Beautiful day trips

In this section, I highlight the best day trips from London. Whether you’re looking for history, culture or opportunities for walks, there are so many places to visit near London.

Rochester

Rochester is a historic town in Kent, South East England. It was formerly the home of the novelist Charles Dickens and you can visit some of the sites Dickens wrote about, including the lovely Restoration House which was used as the model for Satis House, the home of Mrs Havisham in Great Expectations.

Other attractions include Rochester Cathedral (pictured) which is England’s second oldest cathedral, having been a place of Christian worship since AD604. The evocative Rochester Castle is also worth a visit for the views over the town.

Rochester high street has a number of independent shops as well as the Guildhall Museum of local history. In December there is an annual Dickens festival with street entertainment and parades.

Journey time: 40 minutes from London St Pancras, London Bridge or London Victoria

Salisbury

Salisbury is a medieval city in Wiltshire, South West England. It’s most famous for its cathedral (pictured) which has the tallest spire in the country. Inside the cathedral, you can view one of the original Magna Carta manuscripts from 1215.

Other attractions include historic streets (don’t miss the pretty Cathedral Close where you can visit the National Trust-owned 18th century townhouse Mompesson House), independent shops, and the Salisbury Museum which tells the history of the city.

You might want to consider a visit to nearby Stonehenge, the iconic prehistoric structure and visitor centre, which you can get to on a hop-on hop-off tour bus from Salisbury train station or city centre.

Journey time: 1 hour and 30 minutes from London Waterloo to Salisbury

Stamford

Stamford is a well preserved market town situated by the River Welland in Lincolnshire, England’s East Midlands. It’s known for its stone buildings, many of which date back to the Georgian period.

The town has often been used in filming for period dramas. The high street was recently named by the Telegraph as one of the best in the country, and there are also pretty cobbled side streets with independent shops.

Burghley House, an Elizabethan stately home, is within walking distance of the town – many of the grand rooms are open to the public, including a bedroom where Queen Victoria stayed, and there are gardens to explore, including  a new contemporary Garden of Surprises, and a Sculpture Garden leading up to the lake.

Journey time: 65 minutes from London Kings Cross to Stamford, via Peterborough

Oxford

Oxford is a historic university city in Oxfordshire, South East England. It’s a lovely place to wander round, with ancient colleges and charming streets such as Merton Street, Holywell Street, Brasenose Lane and Bath Place. Architectural highlights include the iconic Baroque-style Radcliffe Camera, and the Christ Church college which was founded by King Henry VIII in 1546 and is one of the grandest and largest colleges.

Other things to do include taking a punt or rowing boat on the river, walking through the Christ Church Meadow where there are pretty floral displays in the summer, or visiting the Ashmolean Museum, the world’s oldest public museum which has impressive collections of art and archaeology. The Botanic Garden – the oldest one in the country – is also worth a visit, with its glasshouses, lily pond and wildflower displays.

If you have a bit longer in the city you could also visit nearby Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the country’s largest houses, dating back to the early 18th century. It’s a 20 minute drive from Oxford, or you can get the Stagecoach 3 bus from the city centre direct to the Palace entrance.

Journey time: 50 minutes from London Paddington to Oxford

Norwich

Norwich is a medieval city in Norfolk, East of England. Its historic centre includes the Cathedral with its lovely cloisters, and the nearby Tombland area with its cobbled streets and Tudor houses. Don’t miss Elm Hill - perhaps the most photographic spot in the city, with its old timber framed buildings.

Other places to visit include Norwich Castle which has a typical Norman keep, and the independent shops in the Norwich Lanes area.

Norwich is situated on the river, and you can walk along the riverside path past Pull’s Ferry, a 15th century water gate, and Cow Tower, a 14th century artillery tower. If you have time to explore further, you can visit the Norfolk Broads by taking a guided boat tour from nearby Wroxham, just a 15 minute train ride from Norwich.

