When coming to London for a second time or more, you will soon realise that there is much more to see beyond the limits of the tube lines.There are lots of cities within good reach of London thanks to the good transportation links. The below towns or cities with their places of interest are recommended as a day out of London or even to stay for a weekend.

It's recommend that you take a day tour to visit 3 cities in one day and make the most of the tours which include guides and entry fees to the most important sites in each city. (tours start from £95) For more info for the packages visit Londontoolkit.

The historical city of Bath is well known by its Roman ancestors who made the city of Bath, what it is today, with its famous baths and Spa's. Bath also impresses by its medieval looking fortifications, location views and river. 

Bath is a town set in the rolling countryside of southwest England, known for its natural hot springs and 18th-century Georgian architecture. Honey-coloured Bath stone has been used extensively in the town’s architecture, including at Bath Abbey, noted for its fan-vaulting, tower and large stained-glass windows. The museum at the site of the original Roman-era Baths includes The Great Bath, statues and a temple. The facility’s Pump Room serves a popular afternoon tea, and visitors can soak in the waters at the contemporary Bath Spa. 

The Royal Crescent is a curving row of Georgian houses overlooking the Royal Victoria Park, and the restored house at No. 1 displays period furniture and decor. Pulteney Bridge, over the River Avon, is a typical scene to photograph. You can find the Holburne Museum which contains antique porcelain and sculpture, plus paintings by J.M.W. Turner and local resident Thomas Gainsborough. The Jane Austen Centre is a permanent exhibition celebrating the famous writer. 

To get there you can take the train from Paddington Station or take the coach "National Express" from London Victoria Coach Station. It's also possible to join many tours which stop in Bath for a few hours if you want to see more places in one day by an organised tour. 

Bournemouth is a seaside resort on the southern coast of England, located 2 hours by train. It's known for having 7 miles of beaches, Victorian architecture and buzzing nightlife in areas such as the Triangle. The resort is also home to Bournemouth Pier, an activity centre with an obstacle course, a climbing wall and a zip line. 

The town centre has notable Victorian architecture and the 202-foot (62 m) spire of St Peter's Church, one of three Grade 1 listed churches in the borough, is a local landmark. Bournemouth's location has made it a popular destination for tourists, attracting visitors annually with its beaches and popular nightlife. It's also an ideal place to visit if you are a nature lover, there are many paths and walks along the coastline where to admire and wonder in wild low grass scenery. 

To get there you can travel by National Express coaches from Victoria Coach Station or from Waterloo Station by train, prices start from £23 return when bought in advance.  

  Bournemouth Photo Gallery 📷

Located 1 hour travel time from London, at the South of England, it is the nearest beach and most popular city to travel to on a weekend when the sun is shining to enjoy a pleasant time by the beach as well as a good place for a relaxed and open atmosphere. Brighton's tolerant society is another reason why many people come here to live and work. 🌈It's has an open gay scene and alternative crowd. 

It's appeal is general and suitable for all ages. Children, and the not so young, can enjoy rides on the attractions located on the famous Brighton Pier, as well as playing video games and slot machines where you can win little prizes or souvenirs. The beach at Brighton is mainly formed of pebbles, so bring comfortable shoes if you plan to swim! As well, the location is great to enjoy a typical fish & chips by the sea, together with many other restaurants offering local food as well as international.

To get to Brighton it's best to take the train from Victoria station, taking just over one hour, by tickets always in advance for the best prices at Southern Rail. 

Another important university city in England, Cambridge is the competition of Oxford. Located 1 hour north of London. Cambridge is a city on the River Cam in eastern England, home to the prestigious University of Cambridge, dating to 1209. University colleges include King’s, famed for its choir and towering Gothic chapel, as well as Trinity, founded by Henry VIII, and St John’s, with its 16th-century Great Gate.

University museums have exhibits on archaeology and anthropology, polar exploration, the history of science and zoology. The Fitzwilliam Museum houses a noted collection of antiquities and paintings, Kettle’s Yard gallery displays 20th-century art and the Wren Library has rare books and medieval manuscripts.

Cambridge is also a popular place to see flat-bottomed boats called "punts" propelled along the river. Riverside parks Jesus Green and Midsummer Common also host public events. The University Church, St Mary the Great, has a tower with sweeping city views. It's home to a large young crowd and it's popular for group tours and day visits. 

To get there you can take direct trains from London King’s Cross & London Liverpool Street station or by coach "National Express" from London Victoria Coach Station.

