If you find yourself with extra days in London, and you have already exhausted the bulk of my London travelogue, it may be a good time to explore the other parts of the United Kingdom (UK). London is well-connected to a diverse multitude of cities and regions, and with a simple train ride, you can give yourself a different flavour of life in the British Isles.

This post will function as more of an overview of some of the destinations I have managed to check out, without too much detail going into each post. If you want more recommendations, feel free to reach out to me directly!

Bristol

The first city on the list is Bristol, an interesting location in South-west England. On my list mostly because I had a lot of friends go to the University of Bristol, I discovered that there was a lot more to the charming expanse.

Perhaps most interestingly, Bristol has the claim to fame for a large number of Banksy murals which you can explore on this self-guided walking tour. There’s a number of interesting buildings including Temple Meads (the train station where you should have brunch at Hart’s Bakery) and the campus of University of Bristol itself, but I especially liked Temple Church which is a former Knights Templar church that just has its shell remaining after a WWII bombing.

For scenic views, go to both Brandon Hill for a short trek and over to Clifton Suspension Bridge for an architectural stunner. The Bridge was designed by Isambard Brunel, one of England’s most prominent civil engineers.

For food, grab a bite at St Nicholas Market where you can get a wide variety of market food alongside some vintage shopping. Be sure to grab a cider to wash the meal down alongside other cider-loving Bristolians – The Apple is a great place to do that, especially since its on the canal.

Brighton

If you’re more of a beach person, Brighton will likely be on your list. Brighton Beach is a unique shingle beach, otherwise known as a pebble beach, that stretches for slighly over five miles. If you enjoy the frivolties that come with the beach, be sure to head over to Brighton Palace Pier, which is home to a fairground and some bars. Brighton has some peculiar items on the menu including the iconic Jellied Eels, which I did try and was not personally a fan of.

Of course, you can just go for the classics at some of the seafood shacks including Fish and Chips as well as Fresh Oysters. I only spent a half-day here so I could not explore more of the city but I think the beach is where most of the bustle is at.

Cambridge

If you are craving some of the classic British college sights after reading stories such as those of Harry Potter, you should head up to Cambridge. Better done with a student guide, especially a friend who happens to be studying there at the time, Cambridge is a beautiful place to just walk around in. The streets are flanked with some of the world’s oldest colleges – Cambridge holds the claim to being the world’s third-oldest continuously running university – and if you get the option to wander some of the halls, you will be treated to some grandiosity.

Most students in Cambridge belong to a “College”, such as King’s College which has a chapel that is one of the most stunning locations on campus. It is a great spot to take photos and it also happens to be right next to the River Cam which is where Cambridge got its name from. You could choose to hire a punt ride along the river, but you will need to reserve in advance or pay a hefty ticket price, and so we chose to just walk around.

Most of visiting Cambridge is just popping into every College which has its own unique identity, but grab a meal at Cambridge Chop House for some delicious steaks and get a pint poured over at Eagle Pub, home to some local history!

The Cotswolds

Perhaps you want to avoid more cities and are looking to head out to the countryside instead – the Cotswolds may be the right daytrip for you. Best done on a tour, the Cotswolds take you through a series of counties including Gloucestershire and Somerset where the hills are sprawling and there are tons of limestone houses. The whole region was designated an “Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty” within the UK. If you do a tour, you are likely to visit one of Shakespeare’s family homes, Anne Hathaway’s (his wife) Cottage as well as visit some cafes where you can have jam and scones with tea, like a proper Brit.

Manchester

If you are a football fan, and especially if you are a fan of one of the Manchester teams, you are going to head up to Manchester one day. Known for being an industrial powerhouse in the UK, especially for textile and other light manufacturing, Manchester is now a city trying to rejuvenate itself. It is definitely worth a day or so to explore, especially if you spend some time at the Corn Exchange where the old part of the city has new restaurants and bars showing up. It is also right next to the Manchester Cathedral and the National Football Museum.

We really enjoyed the John Rylands Library, a Neo-Gothic building that is also part of the University of Manchester. It has a museum and archive collection that you can explore, and if you are dying for a photo in Manchester that does not have to do with a football team, you can take one in the library’s Reading Room.

Manchester is also especially proud of Afflecks, an indoor shopping mall with all sorts of goods including vintage wear and trinkets. The mall is near a number of cafes and bars so you can wander around here for a bit. We enjoyed the burgers at Almost Famous and the pies at Pieminister. As a bonus, be sure to head down to the Curry Mile in Manchester and have some outstanding Indian food. We had our fix at MyLahore, but you are probably well served at any of the restaurants.

Oxford

If third-oldest college was not enough, you can also head up to the second-oldest continuous running university at Oxford. Known as the City of Dreaming Spires, Oxford feels even more medieval than Cambridge in some regards. The same advice applies around finding a student guide, but the main photo spots are at the quads of Christ Church College, Bodleian Library (which is unfortunately students-only) and the Bridge of Sighs. What I really enjoyed about Oxford was hearing stories of college traditions and some of the mischief that students get up to. Be sure to grab a pint at any pub on campus and you will be treated to some history on a genius who spent a few too many pounds drinking away at the same table you are sat. We had ours at The Eagle and Child but it looks like the pub itself is unfortuantely closed down.

Windsor

If you are a fan of the British Monarchy and you really just want a simple trip, Windsor is the easiest option for you. Centered around Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world as well as one of the residences of the Queen and her family, many people come here to gawk at the architectural wonder. The tour within the castle can be rather expensive so a lot of people just wander around and have a picnic along the greens of “The Long Walk”. If The Royal Standard, which is the flag for the monarchy, is flying in the castle, you know the Queen is around!

As I mentioned above, this is just the list of places I have managed to visit while I was in London. There is a lot more places I still want to visit and will update this list when I do get to them – perhaps you will see pictures of the Stonehenge and White Cliffs of Dover very soon!

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