London Heathrow Airport may be a bustling, increasingly busy airport with good connections via rail, coach and road to London but there is much to explore before you make it into the capital. Compare flights before you travel to ensure you can spend as much of your budget indulging upon the sights that behold you as you make your descent into Heathrow and beyond.

Just 8 miles from Heathrow is Hampton Court Palace, once the jewel in the Tudor crown. The beloved palace of Henry VIII is a red-bricked, spectacular example of Tudor architecture whose history is as colourful as that of the king who once called it his home. The palace remains largely as it was during Henry's reign, aside from rooms renovated by William III, and is simply visually breathtaking. The tapestries on show in the Great Hall will blow your mind at the sheer scale of them and at the depth of workmanship that went into them. Make sure you get to talk to one of the guides who will fill you in on Hampton Court's glorious history. Hampton Court also offers you the chance to get hopelessly lost in its maze and to spot the ghost of Catherine Howard, Henry's fifth wife, who is said to float down the Haunted Gallery.

If you wish to travel as the Tudors did, there are many boat trips available from Hampton Court along the Thames into London. You can also journey west along the river to Runnymede and the home of the Magna Carta. Here there is a monument to one of the most important moments in England's history and it's well worth a visit. Stay a night here, as a cultural icon awaits you just 15 minutes down the road.

Take a step forward into the shoes of the current monarchy by heading to Windsor. Just 8 miles from Heathrow, Windsor is on the flight path to many flights so see if you can spot the castle from the air before you land. Windsor Castle is the place Queen Elizabeth II and her family call home and indeed have taken their surname from here. Built originally by William the Conqueror, the castle has been home to many a monarch who have each put their style upon the building. Take a walk around the castle with the wonderful audio guide which is introduced by Prince Charles himself and is available free with your entrance ticket. Gasp in awe at Queen Mary's Dolls’ House, see some of the finest artworks from the Royal Collection which boasts 600 drawings by Da Vinci and learn about the history of the Knights of the Garter. If the Royal Standard is flying above the Round Tower, then the Queen is in residence and so there are certain areas you may not be able to visit. Fear not though, make sure you get your tickets signed by a member of staff as you leave as this gives you free entry for a year for a return visit to the castle.

Natalie Likness' love of travel was introduced to her from an early age due to a trip abroad before she was even born! Having close family and making friends across the world, she has continued to travel ever since.