Inspiration required - day/overnight trips from London

[fatcats]

Max travel time 1.5 hours or thereabouts by train or car. We have a 21 month old, hence the max travel time and so obviously looking for family friendly suggestions.

We've done:

Brighton

Lewes

Faversham

Broadstairs

Whistable

Margate

Would like to see more of South Downs - anyone recommend anywhere in particular?

All other suggestions really welcome - trying to make more of our weekends.

Thanks in advance!

[jacks09]

i'll piggy back this thread for the same question......

We got married in Handcross, on the South Downs which is lovely, but small.

[johnie]

Midhurst and Petersfield are both nice, as is Winchester. All good for the South Downs (try Harting Hill for lovely views and a stroll). All along the A272, and about 1.5 hours down the A3 by car, or Petersfield and Winchester by train.

Close to Winchester is this:

http://www.winchestersciencecentre.org/

There is plenty there to entertain toddlers.

[fatcats]

Thanks both, for the rapid response! Will investigate!

[Pugwash]

Littlehampton or Bognor. Tenterden

[Tractorlad]

Shout out for Rye in East Sussex

[fatcats]

Thanks everyone, all great suggestions.

These castles look pretty special too:

Herstmonceux

Bodiam

[rendelharris]

Westerham is nice with good walks and Chartwell and Hever Castle close by. Great views of the Weald from Churchill's terrace.

[MrsMcC]

Bodiam Castle is great for youngsters as it's a ruin and they can climb all over it! When the weather is good it's a nice place for a picnic, lots of trees to sit under. Note there is only 1 toilet which is by the shops when you enter, there isn't one elsewhere in the grounds. There's a nice pub opposite the castle with a big garden.

Close by is Bodium Boating Station http://www.bodiamboatingstation.co.uk

[wallingford]

one of my faves on the southdowns is the weald and downland museum http://www.wealddown.co.uk/

[fatcats]

Thank you, everyone, we will keep this as a list and explore all of these.

Had a few more also:

Epping Forest

Hollycombe Steam collection

Hellfire caves and surrounding area/Chistlehurst also when he's a bit older

Godstone Farm - had a lovely day out here

[Lynne]

I'll second Rye one of the most attractive towns you'll find. But not much there for a toddler, perhaps, since it is a town. Also Rochester, straight through train from Denmark Hill. This also is a town and 20 months is perhaps too young to fully appreciate the Dickens connections

Leigh on Sea. A bit of a walk from the station but interesting. Beach, fish and chips, shops up the hill.

Eltham Palace (English heritage) is only just past Lewisham with gardens to run around in.

Hever castle

[fatcats]

Lynne Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I'll second Rye one of the most attractive towns

> you'll find. But not much there for a toddler,

> perhaps, since it is a town. Also Rochester,

> straight through train from Denmark Hill. This

> also is a town and 20 months is perhaps too young

> to fully appreciate the Dickens connections

> Leigh on Sea. A bit of a walk from the station but

> interesting. Beach, fish and chips, shops up the

> hill.

> Eltham Palace (English heritage) is only just past

> Lewisham with gardens to run around in.

> Hever castle

Thank you - hadn't considered Rochester at all. Will definitely visit Leigh also.

[Nigello]

If you get a fast train, you can be in York in under two hours, and the station is right in the city centre. ED to KX is easy on the through train from PRye, or there is the 63.

[Jennys]

Southend (easy by train), Guildford (soft play etc) and try this website https://www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/things-to-do/south-east-and-london/surrey/guildford

[JohnL]

St Albans ?

[Robert Poste's Child]

Bluebell Railway, Uckfield

Box Hill, Dorking

Chichester

Canterbury / Pilgrim's Way

Bedgbury Forest

Romney Marsh

Whitbred hop farm (I know it's completely different now but I can still remember seeing the dray horses down for their holidays)

Camber Sands

[Robert Poste's Child]

Or going north, take the Thameslink line from Denmark or Herne Hill for the Barton Hills, a small pocket of what looks like the Derbyshire dales dropped on the Beds/Herts border, Woburn Abbey, Whipsnade, the Dunstable downs and then on through the Chilterns.

[fatcats]

These are all really wonderful suggestions. Thank you all so much, we will have many weekends of fun exploring each of these.