Are you looking for the best day trips from London and exploring some of the United Kingdom’s top destinations? Then look no further than the many day trips from London available for those seeking a change of scenery.
No matter your interests, there is a day trip from London that can satisfy everyone’s desires. There are plenty of choices, from architectural marvels like St Paul’s Cathedral to luscious green landscapes like the Cotswolds.
One of the best day trips from London is visiting Bath, located in Somerset County. This charming city is known for its stunning Georgian architecture and vibrant culture. In addition, visitors can enjoy the historic Roman Baths, which have existed since 43 AD! The baths are filled with three hot pools that feature steaming thermal waters and provide a unique experience unlike anything else in Britain. Visitors can also explore the various galleries and museums in Bath, including The Fashion Museum, where one can see some historical fashion pieces dating back to 16th century England!
Bath is easily accessible via train or car, making it perfect for those short on time but still want an immersive experience away from London. It only takes around 1 hour and 40 minutes by train, so you can make it a day trip or even an afternoon excursion if you don’t have much time!
So if you’re looking for an exciting day trip from London without worrying about long travel times or complicated public transportation systems, then Bath is worth considering. Get ready for an adventure filled with beautiful architecture, lively culture, and warm thermal springs – all within reach of London’s bustling metropolis!
One of the best ways to see the UK is to go for a campervan hire in London and explore the country on wheels!
Do you need help planning your trips? Start here!
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Top Day Trips from London, United Kingdom
Brighton
It is one of the train day trips from London you should visit because this beachside city has a lot of character. From their LGBT village and parties, creative boutiques, pubs, cafes, and amusements, Brighton might be just the perfect city to explore.
What to expect:
Spending your time here in the city can be a little wild and expensive. There are a lot of upscale boutiques, and you might think twice about the shopping; however, you can visit The North Lanes and the markets nearby. Some restaurants and cafes offer student discounts, so bring your student card with you.
Like New York, Brighton is a city that never sleeps. You can go out and have a party all night in their numerous bars and clubs, so keep your energy going! Brighton is also known as the LGBT capital of the United Kingdom, and they have its own annual Pride festival, which attracts 160,000 visitors.
Wanna say “I do” already to the love of your life? They have LGBT wedding venues, which include popular attractions such as The Royal Pavilion and Brighton Pier.
How to get there:
Take a train from London Victoria, London Bridge Station, or St. Pancras International. Travel time is about an hour and a half. If you plan to take the bus, you should visit the National Express. Some journeys are cheaper, which costs around £10 round trip- however, the travel time is about 2-3 hours which is a lot longer than traveling by train.
Where to stay in London? Book your hotel and find great deals from this link!
Read also: Top 15 Medieval Castles in Europe
Canterbury
This city belongs to the top trips from London you should visit because of its beautiful cathedrals, medieval streets and more. The Canterbury Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a must-visit. Some top destinations here are Leeds Castle, Dover Castle, and the sixth-century St. Augustine’s Abbey ruins.
What to expect:
Canterbury Cathedral is closed to the public every Sunday, and some events are usually held there. We suggest that you visit their official website first before going. Numerous restaurants are budget-friendly in the area, as well as shopping centers near historical landmarks.
How to get there:
You can take a train from London St Pancras to Canterbury, which usually takes less than an hour. If you want to travel by bus, you can get the coaches on National Express, which costs around £5.
Where to stay in London? Book your hotel and find great deals from this link!
Read also: Top 15 The Most Expensive Cities in Europe That Are Still Worth the Visit
Bath
Bath is arguably one of the best day trips from London. It is famous for its Roman Baths, which are divided into four – the Bath House, Sacred Spring, Roman Temple, and the Museum. Some famous attractions to visit are the Pulteney Bridge, Royal Crescent, and Victoria Art Gallery.
What to expect:
With many attractions inside, exploring Bath for just a day is not enough. Like London, the city has so much to offer, so it is better to visit only the attractions that you are particularly interested in. There are also no malls yet inside the city so prepare to go through old fashion shopping shops- which are a lot enjoyable and picture worthy!
