ENGLAND WITHOUT DRIVING OR SITTING ON A BUS FOR HOURS!
Many visitors to Britain have no desire to rent a car and drive on the "wrong side" of the road. Neither do they relish the thought of long arduous bus rides. I have long recommended to my clients that the rail network is by far the easiest, and less expensive, way to see Britain, especially if this is only your first or second visit. Let the train take you quickly with no traffic jams, or worries about that extra pint of brew you had with lunch. For the most part British trains are new and clean, the old days of scraping soot off the windows has long passed!
Many visitors to Britain have no desire to rent a car and drive on the "wrong side" of the road. Neither do they relish the thought of long arduous bus rides. I have long recommended to my clients that the rail network is by far the easiest, and less expensive, way to see Britain, especially if this is only your first or second visit. Let the train take you quickly with no traffic jams, or worries about that extra pint of brew you had with lunch. For the most part British trains are new and clean, the old days of scraping soot off the windows has long passed!
With London as your base, you can have a great vacation seeing all the sites the capital city has to offer and make wonderful trips to see other towns and view the lush green countryside from the comfort of your train seat. To me this far exceeds the traditional bus / coach vacation that spends most of the time stuck in traffic and/or waiting on your fellow passengers.
The following sections summarize some of the many places that may be visited very easily by a train day drip, whilst enjoying a vacation in London. There are so many attractions in London, from the Tower of London to Westminster Abbey. My point here is to impress on you that many other towns are accessible whilst enjoying a vacation in London. Liken it to a cruise - unpack just once and take excursions.
The following sections summarize some of the many places that may be visited very easily by a train day drip, whilst enjoying a vacation in London. There are so many attractions in London, from the Tower of London to Westminster Abbey. My point here is to impress on you that many other towns are accessible whilst enjoying a vacation in London. Liken it to a cruise - unpack just once and take excursions.
Famous Cathedrals easily accessible from London.
Chichester Cathedral
Chichester Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Chichester. It is located in Chichester, West Sussex. It was founded as a cathedral in 1075. The Cathedral has fine architecture in both the Norman and the Gothic styles and has two architectural features that are unique among England's medieval cathedrals—a free-standing medieval bell tower (or campanile) and double aisles. The cathedral contains two rare medieval sculptures, and many modern art works including tapestries, stained glass and sculptures.
The City of Chichester is a fine old Roman City with much history and other places to explore.
Chichester Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Chichester. It is located in Chichester, West Sussex. It was founded as a cathedral in 1075. The Cathedral has fine architecture in both the Norman and the Gothic styles and has two architectural features that are unique among England's medieval cathedrals—a free-standing medieval bell tower (or campanile) and double aisles. The cathedral contains two rare medieval sculptures, and many modern art works including tapestries, stained glass and sculptures.
The City of Chichester is a fine old Roman City with much history and other places to explore.
Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an Anglican cathedral in Salisbury, England, and one of the leading examples of Early English architecture. The main body of the cathedral was completed in only 38 years, from 1220 to 1258.
Magna Carta (Latin for "Great Charter") is one of the most celebrated documents in English history. Only four copies dating from 1215 have survived the ravages of time and Salisbury Cathedral is proud to be home to the best preserved original manuscript. At the time it was the solution to a political crisis in Medieval England but its importance has endured as it has become recognized as a cornerstone of liberty influencing much of the civilized world.
Salisbury Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an Anglican cathedral in Salisbury, England, and one of the leading examples of Early English architecture. The main body of the cathedral was completed in only 38 years, from 1220 to 1258.
Magna Carta (Latin for "Great Charter") is one of the most celebrated documents in English history. Only four copies dating from 1215 have survived the ravages of time and Salisbury Cathedral is proud to be home to the best preserved original manuscript. At the time it was the solution to a political crisis in Medieval England but its importance has endured as it has become recognized as a cornerstone of liberty influencing much of the civilized world.
