As one of the most popular destinations in the world for city explorers, London is a location you’re bound to encounter at some point or another. London is absolutely packed full of wonderful things to do and see if you’ve never visited before. However, you might also find that it’s nice to venture a little bit outside of the city from time to time too.
If you’re keen to explore some of the surrounding areas of London, beyond the palace and Tower Bridge, then you’re in luck. Here we’re going to pinpoint some of our favourite day-trip destinations for locations you can visit while you’re in London. Don’t worry, these locations aren’t too far away, so you shouldn’t have to travel too much.
1. Oxford
Famous for the incredible Oxford University, this location remains one of the best destinations you can go if you need a break from London for a while. Visit the university for yourself to see how incredible the old architecture really is. You can even check out the Sheldonian theatre as part of the visit, and stroll through some of the great museums that the university is home too as well.
It’s not far from the famous school to the Oxford Castle, where you can discover medieval architecture, and even get a lesson or two on British history. When you’re done taking in the sights, you can enjoy some shopping at the covered market, or just go for a walk along the banks of the River Thames. For the best experience, make sure you look for a professional offering a guided tour.
2. Cambridge
We can’t mention a big university city like Oxford without giving a shout-out to Cambridge too. This is the other major university city in England, and it’s one of the most beautiful places you can visit within an hour of London. The grounds of the university will probably be where you want to spend most of your visit, because there are so many stunning buildings to explore.
Make sure you check out the stunning interior of the King’s College Chapel, which has some beautiful gothic structures to explore. You can also get a wonderful high view of Cambridge from the tower in Great St Mary’s Church. If you’re looking for a scenic walk, talk a stroll along the River Cam, and visit bridges like the mathematical bridge and the bridge of sighs. There are some great museums to explore too, and art exhibitions like the Kettle’s Yard. Cambridge is only around 50 minutes away from London by train.
3. Stonehenge
Stonehenge can be a little tougher to reach than the other two options mentioned in this list, but it’s definitely somewhere worth going if you want some great pictures and a lesson or two in history. There are few English landmarks more famous than this one. This ring of stones has amazed people for centuries, with rock and earthen mounds that are about 5,000 years old.
If you really want to get the best experience here, it’s a good idea to sign up for a guided tour. You’ll get more information about the henge and where it came from this way, and you can even sign up for special visitor access if you want to walk among the stones for yourself. Getting a guided tour also means that you’ll have a company arrange getting to the location for you. This can be much easier than trying to work out transportation for yourself, as there aren’t as many public transport access routes to Stonehenge as there is to somewhere like Oxford.
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