How to get there:
Take a train from Paddington Station to Bath, and travel time is around 1 hour and 40 mins. By bus, take the touring coaches from National Express; however, the travel time is about 3-4 hours.
Where to stay in London? Book your hotel and find great deals from this link!
Read also: Top 20 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Europe
Are you planning your travels? Here’re my top travel resources!
I’m a serial planner both in life and in travel – I have bucket lists, things to do, see, and everything. So, I always love when my life is sorted easily using tools and resources that would make my general planning a little smoother and easier. Therefore, in my many years of traveling the world, I’ve seen myself returning to these travel resources repeatedly. And here I am, sharing my tips to make your life easy and breezy so you can stress less, travel heaps, and focus on the fun part of travel!
- Booking.com – I book all my hotels through this website and don’t honestly use anything else. They always have the best prices, in my opinion.
- Airbnb – If I’m traveling long-term to one destination, I book my flats through Airbnb.
- Skyscanner – The best place to find cheap flights on flexible dates. I use this a lot to score cheap flights within Europe!
- SafetyWing – Always travel insured! Never leave your home country without one. It is worth the extra money, I promise you!
- GetYourGuide – Hands-down, the best place to find cool and unique tours if you don’t feel like winging it, and go straight to a local expert. I use this a lot in new destinations to get acquainted with the area!
- My Pretty Wild World Travel Diary (coming soon) – A book you can write down your travel plans, create itineraries, track down your budget, and dot down memories along the way! A handy book you can keep and read later to revisit memory lane.
- Pretty Wild World Travel Planning Printables (coming soon) – Are you a nut like me when it comes to planning? Yes? Good. My travel planning resource in one zip file is an easy-to-use printable planner that comes with tips that helps you plan your travels during the planning stage, a pre-flight checklist, an itinerary planner, and so on.
Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a fascinating sight to see and is a must-visit. A stone circle is believed to be built 5,000 years ago. Many theories have centered on the mysterious structure, which left people in awe and discovering themselves. No wonder this place is one of the best day trips in London and also one of the top destinations to visit in the UK.
What to expect:
Before entering the Stonehenge Circle, you’ll see the Stonehenge Visitor Centre, which opened in 2014. There are gift shops, parking areas, cafes, and restrooms inside the Center. Tickets to Stonehenge can be purchased online, and the card covers access to the Stonehenge Visitor Centre and shuttle.
You are not allowed to walk up to the stones and enter the circle; during the visit, you’ll be about 10 meters away from the rocks. Special tours outside public opening hours allow 26 people to enter Stonehenge Circle.
How to get there:
There are trains from Waterloo Station to Salisbury, the nearest station to Stonehenge. You can catch the Stonehenge Tour Bus, which will take you to the Visitor Centre. Take note that no public buses will take you to Stonehenge.
Where to stay in London? Book your hotel and find great deals from this link!
Book this unique experience: Stonehenge Half-Day Tour with Audio Guide from London
Read also: Top 18 Most Iconic Landmarks in Europe
Paris, France
Just two-hour travel by train, Paris is one of the best day trips out of London. Known as the city of love and romance, Paris is bursting with culture and attractions you can’t miss, especially if you are traveling with your partner. The Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame de Paris, and Arc De Triomphe are popular attractions.
What to expect:
Paris is known to be very intimidating, aside from its towering structures and preserved culture, visiting here can break your budget. Their food is quite expensive, as sodas can cost as much as a sandwich. Taxi fares are also costly, especially at night, so it is advisable to stick to the Metro.
French people also admire people that try to speak French, so at least learn a few basic French greetings or phrases. They also say hello and goodbye every time they enter and leave a store or a restaurant, which is a sign of politeness.
Greet them with a “Bonjour,” and you’ll likely receive a response back. It is also difficult to find public restrooms, and some of them are not free. You can find Nice restrooms in parks (with a fee) and free restrooms in department stores.
How to get there:
Many tourists take the Eurostar trains to get to Paris, and the travel time usually takes 2 hours, although it can be very pricey, especially at popular times and dates. If you opt for coaches to get to Paris, the fastest ones may take 7.5 hours of travel.
