For as much as I travel it seems strange that I don’t have an international calling plan, but I’ve never felt it was something I needed except of course when I’m in a location with no access to wifi and I can’t remember where that place was that I wanted to see. By then it’s too late…
Toledo the perfect place to get lost
The good news is there is a way to bring travel guides along without signing up for an expensive international calling plan or dragging along heavy guide books. You may recall that I wrote to you last year about an app called GPSmyCITY, which allows you offline access to travel related articles from over 1000 cities around the world. Some of them written by yours truly!
Like many people who travel, I do a lot of research before I go, the problem is gaining access to that research once I’m at my destination. The reality is that wifi isn’t always available, which means I can’t guarantee that I’ll be able to pull up that great article, blog post, or map, when I need it most. However, even if I could, there’s the high cost of data to consider. This is where the GPSmyCITY app comes in handy!
What is a GPS-guided travel article?
A GPS-Guided travel article is exactly what it sounds like: An article with GPS coordinates embedded directly into the text. The best part is that once you’ve downloaded the article you won’t need access to the internet to use it! Download all the articles you’re interested in free of charge. Once you’ve decided on the article(s) that best work for your destination, you have the option to upgrade for a small fee $1.99*, which will activate the GPS coordinates within the article along with an offline map.
When you bring along a GPSmyCity article, you’ll have everything you need to find all the most recent hidden travel gems. There will be no need to drag along those heavy guide books, when you can get real world advice from fellow travelers right on your smart phone.
Here are two easy ways you can access GPS-guided travel articles:
Click on a link below for the article you are interested in (if you haven’t already downloaded the free GPSmyCity app, you will see a prompt to do so). After downloading the app, you will be directed to the article, where you can choose UPGRADE to get the GPS-guided version.
From the GPSmyCity app, you can browse by city to see which articles are available.
You can download any article for free or upgrade for offline GPS-guided use.
I’m really excited about the ability to share my articles with you, and hope you love it too. To introduce you to this fun idea, I’m able to offer one of my articles free of charge for the first week. (expires July 1, 2018)
Many of my other articles, are also available on GPSmyCity! They offer details about my favorite museums, shopping spots, off the beaten path surprises, and delicious food finds. With GPSmyCity on your smart phone, you’ll have the ability to really lose yourself without getting lost!
Here are just a few of my other articles featured on GPSmyCity:
*Note: If you do upgrade one of my downloaded travel articles, I receive a small portion of the sale, which I’m hoping might contribute to maintaining this travel blog…
The world is in love with Instagram, or at least 800 million of us are. Though I admit to growing tired of thinking up new and interesting #hashtags, I do love all the beautiful and inspiring photos. Instagram has shown me that there are even more amazing places around the world then I could ever have dreamed of and some of them are in my own back yard. Others are so obscure or remote they may as well be on the moon…
I’ve been fortunate enough to have visited half of the cities and all but one of the locations on the 2017 list of the most-Instagrammed cities and locations in the world, though some of the visits took place prior to my joining social media. Have you been to all the cities on this list? If not, how many have you been to?
One of the absolute best cities in the world! Every time I start thinking that maybe I’m tired of it or that it’s lost its charm I go back for another visit and fall in love all over again! In fact I’m overdue for another visit…
I LOVE London, absolutely love it, and while it’s hard to choose a #1 favorite city, I think it has to be the ONE! No matter how many days we allow for London, it’s never enough. Fish and chips, mushy peas, clotted cream, a millennia of fascinating history, those charming accents, shopping, royalty, English breakfast tea, Hunter boots, English taxi cabs, the tube, theater and I could go on and on…
Sometimes referred to as The City of Love, Paris is definitely moving up on my Favorite Cities list, but it wasn’t love at first sight. In fact, It wasn’t until my third visit, that I really came to realize what, many other people already feel: I love Paris!
While some might complain that it’s too big, too smoggy, or too congested, I do LOVE LA, and there’s a reason 47 + million people found a reason to visit last year. With mild weather and endless possibilities it’s no wonder that Los Angeles is the heart of Southern California.
When I asked my boys what they like most about our time spent traveling in Europe their answer was, “Living the Barcelona lifestyle!” they love the late nights, later mornings and naps or rest time in the middle of the day. Geez, who wouldn’t?!
