1 . Save your annual leave and explore beautiful towns and places with day trips less than two hours from London, offering a change of scenery, delicious food and a good walk. You can head into work the next day feeling refreshed.

Margate

The old will remember Margate as a somewhat mocked holiday location, a vintage (复古的) style amusement park with rides. However, the young are now moving here in droves as they take advantage of the excellent transport links and the working opportunities. Another draw is the Turner Contemporary art gallery opened in 2011 to celebrate artist JMW Turner, and his connection to Margate. The gallery is free to enter and has spectacular views.

The New Forest

At over 200 square miles, the New Forest is a protected national park dotted with small towns. There are many trails to walk or cycle, which are worth planning in advance. Thenewforest.co.uk is a useful resource as it has walking and cycle routes split into family, dog-friendly and those that take in pubs or villages.

Brighton

There is something for everyone in Brighton: traditional fish and chips, vegan and restaurants, the Royal Pavil ion and shops — both vintage and contemporary — selling clothing, jewellery, chocolate and records. Any of the small coffee shops would be a great first stop before heading to the very pink Books for Amnesty shop.

The Cotswolds

With the instantly recognisable pale-yellow stone cottages and seemingly unending supply of pubs, the towns and villages that comprise the Cotswolds are well worth a visit. Spend the morning walking around Chipping Norton, a market town with shops and theatres. Be sure to pop-in to Jaffé and Neale, the bookshop and cafe that has been open since 2006.

2 . Down House, home of Charles Darwin:

Fun fact

Charles Darwin, his wife, Emma, and their children lived at Down House for 40 years from 1838. Several rooms appear as if the family still live here: with croquet sets thrown into an under-stairs cupboard, a half-played game of backgammon on a side table and Emma’s knitting(毛线) left on a chair in the drawing room. Upstairs, an exhibition showcases Darwin’s voyage aboard HMS Beagle, including a reconstruction of his cabin. Outside, visitors can explore the sheltered gardens which Darwin used as an open-air laboratory, and the greenhouse in which he planted rare plants and devised botanical experiments.

No room at Down House escaped Darwin’s experiments. In the drawing room he once placed a jar of earthworms on the grand piano to see whether they could hear.

Getting there

A 15-minute drive from the A21/Farnborough. Free parking. The R8 bus from Orpington stops nearby (except Sundays) or the 146 bus from Bromley North and South terminates (终点站) in Downe village, half a mile from the property. The nearest railway stations are Chelsfield or Orpington, about four miles away.

Value for money?

It’s ￡12 (adult), ￡7.20 (child), or ￡31.30 (family with 2 adults). Under 5s go free.

Opening hours

Open daily 10am-6pm from 30 March to 30 September; daily 10 a.m. — 5 p.m. between 1 to 31 October. Opening times vary through the winter (check website for details).

Verdict(评价)

8/10. An unstuffy educational, gentle day-trip attraction with friendly, knowledgeable staff.

3 . Sunset Paddle (划桨) Trip in Johnsonville State Historic Park

Join us for a relaxing paddle trip, which will be led by park keepers as we explore the shores of Kentucky Lake. Together we will search historic sites associated with the Civil War and Town Era history of Old Johnsonville. As we kill time in the evening, we’ ll keep a lookout for wildlife and enjoy an absolutely amazing sunset over the Tennessee River. Anyone can join the trip; no previous paddling experience is necessary. Park keepers leading the trip are experienced paddlers that are certified in CPR in first aid.

$20 a canoe is for non-members and $15 a canoe for members. A maximum of 6 canoes are available to rent for this trip. Each canoe is limited to 3 adults or 2 adults/2 children. Canoes, paddles , and life jackets are provided at the same time. Free life jackets and liability waivers (安全免责书) are required for all participants.

No pets will be permitted on this trip as they may disturb wildlife we may be trying to view. The trip will be called off in the event of severe weather and a refund can be applied for. The decision to call off the trip should be made before 12:00 pm on the day prior to the trip. Otherwise no refund will be issued.

You are recommended to wear water-resistant clothes and shoes, as well as a hat. You need to bring a water bottle. Sunscreen and bug spray will be available if needed. Check-in will begin at 5:45 pm; don’t be late.

6 . One of the best things about London is that so many of its world-famous museums are free to the public. Visitors can enjoy some beautiful paintings, portraits (肖像) and art pieces by famous artists from around the world there.

Royal Air Force Museum

Located in Hendon, Royal Air Force Museum has over one hundred and sixty aircraft on display and is a must-see for aviation (航空) lovers. Documenting the history of aviation and aircraft in the United Kingdom, the museum has one of the biggest and best collections of military aircraft in the world.

