One of the many benefits of an extended stay in London is the opportunity to see so much of the surrounding sites and beautiful, timeless villages on easy and affordable day trips outside of the city. Check out your options for independent travel using the excellent public transit system in England, or book through a reputable tour company. Many of these sites can be grouped together for a longer day but one that ensures you see more of what you want. Either way the options are endless, the cost is more than reasonable, and the memories are long lasting.
A google search of the “Top Day Trips from London” will generate a ton of responses. Viator, Trip Advisor and Expedia are commonly used sites to book through. I will start there before searching out the local tour company to compare pricing. Be sure you check reviews so you can weigh contributor’s opinions before booking one yourself. Other travel sites and blogs will list their top picks to help narrow down your options.
Greenwich
There are two ways to get to Greenwich; as part of a tour or independently. We have used both. It is conveniently located on the south bank of the River Thames and as an outer borough of London easily reached by public transit. Our recent trip was a commuter train there and a Thames Clipper Cruise back to central London, both available on our Oyster Card. Be sure to visit the Cutty Sark, once the fastest sailing ship of its time, tour the Royal Naval College, The National Maritime Museum and hit the Greenwich Market for lunch. Time travel with a visit to the Royal Observatory, home of Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian. This is also a great location for some stunning photos of London itself with the Thames in your foreground.
- York
We did this city independently as well. We caught the early train from King’s Cross and two hours later we were in York. At the train station we caught the Hop On Hop Off bus tour and used it to move around the city centre. The guide on this tour was animated and knowledgeable and provided an excellent narrative about the city’s history. As a result we stayed on longer than anticipated before getting off during the second loop since we knew exactly what we wanted to see after that. A must see is York Minster, and taking the free guided tour helped us learn more about its illustrious history, breathtaking stained glass and it three devastating fires. Walk through the Shambles, the oldest medieval market street, and climb the medieval wall for a elevated walk around the city centre. See the remains of the York Castle in Clifford’s Tower and visit the family friendly York Castle Museum. Plenty of departure times meant we could return to London at our leisure.
- Stonehenge
Often grouped with other locations, such as Bath and Windsor Castle, Stonehenge is one of the most ancient sites in the British Isles. Surrounded by lush countryside this mystical stone ring has fascinated visitors for centuries. Worth going to see at least once. You cannot walk freely among the stones but must view it from a distance, and it is smaller than I imagined.
Windsor Castle
Founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century Windsor is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. A private home to the Queen, it is open to visitors throughout the year. About an hour from the centre of London it can be done as a half day tour, and best seen with a guide. We walked through St. George’s Chapel (resting place of the Queen’s parents and grandparents and the eventual resting place of Prince Philip as well), wondered at Queen Mary’s Doll House and visited the State Apartments. There in early spring the gardens were lovely. Most of you may remember Windsor Castle as the location of Harry and Meghan’s wedding ceremony.
- Bath and Costwolds
Although these sites are included in other tours we visited them together in a convenient excursion between a cruise ship and our hotel in London. We found this as a great way to make use of a travel day. Bath is a beautiful predominately Georgian city offering shops, restaurants, and a stunning cathedral. The most popular tourist destination is the Roman Baths. Designed for public bathing they were used during the Roman rule of Britain during the 5th century AD. They fell into ruins until redeveloped several times during the early and late Middle Ages. Afterwards we headed to Lacock in the Cotswolds, a typical quaint village that feels like it was lost in time. We ate lunch at the local pub, visited the Viking church and peered thorough the fence at their abbey. There are a number of different villages that make up the Cotswolds and I would recommend a visit to any of them.
Leeds Castle, Cliffs of Dover and Canterbury Cathedral
Once a royal residence, Leeds Castle has been described as the “loveliest castle in the world”. An idyllic setting showcases the Norman castle that was built on two small islands in the middle of a lake. The estate is as much of a draw as the castle interior, made modern under private ownership. From there we continued onto the white cliffs of Dover and then to Canterbury to visit its iconic cathedral. Immortalized in Chaucer’s the Canterbury Tales as the site of mediaeval pilgrimage, its cathedral has been the centre of Christian worship for almost 1700 years. Its rich history is just part of its appeal along with its amazing architecture and art.
Adding a day trip or two during your stay in London is a great idea, even if it is hard to tear yourself away from the capital. On our next trip we have the two university towns of Cambridge and Oxford on our agenda, along with Salisbury Cathedral. Even if we cannot fit them into our next trip to the British Isles, we will have another. I have to keep telling myself that.