I will have an extra day on my Britrail Flexipass and I was wondering if there's a good day trip outside of London where I can use it. I am just coming from Bath and York, so those 2 are out. :)
Thanks!
Joel
http://ithinkiamgettinglost.blogspot.com
I'm totally partisan on this one.
Oxford
Don't miss Oxford
Hampton Court or Windsor.
I would suggest looking into this book:
Frommer's Best Day Trips From London
I've used my pass for daytrips to Bournemouth, Portsmouth, Hampton Court, Windsor, and tomorrow to Brighton. Other places I have considered are Salisbury and Canterbury.
I'm also partisan.
Come to Brighton and look at the sea, the Royal Pavilion and the two piers (one admittedly a burnt out shell!)
Alan
For a great day trip, I agree with Oxford. It's a shame to waste a rail pass day on it, there are cheaper options to get there.
I thought Warwick was a nice day trip.
My sister and I went to Canterbury.
Warwick is nice, but I would only go in nice weather , and make sure they do the shows year round as they are best part.
My husband and son both really enjoyed Portsmouth, saw old ships etc( sorry I didn't go there so I am rather ignorant on sites but I am sure others can fill you in)
I went to Canterbury on a cold rainy March day,, um,, not too fun as other then the actual Cathederal the attraction is walking around the little streets, not fun in the sleet. Probaly fun in the summer.
Check out my article on day trips from London in AAA Carolina's "Go" magazine. Here is the link http://www.aaacarolinas.com/Magazine/2008/Jan-Feb/index.htm
I took the train to Salisbury and then took a bus tour to Stonehenge. The bus tour was great - they are parked right outside the train station, so they are easy to find - and Salisbury is a beautiful town with a gorgeous church (one of the tallest spires in Europe), and a great farmers market on Tuesdays and Saturdays. It was one of my favourite days in London.
Also, Windsor Castle is wonderful, easy to tour, and the town is charming.
I bought a two-day pass, and used the first for Canterbury, and the second for Battle and Hastings. I'm a history buff so I enjoyed those towns immensely.
Hampton Court or Kew Gardens via ferry one way and train the other...............
Greenwich is great via the ferry too!
I love all the sites that have been mentioned. Two years ago my husband and I went to Colchester which we also loved!
Cambridge. It's beautiful, you can punt on the river, eat at Anchor Pub, and visit King's College Chapel - among other things. Leave from King's Cross. Makes a great day trip.
LOL... I know this isn't on everyone's tourist destination... but because of a few
favorite childhood books (when we go in January) we plan to visit the Roald Dahl museum (in Buckinghamshire - 40 minute train ride from London) and have Bruce Bogtrotter cake in Cafe Twit! :) I'm sooooo excited!
I did a day trip to Canterbury and Dover which was really enjoyable. It was great weather that day, could see across the channel which is evidently not often the case. So your decision could depend on weather.
Hampton Court gets my vote!!
I recently spent a few days in Brighton. It would have been better as a day-trip. Only an hour from Victoria Station, there is a fleet of buses at the Brighton station ready to take you to the Marina or other places. The pavilion area is worth visiting; I never got to the pier, but would include that in a daytrip. There is a long esplanade along the ocean that is a good place for walking or bicycling.
Another book that is full of suggestions is Daytrips London by Earl Steinbicker.
The Isle of Wight is a possible daytrip out of London. Take the train to Portsmouth Harbour, then the ferry (it runs every half hour) to Ryde on the Isle. It may be possible to take a bus out to Queen Victoria's place a few miles away.
It is best to take train trips around England on weekdays if possible. There is ongoing work on the rails on weekends, with accompanying delays and detours which can add time to your trip. The information people in the train stations can tell you if there will be delays.
