A ride on the London underground will bring you to Kew Gardens in Richmond. This world heritage site covers a huge area of scenic and ornate parkland with six splendid greenhouses containing plant species from around the world; one of the glasshouses, the temperate house, is the biggest Victorian greenhouse in the world. The park itself lies beside the waters of the River Thames and it is rooted in 250 years of tradition. If you have ever wanted to see a true English country garden then this is it. There are over 30,000 different species of plant including the world’s largest indoor plant, the Jubea Chilliensis. Kew Gardens provides an ideal setting for relaxing. It is a peaceful retreat away from the hustle of the city where you can picnic on the freshly cut green lawns.

A trip to London would not be complete without visiting a truly royal palace. Hampton Court Palace can be reached by train from Waterloo station and the journey lasts only 35 minutes. The palace with fantastic furnishings, paintings and tapestries was once home to the infamous King Henry VIII, but many other royal occupants have left their mark there as well. It lies in 60 acres of ceremonial gardens that include the Great Vine, a legendary maze. Tours of the palace are led by guides dressed in Elizabethan and Tudor costumes. Even the kitchen staff, who still operate the Tudor kitchens wear period costumes. The kitchens are the oldest example of a Tudor kitchen and they span 50 rooms.

There is much to excite visitors of all ages in the town of Windsor. One of the Queen’s Official residences, Windsor Castle is located in the town centre; it is the worlds oldest and biggest inhabited castle spanning 5 hectares of land. Inside you can view the impressive State Apartments, which are equipped with riches from the Royal Collection. Within the grounds lies St George's Chapel, where ten monarchs are buried. Windsor is also home to the theme park Legoland. This family attraction has 50 rides, including one based around a Viking longboat, Lego building workshops and a wealth of shows. You can also learn to drive a Lego vehicle around the park. Whilst in Windsor you can also see the changing of the guard, who march up Windsor High Street to the Castle, where the parade takes place every day.

Greenwich is another perfect day out and has much to offer when it comes to history, interesting architecture and a busy market. You can reach Greenwich via the Underground or the Docklands Light Railway, but by far the most exciting way of getting here is by boat from Westminster Pier. Greenwich is home to the renowned tea clipper, The Cutty Sark, a ship that broke all records in its day. It stands majestically in dry dock in the town and is open to visitors. Another must in Greenwich is visiting the Royal Observatory courtyard and standing on the Greenwich Meridian Line at longitude 0°, which divides the world into the East and the West. This place marks the world's most famous time zone.