Day trips from London - Archive Articles

Visit a museum inside the Foulness military firing range

If you fancy visiting a small museum in the middle of a military firing range, then you may want to put some dates into your diary.

See over 600 varieties of snowdrops at Thenford Arboretum

Not far from Banbury is a large arboretum which amongst many things, is noted for its collection of snowdrops that fill the grounds in February.

Pay a visit to St Albans Cathedral

In the centre of St Albans is a Cathedral, called an Abbey that's also a church,  was built by the Normans but is mostly Victorian.

Visit a restored railway signal box in St Albans

Next to St Albans City railway station is a brightly painted wooden building - a restored signal box that's now occasionally open to the public.

A day trip to – Hadleigh Castle, Essex

Overlooking the Thames in Essex are the ruins of an ill-fated castle that was once a royal residence and was later immortalised by John Constable.

A day trip to – Colchester

Barely 40 minutes from central London lies the town that boasts more visible Roman ruins than London, a big castle, a ruined abbey, loads of old churches, and a pretty town centre.

A day trip to – Barnard Castle

A town of great antiquity with a large castle and famous museum, but also of recent notoriety has a lot more to see if you visit for more than an eye-test.

See the 700-years old murals of St Nicholas Church, Charlwood

A church near Gatwick Airport contains a remarkable survivor inside -- a set of historically significant series of murals that date to around 1300-1350.

A day trip to – The Gatwick Aviation Museum

On the far side of Gatwick Airport is a museum, partly about the airport, but mainly about the military side of aviation.

Review – the Waddesdon Greenway e-bike hire scheme

If you happen to be visiting a grand mansion house, and arrive at Aylesbury Vale Parkway station, then there's a local electric bike hire scheme to get you the rest of the way. So I tried it out.

Heritage Open Days opening thousands of doors to the public

Over a couple of weeks in September, several thousand buildings will open their doors to the public.

A day trip to – Waddesdon Manor

Not far outside London in the middle of the English countryside is a grand manor house that looks like it belongs in France.

A day trip to – Saffron Walden, Essex

Saffron Walden is an ancient market village that has the remains of a Norman castle, a very large church, lots of old buildings, a great museum, and some old fortifications to see.

A day trip to – Audley End House and gardens

About an hour outside London is a grand house that would impress anyone, except its original builder, as what you see is missing two-thirds of the original house.

A day trip to – Dorneywood House and gardens

Gifted to the nation for the use by a government minister, just outside London can be found a modest mansion that's also open to the public, but only for a couple of weeks a year.

A day trip to – Chevening House gardens

Just inside the M25 and close to Sevenoaks is a large government mansion house, and it's open to the general public on one day of the year.

A day trip to – Hatfield House

Less than an hour from central London is a grand mansion house and huge gardens that are also open to the public.

Tickets Alert: Book a visit to Dorneywood House

A government mansion house in rural Buckinghamshire that's also right next to part of the City of London is having a number of open days in July.

Tickets Alert: Visit Chevening House gardens

Next month is the annual open day of the gardens of a large government mansion not far from Sevenoaks that's mainly used as a home by the Foreign Secretary.

Three churches to visit near Banbury

If you are in Banbury, maybe visiting Thenford Arboretum, then the trip between town and garden can also take in three ancient churches.

A day trip to – Thenford Arboretum

Not too far from Banbury is a grand manor house, which you can't visit, but also a huge and remarkable garden, which you can.

Tickets Alert: Hatfield House reopening

A short trip out of London can be found Hatfield House, a Jacobean mansion built in 1611, and has been in the same family ever since.

The wonderful Imberbus returns for 2021

Once a year, a fleet of old London buses are allowed into military lands to take trips to an empty village where no one lives. It is of course, therefore hugely popular.

See parts of Princess Anne you’ve never seen before

That's Princess Anne, the hovercraft, the largest civilian hovercraft ever made.