Transport tips: National Express coaches are usually cheaper than trains, but might take a bit longer. Megabus is another cheap alternative. If you are travelling in a group, buy a Groupsave train ticket which allows three or four people to travel for the price of two adults on off-peak trains. You can buy these tickets at the station or go to http://www.thetrainline.com/ and select GROUPSAVE 3 or GROUPSAVE 4 under Railcards. If you are under 25, consider buying a railcard which gives you 1/3 off rail fares across Britain and also 1/3 off pay-as-you-go Oyster fares in London.
Day trips
- Richmond is technically still in London, but doesn't feel like London at all. It is easy to reach by London Overground, the Tube (last stop on the District Line, westbound) or on a fast train from Waterloo (approx. 20 minutes). A trip to Richmond is the quickest way to transport yourself from the big city to somewhere that feels very much like a village. Stroll around the Thames and maybe have a beer or ice cream, hire a rowing boat, and visit the deer park. There are also plenty of shops and a couple of cinemas, including Curzon which specialized in European and arthouse films. Claim to fame: Virginia Woolf used to live in Richmond. According to the famous movie The Hours, she hated it.
- Kingston-upon-Thames is a town approx. 30 minutes by train from Waterloo, or a bus ride from Richmond. If you have more time, I'd actually recommend the bus ride -- you get to see some nice parts of Richmond and Ham with some very grand old houses. Kingston a good place to shop (both high-street and markets), walk around or enjoy the river. Claim to fame: row of falling telephone boxes in Old London Road.
- Canterbury is a lovely town with lots of history, home to the famous Canterbury Cathedral and the Archbishop of Canterbury (head of the Church of England). Trains to Canterbury leave from St. Pancras (approx. 1 hour) or London Victoria (approx. 1.5 hrs) or you can take a National Express Coach from Victoria Coach Station (between 1.5 hrs - 2 hrs). Claim to fame: Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.
- Whistable is a fishing village approx. 90 minutes by train from London Victoria. Go there if you are after fresh seafood, especially oysters. There's a beach too, but it's a rocky one.
- Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight is one of the UK's most popular places for sailing. And because it's so good, I wrote about it for a second time here: Portsmouth and the Solent. Portsmouth Harbour is less than 2 hours by train from London Waterloo. There's just nothing like peacefully falling asleep on a boat on a Friday night, with your friends, the week's work behind you and the weekend ahead of you!
- Hertfordshire is one of the Home Counties, the wealthy and idyllic countryside surrounding London. I went to visit a friend in a teeny little village called Berden. Berden has no shops, no post office and not even a pub! There's a village hall which operates as a private club / bar. I was told Berden's claim to fame is the annual summer Fete when villagers dress up in period costumes, parade their antique cars and generally display the sort of neighbourly love you're unlikely to encounter in the capital. Besides Berden, Hertfordshire has plenty of other tranquil villages you can escape to.
- Kent is another one of the home counties, beautiful countryside within easy reach of London. Read about my walk from Yalding to Borough Green, following directions from "The TimeOut Book of Country Walks: 52 Walks Within Easy Reach of London".
- Surrey is yet another one of the home counties. Home to wealthy people who can afford a house in these salubrious surroundings ... makes me jealous! Read about my walk from Milford to Godalming, again following directions from "The TimeOut Book of Country Walks: 52 Walks Within Easy Reach of London".