Journey time: 1 hour and 40 minutes from London Liverpool Street to Norwich

Eynsford

Eynsford is a pretty village in Kent, South East England. It has many historic buildings, including the free-to-visit Eynsford Castle, the Church of St Martin, Lullingstone Roman Villa, and Lullingstone Castle. It’s a really popular place to visit in the summer, when people sit on the banks of the river by the bridge, or paddle in the water.

There are some nice tea rooms and pubs here too, and many gorgeous timber framed cottages.

You can also walk from Eynsford to nearby Shoreham, a route which goes past Castle Farm - a lavender farm with a lovely shop selling homeware and lavender themed treats.

Journey time: 45 minutes from London Victoria or London Charing Cross, with a change at Swanley, or 55 minutes from London Blackfriars direct

Brockenhurst

Brockenhurst is a lovely village in the New Forest, an area of Hampshire in South East England known for its stunning woodland and native ponies. Many of the ponies can be seen wandering the streets of the village, alongside donkeys and cows.

Although the village is a nice place to stop for some tea and cake, it’s the ideal place to start a walk or a long cycle ride. There are many suggested walking routes available online. Autumn is the best time to visit, when the landscape is most magical.

If you want to stay in the New Forest area a bit longer, there are many other great places to visit, from Beaulieu Motor Museum to the seaside town of Lymington and the unique 18th century shipbuilding village Bucklers Hard.

Journey time: 1 hour 40 minutes from London Waterloo

Battle

Battle is a historic market town in Sussex, South East England, and is most famous for being the site of the 1066 Battle of Hastings. You can tour the original battlefield and visit the ruins of the Abbey which was built to commemorate the battle and William the Conqueror’s victory. It’s said that the church’s altar is the spot where King Harold died.

As well as those famous historic sites, there are lovely side streets to explore with Tudor houses (pictured) as well as some nice independent shops on the high street. The town is also a great starting point for a countryside walk, and there are many routes to explore including the 1066 Country Walk which goes through Battle woods.

November is a good time to visit as there is an annual fireworks display and torchlit procession through the town.

Journey time: 1 hour 15 minutes to Battle station from London Cannon Street, or 1 hour 30 minutes to Battle from London Charing Cross

Hastings

Hastings is a charming seaside town in Sussex, South East England, with a unique setting in a valley between two hills. As well as a traditional English seaside promenade, with fish and chip shops, arcades, mini golf, fairground rides and a pier, there is also an Old Town with quaint streets full of historic Tudor buildings, pretty cottages, great pubs and antique shops. The streets in the Old Town are known as ‘twittens’ - a local term for narrow streets or passages.

Key attractions in Hastings include the Hastings Country Park which has fantastic seaside views, and the ruins of Hastings Castle which was Britain’s first Norman castle, built by William the Conquerer. You can reach the Country Park by taking the East Hill Lift; for the castle take the West Hill Lift - both are funicular railways which are fun to ride.

Other places to visit include the Hastings Contemporary art gallery and Hastings Museum and Gallery.

Journey time: 1 hour 30 minutes from London Charing Cross to Hastings, or 2 hours from London Victoria to Hastings.

Box Hill

Box Hill is part of the North Downs in Surrey, South East England, and is a great place for a countryside walk close to London.

With beautiful views of the countryside, it’s a really popular place for a picnic or a walk. The National Trust website has lots of suggestions of different walks, ranging from family-friendly trails to longer hikes. Don’t miss the delightful Stepping Stones Path across the river, or Broadwoods Tower - a 19th century folly.

Journey time: 55-55 minutes from London Waterloo or London Victoria to Boxhill and Westhumble.

Rye

With its cobbled streets and traditional tea rooms, Rye is one of the best day trips from London. Located in Sussex, South East England, it was once a coastal town, before the sea retreated, with many smugglers in the area.

