London is a beautiful city, a vibrant metropolis with lots to see, plenty of entertainment, and even a vegetable shaped building (yes, they have a Gherkin). If you’re staying for a few days, there’s a lot to offer, if you fancy a bit of theatre at the West End, or if some retail therapy around some of London’s more famous shopping sectors is your thing, or even if you’re a history buff and want to visit some of the iconic dungeons, towers and other historic venues. However, sometimes London can be a lot, and sometimes it’s nice to get out of the big city for a day and appreciate the surrounding areas have to offer, so here are a few places we’d recommend if you fancy a day trip!
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is the world’s largest occupied castle in the world, and is a great day trip for the family, and can be accessed easily directly from London via train, bus or coach. There are seasonal, family friendly activities happening all year around that are catered to all ages, so children can get involved too! You can witness the age old traditional ‘Changing of the Guards’ ceremony, tour the castle grounds with a multimedia guide for the kids, visit the royal halls and chambers that previous monarchs would have spent most of their time, and there are plenty of picturesque spaces for family photos and picnics (Should the weather permit it).
Salisbury & Stonehenge
Salisbury is a beautiful city steeped in history, and you’ll definitely get a more traditional vibe whilst you roam through the medieval streets. The Cathedral is definitely worth visiting – well known for its very early English Gothic architecture, did you know that it also has the tallest church spire in the United Kingdom? Stonehenge is another historic must-see site if you haven’t already, and is a literal stone’s throw (excuse the pun) from Salisbury. Again, this site has direct trains from London Waterloo so it’s easy to get to in about 1.5 hours. The mystery behind the Stone circle’s history and purpose are what makes this historical monument so appealing, and also looks positively amazing at sunset/sunrise – which is necessary information “for the ‘Gram”.
Brighton
Brighton is a great day trip from London as not only does it have regular and direct links from Central London, it’s also the closest coastal city from London, so if you feel you’ve seen enough metropolis for a day and fancy some sun and seaside, Brighton is the place to be. The Brighton pier has all the great things you’d typically expect of a British seaside pier; Fair rides, arcades, fish n chips, ice cream stands, and deck chairs for those who just want to kick back and enjoy the beautiful view on the beach. You can go for a swim if you’re feeling brave (and warm) enough, in the summer you can take some beach and water themed sports such as sailing, or volleyball. Another one for all you instagrammers out there, the i360 is an absolutely amazing experience which allows you to take in the beauty of both sea and city, whilst enjoying a meal or mimosa in the sky bar.
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