London is full of exciting things to see and do, but some days you just need to get out of the city. Check out these great day trips that are easy to access from London.
Stonehenge
As one of the most iconic historic sites in the world, Stonehenge is a great trip on it’s own…or can easily be combined with other day trip destinations. While you can get there on your own either by driving or through a train/shuttle bus combination, this is one day trip where you may want to consider a group tour. (For more information, check out: Is a Trip to Stonehenge Worth It?)
Brighton
The beach is only a short distance away in Brighton. This seaside town offers great shopping, restaurants, and art galleries in addition to plenty of sand and surf. Check out the town’s art museum, natural history museum, Indian-architecture inspired Royal Palace, the i360 observation tower, and a nearby estate that was listed in the 1086 Domesday book. Brighton is an easy train ride from London.
Bath
As one might expect, Bath is best known for it’s…well, baths. 2000 year old Roman baths to be precise. It was also home to Jane Austen and inspired many of her novels. Tour the Roman baths, visit the Jane Austen center, admire the Bath Abbey, visit the fashion museum, or take advantage of one of the spa centers in town. You can easily take the train to Bath, drive yourself, or join a group tour stopping in the city.
Canterbury
Centered around a remarkable cathedral, Canterbury is full of history and medieval architecture. Check out the cathedral, St. Augustine’s Abbey, St. Martin’s church, Eastbridge hospital, the city walls, Beaney House of Art and Knowledge, the Roman museum, a museum of Freemasonry, and recreations of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. All just a train ride from London.
Cambridge
For the feel of the countryside with the conveniences of the city, head to Cambridge. Admire the impressive gothic cathedral, visit art galleries, enjoy nature at the botanic garden, even do a little boating. An easy train ride will get you there from London.
Oxford
Picturesque Oxford offers a variety of options spanning a wide variety of interests. Sure, there’s always Oxford campus, museums, and a botanical garden…all of which are impressive. But Harry Potter lovers will find many familiar sites. Same with fans of British mystery shows…much of Inspector Morse and Lewis were filmed here. Literature buffs will want to stop in at Eagle and Child Pub where The Inklings (which included Tolkien and CS Lewis). History gurus will find Churchill’s birthplace just outside the city. And music fans will be interested in Jericho’s Tavern where Radiohead first played. Oxford is just a simple train ride from London.
Paris
If you don’t mind a long day (or want to make a weekend of it), Paris is a viable day trip option thanks to the Eurostar (check out Taking the Eurostar between London and Paris). Paris is full of incredible options to explore. Far too many to mention here. Read these blog posts for some ideas!
Cotswolds
Like something out of a fairy tale, the Cotswolds are a collection of small, picturesque villages in the English countryside. You’ll want to drive yourself or join a group tour to check them out. (Or if you want to make a much longer trip out of it, there’s a 100+ mile walking trail through the region! There are horse riding and cycling trails as well.)
Harry Potter studio
Though located just outside London, the Harry Potter studio is an all day affair even for casual fans. Make sure to plan plenty in advance as tickets routinely sell out. You can take a train/shuttle bus combo on your own…or catch a bus from several different tour operators. Check out this blog post for more details on visiting the Warner Bros Harry Potter Studios.
Highclere Castle
Downton Abbey fans will certainly want to consider a day trip to Highclere Castle where the show was filmed. Like the Harry Potter Studio, this is a popular destination and often sells out. You’ll want to plan plenty in advance. Getting there can be a little difficult as the nearest train station is Newbury and buses run infrequently. If you take the train, you’ll likely want to hire a cab to take you to the site. Otherwise, you can drive yourself if you have a vehicle…or catch a group tour from London.