Highlights include Landgate, the ancient city gate (pictured) which was built to protect the town from invading forces, and Ypres Tower - also called Rye Castle - built to defend the town from attack. The latter offers great views of the surrounding marshland.

Other highlights include Lamb House, once home to novelist Henry James, and the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. There are lots of independent shops, and beautiful historic houses. The Mermaid Inn on Mermaid Street is possibly the most photographed building here, but the whole town is a delight for photographers. If you have time, the beautiful sandy Camber Beach is a short drive from Rye.

Journey time: 1 hour 10 minutes from London St Pancras International to Rye, with a change at Ashford International

Lincoln

A lovely city in the East Midlands, Lincoln is one of the most underrated places to visit in the UK, and is easily accessible from London.

The highlights are at the top of the cobbled Steep Hill street - so named as it is VERY steep (be prepared!). Once you’ve climbed the street, which is full of independent shops and cafes, attractions to visit include Lincoln Cathedral (a fine example of gothic architecture that was once the tallest building in the world, dating back to 1092, and home to an original Magna Carter) and Lincoln Castle (built by William the Conqueror in 1068 as a way of controlling rebels in the North.

There are also Tudor buildings in the city, including the Guildhall building which dates back to 1520 and still hosts local council meetings today. Another must-see historic building is the Stokes High Bridge cafe, situated on the 12th century High Bridge over the river - one of the oldest standing bridges in the country.

Journey time: some trains take longer than others, but the fastest gets to Lincoln from London Kings Cross in 1 hour 46 minutes

Bath

Bath is one of the most popular day trips from London and it’s easy to see why. This beautiful Georgian town, located in Somerset in South West England, is full of gorgeous houses made from local Bath Stone.

Highlights include Bath Abbey (a working church with a lovely fan vaulted ceiling), and the Roman Baths which date back to 70AD and are one of the best preserved Roman remains in the world. You can also walk the Bath Skyline Walk or relax at the Thermae Bath Spa which has natural hot spring water.

There are many attractive streets to explore, including the 18th century Royal Crescent with its sweep of terraced houses, The Circus, and Bath Street. Other nice streets include the Abbey Churchyard which has great views of the church, and the North Parade Passage where you can find the historic eating house Sally Lunn’s and sample the regional Bath Bunn.

Other attractions in Bath include Pulteney Bridge, designed by Robert Adam in 1769, and one of the only bridges in the world to have shops on both sides. There are also many museums and galleries, including The Holburne Museum of decorative arts, the Victoria Art Gallery of classic and contemporary art, and the Museum of East Asian Art. There is also a Jane Austen Centre, as the novelist lived here between 1801 and 1806.

Journey time: 1 hour and 15 minutes from London Paddington to Bath Spa.

Arundel

Located in Sussex, in South East England, Arundel is perhaps one of the most underrated day trip destinations from London. It’s most famous for its castle which has many original features, from the Norman keep to the medieval Gatehouse, as well as a Gothic-style Victorian section which was built after much of the building fell into disrepair.

Other highlights in Arundel include the cathedral, which dates back to the 19th century and overlooks the town, the Wetland Centre nature reserve and Swanbourne Lake which is a great place for a walk. The town has many independent shops too.

If you have time, I’d also recommend a visit to the nearby village Amberley which is very pretty and has some lovely thatched cottages.

Journey time: 1 hour and 30 minutes from London Victoria to Arundel

Whitstable

In recent years Whitstable has become increasingly popular with Londoners looking for a quick coastal getaway. Famous for its oysters, this seaside town is located in Kent, South East England and one of the best seaside escapes from London.

Highlights of Whitstable include the working harbour and harbour market, and the shingle beach. The town is full of fish and chip shops, as well as oyster bars including the famous Wheelers (pictured) with its iconic pink facade. There are also some nice independent art galleries, and plenty of coffee shops and pubs. The Old Neptune pub is right on the beach and has locally brewed beer.

