London has seemingly endless attractions, and even locals constantly discover new things to see and do! Visitors certainly never get bored. However, the area surrounding the British capital has so much to offer. If you’d like to venture outside the city, many destinations are within easy reach by train. Many places are perfect for a quick day trip, whether it’s to relax at the beach, explore the hilly countryside or visit historic towns. Below are my favourite locations for great day trips from London.
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Oxford
Best known for its renowned and historic university, the oldest in the English-speaking world, you can reach Oxford with a one-hour train ride from London. For a cheaper alternative, you can even take a coach that will take about 90 minutes.
Once there, the town centre is quite small and easily explored on foot. The first sights that will grab your attention are the charming historic grounds of the university colleges. Many are open to the public sometimes, but you’ll have to pay an entry fee and opening times vary. Check out this website to see which colleges are open when you visit.
You will also find many museums managed by the university scattered around the town. Most of them have free admission and are well worth a visit to admire their extensive collections.
Outdoors, you can enjoy a walk along the rivers Thames and Cherwell. In the latter, you can also hire a small boat for a ride on the tranquil waters. The Oxford Botanic Garden, Britain’s oldest, is also great to visit. You will need to pay an entry fee, which you can book online or pay at the door.
The short distance and the small size make Oxford one of the best day trips from London.
Cambridge
Another historic university town, Cambridge is also mainly known for its renowned educational institution. There are a few options to reach Cambridge from London by train, taking between one and one and a half hours depending on the number of stops.
Like Oxford, the main architectural wonders of the town are the grounds and chapels of the university colleges. Some of the famous sights, like the Mathematical Bridge and the King’s and Trinity College chapels can be seen from outside their grounds. Some other sights however, like the Bridge of Sighs, are located inside college grounds. As with Oxford, the opening times for college grounds vary, so check this website for up-to-date information.
Cambridge has its own selection of great museums to visit, most of which offer free admission. The Fitzwilliam Museum in particular, is known for its collection of antique artefacts.
For the outdoors explorers, a walk along the river Cam is a must if visiting Cambridge. Also, you won’t want to miss the Cambridge University Botanical Gardens: larger than Oxford’s, the gardens have plenty to explore and offer pleasant walks. You will have to pay for an entry ticket, either online or at the door.
Brighton
Londoner’s favourite seaside destination, Brighton is a lively and cosmopolitan town in the county of Sussex. It was also my home for a while, so I have plenty to recommend. By train, you can get there from London in about one hour. As the closest seaside destination to the city, Brighton definitely makes one of the best day trips from London.
Upon exiting the train station, you can head straight down Queen’s Road towards the seafront. There, you will find a pebbly beach dotted with lively shops, restaurants and bars. Head to the famous Brighton Pier for candy floss, fish and chips and fun rides. If eating on the beach or the seafront, make sure to watch out for lurking seagulls though!
On a nice day, you may consider hopping on the Brighton i360. It is an 38-metre observation tower that offers gorgeous views of the seaside and hilly hinterland. If you wish to skip the queues, you can book tickets online.
Back in the town centre, make sure not to miss the famous Lanes. Vibrant traditional streets filled with shops, cafes and everything in between! You will also find the Royal Pavilion, a unique Indian-inspired palace that will surely blow your mind.
Canterbury
This vibrant historic town is located in Kent and you can get there by train in one or one and a half hours from London.
Canterbury is definitely best known for its Norman cathedral, which dates back to the 11th century. The Canterbury cathedral was the site of the murder of archbishop Thomas Becket in 1170, who later became a saint and martyr of the Church. This transformed Canterbury into a pilgrimage site, with people flocking there to pay their respects to Becket. Geoffrey Chaucer’s ‘The Canterbury Tales’, regarded as one of the best literary works in the English language, is set during such a pilgrimage. The cathedral is well worth a visit as one of the best churches in England. Adults need to pay an admission fee (available on the website). However, the tickets are valid for 12 months for unlimited visits.
Aside from the cathedral, the town centre is vibrant, with plenty of shops and restaurants and mostly pedestrianised. It is charming and pleasant to walk around. Make sure not to miss the beautiful parks and gardens, and the quieter sights along the river Great Stour.
Windsor
This town is located in Berkshire along the river Thames and you can get there from London in one hour by train. Due to its fame and proximity to the city, Windsor cannot be missed among the best day trips from London.
Windsor is best known for its connection to the British Royal Family. Windsor Castle, the town’s main attraction, is in fact an official royal residence. You can visit a large portion of the castle and its grounds, and purchase the tickets on the website. Some of the grounds and rooms are not open, as they remain the private residence of royals and their staff.
Windsor also has a vibrant town centre where you can shop, dine, or enjoy afternoon tea in one of the historic hotels.
For the outdoors lovers, Windsor Great Park offers plenty of options for long walks in nature. From the town, you can start walking along the famous Long Walk, a 2.5-mile stretch that starts from the castle and ends on a hill in the deer park. A perfect view of the castle is guaranteed all along. Should you wish to go further south, the great park continues with more gardens, ponds, and the large Virginia Water lake. It’s all worth visiting, although it will require more than a day trip to see everything in this huge park.
Kingston upon Thames
While Kingston is technically part of Greater London nowadays, it still maintains a somewhat independent feel. You can reach Kingston in half an hour from central London by train.
