Guided Day Trips from London by Train or Coach
All the places listed below can be easily visited on a day trip from London by train. Travelling by train means that the journey time is shorter so you have more time to explore your destination. I will take you on a walking tour and you will see much more than you would see from a coach. You will have time to go inside a place of interest and also enjoy some free time. Alternatively if you have a larger group these tours can be done by coach or minibus. This would also be a tailor-made tour and, with a coach, you have the possibility of combining visits to two different places. However, if you prefer not to feel rushed Explore and Discover Tours offers you the chance to spend the whole day in just one place and explore it in more depth.
Windsor
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle has been the home of our kings and queens for 900 years. It is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world. It is a palace within a castle and one of the Queen's official residences. Enjoy a guided tour of the castle precincts and St George's Chapel, which is the spiritual home of the Order of the Garter, our highest order of chivalry. Visit the State Apartments and Queen Mary's Dolls' House. Windsor is 50 minutes from London by train.
Windsor Town Walk
A walk through Windsor which, for many centuries, has been intimately associated with royalty. See the Castle and learn about its history and its role today. Enjoy the cobbled streets of the old town, see the stately Long Walk which is the processional route to the Castle, also see the place where William Shakespeare wrote the 'Merry Wives of Windsor' and the house where Nell Gwyn, mistress of King Charles II, lived. Hear stories of royalty past and present.
Eton Walk
Visit Eton which is famous for Eton College, founded by Henry VI in 1440. Today it is one of our most prestigious public schools where 19 prime ministers were educated. Hear about life at the school and its fascinating traditions and also enjoy Eton's picturesque High Street.
A Windsor and Eton walk is also available for those with limited time who would like to take a Windsor walk and also get a taste of Eton.
Bath
The magnificent Georgian city of Bath is another UNESCO World Heritage site. For 2000 years it has been a spa town built around Britain's only naturally occurring hot mineral springs. We will visit the Roman Baths. In the 18th century Bath became a fashionable place to take the waters for their supposed health benefits and also a popular place for fashionable entertainments. This is Jane Austen's Bath and it is also the period which gave the city some of Europe's finest architecture, in the Georgian style. Bath is 1 hour and 20 minutes by train from London.
Canterbury
Once an important Roman town Canterbury is where Christianity gained a firm foothold on English soil 1,400 years ago with the arrival of St Augustine. The fine cathedral was built over many centuries and embraces all the stages of Gothic architecture. The site of Thomas Becket's martyrdom in 1170, Canterbury Cathedral holds a unique place in the history of the Church of England and it is still today the seat of its senior Archbishop and the mother church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Canterbury is one hour and a half by train from London.
Oxford
Oxford is one of Europe's oldest University towns, the first students arrived here in the 12th century and university and town are inseparable both breathing life into each other. The Oxford colleges have educated world famous figures throughout the centuries. Our tour will include a visit to one or two colleges. The city has witnessed many of England's great historical events. Enjoy its special atmosphere and fine architecture, the poet Matthew Arnold referred to its buildings as 'Oxford's dreaming spires'. Travel by train takes one hour.
Salisbury
Visit the typically English town of Salisbury famous for its beautiful cathedral. This cathedral took just 38 years to build and it is a fine example of the Early English style of Gothic architecture. It is surrounded by the Close, a serene open space bordered by beautiful period houses with interesting historic and literary connections. These include Arundells which was the home of Edward Heath. The town contains much of its medieval character, narrow streets, fine churches, half timbered houses and coaching inns. Salisbury is one hour and 20 minutes from London by train.
York
Visit York one of England's most popular historic cities. Enjoy its cobbled streets and beautiful architecture dominated by the Minster which was built 1000 years ago as a great missionary church. Hear how the Romans, the Vikings, the railways and chocolate all influenced the development of york.
Journey time from London by train is 2 hours.
The places listed below can be easily visited by coach from London.
Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a prehistoric structure built in the 2nd century BC. Today it is an enigma. How was is built? How were the stones transported and what was it for? This atmospheric site has fascinated and inspired throughout its history. Thomas Hardy set part of Tess of the D'Urbervilles there and Turner painted it.
Stratford upon Avon
This lovely Warwickshire town is famous for its connections with Shakespeare. He was born here in 1564, educated at the local Grammar School and married a local girl Anne Hathaway. After his career in London he returned to Stratford for his retirement. See the house where he was born, Holy Trinity Church where he is buried, Anne Hathaway's Cottage and many other places associated with him. His plays are performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company at their theatre on the banks of the River Avon.
Cotswolds
Designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Cotswolds is a stretch of rolling hills lying mostly in Gloucestershire. The picturesque towns and villages, full of charming limestone cottages, were built as the result of wealth created from the wool trade in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries and the area has kept its wonderful old world charm.
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