It’s another milestone birthday this year and we’ll be in London for seven nights and then to Northern Ireland for five nights.

We have Wimbledon tickets and The Open at Royal Portrush tickets so we’re excited!

We’ve been to London a few times and have done most of the typical things in and around London (Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Churchill War Rooms, Windsor castle, hampton Court Palace, Kew Gardens, etc…).

I’m sure we’ll want to visit Regents Park in Summer and maybe go back to Kew since we haven’t been there in Summer.

Are Oxford and Blenheim Palace mobbed in Summer? Canterbury?

Any day trip suggestions within 2-2.5 hour train ride from London? Gardens we shouldn’t miss?

We typically don’t travel in Summer to avoid crowds so this will be a departure for us but I look forward to seeing gardens in bloom and hopefully some outdoor dining that aren’t options in colder weather. For the most part, we’re gonna eat strawberries and drink Champagne and maybe a gin & tonic, or two.

Open to your favorite summer suggestions.

How about a train to Brighton to see the Royal Pavilion? It's stunning inside.

Just very quick. Great trip Wimbledon and the Open Championship back to back! Since you are traveling late June/through the Open Championship you really won't have huge crowds (well, except for Wimbledon and at the Open ) British schools don't start their summer break until mid-July. Sure there will be some tourist -- but they will mostly be foreign visitors, not locals. So a great time to visit big sites like Blenheim. Oxford term ends 21 June so most students will have left

My husband and in enjoyed visiting Portsmouth to see the HMS Victory. I didn’t think I would like it but I truly appreciated touring the ship as well as the town.

Since you mentioned Regency Park, Primrose Hill is another area that I keep coming back to whenever I am in London.

I'm a big Churchill fan... Several years ago, we made a lovely day trip to the Churchill.family home, Chartwell.

Have you been to Bath before? It's absolutely charming, a step back in time. 1hr 20mins by train from London.

Lavandula

I was in Canterbury last July and it was not over the top crowded. If you want to try some the local sparkling wines, there are a few wineries around Canterbury!
https://www.canterbury.co.uk/inspira...-wine-country/

You could go down to Brighton, a visit to the Royal Pavilion and Gardens, a walk through the Lanes, a drink by the sea…

There is a lot of fun free stuff in July. Like Summer by the River near London Bridge. A couple of summers ago I saw up and coming band Walt Disco there. I’ve seen Shakespeare there, and Tango dancing, and lots of bands. You can bring your own wine too! But not in glass bottles. Thankfully they sell sparkling wine in cans these days.

Brighton is a good suggestion and a very easy train ride from London.
Another straight forward train trip is to Arundel Castle.
Cute village with an amazing castle and gardens.

OK—good to know about the school schedule and I was a little hesitant about Brighton (fearing mobs).

Bath - I have been but Mr Starbucks has not. I feel like I didn’t really explore it properly so maybe this is the time to revisit.

We haven’t been to Arundel castle and I had no idea that there is wine being made near Canterbury! It’s always so great to get input and we’ll have more things on the list than we can get to and that’s OK.

There are lots of wineries in the south east these days, many making world class sparking wine. The soil has the same characteristics as the Champagne region and climate change is making the area more and more viable.

Greenwich is not on your list. If you haven’t been that would be a number one priority for me. It’s still in London but there is enough of interest to fill a full day. The Cutty Sark, the Greenwich Meridian, the Royal Observatory, the National Maritime Museum, the Royal Naval College buildings and above all for me the Painted Hall. Plus a food and craft market and some riverside pubs.

denisea, good to see you planning something, that means another fabulous trip report!

We used your driver, Mark, in the Cotswolds and loved him, thanks!

I think anywhere in the summer will be more crowded, but an early start always makes places more enjoyable. Bleinham is wonderful(even though a little pricy) and if you go, also stop at St. Martin's Church which is where Churchill's grave is. It is about a 10 minute drive.

We enjoyed Oxford, and took a fantastic tour, but the tickets to tour Christ Church were sold out so you have to be on top of the release date, which is on Fridays for the next week. I don't know if you are interested in the codebreakers of WW2, but Bletchley Park is an easy train ride from London. We also enjoyed the Sky Garden, free tickets but they sell out, they release on Monday morning for 3 weeks out. A sunset visit could be stunning. We also loved the Ceremony of the Keys, locking up the Tower of London every night at 9:30, again the tickets sell out fast. Enjoy!

i fell in love with Nyetimber sparkling wine last trip so maybe I do need to visit some of the wineries!

Greenwich is definitely a possibility…we last did a very short visit when the Painted Hall opened but need to spend a day!

have not been to Bletchley Park and appreciate the tip on Christ Church tickets!

I am so pleased you were happy with Mark. We had the best day with him!! It was definitely a whirlwind but fantastic time in the Cotswolds!!

Have you been to Stonehenge? If possible, I would try for one of the "after hours" tours - either in the morning before it opens for the general public or in the evening.

KTTravel—we haven’t been to Stonehenge. I don’t know why but it doesn’t really “speak” to me all that much (which I know puts me in the minority). Not saying never…

Still mulling it all over…leaning towards Arundel and Canterbury.

I haven’t been to Arundel and the castle and grounds look beautiful.

There is a winery near Canterbury that is partly owned by someone in the Taittinger family that is starting to offer tastings this Spring—so I am intrigued.

Never enough time!

Hi Denisea! Late to the post, but you haven't left yet!! First off...you'll love Wimbledon! the grounds are stunningly beautiful, don't know if you have centre court tickets or not, but even so go and sit on Henman Hill for the experience too! the strawberries and cream are the best i've ever tasted and surprisingly inexpensive...there will be champagne around but do try a Pimm's! i loved Canterbury, but i'd also recommend taking a look at Winchester- direct link from London in just over an hour. Winchester always finds itself in the "best place to live" category, has a lovely feel around town with a nice central garden and the cathedral is beautiful too! lots of places to have a lazy lunch outside on a terrace. enjoy the trip, hope you get to see Cartier at the V&A...i'm so looking forward to my September visit!

"Any day trip suggestions within 2-2.5 hour train ride from London? Gardens we shouldn’t miss?"

I am planning a day trip to RHS Garden Wisley while visiting London this June/July. It is set over 240 acres and truely magnificent. Possibly the easiest way of getting there is by a 25 minute train journey from Waterloo station to Woking, then a short bus ride or taxi to the gardens..

I love Canterbury, Arundel, Bath, and Oxford. Cambridge is an option too.

Thanks for the additional suggestions. We are very excited about the trip and glad to have so many great options. I know Wimbledon will be a wonderful experience and we’re still hoping to get additional tickets to go a second day. We’ll see.

I’ll definitely write a TR when we return