  Cambridge Photo Gallery 📷

Located 1 hour north-west of London is the famous university city of Oxford. It's beautiful cathedral, university buildings and open parks are all worth a visit to enjoy this historic and academic city where many famous people started their life as students. Oxford can be visited year round, hosting many museums and places of culture to keep you busy. But also, it boasts great shopping, dining and nightlife.

The highlights of Oxford are listed below:

• The prestigious university, established in the 12th century. 
• The architecture of its 38 colleges in the city’s medieval centre. 
• University College and Magdalen College are off the High Street, which runs from Carfax Tower (with city views) to the Botanic Garden on the River Cherwell.
• The Cherwell and Thames rivers are popular for punting, and collegiate rowing. 
• The Oxford University Parks and Christ Church Meadow. 
• Balliol and Trinity Colleges, and the university’s main Bodleian Library complex, including the circular Radcliffe Camera building. 
• The Ashmolean Museum is home to Greek and Egyptian archaeological collections. 
• The Pitt Rivers Museum offers anthropological displays, while the Museum of Natural History features dinosaur skeletons. 

As mentioned, Oxford is also a good place for shopping, (Cornmarket street) and in the evening there are many restaurants and pubs for entertainment. When visiting Oxford, expect to find many large school groups (specially during the Summer) as well as Asian groups coming from China, Japan or Korea as the city is increasing its popularity with more foreign visitors. 

To get to Oxford take the "Oxford Tube", a coach service leaving from Victoria station in London departing every 10 minutes. Buying a day-return fare is cheaper than single tickets. The service operates 24h a day. It is also possible to travel by train from London Paddington station, for one hour journey. Buying tickets (Trainline.co.uk) in advance is key to get cheap fares as little as £5 one way. 

  Oxford Photo Gallery 📷

Is the largest city in the county of Hampshire. It is 111 km south-west of London. Southampton is a major port, and it was here where the Titanic initiated it's first and only voyage back in 1912. This creates a major interest for visitors. You can find major museums and galleries in the city which relate back to the historic event. 

Southampton has a large shopping centre and retail park, Westquay. There are many impressive cultural offering, from museums, music venues and art galleries, to award winning parks and the general hustle and bustle of a diverse city. 

To get there you can take National Express coaches from Victoria Coach station or trains from Victoria or Waterloo station. Prices are around £12 if bought in advance.  

Its one of the oldest prehistoric remains ever found in the United Kingdom, dating back more than 3000 years. Located 3 km west of Amesbury. It consists of a ring of standing stones, with each standing stone around 4m high, 2m wide and weighing around 25 tons. The stones are set within earthworks in the middle of the most dense complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in England, including several hundred burial grounds. 

Stonehenge is one of the most famous landmarks in the UK, it is regarded as a British cultural icon. The site and its surroundings were added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1986. There are many theories of how the rocks were made and laid (by Humans, or by other natural powers or even out of this world..), come and visit and decide by yourself! 

Located 2 hours away from London by coach, it's not a destination you can easily arrive by public transport as the area is uninhabited by its historical value. The nearest train station to Stonehenge is Salisbury about 9.5 miles away, you can get there from London Waterloo. Alternatively you can take the coach, busses depart from Heathrow Airport or from London Victoria Coach Station. The journey takes about 2 hours. Get off at Amesbury. From there you can either walk (about 2 miles) or get a taxi.

However we recommend to take a tour which includes the visit to Stonehenge. It's also possible to drive there, with free parking available. Prices to access the site is £17.50.

Is the royal residence of the Royal Family, located in the town of Windsor. The original castle was built in the 11th century after the Norman invasion of England by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I, it has been used by the reigning monarch and is the longest-occupied palace in Europe.

Originally designed to protect Norman  dominance around the outskirts of London and oversee a strategically important part of the River Thames. Gradually replaced with stone fortifications, the castle withstood a prolonged siege during the First Barons' War at the start of the 13th century. 

Windsor Castle survived the English Civil War, when it was used as a military headquarters by Parliamentary forces and a prison After a period of neglect during the 18th century, George III and George IV renovated and rebuilt Charles II's palace, producing the current design of the State Apartments, full of Rococo, Gothic and Baroque furnishings. Today, it is a popular tourist attraction, a venue for hosting state visits, and the preferred weekend home of Elizabeth II. 

We recommend to take a tour which includes the visit to Windsor Castle as well to other sites around south England. If you are only visiting Windsor then you can take the train from Paddington Station or the 702 bus leaving Victoria area in London or High Street Kensington.