Winchester Cathedral
The cathedral was founded in 642 on a site immediately to the north of the present one. This building became known as the Old Minster. It became part of a monastic settlement in 971. Saint Swithun was buried near the Old Minster and then in it, before being moved to the new Norman cathedral. So-called mortuary chests said to contain the remains of Saxon kings such as King Eadwig of England, first buried in the Old Minster, and his wife Ælfgifu, are in the present cathedral The Old Minster was demolished in 1093, immediately after the consecration of its successor. Winchester is one of the largest cathedrals in Europe, with the longest nave and greatest overall length of any Gothic cathedral in Europe.
The cathedral was founded in 642 on a site immediately to the north of the present one. This building became known as the Old Minster. It became part of a monastic settlement in 971. Saint Swithun was buried near the Old Minster and then in it, before being moved to the new Norman cathedral. So-called mortuary chests said to contain the remains of Saxon kings such as King Eadwig of England, first buried in the Old Minster, and his wife Ælfgifu, are in the present cathedral The Old Minster was demolished in 1093, immediately after the consecration of its successor. Winchester is one of the largest cathedrals in Europe, with the longest nave and greatest overall length of any Gothic cathedral in Europe.
Canterbury Cathedral
Its formal title is the Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Christ at Canterbury. Founded in 597, the cathedral was completely rebuilt from 1070 to 1077. The east end was greatly enlarged at the beginning of the twelfth century, and largely rebuilt in the Gothic style following a fire in 1174, with significant eastward extensions to accommodate the flow of pilgrims visiting the shrine of Thomas Becket, the archbishop who was murdered in the cathedral in 1170. The Norman nave and transepts survived until the late fourteenth century, when they were demolished to make way for the present structures.
Its formal title is the Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Christ at Canterbury. Founded in 597, the cathedral was completely rebuilt from 1070 to 1077. The east end was greatly enlarged at the beginning of the twelfth century, and largely rebuilt in the Gothic style following a fire in 1174, with significant eastward extensions to accommodate the flow of pilgrims visiting the shrine of Thomas Becket, the archbishop who was murdered in the cathedral in 1170. The Norman nave and transepts survived until the late fourteenth century, when they were demolished to make way for the present structures.
Famous Castles easily accessible from London.
Windsor Castle. Originally designed to protect Norman dominance around the outskirts of London and oversee a strategically important part of the River Thames, Windsor Castle was built as a motte-and-bailey, with three wards surrounding a central mound. The original castle was built in the 11th century after the Norman invasion of England by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I, it has been used by the reigning monarch and is the longest-occupied castle in Europe. Inside the castle walls is the 15th-century St George's Chapel, considered to be "one of the supreme achievements of English Perpendicular Gothic" design.
Arundel Castle. A restored and remodeled medieval castle in Arundel, West Sussex. It was established by Roger de Montgomery on Christmas Day 1067. Roger became the first to hold the earldom of Arundel by the graces of William the Conqueror. The castle was damaged in the English Civil War and then restored in the 18th and 19th centuries. From the 11th century, the castle has served as a home and has been in the ownership of the family of the Duke of Norfolk for over 400 years. It is the principal seat of the Howard family, whose heads have been first Earls of Arundel and then Dukes of Norfolk.
Dover Castle. A medieval castle in Dover, Kent. It was founded in the 11th century and has been described as the "Key to England" due to its defensive significance throughout history. It is the largest castle in England. The site may have been fortified with earthworks in the Iron Age or earlier, before the Romans invaded in AD43. With Dover becoming a garrison town, there was a need for barracks and storerooms for the additional troops and their equipment. The solution was to create a complex of barracks tunnels about 15 meters below the cliff top and the first troops were accommodated in 1803. At the height of the Napoleonic Wars, the tunnels housed more than 2,000 men and to date are the only underground barracks ever built in Britain. The outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 saw the tunnels converted first into an air-raid shelter and then later into a military command center and underground hospital.
