Needs some more help in London, UK

This summer I'll be traveling with a college basketball team to London. We have one full day set aside to do some sort of tour. I was thinking Stonehenge, Winsor Castle and Oxford. But this looks like way to much for one day. I'll be shooting the games as well as this tour day. I'd like to find places that would be interesting to 20 and 60 year olds. Any ideas?
We have a bus for the full day.

Hi

Just some thoughts to bear in mind.

The three places you mention are far too widely spaced to do in one day, all good places with both cultural and photographic interests but do all in one day IMO never.

London is a very congested city traffic wise and in the main if you are thinking of sights in London itself use public transport ~ The London Eye, Globe Theatre, Greenwich (Royal Observatory) etc. If you are venturing out of London, the location of your hotel could dictate the choices of places to see without being the coach/bus for too many hours. For example ~ if staying in North/North West London then Oxford & Blenheim Palace are worth aiming for - North/North East London then Cambridge & Ely - South London then Brighton, Rye (one of the Cinque Ports - Google for the details & history), Chichester & Bosham Harbour/area.

These are just to 'illustrate' that there are wide variety of choices depending on to a group of 20-60 year olds (phew some age range for such a tour) may enjoy. If you could summarise what you/they like to or are expecting get out of or see on the day trip then those with more detailed info than me might be able to post.

If you think that Windsor Castle and Oxford will fit the bill then the road links and traveling times are not too bad if you had an early start. Oh, west of London do not forget Kew Gardens.

As I said just some (random) thoughts to guide you ~ for myself I hate being on buses for too long.

HTH

As above. But it really depends on what kind of crowd you'll have as well, and what kinds of activities/attractions they'd be interested in.

A word of warning about Stonehenge though. As historic as it is, it's not what you'd expect. In order to protect the site, the authorities won't let you within about 30 meters of the place, and you certainly won't be allowed to get close and touch the stones. you can go there, but it'll be interesting for all of 5 minutes. For stone circles, I'd recommend Avebury, which is bigger (it has a whole village inside the main circle), and there's no restrictions about you getting close and touching the stones (and the various surrounding monumental arrangements as well).

It really depends on where you'll be based, England's not as small as you might imagine and it takes time to get places.

Box Brownie good stuff - We're staying in Kensington, would going to Winsor Castle then Oxford be too much for one day? If not could you recommend stops in between Kensington-Winsor Castle and Winsor Castle-Oxford? We're doing the central London tour the first day we arrive using the on and off buses.
We will be on an overnight flight and want to keep everyone up the first day.
The second day would be our bus tour and we again want to get our bodies on local time. We could leave early but the bus is only booked for 8 hours, would this be enough time? The bus tour needs to interesting, provide me with some photos and keep our guys awake.

Pete - Stonehenge was the coaches idea. I think he'll see your point when
he looks at the amount of time involved getting there. Looking at the map Avebury
and Bath seems to be on the way to Winsor Castle, do you think we could do
those and Oxford in one day? We do have and afternoon off on the third
day and I guess those wanting to go could take the train there. Our
Director however wants a group photo at Oxford so we'd need some day light.

In haste, just some extra thoughts until I can offer something more detailed.

I suspect having the bus for only 8 hours will limit you in either of two ways 1) If you wish to visit more than one place and have enough time to enjoy walking around then going too far form London might be out 2) even if you go for a longer trip your time may be limted.

I suggest you ask the bus service you have booked what their travel times are for the likes of Oxford. FWIW I live to the southwest of London and using my car if I were planning on going to Oxford I would be allowing 2 hours for the journey.

This bus company http://www.oxfordbus.c​o.uk/espress2.shtml says 100minutes travel time for direct journies but allow extra time for rush hour.

You say you wish to keep everyone awake as much as possible so IMO too much time on the bus is a recipe for sleeping & disinterested folk not wanting to get on & off the bus 'all the time'.

Were it me and subject to working out the travel times with the bus service I would go to Oxford (you mentioned this is a must do!) and Blenheim Palace http://www.blenheimpal​ace.com/visiting.htm if Windsor Castle (note the spelling ) is equally a must again I suggest you work this out with the bus service as to whether it can be done in the same day based on traffic conditions etc.

But all of the above will very much depend on what the group members will expect of the day out, I bet some will just want to sleep!

Whatever you do, enjoy your stay in our green & pleasant land

I should think that London itself could occupy you!

carsanbballs wrote in post #2760984
Looking at the map Avebury and Bath seems to be on the way to Winsor Castle, do you think we could do those and Oxford in one day?

bath is nowhere near, you can't do that in a day. avebury is a couple of hours away but i wouldnt recommend it if you're going on a coach trip. its a nice area to walk/explore by yourself with nice pubs etc but if you're tied down to a coach then its best to spend the day in a city.

box brownie has some great suggestions, if i were in your shoes i would really stay in london. there is loads to do. if you're spending the first day doing a coach tour then i'd suggest spending another day in london doing things like london eye, globe, museums etc...

if you really are itching to get out then dont go too far, oxfords good, lots to do, windsor castle is ok but the town doesnt have much to offer kew gardens is a good idea too. what about hampton court palace?

edit: link for hampton court http://www.historicroy​alpalaces.org/webcode/​hampton_home.asp

Winsor- More then once spell check wanted me to use Windsor, but I knew better. Thanks guys