Kingston town centre is pretty and vibrant, full of shops and interesting cafes and restaurants. It also has a pedestrianised high street and a large square with daily market. Here, you’ll find plenty of fresh produce and street food. The town centre also hosts the beautiful Kingston Christmas Markets every year. They are well worth a visit if you are in London during the Christmas period.
From the town centre, you can take a breezy walk along the river Thames, or cross the Kingston Bridge to find two large parks. First, you’ll see Hampton Court Park, home to roaming fallow deer and the royal Hampton Court Palace. You can visit the palace, once home to Henry VII and his wives, and book the tickets on the website. Alternatively, nearby Bushy Park also features roaming deer, both fallow and red deer, together with beautiful gardens.
Overall, Kingston-upon-Thames is among the best day trips from central London. It’s a chance to see a vibrant town centre, and the nearby parks with roaming deer and palaces.
Arundel
Arundel is a small village in East Sussex that can be reached in one and a half hours from London.
Its main attraction is definitely its imposing castle. It has been a significant location for English nobility for centuries, and it’s still home to the Dukes of Norfolk. They are still one of the most influential English noble families, with strong ties to the monarchy. The dukes also renovated and remodeled the castle completely during the 18th and 19th centuries, after it had been damaged in times of war. This relatively recent work has made Arundel Castle look stunningly fresh, unlike many other English castles which are now ruins. You can visit the castle and the gardens, with the tickets available on the website.
Beyond the castle, you can explore the village to find traditional pubs and tea rooms, and enjoy a pleasant walk along the quiet river Arun.
Winchester
This wealthy Hampshire town is only one hour away by train from London. It’s perfect for a day trip because, like Arundel, it’s quite small and can easily be explored in a day.
Winchester is an historic town that still maintains its mediaeval character and charm. The most famous attraction is its imposing cathedral: while it was originally built by the Normans, it has undergone multiple changes that led to the current Gothic style. Works also included a recent large-scale restoration. Today, it stands as one of the largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe. You can book tickets to visit the cathedral online and they work in a similar way to the aforementioned Canterbury cathedral, with a 12-month validity.
Another famous attraction of the town is the Great Hall, the only remaining building of the old Winchester Castle. You can visit for free to learn more about the history of Winchester and see many significant artefacts, such as the Arthurian round table.
Alternatively, you can also join a tour of the mediaeval Winchester College, which is still one of England’s most prestigious colleges. Visit their website to book a tour and check opening times.
Mayfield Lavender Farm
This is probably the most unusual entry on this post. It’s an organic lavender farm that offers unique photo opportunities, as well as tractor rides of the property. There is also a cafe and a shop that sells locally grown, lavender-based products.
The farm is located in Banstead, on the edge of South London. You can get there in just over one hour from Lonfon, with a train to Coulsdon Town and bus to Banstead.
It is only open to the public during the summer, from early June to late August. If you are visiting London in the summer, this location may be an interesting way to experience something unique and tranquil without trekking too far out of the city. You should certainly consider it among your ideas for day trips from London!
Surrey Hills
The Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is located just outside of South West London. Many of the most famous locations are hard to reach by public transport, but you can still travel to some destinations by train from London.
The easiest location to reach by train is Box Hill, also one of Londoners’ favourite spots in the area. You can take a train from London to the Box Hill and Westhumble station and walk the path up the hill. Alternatively, you can take a train to the town of Dorking. You will still be able to walk up to Box Hill, albeit on a longer route, and enjoy the town’s cafes and restaurants. The area also has more to offer: Denbies vineyard, England’s largest, is a short taxi ride away from the train stations, nestled among the hills. There, you can purchase their wine, dine in one of the restaurants or join a tour of the property. Check out their website to see what’s on and reserve your activities.
There are other locations in the Surrey Hills that you could head to on a day trip from London, but they will require a taxi ride from a train station. While definitely not the easiest to get to, the Surrey Hills should be on your list of day trips from London.
Bournemouth
Another popular beach town, Bournemouth is located on Dorset. It’s farther from London than the destinations already mentioned, but you can still travel there in about two hours by train.
Bournemouth is perfect for a day trip at the beach on a sunny day. It’s very different from Brighton. Brighton is definitely more vibrant, busier, and has a more interesting town centre. However, the beach is pebbly and the water murky. In contrast, Bournemouth beach has beautiful golden sand and much clearer water. This makes Bournemouth a much better option if your intention is to have a relaxing beach day. The town centre still has plenty to do, with no lack of restaurants, cafes and shops.
While Bournemouth needs to be considered among your day trips from London, you can stay overnight to explore the rest of Dorset. Check out my post in the best places to visit in Dorset. This small county has plenty to offer, with a truly stunning coastline.
Bath
One of England’s most famous towns, you can get to Bath in just over one hour with a direct train from London.
Bath is named after the public baths that the Romans built there, which you can now visit. The Roman Baths are one of the best preserved Roman buildings in Britain. To skip the queues at the entrance, make sure to book your tickets online. You can spend the rest of the day exploring the charming centre of Bath, with significant sights such as Bath Abbey and the Holburne Museum.
Additionally, Bath was the site of many filming locations for the Netflix series Bridgerton. If you are an ardent Bridgerton fan, you can join a walking tour of the town that explores the several filming locations.
Like many other locations in this article, Bath’s small size and the easy of getting there by train rank it high among the best day trips from London.
