🗺️ Southern England without London: castles, abbeys and Stonehenge

The south of England is often skipped by travelers on their way to London. That is a mistake: it has Roman baths, Neolithic stones, and the university where Harry Potter was filmed. All nine places on this list are connected by trains and buses, so you do not need a car. Below, in order: what to see, how much tickets cost, and when to visit.

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What to see in the south of England

💡 In short:

Oxford, Bath, and Stratford-upon-Avon can be explored on foot in half a day.
Castles and Stonehenge sell timed-entry tickets, so book online in advance.
Prices and opening hours: 09/2026, verified on the official English Heritage and Arundel Castle websites.

The south of England has no strict borders, but it does have a historical core: Wiltshire, Kent, Sussex, and the Thames Valley west of London. Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire lies north of that core, but we included it on the list. Trains run between all the stops, so it is easy to build a route radiating out from the capital. The table below shows admission details and closing days for each place.

Place	Book ahead	Closed
Oxford	some colleges charge admission	depends on the college
Windsor Castle	yes, timed entry	sometimes closed for ceremonies
St Augustine's Abbey	yes, English Heritage ticket	some days in winter
Bath and the Roman Baths	yes, cheaper online	none
Stonehenge	yes, timed entry	none
Dover Castle	yes, cheaper online	none
Stratford-upon-Avon	yes, Shakespeare houses	none
Arundel Castle	yes	Monday
New Forest	not needed	none

1. Oxford

Oxford is known as the "city of dreaming spires." It is easy to explore on foot: the colleges, the covered market, and the Bodleian Library are all close together. Many colleges are open to visitors for a small fee, but each has its own opening hours. Half a day is enough for a walking tour of the city if you do not go into every college.

Film fans should stop by the Bodleian Library: its halls and the round reading room were used in the Harry Potter scenes. The Radcliffe Camera is the name of the neoclassical hall you can see from the square.

Getting there: by train from London to Oxford station, about an hour.
Cost: college admission is paid, prices vary, check at the entrance.
Where to stay: hotels in Oxford on Trip.com.

Aerial panorama of Oxford historic center

2. Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle in Berkshire remains a country residence of the British Crown. It is the largest inhabited castle in the country, and from the hill above the Thames you get a view of the river and the town itself.

Tickets are sold for a specific entry time, so arriving late can mean waiting in line. Adult tickets start at £32 (as of 09/2026, Royal Collection Trust). Some rooms are occasionally closed during ceremonies, which means you will see less, so check the calendar in advance.

Getting there: by train to Windsor & Eton Central station, then walk.
What to see: St George's Chapel and the State Apartments inside the walls.

Windsor Castle and the Long Walk in autumn

3. St Augustine's Abbey

St Augustine's Abbey stands just outside the walls of Canterbury. It was founded in the late 6th century as a burial place for Anglo-Saxon kings. Today it is a ruin that forms part of the city's World Heritage Site.

The abbey is managed by English Heritage, while the cathedral and St Martin's Church have their own owners. Entry to St Martin's Church is free, and you can cover the entire historic center in one day (as of 09/2026, English Heritage).

Cost: tickets for the abbey are sold by English Heritage, check prices online.
The catch: only ruins remain of the buildings, there are no intact interiors here.

St Augustine's Abbey ruins on a green field

4. Bath

Bath grew up around Britain's only natural thermal spring. The Romans built public baths on the site of a Celtic shrine, hence the city's name. You can walk around the city center at a leisurely pace in half a day.

The Roman Baths and their museum remain the main attraction. A ticket at the ticket office costs more than online: early booking gives you a discount of about £2, and a separate tour of the complex costs £8 per person (as of 09/2026, Roman Baths). Children under six go on the tour for free.

Where to stay: hotels in Bath on Trip.com.
Tip: arrive at opening time, by midday groups gather at the Great Bath.

Panorama of Bath with historic buildings

5. Stonehenge

Stonehenge stands in Wiltshire and still sparks debate about its purpose. The stones were erected in several stages, so researchers' dating estimates vary. Many consider the complex an ancient calendar marking the changing seasons.

The ticket states an entry time, but once inside you can stay until closing. Late slots are cheaper than morning ones (as of 09/2026, English Heritage). Salisbury Cathedral stands nearby, and you have a chance to add it to the same trip.

Tip: choose the first or last slot, when there are fewer groups around the stones.