The other five cities in the top 10 were: Moscow, Russia (2), Sao Paulo, Brazil (4), Saint Petersburg, Russia (7), Jakarta, Indonesia (8), Istanbul, Turkey (9)
They don’t have call it the Happiest Place on Earth for nothing! Yes, it’s crowded, yes, it’s expensive, and yes, despite those things I absolutely love the Magic Kingdom. Checkout my tips and tricks for a successful visit to Disneyland.
If you’ve never been to Times Square it’s just got to be on your itinerary! Yes, It’s crowded and yes, it’s loud and chaotic, but it’s also fantastic, exciting, and a true spectacle worth witnessing!
(view of Central Park from the Temple of Dendur at the Metropolitan Museum of Art)
Located inside the Egyptian exhibition is the Temple of Dendur gallery, which has floor to ceiling windows overlooking Central Park. Did you know you can go fishing in Central Park?
It was out last night in Paris, and not knowing when I might return to the City of Light, I had a sudden desire to see the Eiffel Tower lit up one last time. Having no car, we decided to hire a taxi and asked the driver to take us somewhere we would have a great view. I guess he decided the best view was just under the Tower itself!
While we didn’t go inside the Louvre on our most recent Paris visit, we did find time to wander the gardens nearby. There’s just something about Paris that makes me know I’ll be back.
Down under the Brooklyn Bridge is a fabulous place to see fireworks on the Fourth of July. We’ve done it twice, but believe it or not I’ve still never walked across.
We always start our Disney day out at California Adventure, which is located just across the Plaza from Disneyland. Its home to all our favorite Marvel heroes, Pixar friends, and our favorite lunch spot!
The photographer in me was looking for night shots of the famous Las Vegas Strip, but our visit to the Eiffel Tower Experience, at the Paris Hotel and Casino, was a win for the entire family! Once you arrive on top, you’ll be 460 feet up, which means sweeping views of not only the Strip, but also the entire city!
The location I haven’t been to is: Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo, Japan (5), but it’s on my list!
…But Now I Want To Do That!
I’ve never visited a city based purely on an Instagram post, but give me time because I have a feeling it might happen, and hopefully sooner than later. Especially now that I have the trusted advice of some of my fellow travel bloggers to go along with all those gorgeous photos.
What I have done, on more than one occasion, is visit a location after seeing it posted. I’ve rarely been disappointed, but I do keep my expectations in check. Have you ever visited a place after seeing it on Instagram? Did the reality meet your expectations?
Here are just a few of the amazing destinations I’ve discovered via some of my favorite bloggers/Instagrammers. Take a look maybe you’ll discover somewhere new…
I’d never heard of Matera, Italy before reading about it on Suitcases and Sandcastles Instagram feed, but now that I have I’m completely rethinking my next overseas destination. It sounds so magical. I’d be surprised if you don’t add it to your list after reading more about it on Clare’s blog.
Norway was never even on my list, until I saw these summertime pics taken by Erin at Oregon Girl Around the World. As soon as I saw those striking red buildings I was smitten and after reading further about her northern adventures I hope to make it to this part of the world sooner than later. Check out Erin’s blog for more amazing photos and information about this northern wonderland.
Slovenia is another place that wasn’t really on my travel radar until I entered the world of blogging, but now that I’ve been reading more about it I would love to find my way there someday… Read more about this lovely spot on Untold Morsel’s blog or check out her Instagram page for even more photo inspiration.
Maybe it’s because I live by the beach, but I grew up in the forest, and we always want what we don’t have. Beyond an afternoon in Philadelphia I’ve spent little time in Pennsylvania. Thanks to Corey at Fifi & Hop I’ve been reminded that there is still so much of the USA that I have yet to explore. You can read more about Skytop here.
Slovenia again! A castle in the middle of a lake surrounded by beauty on all sides… A visit here would feel like something straight out of a fairytale! Read more about this magical place on Lorelei’s blog California Globetrotter, or check out her Instagram page.
Reading about Daisy The Bus and her family’s adventures to off the beaten path locations is always a treat, and you’re guaranteed to learn about somewhere new! Read more about them here.
