The London Staycation

The London Staycation offers the perfect opportunity to discover iconic London attractions, beautiful Thames towns, famous castles, and delectable oysters. Explore London town and beyond for city staycation combined with country charm.

London City

The London Staycation

London is a thriving hub overflowing with people, places and attractions. Exploring all that this city has to offer is a staycation within itself with parks, aquariums, a myriad of museums, galleries, markets, quirky restaurants and bars, festivals, and more. The main transport links to and from the city centre are London Paddington, Victoria, Kings Cross & St Pancras, Euston, London Bridge and Waterloo. There is an extensive tube and bus system to help visitors navigate their way around, visit tfl.co.uk to plan a visit. Top locations to explore for shopping are Oxford Street, Knightsbridge, Regent Street, and Covent Garden, while Soho is a vibrant place for food and drinks, Herman ze German offers fantastic hot dogs, Vapiano has mouth-watering pasta (unlike any other restaurant pasta), and the famous Ronnie Scott's is the number one Jazz club. Along the river, the London Eye is a 'must' to see the cityscape and a walk down Southbank offers a cultural and buzzing atmosphere as you immerse in the bars, restaurants, iconic skate park and beautiful river views. Explore more London attractions at: https://www.jurysinns.com/hotels/london/city-guide

St Paul's Cathedral

The London Staycation

St Paul's, with its world-famous dome, is an iconic feature of the London skyline. Step inside and you can enjoy the Cathedral's awe-inspiring interior, and uncover fascinating stories about its history. Learn more and plan a trip at: https://www.stpauls.co.uk/

Whitstable Oysters

The London Staycation

Whitstable is famed for its oysters, which remains an intrinsic part of this town's character, celebrated every July at the Oyster Festival. Oysters and other seaside delicacies can be enjoyed at the local restaurants and pubs. The town also oozes bohemian charm with independent boutiques and craft stores, and offers a strong arts culture and rich maritime history, making it the perfect seaside day trip, just a stone's throw away from London. Plan a visit at: http://www.canterbury.co.uk/canterbury-district/Whitstable.aspx

Royal Tunbridge Wells

The London Staycation

Bursting with charm, natural beauty and picturesque architecture, the Royal Tunbridge Wells is a UK gem. Soak up the culture, admire the historic and famous colonnaded 'The Pantiles' walkway, and explore the rich woodlands and flora along a myriad of footpaths and parks of this quintessential English countryside town. Learn more and plan a trip at: http://www.visittunbridgewells.com/

Warner Bros. Studio Tour

The London Staycation

Explore behind the scenes of the iconic Warner Bros. studio as you immerse in the magical world of Harry Potter. The studio tour takes you on a journey through the sets, special effects, props, costumes, and more, offering a unique opportunity to experience the films and even the books in a way like no other. The tour is an absolute 'must' for families, fans, and aspiring wizards! Learn more and plan a visit at: http://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/

TM & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.Harry Potter Publishing Rights © JKR.

Houses of Parliament & Big Ben

The London Staycation

Parliament is open to all UK and overseas visitors to attend debates, watch committee hearings or take a tour inside one of the world’s most iconic buildings. UK residents can also book a tour of Elizabeth Tower to see Big Ben. Find out more at: http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/

Tower of London

The London Staycation

For nearly 1,000 years the Tower of London has served as a royal palace, prison, place of execution, stronghold for riches, and the symbol of the monarchy in England. Explore the towers, crown jewels, unique history, and more - plan a visit at: http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/

Buckingham Palace

The London Staycation

As the working headquarters of the Monarchy, Buckingham Palace is an iconic and truly unique place to visit. Take a tour of the State Rooms and peruse the picture gallery, or simply admire from afar as a landmark stop, either way, this is a 'must-see' for any London staycation. Find out more at:http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit/the-state-rooms-buckingham-palace

Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2015 – photographer Andrew Holt

Beautiful Thames Towns

The London Staycation

Explore just outside the capital city with a trip to beautiful countryside towns and villages, all picturesquely situated on the Thames. Discover Maidenhead, Marlow, Shiplake, Wargrave, and Henley-on-Thames, all of which are bursting with charm, history, beautiful countryside, and of course river walks and boat rides. Each town holds a regatta during the summer, but Henley-on-Thames is home to the Royal Regatta, an iconic sporting event that attracts many spectators every year, offering a truly unique experience to all. Learn more about each town at: http://visit-henley.com/ http://shiplakevillages.com/ http://www.windsor.gov.uk/discover-the-area/maidenhead http://www.mymarlow.co.uk/

