London’s so enormous that just travelling from Notting Hill to Hackney can feel like a day trip.
But if you merely double that journey time (and in some cases, it might genuinely be quicker), you could also find yourself eating a chippie tea on the beach; hiking along glorious clifftops; walking down quaint cobbled lanes and enjoying a wine tasting in the vineyard where it was produced.
Because whoever launched London conveniently decided to put it smack bang in the middle of a bunch of great road trip destinations, all under two hours away by either car or rail.
They positioned it well.
And on the off chance that you fancy a change of scene at some point, we’ve updated our convenient list of the very finest day trips from London with useful information like how long it takes to get there; what to do; where to eat & drink; and where to stay…
If you can excuse a rare moment of pride, it’s a good list.
1) AMERSHAM
This mind-bogglingly cute little chocolate box town is where much of Four Weddings and a Funeral (and a dozen other films) was shot. It’s split into the New Town, which sprang up around the tube station in the early 1900s, and the Old Town, home to dozens of timber framed pubs and coaching inns, and the 13th century St. Mary’s Church (so, yeah, pretty old).
How far are we talking?
It’s literally on the Metropolitan line, so, not very far (and not expensive, either). About 90 minutes from central London, and it’s an easy drive.
What’s worth seeing?
Start by wandering along the High Street with its picturesque medieval dwellings. This is where you’ll find the Market Hall, which still runs a teeny tiny market on Saturdays, and the Amersham Museum, housed in a creaky 15th century building, which shares the stories of local residents spanning more than half a millennium, from protestant martyrs burnt at the stake to the town’s perfume factory.
Nestled in the Chilterns, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Amersham’s a great day trip destination if you’re looking for a good walk – there are some beautiful trails here taking you across chalk hills, through ancient woodland, and past the poet John Milton’s cottage where he finished writing Paradise Lost (and started Paradise Regained, which goes some way to describing how peaceful this patch of England is). Venture a little further, and you’ll find the Chiltern Open Air Museum, where 30 quirky and interesting buildings have literally been picked up and reconstructed in a big field for you to walk through; and the adorable Bekonscot model village (whose miniature buildings are much more difficult to walk through). Finally, the Amersham Fair Organ museum opens on fairly irregular days once a month. But if you manage to get in, you can have a cuppa and a slice of cake surrounded by vibrant and extremely loud vintage steam organs.
Anywhere good to eat and drink?
Five or so minutes from Amersham station is The Artichoke, a local favourite that’s rolling in awards (including a Michelin star, which they’ve held since 2020). Highly-rated Pluma serves authentic Spanish tapas, while Darmon Deli offers a well-executed globe-trotting menu in casual café surrounds. The town’s rammed with old village pubs, but for something less traditional head for a glass of wine at Bistro Twelve Twenty.
What if I want to stay?
The Crown Inn combines picturesque cobbled courtyards with interiors designed by Ilse Crawford (Soho House) from around £115 a night. The Nag’s Head (£90+) is a similarly stylish boutique inn with an award-winning restaurant attached, while a little further out, Crazy Bear Beconsfield (£125+) lives up to its name with flamboyant interiors including velvet ceilings, stuffed peacocks, and copper roll-top bathtubs that fill from the ceiling.
2) MARGATE
Turner Contemporary
How far are we talking?
It’s about an hour and a half by train from St Pancras. Or a two hour drive from central London.
What’s worth seeing?
In 2011 Margate became home to the Turner Contemporary art gallery, which in turn provoked a wider refresh of the seaside town, nicknamed ‘Shoreditch-on-Sea’. Open Tuesday-Sunday (plus bank holidays), the beachside gallery is free to visit and plays host to around half a dozen small visiting exhibitions at a time. Margate’s century-old amusement park Dreamland has also undergone a £25m revamp, and now houses vintage rides (including a 1960s ghost train and Britain’s oldest wooden rollercoaster), two seafront restaurants, bars, street food stalls, an outdoor stage featuring big-name music acts, a roller disco, and er, a giant inflatable rendition of Tina Turner’s head.