And finally, in my own backyard… I love to see LA from different points of view and one of my favorites is Travel Hobbyist. She’s shown me that no matter how much I explore, or I think I know about my own city there is always more to see and discover.
Speaking of more to discover… have you checked out hilarystyle’s Instagram page? Come visit to see some of my favorite photos, and learn more about our many LA Adventures.
Summer break has finally arrived, and here in Southern California tourist season is in full swing. Did you know that according to the LA Tourism and Convention board 48.3 million tourists visited LA in 2017?! That’s a lot of visitors, and all of them are eating, but where?
Eating is one of travels greatest joys, but it can also be one of the most frustrating. How do you avoid the more touristy establishments and pinpoint the best places. You’re in luck if you plan on visiting Los Angeles because I’ve got you covered, and I’ll be sharing some of my favorite LA eating establishments with you on this week’s edition of Faraway Files.
Katy and Erin hosted last week, and Katy’s favorites were:
This is the place to link up your travel posts every Thursday. Faraway Files is a weekly file of the best travel ideas on the web. We want to dream of faraway places, to make new travel plans and share our travel secrets. Inspire us to travel to places we’ve never considered before or revisit a place we thought we knew. We know that you can feel faraway even when you’re close to home, so share your experiences of travels near and far wherever you are in the world.
Don’t forget to comment on the hosts’ posts as well as any others that catch your eye. The more links you read and share the more fun and successful our community will be, so please join in.
We’ll try to read and comment on every post and we’ll share them on social media too. Each week we’ll choose our favourites and highlight them on our blogs and social media channels using #FarawayFiles.
How it works:
Link up one travel-related post and add the Faraway Files badge onto the post or your blog (code below) or link back to the hosts.
The link up will go live every Thursday at 8am, UK time, until midnight on Friday. It will alternate between Untold Morsels, Suitcases and Sandcastles, Fifi + Hop, HilaryStyle and Oregon Girl around the World. This week’s link up is right here.
Link ups work best if everyone shares so please comment on all of the marked hosts’ posts and at least one other.
Tweet us your posts (@suitandsand, @UntoldMorsels, @oregongirlworld @fifiandhop @hilarystyleme) using the hashtag #FarawayFiles and we’ll retweet to our followers.
Love Instagram? Share your favourite photos from your posts with us, tagging #FarawayFiles and we’ll add our favourites to our Faraway Files Instagram feed.
Discovering the culinary delights of a new destination is one of the joys of travel, but it’s not always easy. How do you avoid the more touristy establishments and pinpoint the best places when you have limited time? This can be particularly difficult in larger cities where the vast number of choices can make it hard to choose and more often than not you end up disappointed.
A Taste of Los Angeles
You never have to hit the same restaurant twice in a city the size of Los Angeles, and I got to wondering… Just how many dining choices are there? So I asked Google, and it turns out the answer isn’t completely clear. Though what is clear, are that many of them sell doughnuts! “Seriously though” the most common answer was around 20,000 ish, so for the purposes of this post we’ll go with that.
Sidecar’s Pina Colada Doughnut
Based on that very “accurate” number I estimate that if you dine out three meals a day 7 days a week it would take 18 years to eat at every dining establishment in LA! Precisely why this list won’t try to tell you the Best Of, but rather some of my favorites, a taste if you will, and a small one at that. After all I’m only two years in!
I should also say, that while I do love to eat, I don’t love to take photos of my food, but have done my best to try and convey the deliciousness.
Life is short so dessert first!
Sidecar Doughnuts
Location: 631 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica
warm from the oven huckleberry doughnut
Sidecar Doughnuts is our favorite Westside doughnut shop, and we’ve tried a few! We aren’t the only ones who love them, so be prepared for a long line. I promise you it’s worth the wait they’re baked fresh all day long.
Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken
Location: 516 W 6th Street Los Angeles
Maple Bacon & Flavor of the month
Fried chicken and honey w/honey butter
Astro Doughnuts and Fried Chicken is our new favorite Downtown LA doughnut shop. I’m glad this place isn’t closer to home because the food was so good I know I’d be there every chance I got!
