Jenny Hardy
By Christi Daugherty with Jill Emeny
Nothing tops a family day out more than a carefully prepared picnic, be it simple sandwiches or other tasty treats picked up in a local market or deli on the way. Finding the ideal picnic stop for a family on-the-go isn't always easy. Here are five trip ideas that combine a fun day out for the family with perfect picnic spots.
Get more trip ideas from Frommer's Best Day Trips From London.
Photo Caption: The Italian gardens at Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, in Kent, England
The grounds at Leeds Castle go on for miles, and at lunchtime, you'll have no problem finding a good spot for a picnic. Choose from the formal gardens, by the lake, or in the shade. If you're lucky, you'll see hot-air balloons taking off while you eat.
This 9th-century fortress was once frequented by royalty including Henry VIII and his first queen, Catherine of Aragon. In 1926, it became the private home of Lady Olive Baillie, an Anglo-American heiress who restored some of Leeds to its medieval splendor.
Today, there is much to see and do: wander the halls and rooms of the castle, visit the state-of-the-art aviary and the bizarre Dog Collar Museum, with 400 hundred years of canine accessories. A maze -- made of 2,400 yew trees -- follows a simple puzzle path leading to a grotto filled with mythical beasts crafted from shells and minerals.
Leeds Castle (tel. 01622/765-400; www.leeds-castle.com) is open April through September daily 10am to 5pm, closing at 4pm at all other times. Admission costs £19.75 for adults, £17.50 for seniors and students, and £12.50 for children 4 to 15. Your ticket is good for repeat visits.
How to Get There: The closest train station is Bearsted, about 7 miles (11km) away from the castle. Trains leave Victoria every 30 minutes and the journey takes just over an hour. From March to October a shuttle bus service takes visitors from Bearsted station to the castle for £5 return.
Photo Caption: Leeds Castle near Maidstone in Kent, England
The river is bounded by grass-covered banks that lead off into nearby meadows. Two of Cambridge's most famous landmarks -- the Wren Library and King's Chapel -- are especially impressive when viewed across the grassy expanse. This is a wonderful place to stop for lunch, especially in summer when there is a carnival-like atmosphere along the busy river. A good place to pick up food is Market Square, a lively open-air market selling fresh produce, plants, and books.
The River Cam is perfect for "punting" -- pushing a flat-bottom boat along with a long pole. It's simple once you get the hang of it, but watching inexperienced punters plunge head-first into the river is a popular form of local entertainment. Rent a boat from Scudamore's Punting Company at its Magdalene Bridge or Mill Lane stations (tel. 01223/359750; www.scudamores.com), and try it for yourself. Punts cost £18 per hour (maximum of six people per boat).
How to Get There: The quickest journey from London to Cambridge is from King's Cross, it takes 45 minutes to 1 hour. Trains from Liverpool Street station take around 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Photo Caption: The River Cam is filled with punters.
For a quick escape from the busy town into bucolic settings, take to the riverside for a picnic lunch and a walk into the countryside. In St. Aldate's Street, you'll find entrances to Christ Church Meadow, a wildflower-strewn meadow with walking paths that follow the rivers Thames and Cherwell. After making your way through the tall grass, find a spot with a view of Oxford's spires to spread out a blanket and relax. You can stock up on provisions for a picnic in the covered market on Cornmarket Street, or get sandwiches and soup at Mortons on Broad Street (tel. 01865/200-860).
Though somewhat off the main tourist track, kids may enjoy the curiosities at the University Museum of Natural History (tel. 01865/272-950; www.oum.ox.ac.uk) and the Pitt Rivers Museum (tel. 01865/270-927; www.prm.ox.ac.uk). The venerable Natural History Museum (open daily 10am-5pm) shows off dinosaur skeletons and other wonders in a glass-roofed Victorian hall. The Pitt Rivers Museum (open Tues-Sun 10am-4:30pm and Mon noon-4:30pm), entered from the Natural History museum, houses half a million objects in old-fashioned cases, including 150 pieces collected during Captain Cook's second voyage, from 1773 to 1774. Both museums are free to enter.
How to Get There: First Great Western trains run from London Paddington to Oxford every 30 minutes, the journey takes around 1 hour.
Photo Caption: The grounds at Christchurch Meadows in Oxford, England
Southsea's seafront parade overlooks a vast pebble beach and has two piers, including a large amusement park. There is plenty of traditional seaside fun to be had here, and it is close by to Portsmouth and the attractions of its historic dockyard.
If you arrive in the morning, start your day at the Historic Dockyard at Victory Gate (tel. 02392/839-766; www.historicdockyard.co.uk). The main highlight for many will be the HMS Victory, the oldest commissioned warship in the world. The vessel was launched in 1765 and earned its fame in the Battle of Trafalgar.
The Mary Rose Museum (tel. 02392/812-931; www.maryrose.org) houses the remains of Henry VIII's ship that sank in the Solent in 1545. The ship was recovered 450 years later, and on display is an array of weaponry including cannons, daggers, swords, longbows, and arrows (some still in shooting order). A new boat-shaped museum, built as part of a multi-million heritage project, will open in late 2012. Also at the Dockyard is the National Museum of the Royal Navy, which is filled with enormous displays on battles and heroes of the seas.
