Photo credit: Jesus Fernandez / Shutterstock.com 4. Its a port city and the gateway to the French Riviera so you can have a city break and beach holiday in one. Journey time ranges from 3 hours, 47 minutes to 4 hours 7 minutes. Theres really no better place to watch Shakespeares plays than his hometown. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Visit St Bavos Cathedral & The Ghent Altarpiece, this Gothic building is Gents most recognisable landmark and is filled with religious artefacts. Great places within 30 minutes from London | Rough Guides 10 Unbelievably Cute Villages Near London - Time Out Chester is fabulous for family trips, offering Chester Zoo, the medieval Chester Castle, the Roman Amphitheatre, and plenty more for everyone to enjoy on a visit. Theyre vibrant and and yellow, and tilted at a 45 degree angle and you can peek inside the show cube for 3. Its also the site for the famous Isle of Wight festival. Just over half an hour from central London, and a popular day-trip for southeast London folk but little known by anyone else, Eynsford has lots to tempt you: the ruins of one of England's oldest Norman castles, the remains of a Roman villa in next-door Lullingstone - both English Heritage attractions - and excellent lunch spot The Plough, right in the middle of the village by the river. "We . Trains from London & the UK to Europe | Eurostar. Book in advance for cheaper tickets if you want to take the bus. It was actually fun as I got to see so many different sights on the journey to Edinburgh. Grab this hassle free checklist of the top 110 things to do in London from a local, includes: You can get there by using any of the regular direct trains that take off every 15 minutes from London Bridge and London Victoria. Famous for its unique whisky tastings, a visit to one of the distilleries in the city will allow you to get an in-depth view of the creation process of the booze. Getting there involves a pleasant train ride through the French countryside. You can also get to the Isle of Wight by train since there are excellent rail connections that link the Isle of Wight ferry ports. Its spokesperson said under proposed changes staff would be moved on to concourses to help and advise more customers. As you might expect from the city that produced the electronic band Soulwax/2ManyDJs, theres plenty to do at night too. Its a pretty city just to wander in, and with fewer tourists, you can visit places like Molen Rijn en Zon windmill, and the picturesque Lange Rozendaal area at a leisurely pace. Old and new are well integrated in Marseille, and for something more contemporary, explore the colorful areas of La Panier, known for its street art and cafs, and Cours Julien, which is also art-filled and home to several markets. Quick Weekend Trips From London - BuzzFeed Famous for its fantastic ethnic cuisine, its a bustling, modern city filled with trees and green space. Can France prevent tensions igniting again? Take high tea at the traditional cafs in Truro city centre, and savour the views of this gorgeous county as you travel here by train. Use Rough Guides' trusted partners for great rates. For a glimpse of some surviving pre-war architecture, check out the Art Nouveau buildings in the Belgian Quarter. Filled with historical sites and amazing photo opportunities, visiting Edinburgh is one of the best things to do outside of London. If you are planning on doing any of these day trips from London by train, specifically on Sundays make sure you check the station you are travelling through as most railway works are done on weekends and are the worst on Sundays. Guildford is one of the top places to visit if you are looking for great days out near London. Stonehenge is one of the quirkiest day trips from London. Dover Day Trip Guide | London to Dover by Train, Bus & Cycle - Headout Experience the county of Yorkshire in one of its prettiest cities. Many of the sights are on the university campus itself, including the Bodleian Library (one of Europe's oldest) and the Radcliffe Camera, a gorgeous domed building. Leeds is the North's largest city by population, with no fewer than five universities adding to its fresh, vibrant atmosphere. The drivers' union Aslef has called an overtime ban from Monday 3 July until the end of Saturday 8 July at 16 train operators around England, in a long-running dispute over pay and conditions on . Train routes Reservations Important Facilities and services Eurostar routes Eurostar operate almost hourly departures with regular direct routes to and from central London to the heart of Paris (France), Brussels (Belgium) and Amsterdam (the Netherlands). I think I am not a fan of these two pieces just due to the sheer amount of times I was forced to re-enact them at school. The location helps, situated between Paris and the mediterranean its a hub for agricultural produce. If you fancy a quick getaway to somewhere with year-round sunshine, then hop on a train to Marseille. Weekend in St Ives. You only need to watch University Challenge, a famous academic quiz show, hosted by Jeremy Paxman, to see this effect. With all due respect a brief glimpse at an atlas (or Google Earth ) would provide you with a host of answers. Jump on a train on Thursday or Friday, and head back on Sunday afternoon. Head to Cardiff Bay to treat yourself to fabulous views as you speed over Europes most extensive waterfront development. If you purchase from or sign up with some companies we link to, we will be compensated. Slough on the other hand lets just say no ever admits to living there. The latest inter-country route is set to link three under-the-radar cities in Belgium, Germany and the . Take a ride on the famous Leeds-Settle-Carlisle train line to take in views of the lush hills and valleys of the Dales. His four townhouses, Atelier Horta, Htel Tassel, Htel Solvay and Htel van Eetveld, are all Unesco World Heritage Sites. Its a quaint little way of seeing the English countryside and staying active on holiday. REIMS. Avignon, France via Eurostar & local train, 12. Bonus tip: As with train travel within the UK, remember to book in advance (around six weeks) to get the best deals. Visit Fishbourne Roman Palace. Lastly, visit the Royal Crescent and Pulteney Bridge: two Georgian gems in the city. Millions of pounds were invested into the historic Dreamland (Margates theme park). Pick a region you would like to see, choose a city as a departure point and use our website to see how you can discover the surrounding area by train. Most train operators rely on overtime, or rest day working, to some degree to operate their timetable, and the effect of its withdrawal can be highly disruptive as was shown by the months of cancellations at TransPennine Express. Head atop the lighthouse for amazing views of the flat Romney Marshland and the English Channel. 