Every summer Whitstable hosts an oyster festival in recognition of the fact that oysters have been harvested here since Roman times.

Journey time: 1 hour and 20 minutes from London Victoria or London St Pancras International to Whitstable.

Winchester

Winchester, located in Hampshire in South East England, is an underrated day trip destination from London. There are lots of medieval streets to explore, but it’s most famous for its two main attractions - Winchester Cathedral, where the writer Jane Austen is buried, and the 13th century Great Hall, which includes the legendary King Arthur’s Round Table.

There are many other things to do in the city, including taking a walk by the river, visiting the independent shops in the side streets, or going to one of the local museums such as the City Museum or Westgate Museum.

If you have a bit more time, you could also visit the house where Jane Austen lived, in nearby Chawton (about 30 mins by car), or take a Jane Austen themed walking tour in Winchester - you can download a self-guided trail from the local council’s website.

Journey time: 1 hour and 40 minutes from London Waterloo to Winchester.

Leigh-on-Sea

Leigh-on-Sea is in Essex in South East England. It’s an easy day trip from London with a relatively short train journey.

There are two main parts to the town. The charming Old Leigh has a long history as a fishing port. This waterfront area of cobbled streets has small art galleries, cafes, clapboard houses, and characterful cockle sheds where fishing boats unload their hauls from the day. There are some atmospheric pubs here which look out over the Thames Estuary (my favourites are The Crooked Billet and The Peterboat), as well as seafood restaurants like The Boatyard.

The newer part of Leigh is centred around The Broadway, where there is a lovely mix of independent cafes and gift shops.

Other places to visit in Leigh-on-Sea include the Two Tree Island nature reserve and Belfairs Woods. The town also hosts an annual art trail, where local local artists sell their work in shops and galleries.

Journey time: 40 minutes from London Liverpool Street to Leigh-on-Sea

York

York is further from London than all the other destinations on this list, but I’ve included it here as it’s one of the most charming and historic cities in England. Situated in Yorkshire, it’s worth coming here for longer than a day as there is a lot to do in the local area.

The main attractions in York are the Gothic cathedral (York Minister), and the network of cobbled lanes nearby, including the charming The Shambles which has attractive 13th century houses and is said to have inspired Diagon Alley in Harry Potter. Other things to do include the National Railway Museum York and the Castle Museum . You can also take a walk on the city’s Roman walls - the longest town walls in England.

If you’re staying here for a bit longer then there are many beautiful walks to be had in the surrounding countryside. It’s also an easy day trip from York to the pretty spa town Harrogate (about 30 mins away by train) where you can visit the gardens at RHS Garden Harlow, or have afternoon tea at Betty’s.

Journey time: 2 hours from London King’s Cross to York

Lewes

Lewes is a lovely small town in Sussex, South East England. The main attraction here is the Norman castle, built soon after the Battle of Hastings and situated in the centre of the town. There are great views of the surrounding countryside from the castle keep.

Next door to the castle is a museum of archaeology which has finds from the prehistoric to medieval periods. The town is also home to the Anne of Cleves House, a beautiful 15th century house that was given to Anne of Cleves at the end of her marriage to Henry VIII.

Lewes also has lots of independent shops and historic pubs. Don’t miss the Union Music Store which has new and used vinyl and live music events.

Journey time: 1 hour from London Victoria to Lewes

Brighton

If you’re looking for a traditional English seaside experience then you can’t really beat a trip to Brighton. The town is located in Sussex in South East England, and is one of the most popular day trips for Londoners. There are beautiful Regency-era houses in garden squares, and a famous Victorian pier with fairground attractions.

Key attractions in Brighton include the fabulously unique Royal Pavilion, an Eastern-style palace built for King George IV as a seaside retreat, and the Brighton Museum and Art Gallery which includes fashion, art and design. The stony beach stretches for 8 miles from Shoreham to the pretty village of Rottingdean. If you’d like to explore the surrounding countryside, then the South Downs National Park is a 30 minute bus ride away.