Somi Somi
Location: 621 S. Western Ave (upstairs)
Tayaki with fruity pebbles
We love Somi Somi in Koreatown for Taiyaki, a fish shaped pastry with a texture somewhere between a waffle cone and a pancake and do our best to enjoy it whenever possible. Traditionally filled with red bean paste, custard and Nutella are other popular options.
Compartes
Location(s): 912 S. Barrington Avenue, Los Angeles 10250 Santa Monica Blvd #1625 at the Westfield Century City Mall
Dark Graffiti
Fred Segal Collaboration
California Love Chocolate bar
Not a meal exactly, but Compartes chocolate bars are so filled with goodness they very well could be! They’re literally bursting with deliciousness. An LA institution since the 1950s these fabulous chocolate bars are a mixture of art, style, and design. Often partnering with other iconic LA brands these are some of the most luxurious and fashionable chocolate bars you’ll ever have the occasion to eat.
Milk Shop
Location(s): 7290 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles & 1639 Silver Lake Blvd., Los Angeles
Grasshopper Macaron Ice Cream Sandwiches
Cookies & Cream Bar
Macaron with cream milk ice cream and fruity pebbles
Cookie dough to go!
Milk Shop is an old fashioned ice cream parlor and bake shop with a modern day twist! Not only were the treats Insta worthy, but they were delicious. I couldn’t resist the cookie dough to go, yes please!
Sunday Chocolate Tea
Location: Langham Hotel 1401 South Oak Knoll Avenue, Pasadena
Chocolate Fountain
The Sunday Chocolate tea at the Langham is a real treat! You’ll know you’re in the right place when you smell the chocolate, you’ll turn left at the chocolate fountain, the centerpiece of the all you can eat chocolate buffet. In addition to chocolate you’ll be treated to traditional tea sandwiches, scones and cream, and bottomless champagne. Oh, and yes multiple tea selections are available as well.
Chocolate fountain treats
Tea Sandwiches
Bottomless Champagne or Sparkling Rose
Work off all that chocolate playing lawn games in the Horseshoe Garden including, croquet, frisbee golf, and badminton.
Bean Bag Toss in the Horseshoe Garden
Croquet on the Horseshoe Lawn
Langham Gardens
Tea service is held everyday of the week, however the Chocolate Tea is only held on Sundays. Reservations are required.
Smitten Ice Cream
Location: 10250 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles
Cookie dough with brown sugar caramel
Churned to order and paired with delicious toppings we are smitten with Smitten.
Mini Monster Milk Tea
Location: Universal City Walk, Universal City
Mini Monster Bubble Tea and Strawberry Lemonade
If you love bubble tea (I do!) and cute things, then you’ll want to stop in at Mini Monster! Their delicious boba is served in your choice of unique and reusable jars in various fun shapes!
Cookie Good
Location: 2448 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica
S’mores Cookie
We took a bite of every one!
The cookies here are so delicious we bought a dozen different flavors and took a bite of every single one!
Pie Hole Location: 714 Traction Ave Downtown Los Angeles
Whether you like it savory or sweet you’ll be guaranteed a unique and tasty treat at the Pie Hole. With 5+ locations throughout the greater LA area you have no excuses!
Lark Bake Shop
Location: 3337 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles
Eat Cake Be Happy
We stopped in Lark Cake Shop at the request of the kids, and thankfully we were in the mood to say yes! The Ice Box Cake was so delightful we considered going back for a second round.
Suberba Food & Bread
Location: 1900 S Lincoln Blvd.Venice
Fried chicken sandwich
I’ve yet to try something at Superba that I didn’t love! The vibe is all Venice complete with an urban garden out back. Try to resist the bakery counter, I dare you.
The Wee Chippy
Location: 1301 Ocean Front Walk, Venice
BEST fries I’ve ever had!
Located on Westminster just off Ocean Front Walk at Venice Beach, the Wee Chippy is a walk up fish and chips joint, owned by a Scottish fellow. The fish is great, but the chips are easily the best I’ve ever had. Anywhere!
Okay, this isn’t actually a photo of Groundwork, or coffee, but it is just across from the front door! We love to stop at their beach front location during our morning bike rides. My favorite blend is Lucky Jack.
Get the Spanish Latte! I promise you won’t be disappointed when you taste this delicious coffee concoction! Seriously, what are you waiting for? Go there! Then take your coffee for a walk along the beach!
