Southern England Travel Itinerary
+ Top Attractions

London is a massive urban metropolis with thousands of years of history and countless things to do. The city is also known for its extremely diverse cuisine offerings from around the world, which includes an amazing variety of street food as well.

You'll find many of London's most iconic sights in the Westminster neighborhood, including the Big Ben clock tower, the breathtaking Palace of Westminster, and the royal Buckingham Palace where you can witness the changing of the guard. Be sure to also visit the magnificent 900 year-old Westminster Abbey, which hosts the tombs of Charles Darwin, Isaac Newton, Charles Dickens, and more. Just across the River Thames from Big Ben is the famous London Eye Ferris Wheel, which offers stunning views high above the city.

In the City of London neighborhood you'll find the famous riverfront Tower of London, a royal fortress and castle with an extensive 900 year-old history. Here you'll find many exhibitions and rooms to explore, including the priceless Crown Jewels collection.

Adjacent to the Tower of London is the iconic Tower Bridge, which hosts a transparent glass floor you can walk along suspended between the bridge's towers. This area also hosts the Leadenhall Market, which was used portrayed as Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter films, as well as the colossal and extravagant St. Paul's Cathedral, which offers amazing views from the top. Just across the river is the tallest building in the European Union, the London Shard, which hosts incredible views over the city.

Near the most southeastern point of England are several amazing attractions including stunning castles and cathedrals, as well as the White Cliffs of Dover. Several day-trip tours from London are available that combine many of these sights. Otherwise you might choose to see a few of these attractions on your own day-trip from London via rail.

Note that it's possible to visit Stonehenge (along with Salisbury) via an inexpensive tour directly from London or Bath. Alternatively you might choose to visit the site via public transportation and include a few more sights along the way.

Salisbury is home to the impressive Salisbury Cathedral, which houses the best surviving copy of the Magna Carta document, a very important historical document. You'll also find a beautiful ornate cloister here, which is the largest in England. Salisbury also hosts the Salisbury Museum, displaying archaeological finds from Stonehenge.

Bath is an ancient city known for its Roman bath complexes and stunning Georgian architecture that is also listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. The city's most popular attraction is The Roman Baths, a well-preserved ancient bath complex that also includes a Roman temple and museum. Next door is the imposing Bath Abbey, a gothic church with a very ornate exterior.

One of the most popular modern baths is the Thermae Bath Spa, with several impressive pools and its famed balcony pool overlooking the city. Nearby you can also enjoy the riverfront Parade Gardens and view the marvelous shop-lined Pulteney Bridge. Adjacent to the bridge is the beautiful waterfall-like Pulteney Weir of the River Avon, which is best viewed from the eastern side of the river, set amongst a gorgeous Roman-style colonnade which lines the western side of the river.

On the northern side of the city, you'll find several interesting curved structures, including the Royal Crescent and the Circus.

Oxford is known for its elegant University of Oxford, the second oldest university in the world, as well as the city's many impressive buildings, which are best admired by walking around and exploring the city center, especially via a free walking tour. Among the university's most famous features is the historic Bodleian Library, which is the second largest library in the UK and hosts incredibly gorgeous finely detailed interiors.

Nearby the Bodleian Library is the iconic Radcliffe Camera building, as well as the towering 13th century gothic University Church of St.Mary the Virgin, which is quite beautiful. On the southern side of the university you'll find the mesmerizing Tom Tower, as well as the remarkable Christ Church Cathedral. Both of these structures showcase fantastic medieval architecture.

In the center of Oxford you can admire the 12th century Carfax Tower, a bell tower which you can climb for outstanding views over the city. Oxford also hosts excellent museums, including the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, and the Ashmolean Museum featuring many artifacts and sculptures in a grand neoclassical building. Also noteworthy in town is the lovely 18th century Covered Market and the partially-ruined medieval Oxford Castle.