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London & Close By Help for July Trip

Posted this yesterday but it's since disappeared, so trying again!
We are a couple in our late 30s traveling to London for 10 days in mid July. We are very excited to be visiting. We love checking out and seeing the big sites, but also enjoy leisurely walking through different neighborhoods and trying to be like a local. We have many interests from history to sports to pop culture (Ted Lasso, Harry Potter, The Crown, Downton Abbey, Love Actually, etc), and the beach.

Some things we are stuck on right now are whether to just stay in London the full 10 days and do a couple day trips OR start in London and stay overnight 2-3 nights outside London, and return to London for a few days before flying home to US. Some places outside the city we have been reading about are Cambridge, Bath, Cotswolds, Oxford, Windsor, Brighton. We aren't set on any of those and are open to others! We aren't entirely sure if we want to do any driving and are somewhat nervous about it being a busy time, but do keep wondering about the Cotswolds or someplace like it. Cornwall was high on our list because we love the coast, but it seems a bit too far we think.

Suggestions on any of the following are more than welcome!
- Best neighborhoods (or even hotels) to stay in London
- Where to do overnight outside the city without a car
- Cotswolds in July - too challenging, busy, hot? Is it hard to find parking? We've watched videos and read a bit but can't quite figure out. Are there people who have used a reasonable priced private driver they recommend?
- A place we maybe didn't consider?
- Any other great tips!

Thanks for reading this long post and sharing any knowledge with us!

Posted by
9261 posts

Been traveling to and staying in London for decades.

July will be massively crowded. A simple fact.

Premier Inns are a great chain. Investigate.

London is an expensive city BUT the majority of museums are free.

The London Underground (Tube)

is a practical way to get around London neighborhoods.

I loved Richmond before Ted Lasso filmed there. Far too many tourists now. Having been in film and TV as a career I know first hand how movie making can impact a location.

If you like walking you can follow the Thames River path for miles.

View the London Walks website www.walks.com to see of any are of interest. These walks are a wonderful way to experience London.

Consider day trips from London to Oxford or Cambridge or Windsor or Whitstable or Rye or St Albans.

Posted by
4627 posts

Cambridge, Windsor, and Brighton(which has a pebble beach) are easy day trips from London. My suggestion for Cotswolds would be to spend a few nights in Bath and do a Mad Max day tour so you don't have to rent a car.

Posted by
590 posts

Claudia has made some excellent suggestions. Here are a few more.

I travel to London a lot - usually 5-6 times a year for a week or two at a time. If I'm in there over the weekend I do normally try to leave the city and spend the weekend in the country. But if it is a first trip I would recommend spending the whole time in London, with a couple of days trips. Definitely agree with Oxford as a good suggestion (particularly for Harry Potter fans. Also consider a half day in Windsor or a visit to Hampton Court Palace. Hatfield House is also worth a trip. St Albans is a nice small city with a great cathedral (St Albans Abbey). As Downton Abbey fans you may also wish to consider Highclere Castle. All easily reached by train. If you really want to spend a few days away, York is a good option as you can travel by train and don't need a car. Lots of history, including York Minster.

In terms of hotel, budget will be the deciding factor - plan to budget £150+ per room per night as an absolute minimum. This will be a small, basic room. As noted, Premier Inn offer good pricing. Everyone has their favourite areas - I like Mayfair, St James's, Covent Garden, Soho and Bloomsbury.

Posted by
134 posts

I took the London Walks Harry Potter tour and it was great. I’ve also taken their Hampstead Heath tour. I’m planning on taking another tour or two with them this June.

I also have tickets for the HP studio tour. I’m very excited to check it out. They sell out fast, so if you’re interested and planning for this July you will want to book soon.

Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey) would also be a good day trip. You can take the train from Paddington to Reading then switch trains to Newbury. From Newbury train station you’ll need to hire a cab to take you there. I used Ave Cabs. They were very reliable. Highclere books up pretty quickly as well. I booked a champagne tea during my visit and it was amazing!! I highly recommend it.

Happy travels:)

Posted by
556 posts

That was weird! I replied and then poof! It was gone. Oh well, let’s try again :)

We stayed in London in a flat through Ivy Lettings for 9 days last summer. It worked for us to make it a base and do several day trips out and back. The only downer was our basement flat had no air circulation and it got pretty toasty. For that reason at the time I wish we had maybe added a second base for the latter part, but had the heat not been an issue with the flat, I think we would have been ok to stay in one place.

We went to Windsor, York and trained down to Eastbourne to catch a coaster bus to the Seven Sisters park site to start a hike along the coast. We ended at Birling Gap and had a delightful lunch and hung out on the beach there. It was a spectacular day and one we will always remember. I sound like a broken record recommending this area/trip because it was so amazing. All three of our day trips were around 2 hours- York just a bit over. We wanted to add a fourth day trip to Richmond based on Claudia’s and others highly recommended advice, but tuckered out on that last day we had it planned for. It’s on the list for our next trip.

My daughter also did a day trip to Canterbury and onto Whitstable when she was in London previously. She enjoyed both. Whitstable was a charming little coastal town she said.

Anyway, more food for thought! I know you will get a ton of great suggestions! The good problem is you’ll most likely need to return!

Posted by
7 posts

Thank you everyone for the helpful information! A lot to consider! And more research to do!

Posted by
1227 posts

I think Hyde Park is the ideal location for a base camp for exploring London. It's not a cheap place to stay, but it's very convenient to the tube, and Hyde Park itself is surrounded by some incredible stuff.

Posted by
134 posts

If you’re looking for affordable and right across the street from Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park check out Number 63 on Bayswater Road. I’m staying there for the third time this June. A continental breakfast is included and it’s a block from Lancaster Gate tube station.

Posted by
9261 posts

OP 63 Bayswater was my go to place to stay on many London visits.

Last stay was in 2022. For decades wouldn’t share its location as I preferred it not being overrun by Rick Nicks.

Alas, things change and countless RS Followers have now stayed there.

You should also review the Premiere Inn and Vancouver Studios websites.

London never fails to please me when I stay there. So many different neighborhoods to explore.