Gelina’s Take Away GTA
Location: 1429 Abbot Kinney Boulevard
Gelina Take Away Meatballs
Gelina’s meatballs are almost a right of passage, but securing a table at one of LA’s most popular eating establishments can be challenging. No need to miss out though they’re available next door at the Gelina Take Away counter!
Wabi
Location:1635 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Los Angeles
Poke Bowl
The interior of Wabi on Abbot Kinney Blvd.
Lunch Special @wabi
We love everything about Wabi from decor so beautiful we want to move in, to the fabulous food and top notch service. Dinner can be pricey and requires a reservation, but lunch time walk-ins are welcome and much easier on the pocketbook.
Hatchet Hall
Location: 12517 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles
We love the quirky decor, bustling atmosphere and fabulous service at Hatchett Hall, but it was these rolls that really won me over! I just can’t stop thinking about them!
Esters Wine Shop & Bar
Location: 1314 Seventh Street, Santa Monica
Charcuterie platter & curried cashews
Esters is my absolute favorite place and I love everything about it. The service is excellent and unpretentious, the food is creative and delicious, and the atmosphere is welcoming and cozy. Get the curried cashews, you’ll be hard pressed not to pour them directly into your mouth.
Sugarfish
Location: 1345 2nd Street, Santa Monica
simplicity = perfection @sugarfish
The menu and presentation at Sugarfish couldn’t be simpler, and the food couldn’t be more delicious. Go early for the best chance at a table and the chance to sample sushi perfection.
Kazu Nori
Location: 120 Broadway #104, Santa Monica
Kazu Nori is small and it’s popular, so get there early, or be prepared to wait. The menu consists of one thing: hand rolls. They’re made to order and to delicious perfection.
Forma Restaurant & Cheese Bar
Location: 1610 Montana Avenue
Butternut squash risotto
If you love cheese, Forma Restaurant & Cheese Bar is the place for you, their cheese menu is extensive, but its the main dishes prepared inside a giant wheel of cheese, yes I said a giant wheel of cheese that keep me coming back! Excuse the poor photo, but trust me it was delicious!
Back on the Beach Cafe
Location: 445 Pacific Coast Highway, Santa Monica
Sunset at Back on the Beach Cafe
Views for days, toes in the sand dining and delicious food are all waiting for you at Back on the Beach Cafe. Kids will love the playground just next door!
Stay cozy inside on a stormy day or eat out when the sun is shinning, either way the Malibu Farm Cafe Restaurant is the perfect little breakfast spot! Locals only! Just kidding, but do check this place out if you’re looking for something a little less touristy.
Neptune’s Net
Location: 42505 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu
Fish & chips, motorcycles, and gorgeous ocean views! Need I say more? You’ll find Neptune’s Net just a short drive up the beautiful Pacific Coast Highway.
Eataly
Location: 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles
Eataly is overflowing with deliciousness
A meal at Eataly is a dining experience like no other. Deciding which of the fabulous restaurants you want to dine at won’t be easy, they’re all amazing. Consider an early lunch for the best chance at a table without a wait.
Din Tai Fung
Location: 10250 Santa Monica Blvd, Level 2 Los Angeles
Soup Dumpling
Cucumber Salad
It’s a dumpling experience! More than a decade after eating at Din Tai Fung for the first time I can still say I’ve never had any that were better! Go there!
Furaibo
Location: 2068 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles
These chicken wings are AMAZING!
You’ll find Furaibo in LA’s Japantown, not to be confused with Little Tokyo. They are famous for their Japanese style chicken wings, which are AMAZING!
Bonus: There is parking in the back.
Hurry Curry of Tokyo
Location: 2131 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles
If you’re looking for a unique Japanese cuisine experience Hurry Curry of Tokyo located in Japantown is the place! I’m obsessed with the white sauce.
Pink’s Hot Dogs
Location: 709 N La Brea Ave, Los Angeles
Pink’s famous chili cheese dog
No trip to Los Angeles would be complete without a trip to Pink’s a true LA institution! Famous for it’s chili cheese dog, Pink’s has been in the same spot on La Brea Avenue for 77 years and if the perpetually long line is any indication, it’s not going anywhere.
