8 Attractive Day Trips from London

If you’re visiting London, you may find it hard to leave the place, what with all the fun to be had there. But if you can manage to tear yourself away for a bit, there are loads of day trips to take around London. Interesting places that’ll give you a taste of the United Kingdom and all it has to offer in terms of history, architecture, and nature.

Oxford

You can’t be in UK and not visit Oxford. The most famous university town, this city, which is just 96 km from London, is known for the colleges as it is for the beautiful architecture and history. With monuments, parks, and museums to explore, there are surprises to stumble across at every cobbled street. From the largest room in Europe that sells books to the filming locations of Downtown Abbey and Harry Potter, Oxford is the place to be in if you enjoy exploring around town.

Cambridge

If Oxford is on your list, then make sure you scribble in Cambridge too, another lively college town which is around 100 km from London. A college town known for its architectural and academic history, Cambridge is known for its maze of cobbled streets lined with quaint stores, pubs and sprawling college lawns known as ‘backs’. If you’re a music lover, take the Pink Floyd and Pop Culture tour to trace the footsteps of the band. You can also explore the American WOII cemetery, marvel at the medieval buildings, and of course, visit some of the colleges, namely the King’s College, St. John’s College and Queen’s College. You can even try punting in the Cam River that runs through Cambridge. Take a guided tour and sit back in your boat as you float by the colleges and soak in the quaintness of the town. Do pop into one of the many museums and maybe, even enjoy a picnic in the Cambridge University Botanical Gardens.

Brighton

 A charming seaside town which is a mere 87 km from London, Brighton is well-known for its beaches and pier as well as for the grand Royal Pavilion and the little lanes with bars, restaurants and quirky stores. While here, be sure to enjoy the food, especially the famous fish and chips; hop over to the Sea Life Brighton to watch sharks swimming over your head; enjoy the modern engineering and the gliding experience at the British Airways i360; and, tour the Royal Pavilion, a palace with an Indian exterior and Chinese interior. Also, enjoy some time at the seaside and savor one of the many walking tours to explore the town better.

The Cotswolds​​

If you’re craving to travel to a place that’s picturebook pretty with rolling meadows, undulating hills, charming countryside cottages with wild roses climbing up its doorway, and fluffy sheep grazing in the fields, then the Cotswolds, which is 177 km from London is the place for you. Explore this place by foot with a camera that’s click-happy and soak in the whimsical, slow life that the cozy little place offers.

Rye

While there are nuggets of quaint charm to be found in almost every town in the UK, Rye, a historical town dating back to the 1300’s in Sussex, can easily be one of the quaintest, what with its cobbled streets, crooked Tudor buildings and mysterious passageways. While here, be sure to tank up on tales of ghosts, smugglers, artists and writers. Two hours away by road, a drive to Rye promises to be fun! 

Warwick Castle

Just 152 km from London, visit the Warwick Castle that dates back to 1068 to step back into the pages of the illustrious British history. Walk into the dark dungeons, scale the towers, walk through the beautiful landscaped gardens, watch the largest medieval siege-machine, wander through the lavish halls and do enjoy the audio-visual Time tower with lots of characters from 1,100 years of British history.

Bath

Frequently mentioned in historical romance novels, Bath, which is 185 km from London, is a charming city with a Roman flavor. While here, do visit the Roman Baths, Bath Abbey, the Jane Austen Centre and the Botanical Gardens.

Stonehenge

Situated in the middle of a grassy field in Wiltshire, this is one of UK’s most famous historical sites. The circle of standing stones have fascinated historians, archaeologists and travelers for years. Built somewhere between 2000 and 3000 BC, Stonehenge is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that you must visit if you’re staying in London for a bit. Just 141 km from London, it’s easy to visit.

So, pack a picnic lunch, complete with cucumber sandwiches and scones, and head out for a day trip to any or all of these eight places around London.

 

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