Shell Grotto
Tucked away from the beachfront is the subterranean Shell Grotto (open daily till 1st Sept, then Wed-Sun, £4.50). Stretching along 70ft of underground tunnels, it was discovered in 1835, and nobody has any idea when it was made or what it was for. The town itself is packed with independent cafes, restaurants, and shops to explore – especially vintage and antique shops like RG Scott and Junk Deluxe; Cliffs records, where vinyl starts at 50p; and upmarket accessories from Aarven or Margaux. Finally, the beach is big, and sandy, and you can walk the Viking Coastal Trail to nearby Botany Bay.
Anywhere good to eat and drink?
Angela’s takes care of the shellfish, but for fish and chips it’s Peter’s Fish Factory (and the queues out the door agree). The Greedy Cow does some pretty hefty grilled cheese toasties, as well as number of other laid-back lunchy options, or on a sunny day, hit the Dive shack for tacos and margaritas. Recently opened Pomus will scratch the itch for small plates and recherché drinks, as will the Parisian-styled Sète, and Sargasso (from the Brawn team). But for live music and pints, it has to be local institution Fez – a micro-pub crammed to the rafters with eclectic bits of vintage decor.
Fort Road Hotel
What if I want to stay?
One of our favourite Margate hotels is the Fort Road Hotel (£118+), which looks directly onto the Turner and comes with a stylish bar & restaurant attached. No 42 (£115+) opened last summer, sporting equally well designed boutique rooms and a rooftop bar (plus they’ll even take your luggage off you at the station). And if you’re not staying over but just want to relax for an hour or two, Hæckels House is a mini spa squeezed into a house with breathtaking views, offering treatments inspired by the sea.
See our ultimate Margate weekend guide here
3) WINDSOR
How far are we talking?
40 mins by train (direct from Waterloo, or change at Slough for a faster journey), 45ish by car.
What’s worth seeing?
So, obviously the big draw here is Windsor Castle, but there’s a lot going on here besides that merits a full day trip from London. You can go for a walk through Windsor Great Park (a huge ornamental park that’s beautiful whatever time of year you visit); go boating along the Thames at Cliveden; visit a haunted Tudor mansion where the first pineapple was grown in the UK; mooch around Eton College’s five museums (there’s even one that’s just about Eton); or take a boat to a racecourse on an island.
Anywhere good to eat and drink?
Literally push the boat out and head to The Waterside Inn for triple Michelin star French cooking overlooking the river, or head to the Two Brewers for a fancy take on pub grub. And you’re a 12 minute taxi away from The Fat Duck, FYI.
What if I want to stay?
Take a 15 min drive out of the city to The Winning Post, a village pub with a winning combination of roaring fires, cosy dining rooms and a handful of flowery bedrooms upstairs (£68+).
–
4) TILLINGHAM WINERY
There are a surprising number of English vineyards that make for a great day trip from London. But if you’re all about biodynamic wine, then it’s only natural to start with Tillingham. It’s a 70-acre natural wine-focused estate – one of Britain’s select few – a tick under a two and a half hour drive down to the East Sussex countryside. Sitting pretty on a slope with rolling views of the river and woodlands, the 40,000 vines owner Ben Walgate tends to here are all planted with a sustainable philosophy.
How far are we talking?
Just shy of two and a half hours by car, roughly 2 hours and 45 minutes by train (followed by a brief taxi).
What’s worth seeing?
Your first mode of attack should be to take the 90-minute tour where you get to test four varieties of the vineyard’s biodynamic and organic wines, before wandering the grounds and settling into the blissful farmland surroundings. Besides swirling and sipping, the property hosts a broad scope of weekly events that include tastings, special dinners, workshops, foraging trips and yoga.
Anywhere good to eat and drink?
Oh yes. The restaurant’s allegiance lies with simple but scintillating seasonal dishes (like hispi cabbage, fava and walnut soup or beef rump with tomatoes and carlin peas), often sourced straight from Tillingham’s soil or otherwise from their favourite local growers in and around the area. Then there’s the sourdough pizzas – worth making the trip for alone; conjured up in an outdoor wood-fired oven and served outside under a restored Dutch barn that’s taken on a second identity as a seriously scenic dining room.
What if I want to stay?
The thought boy, I would not mind sleeping here is going to cross your mind and good news, you can! Option one is the eleven-roomed hotel (£175+) – a former hop-barn fitted with country-chic furnishings and luxury bathrooms (one room also allows for your dog to join). Option two is the outdoorsy route: a bell tent (£175+) that comes with a king-size bed, a log burner, your own personal fire pit and the best part… an outdoor loo with a view.
