I love London don’t get me wrong. It’s an exciting and vast city with a seemingly endless supply of things to do. However, many visitors seem content to merely visit the capital city and end up missing out on all of the other beautiful and varied cultural sites the country has to offer. This is a shame; when there are so many interesting places just a couple hours away. Here are five other destinations worth visiting that can be seen in just a day trip from central London.
Greenwich
If you want to get technical, Greenwich is really a part of Greater London: that huge amorphous suburban blob. Even so it’s far different from central London and is a nice day or afternoon excursion. You can take public transport to Greenwich but the more exciting tactic is to take a boat cruise down the Thames, under Tower Bridge and past Canary Wharf. Once in Greenwich you can visit the National Maritime Museum, the Greenwich market or tuck into a traditional eel pie. The highlight here however is the Royal Observatory, home of Greenwich Mean Time. Be sure to get a photograph of yourself standing on the Prime Meridian line with a foot in each hemisphere!
- The courtyard at Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court
Only half an hour by train from London is one of the most impressive palaces in all of England. Built during the reign of King Henry VIII and used by the Royal Family up until the 18th century, the home is an elaborate showcase of Tudor and Baroque architecture. Highlights include the Fountain Court designed by Christopher Wren, a functioning astrological clock and the world’s first Real Tennis court. The palace is haunted by the ghosts of Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard, Henry’s second and fifth wives, both who spent time here before going to the chopping block. The grounds are also exceptionally beautiful and there is an elaborate hedge maze to get lost in.
Brighton
If the weather is nice why not take a jaunt down to the Sussex seaside? An hour south of London via train, Brighton has been an escape from the city for hundreds of years. You can stroll down the Brighton Pier or relax on the colorful beach. With several universities, Brighton is a bright spot of culture and nightlife. Be sure to check out the bizarre Royal Pavilion, an Eastern themed Victorian pleasure palace.
- The University of Oxford is one of the leading universities in the world.
Oxford
The oldest university in the English-speaking world (it’s existed in some form since 1096), Oxford is rich in academic, architectural and literary history. Sign up for a guided tour in order to visit some of the beautiful colleges and to learn about the vast history of the town and University. Oxford is also a major site for bibliophiles; from it’s medieval Bodleian library to the modest Eagle and Child pub, where CS Lewis and JR Tolkien used to have a pint and share their stories with one another. Lewis Carroll also taught at Oxford and Christchurch College stood in for Hogwarts in scenes from the Harry Potter movies.
Bath
A bit further out of London (roughly 90 minutes by train) is the ancient city of Bath. The Romans founded Bath as a sacred healing spa in the first century AD, and built a temple over the hot springs. This impressive structure is still intact today and can be toured. Bath underwent a renaissance in the 18th century when it was redesigned as a vacation spot for the English elite. The entire city is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. In addition to touring the baths and admiring the Georgian architecture, visitors can spend time at one of the several spas still in operation, or take a walk and enjoy the scenery that inspired local author Jane Austen.
This week’s “Guest Nomad” is Stephanie Yoder. Stephanie runs a travel blog called Twenty-Something Travel, which is dedicated to assisting new or young travelers with the skills, resources and opportunities available to them for travel abroad. When not traveling the world she lives in Washington DC.