Stonehenge: ancient stones on a green meadow

6. Dover Castle

Dover Castle grew up on a chalk cliff above the narrowest part of the Channel. On a clear day you can see the French coast from there, which is why the fortress was called "the key to England" for centuries. It is one of the largest medieval fortresses in the country.

A ticket is cheaper if you book online before midnight on the day before your visit (as of 09/2026, official Dover Castle website). The Great Tower stands at the center of the complex, and in summer scenes of medieval life are reenacted around it.

With kids: interactive scenes and the climb up the tower take several hours.
Tickets and tours: tickets and tours on GetYourGuide.

7. Stratford-upon-Avon

Stratford-upon-Avon is known as the birthplace of William Shakespeare. The houses connected with his life are clustered in the center: his birthplace, the old school, and Anne Hathaway's cottage. Tickets for them are sold by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

You can wander the old streets for free, and in the evening you can get a ticket for a Royal Shakespeare Company performance. In summer, a boat trip on the Avon is added to the walk.

What to see: the house where Shakespeare was born and Anne Hathaway's cottage.
Tip: check Royal Shakespeare Company performance tickets online in advance.

Shakespeare's house in Stratford-upon-Avon

8. Arundel Castle

Arundel Castle stands on a hill above the River Arun in West Sussex. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited castles in Britain, and some of the rooms are open to visitors. From here you get a view over the valley and the old town.

The season runs from April 1 to November 1. The gardens are open from 10:00 to 17:00, while the castle rooms open only at noon and close at 17:00, with last entry at 16:00. The castle is closed on Mondays, except bank holidays and in August (as of 09/2026, Arundel Castle).

Tip: arrive at 10:00 for the gardens, then head up to the rooms by noon.

Panorama of Arundel Castle with towers on a hill

9. New Forest

New Forest suits those who are tired of crowds. It is a national park southwest of London, convenient for a weekend getaway. The name is misleading: the forest here is old, but there are few dense thickets.

Besides trees, you will find marshes, heathland, and meadows. This variety makes the park an important wildlife reserve in England. Ponies roam freely across the area, and birds can be observed from several spots.

Getting around: on foot or by bike along marked routes.

Mist over a pond with tree reflections in the New Forest

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How do I get to these places without a car?

Trains run between Oxford, Bath, Canterbury, and Dover, and the easiest way to reach Stonehenge is via Salisbury. You can realistically build the route from London as a series of day trips, so you don't need a car. Book tickets in advance, because morning trains on weekends fill up.

How many days do I need for southern England?

Two days are enough for the western part: Oxford, Bath, and Stonehenge. Windsor Castle and Stratford-upon-Avon are also west of London, so they're easy to add to this section. The eastern part with Canterbury, Dover, and Arundel will take another two days. If you want a relaxed pace and the New Forest, plan for five days so you're not rushing between train stations.

What should I book in advance?

Tickets for Windsor Castle, Dover Castle, and Stonehenge are sold by time slot, and they sell out in summer. The Roman Baths are cheaper online, and it's best to reserve a time in advance for Shakespeare's houses in Stratford-upon-Avon. Without a booking, you risk standing in line or not getting in at all.

When is the best time to go?

From May through September, all the gardens and venues are open, but that's also when crowds are at their peak. April and October offer mild weather and short lines, although some sites operate on reduced hours. In winter, many castles are closed, so check the calendar on official websites.

Which places are good with kids?

Dover Castle will appeal to children the most. The New Forest is great for walks and ponies, while Oxford is better left to an adult group. Do Windsor Castle in the morning, before everyone gets tired.

In short: what's worth booking

Southern England is easy to split into two parts: the western part (Oxford, Windsor, Bath, Stonehenge, Stratford-upon-Avon) and the eastern part (Canterbury, Dover, Arundel). That way you'll spend less time in transit.

If it's your first trip: go with Oxford and Windsor Castle.
If you're traveling with kids: Dover Castle with its interactive exhibits.
If you want peace and quiet: the New Forest instead of city museums.
If you're interested in Roman history: Bath and the Roman Baths.

Book castle and Stonehenge tickets in advance, and it's easier to look for accommodation in Oxford or Bath: tickets and tours on GetYourGuide and hotels in Bath on Trip.com.

What to see in southern England: nine places from Oxford to the New Forest