Day trips out of London for foreign visitor

[TheGander]

My cousin is visiting from France next week and I have run out of inspiration. He likes art, history, nature, music. Over the years we have done Oxford, Rye, Canterbury, Chichester. Is there anywhere similar we could go ? I don’t have a car but could hire one for the day.

Winchester

Hever Castle, Leeds Castle but I don't know how easy they accessible by train.

Arundel Castle is in the middle of the town and definitely amazing.

I second/third Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

Lewes

Rye?

Sorry!
Ignore.

Portsmouth historic dockyard?

Chatham is nearer. 🙂About 50 min from Victoria. Hasn't got such historic ships, but Victory was built there. Could combine it with a visit to Rochester Castle and Cathedral. Plus all the Dickens associations.

Leeds isn't very accessible by train. When I went I think they were running a shuttle bus from the nearest station, don't know if they still do.

You would need a car for this, but Chartwell?

Dover, Deal and Walmer Castles, maybe only open at weekends though over the winter. Hever Castle? Bletchley Park?

Cambridge

York (if not too far)

Leeds castle is lovely - train to Maidstone then taxi or bus

Whistable - nice little shopping centre, quay and walk along seafront , plus fish and chips

I don't think anyone has mentioned Down House, former home of Charles Darwin near Orpington, English Heritage property and Chartwell, former home of Winston Churchill, which is national trust. We went by car to both, not sure either is that convenient for public transport. Not on a par with Windsor castle or Cambridge but potentially closer and interesting in their own right. Just checked the websites, Down House only opens weekends at this time of year, and Chartwell opens Friday to Sunday, the grounds are open all week but the house is shut Monday to Thursday.

Hever castle, chartwell, Knole. All Kent, all lovely

Hever castle, chartwell, Knole. All Kent, all lovely

And Penshurst.

Blenheim. Bloody great pile though.

second Hever.

i live near Cambridge and that has a very similar vibe to Oxford and Canterbury.

Hever Castle is lovely, and walkable from the nearest station.

Salisbury might be an option, or Winchester, if you’re within easy access of Waterloo.

Chartwell - the 246 bus from Bromley goes to Westerham and stops on some at Chartwell.

The grounds are nice even in winter but it can be seriously muddy, so be prepared for very dirty boots and it's up and down.

Not really a full day out though.

Knole - train to Sevenoaks, I think you can walk up, it's quite a treck but I think you may be able to get a taxi. The high street has plenty of nice cafes, shops and restaurants but can be a bit dead on a Sunday.

Warwick castle is easy on train from Marylebone, just a 5 minute walk to the castle from Warwick station. Also the town is nice with a few places to eat and coffee shops

Marylebone to Warwick is 1hr20 to give you a guide on time

You can have a day out in Greenwich if that hasn’t been done, can get there by boat and there’s lot to see. Cutty Sark, Queens House, Maritime Museum, planetarium. Tudely Church with its Chagall windows is worth a visit in Kent, nice pub next door for lunch. Hever Castle for Tudor history, Bletchley Park is fascinating.

Bet he'd like Knole (National Trust). Train to Sevenoaks then bus up the hill. Allow some time for a browse round the shops and a cup of coffee in The Shambles.

There is a shuttle bus from the station to Knole now! There didn't use to be. I worked in the newsagents opposite the station as a teen and our job was basically advising lost Americans 😂

Oh also - Charleston Farmhouse near Lewes. He'd like that I would think.

Bristol? Can see various Banksy art around the city. Some fun food places at Wapping Wharf.