Day trips from London - Archive Articles

Cold war bunker open days announced

If you fancy a nice summer's day trip to the picturesque town of Cuckfield to see a relic of nuclear war, then some open days have been announced.

Day trips from London – Berkhamsted Castle

The small commuter town of Berkhamsted sits on one of the most important sites in English history - the location of the formal surrender of the English to William the Conqueror. And yet, most people haven't heard of it.

Day trips from London – The Bridgewater Monument

In the middle of woods can be found a tall stone column, built to honour the man who built the UK's first industrial canals -- Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater.

Prices announced for the Didcot to Oxford Railway’s 175th Anniversary

This year marks the 175th anniversary of the railway between Oxford and Didcot, and they’re having a special day of celebrations on 15th June 2019.

Things to do outside London in May 2019

My regular look ahead to events happening next month that would probably be in my events guide, if only they weren’t happening outside the psychological barrier of the M25 motorway.

Tickets Alert: Climb to the top of the Tower in Windsor Castle

For just a few weeks of each year, it’s possible to climb to the top of the ancient Round Tower inside Windsor Castle, with views that reach right across London.

Tickets Alert: Annual opening of Frogmore House and Garden

Just outside London sits Windsor Castle, and within its grounds is Frogmore House, and its impressive gardens, which are only open to the public on a few days of each year.

A steam train of lights to delight in the dark

Imagine a steam train covered in thousands of fairy lights chugging through a forest at night -- and that's the Train of Lights.

Help re-chalk the Uffington White Horse

Last year I spent a couple of hours bashing an ancient monument with a hammer, and there's a chance to do it again.

Tickets Alert: Tours of Eton College

The rarified airs of Eton College are opening their doors to the mere ordinary folk this summer for a series of tours.

Events to mark the Didcot to Oxford Railway’s 175th Anniversary

This year marks the 175th anniversary of the railway between Oxford and Didcot, and they're having a special day of celebrations on 15th June 2019.

Foulness Museum reopens this weekend

One of the most difficult and inconvenient museums in England reopens this weekend, and it's totally worth a visit.

Suggestions for things to do outside London in April 2019

My regular look ahead to events happening next month that would probably be in my events guide, if only they weren’t happening outside the psychological barrier of the M25 motorway.

A Duo of churches in Dursley

A small but pretty market town on the Cotswold Way, Dursley is blessed with quite a lot of old buildings to see, notably two very different churches.

The concrete church of St Richard’s, Haywards Heath

From the outside, this looks like a mock-barn style church building, rather ordinary frankly, but take a look inside for some concrete wow factor.

The buses that run through a military firing range to Imber

Just outside the Salisbury Plain a TfL bus sign shows a curious route, the 23A, that runs once a year, and is the only bus route allowed through the military firing ranges.

Day trips from London – Avebury Stone circle

There's a part of England's green and pleasant land that's rich in ancient stone works, and at one place, you can find a pub inside a giant stone circle.

A thatched roof for a megalithic stone

Had I just seen a rather posh looking bus shelter with a pile of rubbish in the middle, or something actually interesting? We were near Avebury, in the land of random lumps of stone, so it was plausible, but then again, to considerable embarrassment, it could be nothing.

The ancient tradition of cleaning the Uffington Horse

For thousands of years, people have come to Uffington to clean a prehistoric white horse carved into the landscape. And this weekend, the ancient tradition was performed once again.

Open Day at the Army’s training Academy at Sandhurst

Not in London, but close enough to peek your interest at least, and looks interesting in several areas… the Army’s Officer training academy in Sandhurt is having an open day next month – and conveniently on a Sunday.

Eton College has started offering public tours

They only started recently, and only take place on Fridays, but the venerable Eton College now allows us lesser folk to go inside for a look around.

Day trips from London – Winchester

King Alfred, King Arthur, a Cathedral, a College, Saints, Stone fortresses, and more history than you can absorb in a single day - welcome to Winchester.

Day trips from London – Queen Anne’s Summerhouse

Hidden away in a private wood is a 300-year-old folly, Queen Anne's Summerhouse. Queen Anne never visited it, but you can.

Visit an abandoned railway tunnel and viaduct

Many towns have bits of abandoned railway, maybe a tunnel or a viaduct, but there are few that have both. Such a place is Winchester, and this is a tale of a lost railway.