Laurel Hardware
Location: 7984 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood
Don’t be fooled by the exterior when you pull up outside Laurel Hardware, one of West Hollywoods most trendy eateries. It may look like an old hardware store from the outside, but the inside is gorgeous and the food is delicious, as are the cocktails.
Canter’s Deli
Location: 419 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles
Pastrami on rye
High Hat Cupcake
Canter’s, an LA institution, has been serving up their award winning pastrami sandwiches and other deli fare since 1931. Beyond pastrami, other favorites on my list are the Mish Mash Soup, and the High Hat, which is basically a cupcake married to a ding dong! Delicious!
Jon and Vinny’s
Location: 412 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles
Excellent food, service and celebrity sightings are what you can expect at Jon and Vinny’s. No wonder it’s consistently listed as one of LA’s top restaurants. Getting a table can be tough, so book ahead, or consider a late lunch when you might even be able to walk right in.
Gracias Madre
Location: 8905 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood
Almost too pretty to drink
Almost too pretty to drink
Let me say upfront that I am not a vegan or a vegetarian, but I LOVED my dining experience at Gracias Madre a plant based Mexican restaurant. The “fish” tacos were some of the best I’ve had as was the guacamole. The service is perfect as is the atmosphere, which is so lovely I’d consider living there. Oh, and the drinks… almost too pretty, but we managed it.
Gracias Madre is a vegan restaurant.
Brothers Korean BBQ
Location: 3680 W 6th St, Los Angeles
Brothers Korean BBQ is our family’s go to for special occasions. My favorite part is the banchan (sides) that come with your meal.
Wurstkuche
Location: 800 E. 3rd Street @Traction Avenue, Los Angeles
Wurstkuche’s exotic sausages and delicious fries are a savory and popular treat. There is a constant line out the door, but don’t be fooled you’ll find a large amount of communal seating in the back.
Manuela
Location: 907 E 3rd Street, Los Angeles
Roasted cauliflowerHalawi date vinegar, almonds
Cream biscuits with honey butter and country ham
Located in the heart of DTLA’s Arts District, Manuela, is one of my new favorite places. The perfect place to stop in for a mouth watering bite in-between hunting for street art and poking in and out of the area’s fun one of a kind shops and galleries.
Cole’s Originators of the French Dip Sandwich
Location: 118 East 6th Street, Downtown Los Angeles, Los Angeles
The original French Dip sandwich
Portrait of a root beer float
If you’re a French Dip fan you won’t want to miss a visit to Cole’s the very place the sandwich was invented in 1908!
Cole’s is a bar, but children are welcome.
Otium LA
Location: 222 South Hope Street, Los Angeles
Otium’s roast chicken and crispy potatoes
Txakolina
I almost never order chicken when dining out, but I make an exception at Otium LA also, the crispy potatoes are beyond description. I love any place that has my favorite Spanish wine on the menu!
Smorgasburg
Location: 777 Alameda Street, Los Angeles
Bánh mì hot dog @smorgasburgLA
Looking for something a bit more eclectic? Consider Smorgasburg LA a weekly Sunday food market with a wide variety of local vendors offering everything from bánh mì hotdogs and spiral fries to boba and french macarons.
2 hours free parking at The Row.
Alfred Coffee
Location: 3337 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles (Multiple Locations)
Alfred Cold Brew
Avocado Toast
If you ask me Alfred Coffee has their priorities straight, because, while it may be cliche, as far as I’m concerned nothing happens before coffee! With locations all over town, including a tea room, you’ll be able to get your priorities straight as well! Oh, and Avocado toast!
Pine & Crane
Location: 1521 Griffith Park Blvd, Los Angeles
Pork Dumplings
Pine & Crane is a delicious Taiwanese restaurant in the heart of LA’s Silver Lake neighborhood. The food is fresh, delicious and affordable!
More than 1500 words over my self imposed limit I’m going to end this list knowing that there are many fun and delicious places I have yet to share… I hope you enjoy these food finds as much as I do! Please do let me know if you’ve tried any of these places or have any you’d like to share.
Having visited England, and more specifically London, numerous times it was only recently that I started exploring outside the Capital. I wasn’t willing to “sacrifice” what I considered limited and precious London time when there was so much to see within the city limits. My Things To Do in London list is still a mile long, but I’ve now checked off many of the city’s main attractions, so it made sense to start devoting time to exploring further afield.