Warwick Castle. A medieval castle developed from an original built by William the Conqueror in 1068. Warwick is the county town of Warwickshire, situated on a bend of the River Avon. The original wooden motte-and-bailey castle was rebuilt in stone in the 12th century. During the Hundred Years War, the facade opposite the town was refortified, resulting in one of the most recognizable examples of 14th century military architecture. It was used as a stronghold until the early 17th century, when it was granted to Sir Fulke Greville by James I in 1604. Greville converted it to a country house and it was owned by the Greville family, who became Earls of Warwick in 1759, until 1978 when it was bought by the Tussauds Group.
Other famous locations easily accessible from London.
Bath is the largest city in the county of Somerset, known for its Roman-built baths. Bath is in the valley of the River Avon, 97 miles (156 km) west of London and 11 miles (18 km) south-east of Bristol. The city became a World Heritage Site in 1987. The city became a spa with the Latin name Aquae Sulis ("the waters of Sulis") c.60 AD when the Romans built baths and a temple in the valley of the River Avon, although hot springs were known even before then.
Bath Abbey was founded in the 7th century and became a religious center; the building was rebuilt in the 12th and 16th centuries. In the 17th century, claims were made for the curative properties of water from the springs, and Bath became popular as a spa town in the Georgian era. Georgian architecture, crafted from Bath stone, includes the Royal Crescent, Circus, Pump Room and Assembly Rooms where Beau Nash presided over the city's social life from 1705 until his death in 1761.
Bath Abbey was founded in the 7th century and became a religious center; the building was rebuilt in the 12th and 16th centuries. In the 17th century, claims were made for the curative properties of water from the springs, and Bath became popular as a spa town in the Georgian era. Georgian architecture, crafted from Bath stone, includes the Royal Crescent, Circus, Pump Room and Assembly Rooms where Beau Nash presided over the city's social life from 1705 until his death in 1761.
Portsmouth is a port city in Hampshire, mainly on Portsea Island, 70 miles (110 km) south-west of London. The city's history can be traced to Roman times. A significant naval port for centuries, Portsmouth has the world's oldest dry dock and was England's first line of defence during the French invasion in 1545. Special Palmerston Forts were built in 1859 in anticipation of another invasion from continental Europe. By the early-19th century, Portsmouth was the most heavily fortified city in the world, and was considered "the world's greatest naval port" at the height of the British Empire throughout Pax Britannica. The world's first mass production line was set up in the city, making it the most industrialized site in the world. During the Second World War, the city was a pivotal embarkation point for the D-Day landings.
Oxford is a city in the South East region of England and the county town of Oxfordshire. The city is situated 57 miles (92 km) from London. The city is known worldwide as the home of the University of Oxford, the oldest university in the English-speaking world, and of course everyone’s favorite tv inspector Morse. Buildings in Oxford demonstrate notable examples of every English architectural period since the late Saxon period. Oxford is known as the "city of dreaming spires", a term coined by poet Matthew Arnold.
In the 10th century, Oxford became an important military frontier town between the kingdoms of Mercia and Wessex and was on several occasions raided by Danes. In 1002, many Danes were killed in Oxford during the England-wide St. Brice's Day massacre, a killing of Danes ordered by King Æthelred the Unready.
In the 10th century, Oxford became an important military frontier town between the kingdoms of Mercia and Wessex and was on several occasions raided by Danes. In 1002, many Danes were killed in Oxford during the England-wide St. Brice's Day massacre, a killing of Danes ordered by King Æthelred the Unready.
Duxford is a village in Cambridgeshire, England, about 10 miles (16 km) south of Cambridge. Duxford gives its name to RAF Duxford, a former Royal Air Force airfield that was used as a sector station during the Battle of Britain. Duxford Aerodrome was the home of Douglas Bader's Big Wing during that battle. Duxford airfield later became a fighter airfield for the United States Army Air Forces operating P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft. In 1972 the Ministry of Defense began to house historically important aircraft in the hangars, which became the Imperial War Museum Duxford.
These are just but a handful of examples of locations within easy day trip distance from London by train.
Check out my 60 page book entitled "London and England Designed as a Land Cruise" available under the "My Books for Sale" tab.
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