5) HEVER CASTLE
How far are we talking?
Only 45-ish mins by train (from London Bridge, and with a 20min walk from the station), or an hour by car.
What’s worth seeing?
Built in 1270, this was Anne Boleyn’s childhood home, and it’s been amazingly well preserved since then. As well as the castle itself, there’s a hedge maze, walled rose gardens, a wisteria-laden pergola, a lake (with a floating maze), a Japanese teahouse, and a cracking gift shop. Also, live jousting.
From here, it’s a zippy 10 minute drive (or 10km country walk) to the village of Chiddingstone, which has a decent claim to being the most picturesque oldey-timey village in England. Impressively for a one-road town, there’s another castle here, which has regular live events from jazz on the lawn to talks by famous authors, a 570-year old village shop filled with odds and ends, and afternoon tea served in an old coach house. If you’re visiting over the Easter bank holiday, prepare to see teams of 100+ players battle it out over a town-wide, four-hour long ‘real football’ match in the streets on Good Friday.
Anywhere good to eat and drink?
It’s got to be a country pub – the King Henry VIII if you end up in Hever, and The Rock Inn in Chiddingstone.
What if I want to stay?
Hever B&B (£125+) is run by a local couple and has rooms in converted potting sheds looking onto their thatched cottage and country garden, while these shepherds’ huts (£125+) are parked up next to fields full of llamas and little hairy pigs, both of which you can feed.
–
6) WINCHESTER
How far are we talking?
This one’s a super easy day trip from London – 1hr by train (direct from Paddington), 90mins by car.
What’s worth seeing?
If you like fancy architecture, then Winchester Cathedral, Winchester College (which claims to be the oldest school in the UK), and Winchester City Mill would all like a word. While you’re there, you can drop by Jane Austen’s house, see the actual round table of King Arthur in the 13th century Great Hall, and – if you time it right – mooch around the largest farmers’ market in the UK (second & last Sundays of the month).
Annie Spratt/Unsplash
Anywhere good to eat and drink?
The Wykeham Arms is a beautiful 18th-century pub, five minutes from the cathedral. Otherwise there’s The Chesil Rectory, a beautiful 600 year old grade II listed Medieval house turned Modern British restaurant.
What if I want to stay?
Stumble upstairs at The Wykeham – the cosy rooms start at about £190/night. These suuuper-luxurious secluded woodland cabins come with their own hot tubs as standard (£565+ for 5 nights), while Lainston House, a 17th century manor house, offers cooking classes, archery and falconry (£250+).
–
7) SALISBURY
How far are we talking?
90 mins by train (direct from Waterloo), 2hrs by car.
What’s worth seeing?
Yes, we all know about Stonehenge. And frankly, it’s getting a little old. But Salisbury also has other stuff, you know, like the Magna Carta and a cathedral boasting Britain’s tallest spire.
Anywhere good to eat and drink?
Pythouse Kitchen Garden is a Petersham Nurseries-esque restaurant where all the veg is grown on-site. After your meal, you can even explore the gardens and pick your own bouquet.
What if I want to stay?
The Red Lion Freehouse (£215+) has just five, smartly decorated rooms – and they’re conveniently close to the pub’s Michelin-starred restaurant. A little further out is the Dog & Gun Inn (£108+), a good starting point for walks and visits to the other historic town nearby, Marlborough.
–
8) DEAL
Formerly under the radar, this little Kentish coastal town is about to become… well, a big Deal. Luckily, their town motto is ‘Befriend the Stranger’, so they surely won’t mind the hordes descending this summer.
How far are we talking?
Under an hour and a half by train, or two by car.
What’s worth seeing?
Deal’s pebbly beach is home to a brutalist pier, whose restaurant overlooking the Channel turns into a lobster and steak house on Friday & Saturday nights – alternatively you can forage for your dinner along the coast with The Wild Kitchen. Back on shore you’ll find dozens of pastel-coloured shops selling antiques, ice cream and bric-a-brac; not one but two castles built for Henry VIII; a dinky museum covering the town’s primary industries, from smuggling to baking; independent art galleries Linden Hall Studio, Don’t Walk Walk and Taylor-Jones & Son (housed in Deal’s old smuggling tunnels); the fascinating Museum of the Moving Image; and a Victorian bandstand where bands play in summer.
