A day trip to – Salisbury

An ancient cathedral city on the river Avon and a convenient stopping off point for Stonehenge visitors has plenty of other things to keep people busy for a day trip.

A day trip to – Longford Castle, Salisbury

During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, an unusually shaped castle was built on the banks of the River Avon, and 450 years later, it's still a private home that's only open to the public for a few days each year.

Tickets Alert: Tours of Longford Castle

Not in London, but worth flagging up as the Longford Castle is a private estate that's only open for a few tours each year.

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.

A look at the improvements to Stonehenge

Work on the new visitor centre and removal of the old road that ran next to Stoneehenge in Wiltshire is progressing, and as we were in the area at the weekend, it seemed worth stopping for a look.