London’s a great place to visit, but it would be a shame if you didn’t also grab the chance to see a bit of what else England has to offer whilst you’re there. Here’s our list of places we’d visit.
Each idea is meant to be able to be done as a day trip although you can, of course, spend longer there.
We’ve also included ideas for a range of age groups and interest – families with kids, culture vultures and the like – and so there should be something for everyone here.
(This post was updated in January 2023)
1. Oxford
The internationally renowned seat of learning is also extremely pretty.
The University is actually a collection of about 40 colleges, each its own distinct ethos – some are new, whereas others are over 800 years old – but the prettiest are within a mile radius of the center.
Explore some of these colleges, punt on the river or just wander around soaking up all that history and learning…
Oxford’s an hour on the train from Paddington Station in London.
Update: We recently published a post focusing on Oxford here>>> 10 Must See Sites In Oxford
2. Stonehenge
If you think Oxford’s old then you’ll think it positively juvenile compared to Stonehenge, reckoned to be over 5000 years old.
Comprising huge blocks of stone arranged in a circle in the middle of Salisbury Plain, it is one of the most recognisable monuments in the world.
It’s a bit tricky to get there given its remote location.
However its a short drive from London – or you could take one of the many tours from London.
3. Legoland
A change of take: this is one for the kids (and big kids).
Legoland is a short trip west of London – there are several coach operators such as Golden Tours – and will suit kids of all ages.
4. Cambridge
Given we’ve listed Oxford, it would be unfair not to mention its arch rival Cambridge.
If anything it’s even prettier than Oxford and quieter – Oxford a reasonably sized city whereas Cambridge is much smaller in relation to the university.
There are frequent rail services from Kings Cross station.
5. Stratford Upon Avon
One for the more culturally inclined.
Stratford Upon Avon was the home town of William Shakespeare. You can visit his actual birthplace and where he lived with his wife, Anne Hathaway (no, not that one).
It’s also the home of the world famous Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and so you can always catch a play whilst you’re there.
6. Bletchley Park
Fans of the movie ‘The Imitation Game’ will know that Bletchley Park was where codebreakers – especially the genius Alan Turing – broke the German Enigma code during the second world war. This allowed the Allies to spy on German naval communications.
The Bletchley park trust now does a great job of explaining how it was done – great for scientifically mided older children.
Again, it’s a short train ride from London.
7. Windsor Castle
Windsor was Queen’s favourite castle – she stayed there often – and also one of the most accessible.
Windsor itself is a beautiful place to visit, but the highlight is the castle itself, available for tours.
Here’s our post on the castle: Windsor Castle
8. Bath
Another beautiful place, Bath in Somerset has been a spa town – renowned for its mineral water, well, baths – since Roman times. Indeed one of the major attractions is the well preserved Roman baths which can be toured year round.
In later years it become one of the best sites of Georgian architecture – be sure to visit the streets around the Royal Crescent for great examples of this popular building style.
Here our post on this lovely town>>> Bath
9. Cotswolds
No trip to England could be considered complete without a trip to its beautiful countryside, shaped by thousands of years of human activity- especially farming.
One of the best examples is the Cotswolds, gentle rolling hills dotted with pretty villages built with the local Cotswold sandstone.
Update – we just published a post focusing on the best places to visit in the Cotswolds.
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