Surroundings & Day Trips

Greenwich (pronounced: "Grennitsch") is technically part of London, but feels like a separate town — and is one of the most rewarding excursion destinations. Here runs the Prime Meridian (0° longitude), here stands the cradle of timekeeping, and here offers the best view of the London skyline.

Highlights

• Royal Observatory & Prime Meridian: At the Royal Observatory (1675) on the hill of Greenwich Park, the world's timekeeping was defined. The Prime Meridian Line in the courtyard marks 0° longitude — stand with one foot on each side and you are simultaneously in the eastern and western hemispheres. Admission: £18. The astronomy exhibition and planetarium are also worth seeing.
• Cutty Sark: The most famous tea clipper in the world (1869) stands in a glass dry dock at the pier. You can explore the ship from top to bottom — from the keel to the captain's cabin. Admission: £16.
• National Maritime Museum: The largest maritime museum in the world — free! From Nelson's uniform (with the bullet hole of the fatal shot) to ship models and the history of seafaring and exploration.
• Greenwich Park: The oldest royal park in London (1433). The view from the hill over the Queen's House, the symmetry of the Old Royal Naval College, and the Canary Wharf skyline behind is one of the best views in London. Free, accessible at any time.
• Old Royal Naval College: The baroque buildings by Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor house the Painted Hall — the "British Sistine Chapel" with breathtaking ceiling paintings by James Thornhill. Admission: £15.

Getting there: DLR to Cutty Sark Station (20 min from Bank/Tower Hill), Thames Clipper boat from Westminster/Tower Pier (40 min, from £8.50 — the most beautiful approach!), or train to Greenwich Station.

Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world — a continuous royal residence since 1066. When the Round Tower displays the Royal Standard flag, the king is at home (Windsor is the weekend residence). Queen Elizabeth II spent her last years here and is buried in St George's Chapel.

Highlights

• State Apartments: Opulent reception rooms with paintings by Rubens, Van Dyck, and Canaletto, a golden weapon collection, and the vast Waterloo Chamber (built to celebrate Napoleon's defeat).
• St George's Chapel: One of the most beautiful Gothic churches in England — home of the Order of the Garter (since 1348), resting place of Henry VIII, Charles I, George III, and Queen Elizabeth II. Harry and Meghan married here (2018).
• Queen Mary's Dolls' House: The most elaborate dollhouse in the world (1920s) — with working electricity, running water, and tiny books that are actually readable.
• Changing of the Guard: Windsor also has a Changing of the Guard — smaller and more intimate than in London, but just as pompous. Schedule: changingguard.com.

Practical: Admission: £30. Trains from London Paddington (change at Slough, 30 min) or from London Waterloo (direct, 55 min). The town of Windsor itself is charming: half-timbered houses, the Long Walk (a 4 km long straight path through the Great Park), and Eton College (the most famous school in the world, on the other side of the bridge).

Brighton

London's nearest sea — only 1 hour by train (from Victoria or London Bridge). Brighton is colorful, creative, and liberal: the pebble beach, the Royal Pavilion (a crazy Indo-Saracenic palace by George IV, admission: £17), The Lanes (winding alleys with vintage shops, jewelry, and cafes), the Palace Pier (fairground, fish and chips), and a legendary LGBTQ+ scene. Perfect for a sunny day trip.

Oxford

The oldest university in the English-speaking world (founded around 1096) — 1 hour by train from Paddington. The colleges (Christ Church, Bodleian Library, Radcliffe Camera) are architectural jewels. Christ Church served as the model for the Hogwarts dining hall in the Harry Potter films (admission: £18). Punting on the River Cherwell is the classic Oxford experience (from £22/hour).

Stonehenge & Bath

Stonehenge — the most mysterious stone circle in the world (5,000 years old) — is about 2 hours west of London. Best visited in combination with Bath: the elegant Georgian city with the Roman Baths (2,000-year-old Roman spa, admission: £25), the Royal Crescent (perfect Georgian semicircle), and the Thermae Bath Spa (modern spa with rooftop pool, from £42). Organized day tours from London (from £60) or by train to Bath (1.5 hours) plus bus to Stonehenge.

Hampton Court Palace

The Tudor palace of Henry VIII — 40 minutes by train from London Waterloo. The Great Hall (where Henry dined with Anne Boleyn), the Tudor kitchens, the William-and-Mary apartments in Baroque style, and the famous hedge maze (since 1690, you really can get lost!). The palace garden on the banks of the Thames is beautiful. Admission: £29.