Where to stay in London? Book your hotel and find great deals from this link!
Read also: Top 12 Museums in Europe (For Arts, History, and Culture)
Cambridge
This city will never be out of “top day trips from London” lists because of its century-old beautiful buildings, historical landmarks, and prestigious colleges. Places to visit are the famous Cambridge University, the 800-year-old Great St. Mary’s Church, Kings College Chapel, and Fitzwilliam Museum.
What to expect:
For transportation, public buses cost up to £2, and taxi fares may cost around £4.50. Some tourists rent a car to travel around Cambridge, which costs £15 per day. Companies that offer rental car services are Europcar, Thrifty, and Avis.
If you want to buy souvenirs from Cambridge University and experience all-around shopping, try visiting John Lewis and Lion Yard in the town center. For gourmet restaurants, expect to pay around £40 or more per head.
How to get there:
Take a train from King’s Cross, which will take around 46 minutes of travel, or take a train from Liverpool Street, which will take around an hour travel.
Where to stay in London? Book your hotel and find great deals from this link!
Read also: Top 15 Best Experiences in Europe
Hold up! Have you thought about the importance of travel insurance?
Remember this: anything can happen. Travel is fun, but your health is more important; thus, I always, always, always recommend getting insured during the duration of your trip. I have benefitted from having one multiple times, and it has been covered for thousands of euros!
The latest one is not necessarily “health” related – it was during the peak of the unspeakable terrible C that consumed the world. I was living in Vietnam when I received an email from SafetyWing (my travel insurance) that if I want they’ll fly be back home to Finland as the world goes through a global emergency alert. I flew back fully covered, and dealing with SafetyWing was a breeze despite the roar of people in contact with them trying to get back home.
I can’t highly recommend them enough. Otherwise, I rarely get sick; hence I don’t always need to head to a hospital, but knowing that I have travel insurance makes me feel safe at the very least.
Read my post about why you should get travel insurance for more information. Otherwise, you can get a free quote from SafetyWing – they’re the best, in my opinion.
Mersea Island
This magical island is located in Essex, split into two main areas, West Mersea and East Mersea. This island is famous for its fishing industry, particularly oysters, which also helps its economy. There are also colorful beach houses, holiday parks, and a week-long boat racing festival every summer. Tourism has been notable here ever since, that’s why it’s one of the best day trips from London you shouldn’t miss.
What to expect:
The Company Shed, which serves delicious seafood platters, is a popular destination here at Mersea Island. It is advised that you go there before noon because it’s on a first-come and first-serve basis, and the place can be extremely crowded, so you can feast on oysters, prawns, and everything from the sea.
How to get there:
Take a train from London Liverpool Street to Colchester Station. This station is just a few minutes from the island, so you can catch a taxi to Mersea Island. Travel time from Liverpool to Colchester Station is less than an hour, while Colchester Station to Mersea Island is about 20 minutes depending on the traffic.
By bus, you can take one from First Busses in Liverpool Street Station and the travel time to Colchester is about 3 hours. There are also available coaches at Victoria Coach Station; the travel time is about 4 hours and 34 minutes.
Where to stay in London? Book your hotel and find great deals from this link!
Read also: Top 15 Beautiful Islands in the UK
Rye
Located in East Sussex, Rye is one of the top day trips from London because of its old-world charm. Its medieval settlement has attracted tourists worldwide because of its secret passageways, ancient cobbled streets, and tall towers. Popular attractions include the 14th-century Rye Castle, Lamb House, Camber Castle, and Camber Sands.
What to expect:
Rye is overflowing with tea rooms and cafes, so eating won’t be difficult. There are affordable accommodations such as The Jeake’s House and The Gallivant, both cost below £100. For shopping, there are plenty of shops, such as The Vintage Stockroom and The Shop Next Door, located inside George’s Hotel.
How to get there:
Take a train from Ashford International Station; the travel time is 1 hour and 32 minutes. If you opt for a bus, you can take it from The Hastings Town Centre or Priory Meadow, which may take 3 hours of travel.
Where to stay in London? Book your hotel and find great deals from this link!