Tate Britain

Founded by sugar businessman Sir Henry Tate, Tate Britain is a wonderful museum to visit, with lots of fantastic British artworks on show. Tate Britain’s masterpieces include works by William Blake and Francis Bacon. Wandering around the exhibitions and galleries is a lovely way to spend the day. With the museum lying on the banks of the Thames, you can take a boat to get there.

National Portrait Gallery

Home to over 11,000 portraits, this delightful art gallery focuses on famous British people through the ages. Portraits, photos, sculptures and drawings of some of the country’s most influential and well-known figures gaze upon you as you make your way through the gallery. While its most famous portrait is undoubtedly the one of William Shakespeare, more contemporary pieces do not look out of place alongside artworks that date back hundreds of years.

Imperial War Museum

Located in what was once a hospital, Imperial War Museum offers a fascinating look at war and its impact. With lots of films, photos, videos and audio recordings included in the displays, visitors will come away with a greater insight into the tragedy (悲剧) of wars, as well as the impact they have on society.

The Baiheliang Underwater Museum,     1    (build) around the White Crane Ridge (白鹤梁) of Fuling District in Chongqing, is China’s first underwater museum. The museum is located on the Yangtze River near the Three Gorges Dam; it opened on May 18, 2009. The    2    (construct) of the museum began in 2002.

Baiheliang has been submerged (淹没) underwater since    3     building of the Three Gorges Dam. It consists     4    a stone ridge that is 1, 600 meters by 15 meters in size, which is now submerged under about 40 meters of water. Before the Three Gorges Dam was built, the ridge was only submerged during the summer and fall. The ridge and the carvings on it were only exposed and     5    (clear) visible when the water level of the Yangtze River dropped during the winter. The inscriptions (题刻)     6    (record) water data about the Yangtze River from the Tang Dynasty onward as well as    7    (poem) written calligraphically could     8    (view) by visitors.

The ridge has now been enclosed in an arch-shaped glass covering    9     is filled with water to ensure equal pressure on both sides. Two underwater passages with long moving stairways have been fixed from the riverbank, enabling museum visitors     10    (enter) and view the inscriptions and fish carvings.

The Great Wall,     1     (run) for more than 20,000 kilometers, is a historical landmark with worldwide fame, but climbing it is hard. Everyone may have some knowledge of it more or less, while only a handful may have the skill to     2     (physical) participate in its restoration (修复).

However, a WeChat miniprogram, Great Wall E-tour, is allowing every enthusiast to be a hero in a virtual world, in     3     one not just visits the Great Wall, but also protects it. The program     4     (attract) considerable attention in recent weeks and got a large fan base. Around 50,000 high definition pictures of the Xipanjiakou site of the Great Wall are used to offer users a     5     (remark) experience.

Liu Yuzhu, head of the China Foundation for Cultural Heritage Conservation, says an agreement with Tencent     6     (reach) to make people more aware of the historical landmark years ago. “We made documentaries and published animated books in the past. These are popular, but the Great Wall is     7     complex structure and deserves more attention. So we tried something new,” Liu says. “A series of programs like     8     (we) have been launched in China, with a combination     9     public education and restoration of relics through digitization.” Though there are bottlenecks (障碍) that need to be removed, the future is bright. “There’s no     10     (short) of new ideas speaking of protecting relics,” Liu adds.

10 . Five Star Yellowstone Tour

Discover the world’s oldest national park, Yellowstone, on this grand wildlife tour. Our professional guides will give you a 5 star customer service experience on your all inclusive tour without any additional taxes or booking fees.

Starting at approximately 7 am, we will be rolling out the red carpet for you and all you have to do is to sit back and enjoy the ride. We provide snacks, bottled water, and cooked food for lunch. This tour’s main focus is on the wide variety of wildlife, Yellowstone’s rich historic landscapes as well as the fascinating prospect formed by the Yellowstone Supervolcano for over millions of years. Binoculars (双筒望远镜) are provided to help you appreciate the scenery better.

Whether you are an amateur photographer, a science or history enthusiast or just want to explore the outdoors, this tour has something for everyone. Our fun but professional guides will give you a first class tour in a very comfortable tour bus.

Duration: 10-12 hours

Taking Covid-19 safety measures: Click here

Hotel pickup offered

Group size: 9

Ticket type: Mobile

Available language: English

Scheduled date: Check availability

Total fees: $300 per adult (age 13-99); 40% discount (age 1-12)

Reserve now & pay later: Learn more

Free cancellation: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Now you’re all set! Have a great time.