In May we will be staying in London for a couple of weeks and have two extra days available on a Southeast Britrail Pass. One morning we want to revisit Dover, but would like to do some exploring in the afternoon before returning to London in the evening. Any ideas? Already done Canterbury, but looking for some "charming" or "interesting" towns to poke around in. What about Rye? Sandwich? Deal? Any others? And what about a second day? Our idea of a fun day would be to hop on and off trains, stopping and walking around in several towns, having a nice lunch somewhere, looking at interesting architecture or gardens, having a nice dinner somewhere else and returning to the city. We have done the major sites-Oxford, Cambridge, Brighton, Windsor, etc.

Fodors <BR> <BR>Any main line station booking office can give you the free map, "London Connections", which shows you all the lines of the region. For your kind f day I'd consider Charing Cross, Ashfoird, Wye, walk through Chilham, Chartham, and home. Or <BR>Victoria, Rochester, lunch in Fsaversham, Broadstairs, and home. You could see some of these after Dover: in that case I'd make a point of lunching in the Phoenix Inn, Faversham <BR>Victoria, Plumton, walk through Cooksbridge to Lewes, and home. <BR>Paddington, Midenhgead, Cookham, walk through Bourn End, Marlowe <BR>Liverpool Street, Audley End, walk through Great Chesterford, Whittlesford. <BR> <BR>Sandwich s a fune old town, and well kept, but set in market gsardening countryside, rather dull. Deal is just dull. <BR> <BR>Gardens vary by date. You might like to open your map and then three sites: <BR>The National Gardens Scheme for England and Wales, includes a Garden Finder: you select by county and by date. http://www.ngs.org.uk <BR>If you enter "Gardens" on the National Trust site you get an alphabetical list of properties with good gardens. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/themes.htm <BR>Selected English Heritage houses and castles with good gardens http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/d...x.asp?mkey=145 <BR> <BR>After your researches, please write if I can help further. Welcome back. <BR> <BR>Ben Haines, London <BR> <BR>

We frequently visit old friends who live in the Greater London area and so have done many train day trips to amuse ourselves and get out from under their feet for a while. Several years ago I bought a book "Daytrips London" by Earl Steinbicker. It's become our bible. He gives info on which train to take, a walking tour of the town, and suggestions for lunch in pubs. Suggest you try to find a copy. Enjoy!

I absolutely agree with the recommendation that you get the Day Trips from London book. I have used it now on three trips, and his suggestions are great. The author gives you precise directions, maps, and descriptions of each place. Rye is as picturesque as he says . . . quite small and a relief after the mayhem of London. We liked Ely so much (north of Cambridge) we went back the following year and spent a week using it as a home base for other day trips from the book. It has a great cathedral. Salisbury is the very first day trip we took, and it too has a splendid cathedral . . . and, of course, Stonehenge is nearby (accessible by buses that leave from the rail station). <BR> <BR>I'd say buy the book, read about the places, and go to the ones that appeal to you most . . . not all the places in his book are on the SE pass, but many are. Have a great trip!

Hello Patrick and All, Did a search on this forum for daytrips from London. Found this posting. I borrowed the Steinbicker day trip guides and find it especially informative too! I am going to London in Feb. and would like to do 3 daytrips(did Bath-Stonehenge-Salisbury). A big factor will be will be WEATHER! I think I will do the Flex-pass. Carolyn: Did you get the pass? Thanks for all the tips, daytrippers!

you can go to dover and rye on the same trip for a great day. steinbickers books for day trips are also my guides, i use them for any country i go to. make a copy of the map of the city thats given and write on the back the sites i want to see. train ride from dover to rye is along the coast.