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This section of our London,
England
City Guide describes the best day trips in the London area . We
provide descriptions of four leading attractions that are easy
journeys from London.
- Click the links
to go directly to our sections on
- or just read the page below to explore our
recommendations for daytrips from London.
- We have created a new map of
London Daytrips.
The hybrid button will show you the area with map detail on a satellite
photograph. Use the zoom bar on the left of the map to see areas at
higher magnification. In addition, you can create routes using the map
but we suggest you travel to these destinations by train, bus a
boat when possible.
Although London is a
wonderful place to visit, you may tire of its hustle and bustle. If
you feel the need to get out of the city, consider one of the day trips listed below.
Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace are very popular destinations. They
are extremely
crowded during the summer, so you might want to read our travel tips on
touring strategies for advice on how to avoid crowds and enjoy
your touring. Kew Gardens is a beautiful spot
that will appeal to those who have a "green thumb" and those who appreciate
floral beauty, as well as to those wanting to see Kew Palace. Greenwich is a more limited attraction for most,
but if you are a sailor, geographer, astronomer, or someone interested in
the History of Science, it is the place for you.
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Hotel quality ratings in Britain have been simplified.
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| All major ratings
groups have agreed to use a 1 to 5 star system for all
accommodations. A single star means "simple, practical, no
frills", while 5 stars indicates "exceptional with a
degree of luxury" |
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London's Best Day Trips
The best way to travel to Windsor Castle is by train from London's
Waterloo or
Paddington stations. The train from Paddington is faster
(about 30 minutes to Windsor) but requires you to change for a train to
Windsor after arriving at Slough. The train from Waterloo takes about 50 minutes but
does not require a connection. Bus connections to Windsor are available from London, but
the trip takes about 90 minutes. Alternatively, you might want to
consider a bus or van tour that includes both Windsor and Hampton Court.
Windsor Castle is
an architecturally distinguished, historic attraction and not to be missed. It is one of the Queen’s official residences and captures almost
a millennium of British Royal History. Windsor Castle is a large
complex and
requires several hours to tour. From its magnificent St. George’s
chapel to the impressive State Apartments,
Windsor
Castle
provides important glimpses into Royal Britain.
The official web site for
Windsor Castle
provides interesting information about the Castle and details for
planning a visit.
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The easiest transport to Hampton Court Palace is by train (a 30 minute trip) from
London's
Waterloo Station, located in the South Bank
Area of London.
One of Henry VIII’s favorite palaces, Hampton Court, is a wonderful place to
spend a day. It is a luxurious residence hugging the Thames and takes advantage of the setting. The buildings
contain many historic artifacts, beautiful decorations and impressive art.
Touring the Palace requires several hours to do it justice.
Hampton Court Palace is
regarded by many as the finest palace in the United Kingdom. If you have
time, visit Hampton Court Palace's world famous gardens and the equally
famous Maze.
Visit
http://www.hamptoncourt.org.uk/ for more information.
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Kew Gardens 
Kew Gardens Station ( On the District Line - take a Richmond train, not a
train going to
Ealing, Broadway or Wimbledon).
The Royal Botanic Gardens
at Kew offers a 300-acre collection of plants and gardens.
A visit to
Kew is a must if you have a "green thumb" or
admire the English penchant for gardening. Public transport is available. See the Official
Kew Website for visitor details at
http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/ .
Kew Palace, King George III's family home on the grounds of the
Royal Botanic Gardens, reopened in 2006 after a 10-year restoration project.
During 2007, Kew Palace is open to visitors from
the beginning of April through October 28th. See this
website for
more details
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Greenwich
A popular day trip from London is to take a boat trip down the Thames to
visit the World Heritage Site of Maritime Greenwich.
Boats stop at the Greenwich Pier and originate in London, departing from the
Westminster pier, Charing
Cross Pier, and the Tower Pier. The boats run twice
an hour during the high tourist season and approximately once an hour during
winter. Check locally for the official timetables, as the schedules
can vary.
Maritime Greenwich, a park, includes the Old Royal
Observatory, the Maritime Museum, the Queen’s House (one of Inigo Jones’s
famous buildings), and the the former Royal Naval College.
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The focus for many travelers
visiting Greenwich is the Old Royal Observatory, the original home of Greenwich
Mean Time and the location of the Prime Meridian. Those with geographical focus will want to
have their picture snapped as they straddle "East and West".
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The Observatory
includes an interesting collection of historically important clocks (remember the connection
between longitude, time and location) and other instruments related to
astronomy.
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The main building was designed by Christopher Wren. It housed the
first Royal Astronomer, John Flamsteed and, later, Edmund Halley, known for
many important discoveries but mainly reputed for Halley’s Comet.
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The Maritime Museum
provides a fine display recollecting the importance of sea vessels to
the history of the UK.
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The Queen’s house, besides being noted for its architecture, is filled with
portraits of Britain’s famous seafarers.
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The buildings, which were until recently the
home of the Royal Naval College, are
noted for their baroque architecture (Wren again) but it is the
amazing ceiling paintings in the Great Hall that attract the most attention.
Visit the website of the
Old Royal Naval College
for more information
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The Cutty Sark, an
impressive eighteenth century sailing ship, that is the sole remaining
example of the China Clippers (also known as the Tea Clippers) is not
open to the public at present
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In May 2007, there was
a fire at the ship's dry dock that left the Cutty Sark severely damaged.
Fortunately, much of the ship's planking and most historic artifacts had
been removed for the renovation.
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The charitable
organization that owns the Cutty Sark indicated its confidence that the
vessel could be restored, but the timeframe is uncertain. For more
information on the Cutty Sark and renovation plans, visit the website of
the
Cutty Sark organization.
Visit the web site of the
National
Maritime Museum and the Observatory at Greenwich for
information on opening hours and exhibitions. In addition, visit
this site for information about visiting
Greenwich (it provides maps and comprehensive
tourist information).
If you need information about another travel destination, try Googling our site or the Web
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Click the button above to link to Transport for
London's Journey Planner. Fill in the form and get will
the best transportation schedule to your destinations in London.
When finished, close the window to return to ThereArePlaces |
Best Places to Visit in the United Kingdom
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