5 best 1-day trips from London

Visiting London is one of the most popular trips from Spain. And the reason is simple: it is close (between 2 and 3 hours depending on the airport of departure), the flights are affordable (it is not a hoax, we know those who have traveled for 29 Euros round trip) and it has a host of things to do and to see to not get tired of going. But if you think you have already seen everything the capital of the United Kingdom has to offer, today we give you a list of the 5 best 1-day trips from London. You can put this destination back in your sights.

1. Visit Windsor Castle in one day from London

It is the closest visit to the capital since it is reached in less than an hour in a westerly direction. The origin of Windsor Castle dates back to the 11th century and is currently the second residence of Queen Elizabeth II. It is one of the oldest inhabited castles in the world.

The highlights of the visit to Windsor Castle are the State Apartments, Queen Mary's Dollhouse and St. George's Chapel. During the visit you will see some of the most valuable works of art from the collection of the British Royal Family as well as buildings with great architectural value. If the interior is impressive, the exterior areas are even more. In the outdoor areas of Windsor Castle there is a golf course, the Frogmore House (former royal residence), the Duchess of Kent Mausoleum, a cricket ground and a farm, whose can be purchased at the Windsor Farm Shop.

Very close to Windsor Castle is Eton College, the educational center where many of the children of high society and the nobility of the United Kingdom study. The College has some places to visit such as the Natural History Museum and the Museum of Antiquities.

If you still have time, you can take a walk through the city of Windsor before your return to London.

2. Stonehenge 1-day tour from London

Just over an hour and a half from London is the Stonehenge monument. This megalithic monument is one of the most recognized images in the United Kingdom.

It is an emblematic place for its composition with huge stones, some of them in elevation, but also for everything that we do not know regarding this construction. It is believed that it was built as an astronomical observatory to predict the seasons, human remains have been found buried there and the presence of the golden number has been detected in the construction. About three kilometers from Stonehenge were found the remains of a similar site but made of wood, Woodhenge, where animal remains and other objects were also found evidencing the celebration of festivals or some type of ceremonies.

In addition to Stonehenge and Woodhenge there are other sites in the area that can be visited. And, if you have time, you can spend the rest of the day in the nearby town of Salisbury. There you can visit its Cathedral or eat something in one of the Butcher Row restaurants and pubs.

Plan your visit to Stonehenge, check prices and schedules before going.

3. 1-day tour to Oxford from London

Oxford is a city in which the desire for knowledge is breathed. It is the seat of the University of Oxford, the first English-speaking university, and its 38 Colleges. It is also known as the city of dreamy spiers, alluding to the beauty of its buildings. Also, Harry Potter fans cannot miss this visit as many of the buildings in the film are inspired by actual Oxford buildings and some of them served as a set for the films. More information about Harry Potter at Oxford.

One of the buildings that you must visit is Christ Church College, which is the most prestigious and also houses Oxford Cathedral. At the entrance they will give you a multimedia guide to guide your visit. And if you want to visit one of the oldest libraries in Europe and the second largest in the United Kingdom, you cannot miss the Bodleian Library and the Radlciffe Chamber (which is also one of the emblematic buildings of the city).

As a good university city, it has a lot of life. Shops, pubs, taverns, restaurants, discos, ... and a lot of bookstores. Dare to visit Oxford, it is just over an hour northeast of London, you will not be disappointed.

4. 1-day visit to Canterbury from London

An hour and a half east of London is the city of Canterbury. It is the religious center of the Anglican Church as it is the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, its leader. In addition, since the Middle Ages it has been a place of pilgrimage (as illustrated in Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales) due to the happening of miracles next to the grave of Thomas Becket, archbishop decapitated by King Henry II in an attempt to impose his power about the one that the Church had then.

In addition to the Canterbury Cathedral, which is a World Heritage Site, there are other places of interest to visit such as the Abbey of Saint Augustine, the Westgate Towers, the ruins of Canterbury Castle or the Roman Museum.

William Marlowe, a contemporary of Sheakespeare, was born in Canterbury. Today the Marlowe Theater is one of its most important cultural attractions. In addition, in the city is the European University of Kent, which makes it have a wide range of entertainment.

5. Visit the Dorset coast from London in 1 day

A little further, about two and a half hours southwest of London, is the Dorset AONB. Its coastline is part of the Jurassic Coast of the United Kingdom and you can walk through meadows and beaches surrounded by cliffs or ruins of abandoned cities and ancient castles. It is a perfect place for hiking.

One of the most famous images in the area is Durdle Door, an emblematic natural limestone arch. Continuing east are the Man O’War and St. Oswald beaches. Followed by the impressive Lulworth Cove.

Another place of interest to visit in Dorset is the abandoned village of Tyneham. At the end of 1943, the 225 inhabitants of the town had to abandon their houses because the area would be used for training by the armed forces. They never returned because the area was definitively purchased by the government. But today it can be visited (on weekends) and its church and college have been preserved as a museum.

And continuing to the northeast is Corfe Castle, a charming village of stone houses, which houses the ruins of the castle of the same name. Corfe Castle is more than 1,000 years old and was partially demolished in the mid-17th century. Today its ruins can be visited to learn a little more about this fort.

We hope we have inspired you with our proposals and that you include some of them in your next trip to London. And if you know of any other 1-day excursion from London, tell us about it! What site would you add to our list?