gogogriff

I find myself with one spare day at the end of my trip to the UK. Briefly, my husband (who wasn't coming at first, but then was able to do so after all) and I will visit Dover, Stonehenge, Bath, Paris, and London, and then he will go home. I continue with an education group to Edinburgh and back to London with a day trip to Lacock/Oxford. At the end of all of this, flights home were much less (which I will now make up by planning another visit) with an almost 2 day gap.

My question is what would you do with a spare day from London? Any favorites? I have from a Sunday around noon until Monday night (I would like to be back in London by 6ish for a very early flight on Tuesday from LHR). My early thoughts were taking a day trip with walks.com to Brighton on Monday which they have available, then I thought, Hey, with the train I could go anywhere!

Interests run more on a historical/literary as well as outdoorsy (one of my very literary words ). Just want to soak in what I can.

Thanks!

PalenQ

York or Bath, IMO two of the most awesome English cities for tourists - easily accessible by train.

ssachida

Depending on what you've seen in London, I'd vote for staying in the city and seeing places most 1st time visitors dont get to see. Maybe Hampstead and Highgate or Greenwich or the City (there are lovely lovely old gems in the City's old centre).

If you must go elsewhere, I'd vote for Windsor. Brighton's a good choice if the weather holds.

With the options above, you could wait and decide the day before -- train tickets wont be much more then.

janisj

I tend to agree w/ ssachida. Unless you've been to London <i>many</i> times there are bound to be lots of things you've not seen/done.

Logistically it would be easiest to stay in London. Next easiest would probably be Oxford since there is an express coach to LHR. Or the London Walks day out.

Taking trains isn't all that convenient to LHR - the only connections are to Paddington so you'd have to swing through London anyway.

Moomer11

Hampton Court-took a train there on Boxing day 2011 and it was stunning !!! ( and it was Dec.)
Also might there be a play matinee on Sunday, or some awesome church services with music ? I personally liked Hampton Court better than Windsor.

tuscanlifeedit

I think York is a good idea because of the easy train access and because there really is a lot to see, especially if you like cathedrals.

I do, and therefore Salisbury would be another good choice. It's really a charming small city. Lovely walks and lots to see and do, also.

Maybe Winchester to visit the tomb of Jane Austen.

Hampton Court is very cool, but if you're looking for an overnight, Windsor might be better. You could include a river excursion, a walk through Eton, and probably more.

Staying in London is good too, with one of the excursions mentioned above. Greenwich could be a nice day out.

PatrickLondon

Greenwich can give you a bit of both history and outdoors - Maritime Museum, plenty of park to walk in, and up to the observatory, then on across Blackheath into Blackheath village.

And/or go across the river by foot tunnel or DLR, to the Museum in Docklands (history of the river and the port), stopping off at Mudchute City Farm for a bit more outdoors.

Or there's Kew Gardens, if the weather looks promising.

Or if not, how about combining the Dickens House and the Foundling Museum (which are close together in Bloomsbury); or Dr. Johnson's house off Fleet St?

gogogriff

I appreciate everyone's input. Maybe I am just tired tonight, but staying put in London is sounding more appealing. Jane Austen's tomb is a pull, but we are going to go to her home in Chawton as we travel from Dover to Stonehenge. Since we will probably be hitting the more high profile places in London with my group, I would love to hear any suggestions for delving more deeply into it.

If I get to Sunday and feel a need to explore outside London on Monday, I have the options of close, a bit further, and a bit further than that with Hampton Court, Windsor, or Brighton with the walks group --hopefully by my almost fourth week in the UK I will feel less deterred by trains.

You are all so helpful and every time I hear your suggestions through my threads or any others I am more excited to get going!

PalenQ

Interests run more on a historical/literary as well as outdoorsy>

How about Stratford-on-Avon - the Bard's home town and just a few-hour train ride from London - buy the Shakespeare Ticket and visit all the Shakespeare sights - several in and just out of town.

You can visit his tomb in the local parish church and visit the lavish theater - plus Stratford is a hopping regional town with lots of nice options for last-minute gift buying.

Very easy to get to by train.

carolyn

In London, see the Dennis Severs house, Sir John Soanes Museum, Geoffrye Museum, or the Kenwood House on Hampstead Heath. Check walks.com to see what might interest you. Go to the theater. Walk in the parks. See Queen Mary's Rose Garden in Regent Park.

tuscanlifeedit

I thought Dennis Severs house would best be visited while on LSD because it was one of the trippiest places I've ever been. For those with low irony quotients, it probably works. Me, I thought it was insane and pretty expensive for someone's rather goofy piece of permanent installation art.

With so much real history and art at one's fingertips, I think this ought to be a pass. None of the people I was with seemed to think it was as crazy as I did, so there you go. Because the docents call for silence, I had to stifle some very strong giggles and snorts.

Kenwood House has been closed for awhile, but easy enough to check and see when it reopens.

Otherwise, as Dr Johnson said, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.

Went twice in six months, and if it wasn't so far and expensive, I'd go back tomorrow.

gogogriff

This is so helpful. Gives me options to explore. I wondered who Dennis Severs was, then laughed out loud at the suggested way to see it, tuscanlifeedit, I am not sure that quite works for me . . . !

I love Shakespeare and won't have been to Stratford, so that would definitely be of interest. Is it quite accessible walking from train?

I looked more into Hampton Court and it looks incredible, too.

annhig

Kew, Hampton Court and Sion house are all in the same area.

almost worth thinking about spending a night somewhere nearby.