Royal Observatory Greenwich

The London Staycation

Discover the past, present and future wonders of astronomy at the centre of time, the Royal Observatory Greenwich is the home of the Prime Meridian of the World and London's only planetarium. Learn more and plan a visit at: http://www.rmg.co.uk/royal-observatory

©National Maritime Museum

Camden Town

The London Staycation

A vibrant mix of markets, pubs, stores, and the lock, Camden Town offers a London experience like no other. The truly unique Stables market is thriving hub of stalls from vintage and gothic fashion, to art work, crafts, knick knacks, and food. Learn more at: http://www.camden-market.org/

Surrey Hills AONB

The London Staycation

Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty offers some of South East England’s most stunning and accessible countryside, most notably Box Hill, Leith Hill and the Devil’s Punch Bowl. Discover the extensive footpath network, open commons, breath-taking views, attractive market towns, villages and much more. Plan a visit at: http://www.surreyhills.org/

Oxford

The London Staycation

Let the “city of dreaming spires” enchant you with 1,500 listed buildings from every major period of British architectural history from the 11th century onwards. Built in striking honey-coloured limestone, the city centre offers fairy-tale setting as you explore the many attractions from climbing Oxford's towers to shopping, museums, and tours! Plan a trip at: http://www.visitoxfordandoxfordshire.com/oxford/

©visitoxfordandoxfordshire.com

Hampton Court Palace

The London Staycation

Hampton Court Palace is bursting with historical and exciting things to do and see. From the Great Hall, Chapel Royal and Cumberland Art Gallery, to the maze and gardens, this magnificent estate offers an awe-inspiring and fantastical day out. The spring/summer TimePlays are a great addition for those visiting as a family - learn more and plan a trip at:http://www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace/Default.aspx

Hatfield House

The London Staycation

Hatfield House is the home of the 7th Marquess and Marchioness of Salisbury and their family. Displaying superb examples of Jacobean craftsmanship, the house offers a truly unique and a little awe-inspiring experience as you explore the beautiful and historic interiors. You can also peruse the gardens, traditional farm, and extensive park, making this a great day out for all. Plan a trip at:http://www.hatfield-house.co.uk/

Windsor Castle/ Windsor Town

The London Staycation

Windsor is a quaint town just outside of London and is home to one of the most famous castles in England. Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world. It has been the family home of British kings and queens for almost 1,000 years. Explore the state apartments, exhibitions, the magnificent Queen Mary's dolls' house, and more. Plan a visit at: http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit/windsorcastle

Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2015 – photographer Peter Packer

Staying in the area

Sitting on the outskirts of the city, our Croydon and Watford hotels are perfectly placed to explore both London and beyond.

If you’d prefer to stay in the city centre, with views of many of the attractions mentioned then take a look at all Jurys Inn and Leonardo Hotels in London. Should you decide to overnight in Oxford, Jurys Inn Oxford is a the perfect base to explore this stunning city.

Prepare your perfect London staycation by browsing the below distances and approximate travel times to each attraction from the closest London hotel. We’ve also included a rough guide on how much time you might expect to spend at each location to make planning your trip that little bit easier!

AttractionsAprx Time Watford/Croydon*Aprx Distance Watford/CroydonAttraction Duration (excl travel time)
London City0.5 hrs21/10 miles1 day
Beautiful Thames Towns0.5-1hrs28/60 miles1 day
Oxford1/1.5 hrs53/85 miles1 day
Whitstable Oysters1.5 hrs92/62.9 miles1/2 day
Royal Tunbridge Wells1/1.5 hrs75/32 miles1/2 day
Windsor Castle/Windsor Town0.5-1 hrs26/42miles1/2 day
Warner Bros. Studioup to 0.5 hrs/1 hrs3/57 miles3 hours
Hatfield House0.5/1.5hrs17/64 miles2 hours
St Paul's Cathedral0.5-1 hrs20/12 miles1 hour
Houses of Parliament & Big Ben0.5-1 hrs21/11 miles2 hours
Tower of London0.5-1 hrs21/11 miles1 hour
Buckingham Palace0.5-1 hrs20/12 miles3 hours
Royal Observatory Greenwich1/0.5 hrs49/11 miles3 hours
Camden Town0.5 hrs18/13miles2 hours
Surrey Hills AONB1 hrs44/38 miles1/2 day
Hampton Court Palace0.5-1 hrs37/17.2 miles2 hours

*attractions with only one aprx time represent the time taken from both hotels.