Where to go besides Copenhagen
 

Thinking of doing a trip to London and Copenhagen for 8 nights. However don't want to spend all 8 nights in cities. Thinking 3 nights london then 5 nights for Copenhagen and somewhere else. So where should the somewhere else be? Want something relaxing, with decent food, maybe some very light hiking, but really just to relax in somewhere beautiful (a la southern france, tuscany, etc). Some history a plus. This will be in May. Would rather not add another flight, so hopefully within a few hours drive of Copenhagen.
(I realize there are also some options near london - cotswalds, etc)
Thanks

You could head off to the Danish coast in Jutland. Visit Roskilde for the Viking Ships, maybe see the Jelling stones.
Visit Hans Christian Andersen's house in Odense on the way through from Copenhagen.

There's a Danish island, Bornholm, in the Baltic reachable by overnight ferry from Copenhagen. Dotted with small towns, perfect for relaxing or a bicycle tour. I recommend it.

We liked Arhus. It's a seafaring town filled with university students. Really pleasant. We especially enjoyed "Den Gamle By," a fine open air museum filled with restored old houses which have been gathered from all old Denmark.

Copenhagen has many nearby day trips but IMHO more towns than outdoors hiking. For the latter I would be more likely to do it from London - agree the Cotswolds re good but there are a lot of places where you can organize day hikes from a nice inn.

Arhus I loved as well and the open-air museum is fantastic - there are other places to easily day trip to as well.

Tubulus:

Other than your lengthier day trips, while in Copenhagen you can take advantage of a very accomodating train sysrem and take one day to Hillerod (short ride) to see Fredericksborg Castle...then connect to Humlebaek for a visit to the notable Louisiana Museum. This can all be done in one day, giving you a few more days in the city, then go off on an auto trip to Roskilde, Arhus or Odense or whatever you choose. You won't need the car until you're ready to go forth.

Here are some selected scanned pics of Copenhagen Fredericksborg and Humlebaek. You can take that train, frequently running from Norreport (station). I can also recommend The Ibsen Hotel as pictured...easy walking distance to the center.

While in the vicinty of the hotel, try the Klimt Cafe..excellent for lunch or dinner without breaking the bank. For something that can run more expensive, but a special experience nevertheless, try Ida Davidsen's smorrebrod cafe...open-faced sandwich varieties that will please your taste buds. Just watch the tab! The Ibsen had a very good Italian restaurant within (La Rocco)..don't know if it's still there.
Stu

https://picasaweb.google.com/stuarttower/Denmark#

For outdoor hiking in Denmark, head towards Hornbaek (an easy train journey from Copenhagen) and walk towards Gilleleje along the coast. There are cliffs with a path right alongside the sea, people go walking there and you can see Sweden in the distance. Hornbaek and Gilleleje are worth seeing in their own right, pretty seaside towns and close to Helsingoer.

Møns klint is another area for hiking.

Here is a link to the official Danish Tourist information for more info on nature walks/cycling etc.

http://www.visitdenmark.com/denmark/tourist-frontpage

I will also recommend www.hornbaek.dk Rent bicycles and a summerhouse and stay there for 3 lovely days.

From Copenhagen a day trip that can involve some lovely easy hiking along the Baltic Coast in the north of Jutland, take the train to Gillelje (sp?), a fishing town on the north coast - fish roasting outside for a quick smack by the harbor - then take some nice hiking trails along the north coast eastward towards Helsingor (Elsinore) and hamlet's Castle - there is an interurban train that also goes along the coast - i hiked for a few hours and then hopped on the train to Helsingor, for trains back to Copenhagen along the Sound.

The train ride to Gilleleje is scenic, from Fredericksborg you take a two-car train to Gilleleje - then the equally quaint few-car train to Helsingor.

The hike is thru a wild area along the pretty northern coast.

There are many great day trips from Copenhagen by train - S-Tog train lines that lace the coast and all of Jutland really - grab a day pass for really cheap explorations of all of Jutland.

Great sources for info on Danish trains and in this area I always spotlight these IMO fantastic sites - www.budgeteuroeptravel.com and www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com.

So many great and varied day trips in the Copenhagen area, no need to relocated to find what you want - a short day trip from town gets you what you want and returning to urban Copenhagen and all its offerings at night to me is a big plus.