The gorgeous city of Bath
Have you checked all your London to dos off your list, are you considering adventures outside London Town? These six day trips can all easily be completed within one day, and all are within just a few hours of Central London.
6 Day Trips from London
Warner Brothers Studios London: The Making of Harry Potter
Location: Leavesden
Distance from Central London: 21 miles / 33 kilometers
Our entire family loves the Harry Potter movies, yet somehow we were surprised at how much we loved our visit to the Warner Brothers Studios The Making of Harry Potter. This was so much more than we expected! Yes, even having visited other Harry Potter related places!
Hogwarts Castle
Our visit took place during the festive season, and everything within the Studios was decorated beautifully. From the holiday feast and Christmas puddings upon the tables in the Great Hall to the magical Christmas trees and snow throughout.
Hogwarts in the snow
Along the way you’ll have a chance to see and learn about the making of just about everything involved with all 8 films. There are many interactive experiences at the studio from flying a broomstick to riding on Hagrid’s motorbike. Take your time and keep your eyes open because magic is happening everywhere!
Go for a ride on Hagrid’s motorbike
Wondering what it would be like to go inside Dumbledore’s Office, ride the Hogwarts Express, or explore The Ministry of Magic, maybe you fancy a walk through the Dark Forest? Guess what? You can! There were many moments during our day at WB Studios London that felt magical, and while I want to share them all, I don’t want to give away all the secrets!
Platform 9 3/4
Advance purchase tickets are required. If you don’t have a car getting to the WB Studios outside of London can be challenging. After weighing all our transportation options we went with convenience. We hired a private car through the Golden Tours website.
Location: Windsor
Distance from Central London: 22 miles / 35 Kilometers
Now of course everyone’s idea of a magical day out differs, but if you love all things fairytale including castles, royals and history you’ll definitely want to consider a trip to Windsor Castle.
The Round Tower at Sunset
Built in 1070 by William the Conqueror, Windsor Castle is the largest and oldest inhabited castle in the world. A visit here means you’ll be walking in the footsteps of 40 different monarchs over the course of almost 1000 years.
The Quadrangle Windsor Castle
As you can imagine there is a lot to see and do at Windsor Castle. Your ticket includes a tour of the State Apartments, Queen Mary’s Dolls House, A 30 minute Precinct Tour, St. George’s Chapel, and an audio guide. Allow plenty of time!
Waiting in line to enter the State Apartments
St, George’s Chapel was the venue for the recent wedding of the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The current chapel is over 500 years old, and is the final resting place of many members of the royal family.
St. George’s Chapel Windsor
Queen Mary’s Dollhouse is a replica of a Georgian town house and was built to showcase what aristocratic life might have been like in the 1920s. Everything within the dollhouse is operational and it is complete with working lights, and running water.
Royal Collection Trust/(C)Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2017.
Your visit to The State Apartments starts begins at the Grand Staircase and includes 23 beautiful and very ornate rooms. Each one filled with priceless works of art and furniture collected over centuries.
Christmas tree in St George’s Hall, Windsor Castle Royal Collection Trust / (c) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2017
Windsor Castle is open all year round, but is still very much in use by the Royal Family. Do check the official website for operating days and times. The town of Windsor is 30 minutes by train from London’s Paddington station. The Windsor & Eton Riverside station is the closest stop to the Castle, and is only a few minutes walk from the Castle. Purchase your tickets online in advance. Alternatively you can wait in a very long line.
Interior photos are not allowed within Windsor Castle, however for the purposes of this post I did source photos via PicSelect and have noted wherever they’ve been used, otherwise all photos are my own.
Location: Edenbridge
Distance from Central London: 30 miles/ 48 kilometers
I’ve always been fascinated by Tudor history and royal life in general, so I couldn’t have been more excited about our visit to Hever Castle the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, the 2nd wife of King Henry VIII and mother to Queen Elizabeth I.
Over the course of it’s 700 year history Hever castle has been home to 37 different owners including another of Henry VIII’s wives, Anne of Cleves (wife number four), and William Waldorf Astor who was the richest man in America.
