| popstarz200003:47 UTC17 Jul 2007 |
I have a few spare days in London next week and would like to escape the city and the crowd.
I've done the obvious, Cambridge, Oxford, Brighton, so would like to do something new.
It would need to be about an hour away by train or less (I can't drive)
I'd like to go somewhere either along the coast that's not too crowded, or somewhere in the country I can do some easy hikes for the day.
Any ideas??
| |
| vincehilaire05:33 UTC17 Jul 2007 | simple - portsmouth. 1hr 20 mins. perfect.
| 1 |
| vickynelson06:22 UTC17 Jul 2007 | Whitstable.
| 2 |
| mrs_trellis12:38 UTC17 Jul 2007 | Winchester.
| 3 |
| drdavidknibb13:45 UTC17 Jul 2007 | If you want to do hiking in the countryside - then maybe a city is not your best bet.
I know you've been to Oxford - but try Charlbury or Woodstock (Hanborough Station)- both a few stations on from Oxford.
You may have to change in Oxford - there are some through services from Paddington
At Woodstock you can do a glorious 7 mile walk - centred around Blenheim palace - and at Charlbury a very pretty 7 mile walk around the Wychwood Forest
Both examples of rural Cotswolds at their best - when it isn't raining.
David
| 4 |
| hamer_radshaw13:57 UTC17 Jul 2007 | Hever castle - nice old house, glorious grounds, interesting history
Portsmouth to see the Victory and dockyards is well worth a day out (town itself is crap)
Blenheim Palace is another great day out. Superb palace, fascinating tour and the superb grounds
Hampton Court is within London but a great day out and easily reached by train. Superb palace, nice grounds and interesting maze.
What about Winne-the-Pooh's home at Ashdown Forest?
Windsor castle and surrounds (eton) are great for a day trip.
Train and bus to Sissinghurst
| 5 |
| scaryant15:21 UTC17 Jul 2007 | New Forest
| 6 |
| nona115:38 UTC17 Jul 2007 | Dungeness in Kent. Bleakly beautiful coast, a national nature reserve plus a private estate that you can enter, really strange place in general. People living in a 'village' of shacks/houses mostly created from old railway carriages (!), Derek Jarman's garden, a lighthouse, plus you'll have to get there by riding on the world's smallest public railway! Bit more of an effort to get to than some of the other places suggested but worth it. There's also an art gallery and a pub. No crowds. wiki on Dungeness
| 7 |
| newone18:09 UTC17 Jul 2007 | Bristol (rather than Bath as first choice, but Bath also).
Also Cheltenham.
| 8 |
| apapa23:45 UTC17 Jul 2007 | Warwick.
If you don'twant to pay to go into the castle just hire a rowing boat and see it from the river. Visit the big church (climb to the top) and wander around the old streets.
I think it is about 90 minutes from Marleybone.
a
| 9 |
| ae12345603:15 UTC18 Jul 2007 | similar recent post
| 10 |
| beet05:21 UTC18 Jul 2007 | If you want to escape cities and do a level hike, consider walking along the River Wey towpath between Godalming and Guildford. From London you would get a cheap day return to Godalming from Waterloo and it takes less than an hour. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/riverwey<BR>For something coastal and less easy but which would take longer than an hour to reach (1.5 hours from Victoria to Eastbourne) consider the cliffs west of Eastbourne (Beachy Head, the "Seven Sisters"). You can get a bus from the Eastbourne pier up to the top of Beachy Head to start you off. Or there is a more level walk from Exceat to Cuckmere Haven, for which you would need to take the frequent bus from near Eastbourne railway station towards Brighton (#712 I think) and get off at Exceat Park visitor centre (about 15 mins). It's in the post recommended by #10.
| 11 |
