In this series, we are going to look at the best classic day trips from London. If you are on a short break then you don’t have to spend all your time in London. You can still capture the spirit of the English countryside as there are many day trips from London to the countryside. You can even go as far as Edinburgh or Paris on a day trip from London!

1. The Best Classic Day Trips from London | Part I
Posted on May 19, 2022by Chillout London
In this series, we are going to look at the best classic day trips from London. If
you are on a short break then you don’t have to spend all your time in London.
You can still capture the spirit of the English countryside as there are many day
trips from London to the countryside. You can even go as far
as Edinburgh or Paris on a day trip from London!

2. So! Without further ado, let’s look at some of the best day trips that are on
offer whilst you are in London. Majority of the day trips depart from London
Victoria Coach Station. Others such as Edinburgh and Paris depart from either
Euston or King’s Cross/St Pancras train stations.
1. Stonehenge
This famous prehistoric monument is only 2 hours from London, was built
about 5,000 years ago. Although the first monument was an early henge
monument, the unique stone circle was erected in the late Neolithic period
about 2500 BC.

3. Situated on Salisbury Plain, these giant 40-ton rocks stand alone and is a world
heritage site. There are many theories that surround Stonehenge, from Bronze
Age burial ground as many burial mounds were built nearby. Then there’s the
belief that it is a religious temple to an astronomical clock, a temple for sun
worship, and a healing centre. You can decide for yourself whilst discovering
the history behind this mysterious monument and be captivated by the unique
rock formation! English Heritage have a layout of Stonehenge which you
can view here.
If you only do this trip, then the tour is unescorted and you will be
taken straight to Stonehenge for an extended visit
2. Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Bath
This combination trip is by far better value for money and one of the best day
trips out of London. The journey to these historic places are in the same
direction of travel (west), affording the ability to pack in a full day trip to three
of the four places. You can choose either Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and
Bath or Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Oxford.
Windsor Castle

4. Windsor Castle is said to be the Queen’s favourite weekend residence. It is the
oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and has landscaped gardens
and turreted Round Towers. The lavish State Apartments are home to priceless
artworks by Rembrandt and Leonardo da Vinci.
You can visit St. George’s Chapel where Harry and Meghan got married and
also see the atmospheric tombs of former monarchs including Henry VIII,
Queen Victoria, the Queen Mother. You can also see Queen Mary’s Dolls’
House which has tiny items, hot and cold running water and even electricity
too!

5. Bath
The City of Bath was the first city in England to be designated as a UNESCO
World Heritage site. It gets its name from the famous Roman Baths, Britain’s
only hot spring and has been attracting visitors for 2000 years. The Pump
Room is where you taste Bath’s healing waters containing 43 minerals.
The 15th century Bath Abbey is a unique example of Gothic architecture and
founded in the 7th century. It was built from the famous yellow Bath Stone.
There are many things to marvel at such as the stained-glass windows and
detailed stonework. You can climb up and sit behind the clock face and even
view inside the bell ringing chamber.
Besides the Georgian architecture to admire, you will also find the Jane Austen
Centre which offers a permanent exhibition which allows you to discover more

6. about the famous novelist’s connection to Bath inspired her novels and was
where she lived.
3. Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Oxford
As mentioned before, this combination trip is by far better value for money
and one of the best day trips out as the journey to these historic places are in
the same direction of travel (west), affording the ability to pack in a full day
trip to three of the four places. You can choose either Windsor Castle,
Stonehenge and Oxford or Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Bath.
Oxford
The city of Oxford is home to the prestigious University of Oxford, the oldest
university in the English-speaking world. The city’s history has given rise to a
unique architectural landscape that features fine examples of architecture
going as far back as Saxon times.
Many famous students, from C.S. Lewis to Bill Clinton have attended Oxford.
Walk through the college courtyards, cobbled lanes, unspoilt narrow alleys and
ancient squares of this historic university town and take in the famous ‘City of
Dreaming Spires’. See the Bodleian Library, which is one of the oldest libraries
in Europe.

