London is an incredible city with a ton to offer, and is a top destination for travelers all over the world. But there are other destinations not far from London that also draw tons of travelers every day, and there is so much more that England has to offer. Ninety and sixty miles outside of London are Stonehenge and Oxford, respectively. That is pretty damn close, so good luck coming up with an excuse not to take a day to head out and experience these two awesome places. I took a bus through my tour company and managed to fit both in in one day easily.
Stonehenge
This is a bucket list item for many (including myself!!). Located in Wiltshire, the monument is anywhere from 5000 to 6000 years old, and its construction has no written record. There are a lot of myths revolving around Stonehenge, including the involvement of extraterrestrial life, or that a bunch of giants were dancing in a circle when they suddenly froze and turned to stone (some of the theories are less believable than others, seemingly). Very cool to see in person, and a good opportunity to learn more about the ancient structure. Plus, look at the beauty of that countryside!! That ain’t something you’re going to get in the loud and smog-laden city.
In terms of how to get to Stonehenge and how to see it once you get there (these are important things to consider), there is a South West Train from Waterloo or Paddington in London to Salisbury, where you can then hop on a The Stonehenge Tour bus. The train will cost you about 35£. There is a bus leaving from the rail station every hour in the wintertime and every half hour in the summer, and if you purchase a 28£ ticket in advance, you will be able to ride the bus roundtrip, plus have access to Stonehenge and Old Sarum.
If you do not care to visit Old Sarum or pay for the tour, there is the option to drive (5£ parking fee) and pay the 17£ entrance fee. Pre-booking is required, regardless of what route you choose to take.
Oxford
Oxford is a good look into a smaller city in England. Its architecture is reminiscent of London in many ways, but it has much more of an intimate, small-town feel. It is also a university town through and through, and definitely has that collegiate vibe (but maybe I’m saying that because everything seems collegiate in England. I mean everyone speaks in those accents. You can’t sound uneducated speaking in those sharp London accents).
The city is known for Oxford University; I had the chance to tour of some of the 38 colleges (Oxford is not a campus university, meaning it has colleges, halls, and buildings scattered throughout the entire town) and found it to be absolutely breathtaking. Not sure what I was thinking going to school at dinky Dickinson College in the Pennsylvania, USA boonies. Another exciting thing (if you read my post on London you already know how much I love Harry Potter): several scenes of Harry Potter were filmed at Oxford, specifically the Christ Church college. And lots of well-known and influential people studied at Oxford, like Lewis Carroll, CS Lewis, and Oscar Wilde. Super cool. Very historical.
A two hour walking tour of Oxford University and the city is 14£, well worth it to delve deeper into the history and architecture of the city and the traditions of the university (KNOWLEDGE IS POWER). The tour takes you through Radcliffe Square and the Bodleian Library and Old School Quadrangle, and your guide will point out where Harry Potter was filmed for you other fanatics out there.
With your extra time, I would suggest perusing Oxford’s ridiculous selection of museums (like, who knew a small city like Oxford could have so many damn museums?). I was walking with a few girls that I was traveling with and we just happened to stumble into two different ones over the course of a couple of hours. You’d be hard-pressed to avoid them.
Here are some favorite museums, all free of charge and frequented by locals, university students, and travelers alike:
The Ashmolean Museum, founded in 1683, is the oldest museum in the UK and one of the oldest in the entire world. This museum is home to the university’s finest art and antiquities, some of its objects dating back to 8000 BC.
The Pitt Rivers Museum is home to collections of anthropology and archaeology from all over the world from the start of human history, considering itself a true “global museum.” You’ll find anything from tribal masks to hand-woven baskets to boats to weapons inside the Pitt Rivers’ walls.
The Oxford Museum of Natural History contains the university’s collections of zoological, entomological, palaeontological and mineral specimens, so many specimens, in fact, that it is the largest natural history museum in the world, outside of the national natural history museums.
If you’re hungry after a long ass day of exploring the city, duck into the Covered Market, which is a collection of the food, drink, and gift stalls of local traders, as well as some small restaurants. We came across Pieminister, which served authentic British meat pies. I feel like I should have been born a Brit, because I will choose a savory pie over a classic American sweet pie any. day. of. the. week.
Based on the attitudes of some of my travel companions, meat pies are not for everyone, but I dug into mine like it was my last meal on Earth! Chicken, ham, leak, and mashed potatoes in a crispy pie crust and smothered with gravy…what is not to like?? These things have been around since medieval times and are very popular in England and Ireland, so I would highly recommend scooping one up while visiting across the pond.
What about you? What day trips out of London are your favorite?
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