It took us a whole year to see all there is to see in London while we were doing it as a professional sightseeing tour, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to fit in a visit to some other amazing city in between your time in London.
We have a few suggestions for you if you’re going to spend any time in London this Fall. Cities rich in history, home to prestigious educational institutions, and aesthetically pleasing in other ways. Places as beautiful as these might make you feel like you’ve stepped into a fantasy, yet they’re really within driving distance in under two hours. You will be enjoying a hot cup of tea in no time.
Brighton
Brighton, one of Londoners’ favorite coastal vacation spots, is just an hour away on the train. There’s a lot to see and do in a day, so you may want to stay for two, and if that’s the case, there are lots of lovely boutique hotels, such as the Hotel Du Vin, where you can rest your head.
There’s a wide variety of things to do in Brighton, from exploring the Royal Pavilion, a pseudo-Oriental pleasure palace built in the late 1700s by the prince regent and future King George IV, to strolling along the postcard-perfect promenade and enjoying the attractions along the three-mile-long Brighton Pier. If you find yourself in town, you must see the Lanes, a network of interconnected alleys. Before getting the train back, there are plenty of places to stop and relax, such as cafes, antique shops, boutiques, and galleries.
Box Hill
Pedaling to scenic and tranquil locales, It’s easy to see why the 2012 Olympic road-cycling route passed through Surrey; not only is Box Hill a great place to ride your bike, but it was also a part of the route. It will take around two hours to ride from Richmond Park past Hampton Court.
After a somewhat difficult 1.6-mile ascent that includes a few hairpin turns, you’ll reach the peak of Box Hill and be treated to breathtaking panoramas over the North Downs. Save room for lunch at The Tree, which offers handmade pies and crumbles, and pick up a piece of cake in the National Trust café. Box Hill and Westhumble station will be your last stop before returning to Waterloo by rail.
Margate
When the Turner Contemporary art gallery moved to Margate in 2011, it prompted a broader revitalization. The oceanfront gallery is open from Tuesday to Sunday and features a half dozen short rotating shows. Margate’s century-old amusement park Dreamland underwent a similar £25 million makeover. It now features vintage rides (such as a 1960s ghost train and Britain’s oldest wooden rollercoaster), two seafront restaurants, bars, street food stalls, an outdoor stage featuring big-name music acts, a roller disco, and, uh, a giant inflatable rendition of Tina Turner’s head. A Shell Grotto may be found below ground, hidden from view from the beach (open Wednesday through Sunday for £4.50). Nobody knows when it was built or for what purpose, but it was found in 1835 and stretched along 70 feet of tunnels beneath the earth. RG Scott (closed Wed & Sun), Junk Deluxe (currently open by appointment only – email ahead), Peony Vintage, Cliffs records (open daily till 3 pm), where vinyl starts at 50p, and Fort Road Yard (open daily), a salvage yard filled with old fairground signs and dodgem cars, are just a few of the vintage and antique shops worth checking out in town.
Hever Castle
It’s hard to believe that this house, where Anne Boleyn spent her youth, dates back to 1270 and has been kept so beautifully. There’s a floating labyrinth on the lake, a Japanese teahouse, a rose garden surrounded by walls, a pergola draped in wisteria, and a great gift store, all inside the castle grounds. Live jousting will be included as well. Chiddingstone, which has a good claim to being the most attractive oldey-timey hamlet in England, is just a quick 10-minute drive away (or a 10-kilometer country walk).
Another castle, with regular live events ranging from music on the grounds to lectures by renowned writers, a village store selling random items dating back 568 years, and afternoon tea served in a former coach house, are all impressive feats for a community with just one road.
Dungeness
Dungeness’s shingly, shipwreck-dotted beach is so spookily lonely that it’s been dubbed Britain’s lone desert (though the Met Office refuses to identify it as such, the party-poopers formally) (though the Met Office refuses to recognize it as such, the party-poopers technically). But a lot is happening if you look closely enough.
For starters, it’s designated as a protected area of natural beauty. Visit RSPB Dungeness and walk the two-mile loop around the preserve to see birds like the glossy ibis and marsh harrier. Lunchtime is the best time to visit the Dungeness Snack Shack, where you can get a warm bun filled with the day’s catch, lobster and crab rolls, smoked cod soup, and more. Finally, seek the massive concrete “sound reflectors,” installed during World War One, to keep an eye out for flying aircraft.
You might spend your whole life simply getting to know London, but like the locals, you’ll eventually feel the itch to escape. Lastly, read more about travel around the world here.