7. Christ Church college was founded by Henry VIII in 1532. It is one of the
University’s most prestigious colleges but also functions as the UK’s smallest
cathedral. Christ Church is recognisable since it was one of the major locations
for the Harry Potter films! The Great Hall was used as the setting for Hogwarts.
Christ Church’s beautiful architecture has also seen it featured in The Golden
Compass.
There are replicas around the world of the famous dining hall, including in
Cornell University and the University of Chicago.

8. 4. Cambridge and Oxford
Another out of London tour to take in are the cities of Cambridge and Oxford,
which are arguably the most famous and prestigious institutions in the world,
the universities of Cambridge and Oxford. They are also the oldest universities
in the UK and perhaps even in the English-speaking world with Oxford
University being the oldest with origins dating back to the 11th century and
Cambridge University which was founded in 1209 by a bunch of rebel scholars,
ironically from Oxford! Hence the rivalry between them going back centuries.
People also go punting for pleasure which is especially popular in both the
university towns. Punting is an activity of going along the river on a boat which
is push forward by pushing against the bottom of the river with a long pole.
Cambridge

9. We have already touched on Oxford. So won’t go through it again.
King’s College Chapel was started by Henry VI in 1446 and took a century to
build. It has wonderful gothic architecture, huge stained glass windows and
artwork by Rubens. It is also the home of the King’s College Chapel Choir.
Outside the Taylor Library at Corpus Christi College, is the Corpus Clock, a
unique invention shown to the world by Stephen Hawking. It has no numbers

10. to tell the time. Instead, the time is shown through lights that shine through
individual slots. The clock is actually made from a 24-carat gold-plated stainless
steel disc.
Besides punting must see is Cambridge’s Mathematical Bridge designed by William Etheridge. It is
nearly 300 years old and the design uses only straight timbers. What’s unusual about that, you might
think?! Well, the intriguing mystery is that the bridge arches!
Former students of Cambridge University include Oliver Cromwell, Charles Darwin and Alan Turing –
the World War II codebreaker.
5. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter

11. This is one of the best day trips out of London for Harry Potter fans from all
over the world. But it also for anyone interested in behind-the-scenes and
showcases of beautiful sets, costumes and props. So popular is this tour to see
closely guarded secrets, including facts about special effects and animatronics,
that there are hourly departures until the early afternoon to the studios.
There’s even an option for a private return transportation in a standard
sedan/saloon car with entry tickets to the Warner Brothers Studio Tour
London.
Platform 9 ¾ and Hogwarts Express is a permanent exhibition where you climb
aboard the train’s carriage and pose with a luggage trolley as it disappears
through the platform wall. Discover the magical treasures as you enter the all
new Gringotts Wizarding Bank on Diagon Alley. There’s Bellatrix Lestrange’s
vault where you’ll find the Sword of Gryffindor and Helga Hufflepuff’s Cup, one
of Voldemort’s many Horcruxes. You can also take a unique photo surrounded
by thousands of pieces of magical treasure.

12. Incidentally, you can enjoy watching the first Harry Potter movie on the
journey to and from the studios too.
A couple of special events to note for later in 2022:
The Dark Arts feature is between Friday 23rd September and Sunday 6th
November 2022 (Halloween is on 31st
October!). The Great Hall ceiling will be
decorated with floating pumpkins as well as a spooky feast of lollipops and red
apples spread along the tables. While following the Dark Mark trail, you can try
their wand combat moves against Death Eaters which is a live duel as they
storm the Studio Tour.

13. Hogwarts in the Snow is from Saturday 12th November 2022 to Sunday 15th
January 2023. The Christmas festive makeover will see the Great Hall
transformed with the icy silvers of the iconic Yule Ball scenes. The Gryffindor
common room will also be decorated and along filmmaking snow covering the
Forbidden Forest, Diagon Alley and the magnificent Hogwarts castle model.
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