Discover What UK Has to Offer besides London by Taking These 10 Amazing Trips

If you are a student studying in London for a couple of years for your college degree or if you are a visitors staying in the capital for a few days or even if you are a resident, there comes a time when you just feel like getting away from the congested and fast-paced life of the city and take a day trip to some place nearby where you can relax and at the same time, explore the attractions of the location. Although there are many such places, it is best to select only those places that are not more than an hour or two by train so that you get enough time to go round and then return back on the same day. The selection of the places will depend on each individual’s taste but the following places should prove to be interesting for most people.  It would also be a good idea to buy a 16-25 Railcard for £30 as soon as you arrive in the city as you can save one-third on all rail journeys in the UK for one year.

 

Oxford

 Oxford is the oldest and one of the most famous and the prettiest schools in the world and the best time to visit it is during the holidays. When you arrive in the city you will get the feel of having gone back in history. You can take a walk around The Meadows and visit the Masters Garden in Christ Church College before going across to the Turf Tavern for a pint. Some of the colleges are worth visiting such as the one used for filming of Harry Potter. Students with their IDE can get discounted prices such as £1 for visiting the colleges. You will have to book in advance if you wish to visit Duke Humfrey's Reading Room at Bodleian Library where the library scenes in Harry Potter were filmed. Off-peak return tickets from London Paddington are about £16. The Oxford tube (bus) costs about £18 return.

 

Brighton

 Brighton is the most preferred destination in the UK after London. It has the reputation of being family-friendly, child-friendly and even gay-friendly. Being situated on the sea coast and having a beautiful beach, the biggest attraction of visiting the town is to laze around on the beach on a summer day with something to munch. You can have a wonderful beach day while wandering around Brighton Pier, relaxing on the beach and exploring the flea market. You can also visit the Royal Pavilion that was built between 1787 and 1823 as a pleasure palace for King George IV and which exhibits stunning oriental architecture. Return tickets from St. Pancras International or London Blackfriars are about £6.95

 

Windsor Castle

 If you wish to visit the residence of the Queen that has been the home of kings and queens for more than 1000 years and wander around the oldest and largest inhabited castle, you should go to Windsor Castle, which was built by William the Conqueror and where you will be able to see some great treasures from British royal history. It is open between late September and late March. Return tickets to Windsor & Eton Central Station from London Paddington range from £6.85 to £10.40.

 It would be most convenient to stay at The Shaftesbury Premier London Paddington as the nearby Paddington station offers easy connectivity to most places. You can also visit Kyoto Gardens especially on a sunny day,

 

Hampton Court Palace

 For a classic day out for seeing plenty of art and architecture, you should go to Henry VIII’s palace that is also famous for its 18th-century hedgegrow maze. You can combine your visit with a trip down the Thames by taking the boat from Richmond in south west London that costs £7.

 

 The New Forest

 If you wish to explore ancient woodlands that are just 100 miles from London and yet give the feel of being much more remote, you should visit the New Forest where you will see wild ponies and unending rolling greenery. It is one of the most popular weekend getaways as it also features many hotels, pubs and restaurants. Trains to Brockenhurst are from £43.30 return.

 

 Roald Dahl Museum

 Located in Buckinghamshire village, this award winning museum is very popular and a hit with kids as the creator of the Oompa-Loompas and Fantastic Mr Fox had spent most of his life in the village. Even the original writing hut is located here. The museum has interactive galleries where you can dress up and give vent to your creative talents. Trains to Great Missenden cost from £10.80 return and entry to the museum is £6.60 per adult.

 

Stratford-Upon-Avon

 It will take you two and a half hours to reach Shakespeare’s hometown by train that costs £28.90 return. The place is always full of visitors as they strive to see the birthplace of one of the greatest playwrights the world has ever produced. You can also admire his work as performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company.

 

Winchester

If you love Jane Austen and green expanses and wish to see the best preserved medieval Great Halls, Winchester Cathedral and a beautiful city, you should go to Winchester where you can also see some otters. St Giles Hill on the south end of the city is the ideal destination for a sunny day as it offers amazing views of the city. Return tickets are about £22 from London Waterloo.

 

Bath

 If you wish to see Britain’s only natural hot springs, you should visit Bath which is ninety minutes from London by train that costs £55 return. Bath has a UNESCO World Heritage status and is extremely popular as laid-back West Country bonhomie, with its Roman baths and spa that offer plenty of scope for exploring the place.

 

Canterbury

 If you wish to explore 1,400 years of history and see the famous Canterbury Cathedral from Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, you should visit Canterbury which is a medieval town. Other attractions are St. Augustine's Abbey, the ruins of the Norman Castle, and the Dane John Gardens. Return tickets to Canterbury West are £19.80 from St. Pancras International.