Brighton also has a thriving arts and live music scene, and a huge range of independent shops and places to eat, including plenty of fish and chip shops. Don’t miss The Lanes - a group of narrow lanes with small shops and restaurants, or the North Laine which has a more laid-back bohemian atmosphere, with vintage clothes shops and food from around the world.

Journey time: 1 hour to Brighton from London Victoria or London Bridge

Windsor and Eton

Windsor is a popular day trip destination for tourists visiting the city, mainly because of the castle which is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world.

Built by William the Conquerer in the 11th century, the castle has been home to many different monarchs over the years. There's a lot to see here, from the state apartments to Queen Mary's dollhouse and St George's Chapel, which has hosted lots of Royal events, including the wedding of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. If you visit the castle on a Thursday or Saturday you can also see the Changing of the Guard which is usually at 11am. 

Other than the castle, it's also worth going to Windsor's The Long Walk (a 2.5 mile tree lined avenue) and deer park (once a hunting forest). The town is also a nice place to spend time, with cobbled streets, gift shops, and the Crooked House of Windsor which is said to be the oldest tea room in England.

Just a short walk over the river from Windsor is the town of Eton which is best known for its prestigious college. There are some lovely buildings here, including the college chapel, and you can often spot students wearing their black tailcoats and waistcoats. 

Journey time: 1 hour from London Waterloo to Windsor and Eton Riverside

Broadstairs (and Margate)

Broadstairs is a charming English seaside town in Kent, South East England. It’s known for its award winning sandy beaches, with no less than 7 bays here, including Joss Bay (popular with surfers), quiet Botany Bay, and the main beach Viking Beach.

Broadstairs also has a connection with the Victorian writer Charles Dickens, as he visited the town regularly whilst on holiday. There is an annual Dickens festival in June, and the Dickens House Museum is located in the cottage that inspired the home of Betsey Trotwood in the novel David Copperfield.

Don’t miss the retro ice-cream parlours in Broadstairs, especially Morelli’s which has been here since the 1930s. There are also lots of unique shops and restaurants in the town, as well as art galleries.

Broadstairs is not too far from the two neighbouring towns of Margate and Ramsgate. You can walk to both, but of the two I would recommend Margate which has a sandy beach, the Turner Contemporary art gallery, the Dreamland Margate amusement part, and the unique Shell Grotto - underground passages decorated by shells. There’s also a thriving arts scene in Margate, with art galleries and studios located in the cobbled streets of the old town.

Journey time: 1 hour 30 minutes to Broadstairs from London St Pancras International

Cambridge

Cambridge is an attractive university town in South East England. It’s very walkable, with a historic centre. During the university holidays you can visit many of the colleges, which have beautiful buildings set around peaceful courtyards.

The highlight of Cambridge is King’s College Chapel - a magnificent gothic chapel which dates back to the 15th century. Inside, there is a stunning fan vaulted ceiling and huge stained glass windows. As well as taking a self-guided tour inside, you can walk round the outdoor courtyard and down to the river where students are often found hanging out on the Backs - a grassy area with views of the river.

Other things to do in Cambridge include visiting the Fitzwilliam Museum which has a large collection of paintings and historic artefacts, as well as a botanical garden. You could also go punting on the river, or visit one of the city’s churches. The Round Church in particular is worth seeing even if just from the outside as it one of the few remaining medieval round churches in the country.

Cambridge is also great for shopping. The King’s Parade, Trinity Street and Trumpington Street have many independent shops and cafes, including the historic Fitzbillies bakery which was founded in 1920 and known for its Chelsea buns, the bookshop Heffers, and Jack’s Gelato which has gelato in many unusual flavours. There is also a regular market in the Market Square.

Journey time: The fastest trains take 50 minutes from London King’s Cross to Cambridge