Day Trips From London

13 miles west of London, Hampton Court Palace was originally the home of Thomas Cardinal Wolsey, eventual enemy of Henry VIII. He occupied the lavish palace in the 16^th century, but lost it to the Tudor dynasty when they famously parted ways. Sir Christopher Wren is responsible for the palace design you see today, which took place during William and Mary’s reign in the late 17^th century.

 

Located in the town of Windsor (about 21 miles west of London), Windsor Castle is an official residence of the Queen and is the largest occupied castle in the world.  Visitors can tour the State Apartments, the Drawings Gallery, Queen Mary's Dolls' House (a palace in miniature), and the fourteenth-century St. George's Chapel. In 1992, fire destroyed or damaged more than 100 rooms at the Castle. Fortunately, the rooms worst affected were empty at the time, and as a result, few of the castle's artistic treasures were lost.

 

The University of Oxford, located in the city of Oxford, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. The university traces its roots back to the end of the 11th century, although the exact date of its formation is unclear. Legend states that riots between scholars and townsfolk in 1209 caused some Oxford academics to flee northeast to Cambridge, eventually forming the University of Cambridge. The two universities have been fierce rivals ever since. The best way to enjoy the Oxford campus is through a walking tour; highlights include the Carfax Tower, the Christ Church Chapel, and the Magdalen and Merton Colleges.

 

If you visit Oxford, you might consider stopping by the extravagant Blenheim Palace, which is located just eight miles northwest of the university. The palace was built as a gift to John Churchill, the 1^st Duke of Marlborough, from Queen Anne in gratitude for his contribution in defeating Louis XIV’s French troops. It was the birthplace of Winston Churchill, and his birth room is shown on the tour. The famous Prime Minister is buried in the nearby Bladon Churchyard.