Nice places for a day out

[StripyZebras]

After years of DC’s playing sport and me working weekends in retail, I finally have my weekends back and want to start making the most of them.

I’m looking for places to go for a wander, coffee and cake or lunch somewhere. Or even places with a ‘big’ thing to do.

Open to all suggestions. Just DH and me. We’re based in Beds/Bucks area. Maybe up to 90 minutes away by car or we can access trains from MK or Bedford easily.

I have a pen at the ready to make a list!

Can suggest anything specific in those areas but I can recommend a 3 month trial national art pass (available until the end of June) which costs £20 for 2 and gives free or discounted entry to many galleries, country houses and other indoor/outdoor arty venues.

National Trust membership might also give you some ideas of places to go.

Also, I would have thought that London was quickly/easily/cheaply accessible from where you are so there's all the national museums, parks, Coal Drops Yard near Kings Cross, or just wandering around seeing the sights?

While I was sense checking the distance from Bedford to London, I also spotted Bletchley, which I assume is where Bletchley Park is? If you fancy going further north, Leicester for the National Space Museum and Melton Mowbray for Ye Old Porke Pie Shoppe is worth a visit. Nearby is Woolsthorpe Manor, the home of Isaac Newton.

Waddesdon Manor is fairly near you, I think?

Oxford - park and ride and then lots of lovely shops/pubs/restaurants/colleges/river walks

Woodstock - nice independent shops, good pubs and cafes, right next door to Blenheim which does good concert picnics and other events through the year

Kenwood House - also good for concert picnics and walks across the Heath. Sunday lunch at the Flask in Highgate.

Kew Gardens.

Train into London early Saturday morning. Coffee and croissant at the station, Tate Modern OR Tate Britain OR National Portrait Gallery OR Royal Academy, early lunch at Borough Market (before crowds too hectic), wander along the South Bank, cocktail on the river, M&S cocktails on the train home, local restaurant for dinner so easy to get home after!)

Train as above but then over to Battersea Power Station or on a Sunday, Colombia Road Flower Market.

Home Barn in Marlow.

RHS Wisley. The roses will be out now…

Anglesey Abbey in Cambs for snowdrops in Feb.

Enjoy!

Love the sound of the art pass @Bjorkdidit. I’ll definitely look into that. You’re right. Very easy access to London for us. We’ve been lots with DC’s, but I need to start thinking of grown up things to do instead.

@ginandheels I wouldn’t have thought of Woodstock which I’ve added to my list. We went to Oxford recently and I loved it. I’ve added all your London suggestions to my list too.

I’m looking forward to getting out and not wasting the day on the sofa!

always main ones for me are Oxford and Cambridge, then the Cotswolds, then London museums

Thanks you @OperationDinnerout. We’ve been to Oxford and Cambridge quite recently. Never been to the Cotswolds so that’s on my list. Just been looking at London museums and they seem to do evening events so I’m going to spend some time looking into that too.