While in London I was able to explore different areas of England. From the Cotswolds, to Oxford, to York, I wanted to see as many different parts of England as possible. While they were all amazing in different ways, I definitely have favorites.
If you are studying in London and suddenly realize you have forgotten what nature looks like, I know the perfect places. You could go to the beautiful Cotswolds and explore the various villages. The drive through the Cotswolds is unlike anything I have ever seen in the US. The rolling hills, tiny villages with thatched roof houses, the streams and rivers, and the locals walking their dogs. It was definitely the ideal break from London. However, it can get quite busy. The villages are small, and all tour groups go to the same places. This means the streets can get a little cramped. That does not mean you should skip the Cotswolds; I think it is a wonderful opportunity to see what the rural areas of England are like. One place I would definitely recommend is Brighton and the Seven Sisters Cliffs. Brighton Beach is a major vacation spot during the hotter weekends, but in the latter half of the year it can be quiet. If the beach in the fall and winter is not be your thing, then check out the Royal Pavilion. It is a palace built by King George IV modeled after the Taj Mahal. It looks strikingly similar, just on a much smaller scale. My favorite place is the Seven Sisters Cliffs, which are white chalk cliffs that look out over the English Channel. The water is surprisingly clear, and the beach is made up of stark white chalk. If you decide to go, I recommend you stay about ten feet away from the edge of the cliff and away from the cliff walls when on the beach. As the cliffs are made of chalk, they easily absorb the water from England’s frequent rainstorms. This has recently led to parts of the cliff face collapsing. When rockslides do occur, locals flock to the beach to sift through the rubble looking for fossils. Apparently, one man found a fossil of a prehistoric animal that has yet to be discovered. So, if you want to make a groundbreaking discovery, check out the beaches. Brighton and the Seven Sister are a quieter escape than the Cotswolds, but both offer nice views of England’s rolling hills and are only a few hours away from London by train.
Everyone knows of Oxford. The universities are beautiful if you can score a tour and are quite famous for their appearances in Harry Potter. Besides the universities, they have a food hall with many different vendors selling anything from artisan chocolate to hand pies and even Thai food. It was the least busy of all the places I visited in England and was only about 1 ½ hours from London by train.
I went to York for the Christmas market, but I stayed for everything else. It is a historic town that has maintained a lot of the original buildings. This makes for an interesting view of Victorian England. The Shambles is a small street lined with old buildings that lean over into the street. The Christmas market was cute but very busy. This is partly my fault because I went in December. But the town had so many more things to offer besides the market. York Minster is an imposing presence on the town and a very integral part of the town's history. There are many old churches in England, but I think this is one of the more interesting ones. It houses the biggest stained-glass window in all of the UK, the grave of Queen Elizabeth II, and interesting Roman and Norman history. If you would rather shop for some souvenirs, head to the Shambles where they have a store that sells little ghosts. York is apparently one of the most haunted cities in the world. If you believe in ghosts and want to run into a Roman or Viking one, York seems to be the place to be. If you want to step into the past, York would be a good day trip.
You can go to so many places with the UK train network. Day trips are a must if you have a free weekend and want to get out of London. Brighton, the Seven Sisters, and the Cotswolds are perfect if you want to enjoy nature and a slow day. Meanwhile, Oxford and York are nice for people who like architecture, shopping, and museums. Overall, there are many more places you can go for a day trip, but these were just my favorites.
Jeanne Billings
Fall 2024
GW Exchange - King's College London
Elliott School of International Affairs
International Affairs & International Business Double Major