Plan you trip in London – When to go

 

When you visit London, there are a big range of day-trip options out of London is considerable, and sorting out the
places you want to go and the logistics of getting to them takes both planning and
patience. That’s why we’ve filled this chapter with things you need to know before you
head out, and some tips that might help you save some money as you travel. First, to
help you zone in on day trips that will appeal most to you, we’ve included a chart listing
various attractions and activities available at each destination (see below).
Once you’ve chosen some trips you think you’d like to make, we strongly suggest
that you go to the relevant day-trip chapters and do some homework. Pay special
attention to how long it takes to reach the various destinations and our advice on the
minimum time to allot to a place; some spots (Hampton Court and Greenwich, just
to name a couple) can easily be tackled as half-day excursions, allowing you to work
several day-trip outings into your London vacation itinerary. Look also at our sections
on scheduling considerations, which take into account such factors as seasonal closings.

You’ll find more general information about each of these transportation options, as well as info
on how to get around London and reach the various stations from which you’ll be
departing. Don’t feel daunted by the many options available to you as a day-tripper
from London: Once you start planning, you’ll discover that one of the great pleasures
of being in the capital is the ease with which you can get out of town!

When to Go: Day Trips for All Seasons

SPRING

English gardens are at their peak in spring. This is the time to enjoy the world
acclaimed plantings at Sissinghurst Castle Garden and Hidcote Manor (in the
Cotswolds), as well as the gardens at Hever Castle and Leeds Castle.
The sky stays light well into the evening, so you’ll have extra time to get the most
out of any day trip you make.

SUMMER

All of England seems to move outdoors in summer, and you can enjoy the grounds of
such houses and castles as Knole, Monk’s House and Charleston, and Windsor.
Summertime weather enables you to get the most out of a visit to Battle, St.
Alban’s, Stonehenge, and other places where you’ll spend a good portion of your time
out of doors.
Many cities, Winchester and Salisbury among them, host lively summer festivals.

You can include a long walk and other outdoor activities on your day-trip schedules—
walk along the White Cliffs after visiting Dover Castle, punt along the River
Cam in Cambridge, or bicycle through Oxford.
Kew Gardens, Greenwich, Hampton Court, and Hampstead provide welcome
and handy retreats from the London heat. A day trip to Brighton can include a dip
in the sea.

AUTUMN

The Cotswolds are especially alluring in the fall, when the air is crisp and forested
hillsides are a carpet of color.
Crowds thin out, so you’ll find it easier to enjoy such popular spots as Bath, Canterbury,
Stratford-upon-Avon, and York.

WINTER

English towns are especially welcoming in the winter. With its cobbled lanes and cozy
inns, Rye is an appealing place to spend a winter’s day or an overnight. Wherever you
go—whether you enjoy a country lunch in a Cotswolds village or nip into a Rochester
pub for a pint—you’re likely to find yourself sitting in front of a roaring fire.
Many day trip destinations provide a wealth of indoor activities to get you out of
the winter chill—the museums and chapels of Cambridge and Oxford, the medieval
monuments of York, the staterooms of Hampton Court and Windsor, the tunnels
of Dover Castle.