A weekend in London with older parents

This is a weekend built around short hops and long sits. Day one keeps you in Buckinghamshire's quiet corner, with just 2.5 miles between Taplow Court and Dorney Wood — a drive measured in minutes, not motorway stints, so nobody arrives stiff or hurried. Day two is the longer leg at 44.8 miles east to New Tavern Fort, then a gentle 3.8 miles on to Cobham Hall, leaving the afternoon free to linger rather than clock-watch.

For a base, On The Thames sleeps four and sits 0.4 miles from Limehouse station — walkable luggage-free if you're arriving by rail, with The Serpentine at Hyde Park 5.6 miles off and rated Good for bathing water by the Environment Agency. If you need six beds, The Bean Flat is 0.6 miles from Haydons Road, or The Coppice 0.8 miles from Reedham. Coming by train into London? Charing Cross is your arrival point, and taxis from there are short.