Hello - I am signed up for a Rick Steves London tour, and arriving two days before the tour starts. I am thinking of taking a day trip/tour one of those days and found one on Trip Advisor to the Cotswolds. I am not inclined to go to Stonehenge or Bath because I went there the one time I have been to London before, but that was back in 1975. Does anyone have advice on what places to go to, and what tour companies to use or avoid? Thanks much for any advice!
Posted by
8804 posts
Lots of great choices:
Windsor Castle -take the train and do it yourself
Canterbury
Oxford
Cambridge
Winchester
Salisbury
Blenheim Palace
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Thank you!
Posted by
Buckinghamshire
275 posts
Also, Hampton Court Palace- again go by train the station is opposite the Palace
Bletchley Park if you’re interested in WW2 code breaking
Posted by
Phoenix🌵
3260 posts
Susan, If you want someone else to do the organizing and transportations, Rabbie’s Tours does four 1-day tours from London. https://www.rabbies.com/en
The company is frequently recommended on the forum. I have not done their tours yet. But am taking two from London in June prior to RS South on England tour. And two from Killarney before visiting friends in Dublin in July.
Posted by
London, UK
492 posts
Lots of places to go by train. No need for a tour company. Though, I would look at London Walks website to see if they are doing a day trip that works for you. www.walks.com
Depends on your interests. (I think the RS tour goes to Windsor.)
Some options are: Greenwich (take the river boat there and back by train). Hampton Court Palace (could also get a boat part way back from HCP to Richmond). I really like Winchester (cathedral, round table, Winchester school tour). Bletchely Park (WW2 codebreakers).
Or Salisbury, Brighton, Cambridge, Oxford etc. Or maybe Chartwell (Winston Churchill house). Or Blenheim Palace (just outside Oxford.)
Posted by
Los Angeles
5011 posts
Rick's guide is full of suggestions. Plus I'm sure you would enjoy Bath again after 50years.
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Thanks for all these suggestions and I will check out the tour companies! Yes maybe I should consider Bath after 50 years, particularly since I have read a bit of Jane Austen since I was 10 years old. I also found a tour to Canterbury and Dover (thanks to the first person's suggestion of Canterbury) that looks interesting.
Posted by
Northern California (formerly Brescia and Lago di Garda Italy)
127 posts
I just re-listened to a 2023 podcast by Rick Steves, where locals suggested Hampton Court, Highclere Castle, or Eltham palace . Will need to research on this forum any comments on these as I am also looking to do one day trip next year when visiting London and sussex. ((Independent travel)
Highclere of course is of interest if you are a downton Abby fan. The other two interest me because I love historic buildings and gardens.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
15406 posts
"Yes maybe I should consider Bath after 50 years, particularly since I have read a bit of Jane Austen"
When is your RS tour? There is a really fun Jane Austen Festival in Bath Sept 12-21 if you will be in that time frame. I arranged my Best of England tour a number of years ago so I would be in Bath for it and it was neat. I loved seeing people walking around town in Regency dress! I could imagine myself being in a Regency Romance, hahaha!
https://janeausten.co.uk/pages/festival-home-page
The Jane Austen Centre, however, is a disappointment. If you go to Bath do see Number 1 Royal Crescent which is a restored Georgian townhouse. Plus, they have probably redone the Roman Baths since you were there. I was there in 74 and 76, I think and it is vastly different.
BUT, do what is interesting to you! You really can't go wrong with any of the suggestions you've been given!
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Thanks! I am going in just a few weeks. A little behind the eight ball in planning.
Posted by
Land of La
9531 posts
Have no clue if you have any interest but I was pleasantly surprised how much I liked Bletchley Park.
You can tour at your own pace or join a tour there.
About a 45 min train ride from Euston. Maybe longer.
Anyway worth considering if you care about the enigma code, WW2 and the women code breakers.
Nice cafeteria.
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Thanks! I recently became more interested in WW II thanks to a visit to the WW II Museum in New Orleans, so I'll look into it. If you are interested in WW II and go to New Orleans, you definitely should take a day to see it!
Posted by
Chicago
1410 posts
I agree that the New Orleans museum is one of the best anywhere. If you enjoyed that, Bletchley is the real thing - or as close as can be made in the 21st century with renovation. Easy day from London.
You can’t lose with the suggestions above. Perhaps pick your era or site (castle, church, stately home)that might not be included in the RS tour and decide from there.
I don’t know what is included in the Canterbury and Dover tour you have found, but Dover Castle has exhibits of the tunnels as used in WWII as well as the medieval castle set ups. If you are interested, definitely confirm with the tour company that you would have time and access to the WWII displays. They can be popular and may be limited admissions, so with a tour and short time, you may be sent to the medieval castle areas. (Not a must see on a first visit if you are seeing London’s Tower- my opinion, of course.)
Posted by
Lake District, England
9259 posts
Eltham Palace above is one of London's lesser known hidden sights- Mottingham station (half a mile away) is in TfL Zone 4 (so pay by Oyster or Contactless as you would on the tube, included in the daily cap).
Frequent commuter service from Charing Cross, Waterloo East and London Bridge stations (heading to Gravesend or Dartford), and some peak services to Cannon Street.
London Bus #161 also gets there from the Elizabeth line station at Woolwich and the Jubilee line at North Greenwich, so it can easily be combined with a Thames Clipper river trip or the London Cable Car.