From the harbor, follow the Millennium Promenade Walk, a marked 2-mile (3-km) waterfront walking route linking Portsmouth Harbor with atmospheric Old Portsmouth and Southsea. The path is well marked, and has distinctive blue streetlights along the route. Stop for lunch on the beach before an afternoon enjoying the seafront amusements.
How to Get There: Catch a train from London Waterloo to Portsmouth & Southsea (for the town) and Portsmouth Harbor (for the Historic Dockyard). Trains run every 30 minutes and the trip takes 1 hour, 30 minutes. There's also an hourly train from Victoria, but that journey takes 2 hours.
Photo Caption: The sailing ship in the Historic Dockyard of Portsmouth, England
Nothing tops a family day out more than a carefully prepared picnic, be it simple sandwiches or other tasty treats picked up in a local market or deli on the way. Finding the ideal picnic stop for a family on-the-go isn't always easy. Here are five trip ideas that combine a fun day out for the family with perfect picnic spots.
Get more trip ideas from Frommer's Best Day Trips From London.
Photo Caption: The Italian gardens at Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, in Kent, England
This 9th-century fortress was once frequented by royalty including Henry VIII and his first queen, Catherine of Aragon. In 1926, it became the private home of Lady Olive Baillie, an Anglo-American heiress who restored some of Leeds to its medieval splendor.
Today, there is much to see and do: wander the halls and rooms of the castle, visit the state-of-the-art aviary and the bizarre Dog Collar Museum, with 400 hundred years of canine accessories. A maze -- made of 2,400 yew trees -- follows a simple puzzle path leading to a grotto filled with mythical beasts crafted from shells and minerals.
Leeds Castle (tel. 01622/765-400; www.leeds-castle.com) is open April through September daily 10am to 5pm, closing at 4pm at all other times. Admission costs £19.75 for adults, £17.50 for seniors and students, and £12.50 for children 4 to 15. Your ticket is good for repeat visits.
How to Get There: The closest train station is Bearsted, about 7 miles (11km) away from the castle. Trains leave Victoria every 30 minutes and the journey takes just over an hour. From March to October a shuttle bus service takes visitors from Bearsted station to the castle for £5 return.
Photo Caption: Leeds Castle near Maidstone in Kent, England
The River Cam is perfect for "punting" -- pushing a flat-bottom boat along with a long pole. It's simple once you get the hang of it, but watching inexperienced punters plunge head-first into the river is a popular form of local entertainment. Rent a boat from Scudamore's Punting Company at its Magdalene Bridge or Mill Lane stations (tel. 01223/359750; www.scudamores.com), and try it for yourself. Punts cost £18 per hour (maximum of six people per boat).
How to Get There: The quickest journey from London to Cambridge is from King's Cross, it takes 45 minutes to 1 hour. Trains from Liverpool Street station take around 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Photo Caption: The River Cam is filled with punters.
Though somewhat off the main tourist track, kids may enjoy the curiosities at the University Museum of Natural History (tel. 01865/272-950; www.oum.ox.ac.uk) and the Pitt Rivers Museum (tel. 01865/270-927; www.prm.ox.ac.uk). The venerable Natural History Museum (open daily 10am-5pm) shows off dinosaur skeletons and other wonders in a glass-roofed Victorian hall. The Pitt Rivers Museum (open Tues-Sun 10am-4:30pm and Mon noon-4:30pm), entered from the Natural History museum, houses half a million objects in old-fashioned cases, including 150 pieces collected during Captain Cook's second voyage, from 1773 to 1774. Both museums are free to enter.
How to Get There: First Great Western trains run from London Paddington to Oxford every 30 minutes, the journey takes around 1 hour.
Photo Caption: The grounds at Christchurch Meadows in Oxford, England
If you arrive in the morning, start your day at the Historic Dockyard at Victory Gate (tel. 02392/839-766; www.historicdockyard.co.uk). The main highlight for many will be the HMS Victory, the oldest commissioned warship in the world. The vessel was launched in 1765 and earned its fame in the Battle of Trafalgar.
The Mary Rose Museum (tel. 02392/812-931; www.maryrose.org) houses the remains of Henry VIII's ship that sank in the Solent in 1545. The ship was recovered 450 years later, and on display is an array of weaponry including cannons, daggers, swords, longbows, and arrows (some still in shooting order). A new boat-shaped museum, built as part of a multi-million heritage project, will open in late 2012. Also at the Dockyard is the National Museum of the Royal Navy, which is filled with enormous displays on battles and heroes of the seas.
From the harbor, follow the Millennium Promenade Walk, a marked 2-mile (3-km) waterfront walking route linking Portsmouth Harbor with atmospheric Old Portsmouth and Southsea. The path is well marked, and has distinctive blue streetlights along the route. Stop for lunch on the beach before an afternoon enjoying the seafront amusements.
How to Get There: Catch a train from London Waterloo to Portsmouth & Southsea (for the town) and Portsmouth Harbor (for the Historic Dockyard). Trains run every 30 minutes and the trip takes 1 hour, 30 minutes. There's also an hourly train from Victoria, but that journey takes 2 hours.
Photo Caption: The sailing ship in the Historic Dockyard of Portsmouth, England