Read also: Street arts in Europe: Top 10 Best Cities in Europe For Street Arts and Graffiti
Recommended reads 📖:
- 30 BEST Places to Visit in Europe
- Top 20 Cheapest Countries in Europe to Visit for Budget Travelers
- Top 25 Best Cities in Europe to Visit and Explore!
- 20 BEST Places to Visit in Finland
- 26 Most Romantic Destinations in Europe
- Top 15 of the Most Visited Tourist Attractions in Europe
- 21 Finnish Food and Dishes You Should Try
Margate
This place surely belongs to the best weekend trips from London because of its sandy beaches, art galleries, and old-fashioned shops. Some of the best places to visit are Dreamland Amusement Park, Margate Museum, Shell Grotto, Tom Thumb Theater, and Margate’s Winter Gardens.
What to expect:
There are already many restaurants on the seafront; however, if you want many food choices, head over to their town. There are also many pubs and clubs if you’re going to party all night; however, there are reported cases of aggressive behavior among people, especially late at night. Margate is also known as the first sea-bathing resort, and they hold a lot of festivals in the area.
How to get there:
By train, you can take it from St. Pancras International Station to Margate, and the travel time is about 90 minutes. Avoid the hourly train from St. Pancras, though, because it takes more than 2 hours. By bus, you can take the National Express Coach from Victoria Coach Station, and the travel time is about 2 hours.
Where to stay in London? Book your hotel and find great deals from this link!
Read also: Summer in Europe: Top 14 Best Summer Destinations in Europe
What are my favorite travel must-haves?
As a frequent traveler, I’ve learned a lot throughout my years of travel, and there are five items that I always carry with me regardless of where I go and how long the trip is. Here are my five travel must-haves!
- Warm packable jacket – I always carry a light jacket, even when heading to warm countries. There hasn’t been a time I never used it, especially in airports and planes.
- Transparent toiletry bag – I often bring a carry-on if I’m only traveling within Europe for a few days. Life is so much easier to go through security checks with a transparent toiletry bag.
- Kindle Paperwhite – I love a good read and always take my Kindle everywhere. It keeps me entertained during long flights and waiting times.
- Powerbank – I don’t know how I could travel without one! Having a power bank saved me a ton since I carry a lot of electronic devices with me.
- Travel Adapter – I never leave my luggage without a travel adapter! I carry one with me all the time. It is just one of that travel-must haves that doesn’t hurt to have in your bag at all times.
Dungeness
Lastly, this day trip from London is one of the best because of its eerie charm and remoteness. This place is perfect for those who want to leave the bustling city life. It is also ideal for nature lovers as they have a national nature reserve, 600 species of plants, and many birds. The Pilot Inn, RHDR Mini Railway, The Fish Shack, and the Dungeness Lighthouse are places to visit.
What to expect:
There is a lot of wildlife in Dungeness, so I hope to see rare species of birds, moths, bees, beetles, and foxes. Walking in this place can be very tiring, so it is advisable to wear comfortable footwear. Some parts of the beach and marshes have been used for military training, so watch out for marked danger areas.
How to get there:
You can take a train from Victoria Underground Station or St. Pancras International. Travel time is usually about 2 hours. By bus, you can take a National Express Coach at Victoria Coach Station or Red Lion Square. Travel time is about 3 hours.
Where to stay in London? Book your hotel and find great deals from this link!
Read also: Europe Holidays: Top 10 Awesome Destinations for Holidays in Europe
Planning to visit the UK? Check out these posts!
- Top 10 Pretty Islands in Wales to Visit
- Top 13 Beautiful Islands in Scotland to Visit
- Top 10 Stunning Castles in Scotland to Visit
- Top 10 Pretty Castles in Northern Ireland to Visit
- Top 10 Beautiful Castles in Wales to Visit
- Top 10 Day Trips from London
- Top 25 Things to do in London
- Top 10 Places to Visit in the United Kingdom
- 26 Photos of London in Black and White
- Is London Safe for Travel? And Safety Tips to Follow!
Where to stay in London
Booking.comTours to do in London
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