The Center of the Maze
You’ll find something for everyone at Hever Castle and depending on the time of year there are special events. During our visit we found time to tour the castle, visit Father Christmas, and explore the castle gardens including navigating the yew maze. The castle has multiple restaurants to choose from, and an adventure playground that will appeal to the younger ones in your group.
Check the official website for operating hours and special events. Hever Castle is located 3 miles southeast of Edenbridge off the B2026 between Sevenoaks and East Grinstead in the village of Hever.
Location: Uckfield
Distance from Central London: 61.5 miles/98.9 killometers
I was beyond delighted to discover that the famous forest from the classic children’s tale, Winnie the Pooh, is an actual place! Having read the books, sung the songs, and watched the Disney movies countless times I’d never given much thought to the idea that the Hundred Acre Wood might actually be real. Now that we knew, we had to go there!
The Hundred Aker Wood
“You can’t stay in your corner of the forest waiting for other’s to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.” – Piglet
Our adventures through the 100 Aker Wood included the Poohsticks Bridge, Owl’s House, Roo’s Sandy Pit, The Enchanted Place, Galleon’s Lap, and Pooh Corner. The last stop, Pooh’s Corner, is a quaint little tea house and gift shop where one can find all things Pooh related including books, toys and other keepsakes.
Owl’s House
We had a most magical day exploring the forest with our friends, and making excellent use of our wellies!
On our way to Poohsticks Bridge
Ashdown Forest can be reached via train, bus, or car. Directions are available via the official website.
Location: Salisbury
Distance from Central London: 88 miles / 141 Kilometers
Stonehenge was a place I’d always wanted to see, but somehow always felt that getting there was too complicated. Now that I’ve made the trek, I will say it is definitely worth it, but I admit it is complicated.
Frost on the stones
Although you can’t touch, or walk right up to stones, the walkway encircling them allows you to get pretty close. Our early arrival on a cold winter morning meant less people, and I was able to get all the photos I wanted.
An early morning visit at Stonehenge
The visitor Center at Stonehenge is really well done, with interactive exhibitions, a cafe, and of course a gift shop. While there you’ll learn all about the origin of Stonehenge and although it’s true purpose is still a mystery, we were interested to learn that they do know quite a lot.
Operating hours and tickets can be found on the official website. Consider arriving early for shorter lines and the best photo opportunities.
Location: Somerset
Distance from Central London: 115 miles / 185 Kilometers
Our visit to Bath was actually by default when we paired it with our visit to Stonehenge. Ancient history and beautiful architecture around every corner we wished for more time in such a gorgeous city! In hindsight we should have allowed more time…
Pulteney Bridge
Wishing for more time doesn’t mean that we didn’t make the most of what we had. We were able to visit The Roman Baths, Bath Abbey, The Royal Crescent and Sally Lunn Buns before our afternoon ended.
Interior of Bath Abbey
During a tour of the Roman baths you’ll see a combination of ruins and modern displays depicting what the complex would have looked like almost 2000 years ago. I was fascinated to learn that the flow of water is 250,000 gallons per day at a temperature of 115°F.
The Roman Baths
Edgar, the first king of England was crowned at Bath Abbey over 1000 years ago, and you’ll find a plaque commemorating the occasion on the floor of the abbey.
Bath Abbey
One of the hardest things about traveling to a place for only one afternoon is working out just what to see and eat, and hoping you don’t choose wrong. Thankfully we had a few insider tips, which led us to Sally Lunn’s The buns are so large we bought two and shared them. Unable to decide which topping to try, we chose two: Cinnamon butter and lemon curd.
Sally Lunn Bath Bunn
The Royal Crescent at 500 feet long consists of 30 terraced houses, and is considered to be one of the greatest examples of Georgian Architecture in the United Kingdom. Due to it’s historical and architectural importance the building is protected and for the most part the exterior remains unchanged from when it was built.
While we did purchase our tickets to the Roman Baths in advance we mistakenly thought showing them on our mobile device would be sufficient. Be sure to print them out prior to your arrival.
Bath Abbey is located just next to the Roman Baths.
The Royal Crescent Museum at No. 1 is open to the public depending on the time of year. Check the official website for operating hours.
Loading InLinkz ...
