Day train trips from London - seeking advice

[piemom9397]

I’ve always thought it a bit odd when folks seek recommendations for excursions or things to do in different ports, because what appeals to one person may not appeal to another. Now I find myself, however, on a similar quest 🙂.  

 

Here’s the problem I’m trying to solve: DH and I will be in London ~3.5 days before we go to Southampton. DH was an exchange student in high school in London, so we have a good idea of the sites to see there. I want to take a train trip through the English countryside to a town, explore for a couple of hours, have lunch, and return without spending the entire day away from London—maybe still have a large part of the afternoon to visit London sites, hit pubs, that kind of thing. Is there a destination that will provide bucolic scenery on the journey to it that keeps us about a half a day or so? 

 

Please understand that I’m not minimizing the beauty of the destination city, because it will be amazing regardless, I’m sure, but rather am trying to get the best of both worlds in the journey to as well. 

 

Not sure if it matters, but we will be in London the last week of August. 

 

Many thanks!

Edited June 29, 2019 by piemom9397
Added timeframe

[Thejuggler]

Brighton, Oxford or Cambridge.

 

All are about an hour from central London stations.

 

Oxford may have a slightly more interesting route,  it is very flat land to Cambridge so not much to see.

 

Brighton is on the coast, if you fancy a day at the seaside.

[Cotswold Eagle]

Maybe the Thames Valley, somewhere like Goring & Streatley or Henley-on-Thames, both by Great Western Railway from Paddington. Or Great Missenden on the Chilterns Railways line  from Marylebone. 

Edited June 29, 2019 by Cotswold Eagle

[PhilbeachTraveller]

Canterbury is one hour from London St Pancras. You could visit the Cathedral and gardens, have lunch and a wander round. 

[GrJ Berkshire]

Cambridge would be my choice. The university, the backs, charm only an hour out of Kings cross.Far better than oxford and a better line out of London. But then I am biased as a Cantabrigium native !!

[jst4fun715]

We did a day trip to Windsor. I had been there many, many years ago but appreciated it a lot more. Of course a bit touristy, but a nice tour of the Castle and a walk around. I wish I had know we could just go across a bridge and be in Eaton. Would love to back and see what that side of the river is like!

[Thejuggler]

Windsor fine, but no scenic English countryside train ride and why the English King chose to build his castle under the flightpath of the Heathrow airport is anyone's guess.

 

 

[piemom9397]

Thank you, all, for the suggestions! I think we’ve decided to go to Marlow, thanks to Cotswold Eagle’s Thames Valley locale suggestion. We still have time to do more research but this gives me a lot to look into. 

 

I appreciate y'all so much! 

[newport dave]

10 hours ago, jst4fun715 said:

We did a day trip to Windsor. I had been there many, many years ago but appreciated it a lot more. Of course a bit touristy, but a nice tour of the Castle and a walk around. I wish I had know we could just go across a bridge and be in Eaton. Would love to back and see what that side of the river is like!

Some photos of Eton for you. 

[jst4fun715]

Wow....thanks for the pictures, Newport Dave! Now I really want to go back to see in person!

[ducklite]

Cambridge and take a punt tour on the river.