Since becoming a full-time Londoner, I have admittedly become a creature of habit when it comes to venturing outside my local borough and go-to spots. With a long list of scenic wonders to explore, I jumped at the chance to discover what I would consider the “three most historic parts of the south” all in one day.
While I was thrilled at the thought of visiting the picture-pretty locations of Windsor Castle and Bath, the prospect of visiting Stonehenge very much caught my eye with the longstanding debate of the megalithic mystery intriguing me.
Was the world’s most famous stone circle a site of worship? A place for burial? Or just an ancient version of a team-building exercise? Either way, I couldn’t think of a better way of delving into the theories than by doing a round-trip of three iconic spots.
London to Windsor Castle
Meeting outside Victoria Station at 7.30am on a grey Saturday morning, we weren’t surprised to hear that the weather wasn’t expected to brighten up (you can’t get more quintessentially British!). Despite the weather, we were still enthusiastically greeted by our tour guide in his blue Ikea bucket hat, who was ready to make sure our group had a fun-filled outing.
After being welcomed onto the coach, we were well on our way to Windsor Castle. Decked out with a selection of games, charging ports and an optional in-depth audio guide, the coach was as luxurious as it could be, and we listened to our guide giving fun royal facts and area specifics on the short journey to the castle.
Arriving promptly before opening, we waited behind another tour group while listening to more historical knowledge from our guide – that the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world attracts over a million visitors a year and how it’s (understandably) rumoured to have been Queen Elizabeth II’s preferred royal residence.
Before we knew it, it was time to venture through the gates. Advised to head straight to St George’s Chapel to beat the queues, we entered through the momentous doorway and I was immediately taken aback by the intricate stained glass windows and gothic architecture.
There are tributes to late kings and queens throughout the chapel and a glimpse into the lives of the royal family continued when we explored the impressive Dolls House and lavish State Rooms that looked too immaculate to step foot in – pictures are not allowed in the castle and it was hard to resist!
Keeping an eye on the time, we headed outside the castle gates at 11am to watch the iconic Changing the Guard ceremony – a ceremonial handover of duties where a march is led through the cobbled streets of Windsor by a regimental band. Luckily, the weather let up for long enough to watch this impressive historic tradition, with the colourful troops contrasting against the grand backdrop of the castle.
Soon it was time to leave Windsor and, making a promise of returning to explore further, we grabbed some lunch for later in the day and headed back to the coach – looking forward to our next stop and the chance to play some more on-coach games (with Fruit Ninja proving to be the favoured pastime).
Windsor Castle to Stonehenge
The journey to Stonehenge took a little longer (close to an hour and a half), but we were kept entertained along our route to Wiltshire by our guide’s Stonehenge theories, prehistoric facts and real-life evidence. The most fascinating being the grassy mounds we saw along the journey (also known as the Normanton Down Barrows) that act as a Bronze Age cemetery.
The area’s mystery continued the closer we got to Stonehenge, with the landscape giving hints of the thousands of people who worked and worshipped in the area over 4,000 years ago.
The question on everyone’s minds was, of course, “where did the stones come from?”, so our guide took us through the latest evidence from archaeologists – that the stones may have been transported by land rather than sea and taken from the northern part of quarries in the Preseli hills in Pembrokeshire, 150 miles away from the Stonehenge site.
More evidence was still to be uncovered around the grounds but for now, it was time to see the prehistoric monument itself. We got off the coach near the visitor centre and hopped on a short shuttle bus ride to where the stones awaited. Expecting the ruins to be smaller in person, I was impressed by how these vast ancient rocks have stood the test of time and continued to puzzle historians for thousands of years.
The route was made even better by the many photo opportunities dotted along the trail. From “leaning” on the towering rocks to “stomping” on the stones, we weren’t short of fun-filled snaps with the world-famous phenomenon.
After finishing the circular route around the stones, we headed back to the Visitor Centre, which showcases more than 250 artefacts from the time of the Stonehenge builders. Outside, recreations of Neolithic houses capture a glimpse of what life was like at the time.
Our visit to Stonehenge was the shortest of our stops and we soon were back on the coach to head to the charming city of Bath.
Stonehenge to Bath
A scenic journey through the English countryside later and we arrived in Bath, a city famous for its Roman-built baths, grand Georgian architecture and, more recently, its feature in both Bridgerton and Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (you can see why!).
We decided to add on a tour of the Roman Baths before we booked our tickets for the trip – and so this is where we started our afternoon in the picturesque city. We took the chance to pick up an audio guide to explore the Roman Baths complex, walking on the original Roman pavements and discovering the impressive Sacred Spring – where naturally hot water rises daily.
With a couple of hours to roam around the city, we stayed in the centre to visit must-see hotspots recommended by our guide, including Bath Abbey and the boutique shops along quaint cobbled streets (don’t miss the heavenly Fudge Kitchen). After a well-deserved pit-stop in a small, delightful café, we jumped back on the coach for our final journey back to London.
Bath to London
Resting our ever-so weary legs on our journey back to the city, we reflected on our whistle-stop tour and browsed through the many pictures from the day – featuring dazzling architecture, impressive sights and some questionable Stonehenge shots.
Providing a snippet of three must-see destinations, the tour proved to be a great way to explore these historic locations, and it’s perfect if you only have a day to venture outside London. With Windsor and Bath already on the cards for a return trip, I’m well on the way to taking regular adventures outside the capital.
Whether you’re a history buff, fan of all things royal or like me, are just looking for a scenic escape with the promise of ticking an iconic landmark off your list, don’t miss the chance to join a Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Bath tour.