure your girls would too. Bath Spa was highly enjoyed by both kids but my kids do like history.

Cool castles are Windsor and Hampton Court both quick, easy trips outside the city. Warwick Castle was a longer day trip but the kids really liked it too. It's owned by Madame Tussaud's (the wax museum people) and there are was figures in one section showing what a weekend party would have been like.

The kids also enjoyed Stonehenge and the Cathedral in Salisbury.

Fun museums in London were the Natural History Museum (we had to go two days in a row because the kids wanted to go back and see more) and the Science Museum which had interesting hands one exhibits.

You can't miss the Tower of London with the crown jewels exhibit either.

Have fun.

I second the suggestion of Brighton. I was there with my teenage daughter in July and she really enjoyed it. There's a pier with carnival rides and lots of British kids enjoying themselves. Don't know if everything would be open in March, however.

Arundel Castle isn't open in March.

Thanks for all your suggestions. We're also thinking about staying outside of London for a few days in addition to or instead of day trips. I'd like to be within about a 3 hour train ride.

Bath is a good suggestion, York is another medium-sized city that has a lot going for it. Your children may enjoy walking the city's walls, visiting the train museum, the Viking museum, etc. (OK, you said "not too many museums", but these are interesting for kids).

Bath is just over an hour by train; York is 2 hours.

Warwick Castle is usually a big hit with children and you can reach it by train from London. Closer in, of course, are Windsor and Hampton Court (both 30-40 minutes from downtown).

Hopefully in late March the weather won't be too cold and blustery. If the weather cooperates, Stonehege is is good bet. But in poor weather, it can get really cold on the windy Salisbury Plain, where Stonehenge is located.

Have fun!

David White
[email protected]