17 Absolute Best Day Trips from London (+ How to Visit, Top Tours & Map) Check here for the best day trips from London to Cambridge tour: Now yes, I know this is touristy and cliche. Although the #7 bus will also take you from the train station to the castle, the journey time is well over an hour. Abergavenny The gateway to the Brecon Beacons National Park, Aber is perfect for a foodie weekend; pick up picnic treats in the bustling Saturday market and enjoy wine tastings and tours in the. Box Hill was also a part of the 2012 Olympic road-cycling route, so you too can feel like an Olympian. Do: Follow the city's 13th-century walls, which enclose a spider's web of narrow streets, including the atmospheric Shambles. That said, one of the best parts about visiting London for a holiday is that it serves as a great base for exploring more of the UK. But lets be honest there is so much more to the UK than just London, and it pains me to say this because Im a die-hard Londoner (living here for 20 years). Margate is some 76 miles away from London. These are some of the best places to visit when taking train trips from London. Lets be honest, A Midsummers Night Dream, was confusing as hell and I think Romeo and Juliet, cute and all but its a bit too dramatic for my cynical, cold black heart. It connects to your bank account and lets you spend in foreign currencies, without the eye-watering fees. It's reachable in just over an hour and 20 minutes from the UK capital, meaning you can see a lot in one day. If you dont fancy the train journey, try checking out flights from Gatwick, Luton or Stansted. Visit the Belfry Tower, a medieval bell tower at the heart of the city centre. (1) Take the Eurostar to the Gare Du Nord in Paris - departing St Pancras at 07:01 on Mon-Fri, arriving in Paris at 10:27. For more medieval history, minus the torture devices, head to the Gothic St Bavos Cathedral & The Ghent Alterpiece and The Belfry Tower for beautiful architecture and stunning views. History enthusiasts will enjoy a trip to the Bodleian Library and Ashmolean Museum. Undeterred by hay fever, they will descend upon the farm like a swarm of bees. Although it is famous for being an industrial city, Cardiff has increasingly become a top tourist destination, in addition to its spectacular city centre. English Cities and towns you could consider include. Theres plenty to do and see for free too, including wandering around the ramparts of the 13th Century Chteau des ducs de Bretagne or taking a stroll through the beautiful Jardin des plantes Nantes botanical gardens. There are famous attractions like the Louvre, Eiffel Tower and shopping on Avenue des Champs Elysees. But with historic sites, street art, independent breweries and a celebrated food scene its great for a city break in its own right. The gardens, too, are sumptuous, and are alone worth brazing the mean streets of Eltham for. Plus, youll leave and arrive in the city centrethere are no airport transfers adding to your travel time. Check here for the best day trips from London to Bath tour: Dont forget to check this awesome Bath tour from London. Its winding laneways are home to restaurants, including Karel de Stoute, modern European spot Roots, and Le Baan Thai. Copenhagen, Denmark. If youre looking for some of the most beautiful train destinations from London, then look no further. I did a weekend trip to St Ives by sleeper train once. Direct trains run from London Paddington Station to the famous Bristol Temple Meads several times during the day, and the trip time is about 1 hour 35 minutes. For those that live far away, a London trip might be a rare chance to explore Europe and the UK. AnaMaria Glavan / BuzzFeed. Lastly, head to the Lakes Distillery. Trains run from London Victoria and St Pancras International to Whitstable daily, and the average trip time is about 1 hour 20 minutes and 1 hour 10 minutes respectively. Eurostar high-speed train | Chunnel Train and Chunnel Map - Eurail.com If you are a history buff, you will have a great time visiting the Whitstable Castle which was set up in the 1790s with beautiful gardens and magnificent scenery. There are numerous trains available daily and the journey takes on average only 1 hour. Buy train tickets to London. Top 3 Things to Do and See in Chichester: Visit Chichester Cathedral. Autumn and spring are generally cheaper and less crowded, and the weather should still be decent enough for exploring neighbourhoods like Montmartre (18th arrondissement) with beautiful views from the Sacr-Coeur and dreamy, winding streets. 1. Box Hill Happy Valley walk this trail takes you into Box Hills hidden woodland and Broadwoods Tower, down into Happy Valley. "We ask Aslef to recognise the very real financial challenge the industry is facing and work with us to deliver a better, more reliable railway with a strong long-term future," it added. The average journey time from London to Edinburgh is around 5 hours, 34 minutes by train. All rights reserved. (This includes Eurostar and can be cheaper than the Eurostar to Brussels as it . There have been no further talks and this weeks overtime ban is likely to be the first of a series of similar actions.