The Rose
Anywhere good to eat and drink?
Overlooking the sea, with wallflowers cascading from every window-box, The King’s Head is the prettiest spot for a pint. Le Pinardier is a bottle shop and wine bar in one, run by wine aficionado Benoit Dezecot and his partner Sarah Ross (whose restaurant a few doors down, Frog & Scot, has a Michelin nod). The team behind The Rose hotel have recently cut the ribbon on The Blue Pelican, an elegant Japanese spot in a sea-facing townhouse, while ex-Sargasso chef Jakob Grant has gone solo with Cherub’s bistro above The Bohemian.
What if I want to stay?
Would The Rose by any other name smell as sweet? Yes, yes it would. It has breathtakingly beautiful rooms (£184+), hallway honesty bars, hireable tandems, a sun-filled courtyard, and a great restaurant, specialising (naturally) in seafood. Updown is a restored farmhouse with a restaurant and boutique rooms that’s tucked off the beaten track, but totally blissful (from £165/night).
See our ultimate weekend guide to Deal
–
9) BATH
How far are we talking?
1h20 by train, or a longer 2.5hr drive.
What’s worth seeing?
Exactly as relaxing as it sounds, Bath made a name for itself as a spa town…2000 years ago. You can walk around the Roman hot spring baths, then try the water yourself at this naturally heated rooftop pool (or drink it, while dropping razor-sharp Jane Austen-style witticisms, at The Pump Room). There are a dozen galleries and museums to take in – from the house where Herschel first caught sight of Uranus (stop it) to the stately Holburne gallery. There’s also fantastic window shopping to be had at Berdoulat, a shrine to careful design that also sells an amazing array of cookbooks and homeware trinkets, as well as 8 Holland Street. And all of that’s before you watch something at the esteemed Theatre Royal Bath, see the city by hot air balloon, hike through meadows around the city, take a day trip to the picture-book village of Lacock, and climb to the top of Bath Abbey’s tower to watch the sunset with a glass of Champagne.
No15
Anywhere good to eat and drink?
Landrace for bakery bits and stylish small plates upstairs; or swing by Beckford Bottle Shop for a glass or two (then try some of their Michelin Bib Gourmand-winning dishes when you get peckish). Oak is a discreet vegetarian restaurant with a sustainable ethos. Inside it feels like eating at your friend’s kitchen table with mismatch chairs and cosy touches, while Chequers is your spot for a Sunday roast that sits bang in the middle of The Royal Crescent and The Circus.
What if I want to stay?
Broad Street Townhouse offers plush rooms above its cafe-cocktail bar from £140 a night, while No. 15 Great Pulteney (£170+) is a stunning boutique hotel set in a Regency-era townhouse, with its own spa (of course).
–
10) CAMBRIDGE
Slightly smaller than Oxford, its spiritual sibling, Cambridge gets a double-first in amazing museums and jaw-dropping architecture.
How far are we talking?
45 mins by train (direct from King’s Cross), an hour by car.
What’s worth seeing?
Poke your head into the beautiful old colleges where such luminaries as Sir Isaac Newton, Sylvia Plath and Jimmy Carr once studied; go punting along the Cam (don’t get a tour, it’s more fun to fall in); soak in some culture at the Kettle’s Yard gallery or The Fitzwilliam Museum; cool off at the Jesus Green Lido and take a picnic to the Botanic Garden.
Anywhere good to eat and drink?
We like The Garden Kitchen for an easy bite after Kettle’s Yard; Restaurant 22 when you want to get fancy; and of course Fitzbillies for the best Chelsea buns in all the land. Vegans should get excited about Vanderlyle’s tasting menus and natural wines, and for good coffee there’s nowhere else but Hot Numbers. There are a lot of good pubs here – try the Fort St. George by the river on a sunny day – but The Eagle is especially snug (and is where Francis Crick ran in proclaiming he and James Watson had “discovered the secret of life” when they identified the structure of DNA in 1953).
What if I want to stay?
University Arms (£212+) has been welcoming travellers since 1834 and recently got a design reboot by Martin Brudnizki – they even offer complimentary bicycle hire, if you ever leave your room. The Varsity (£171+) may not have that boutique feel, but it does have a very persuasive rooftop bar, as well as a jacuzzi with views onto the river. And The Graduate (£199+) feels like a cross between a 50s motel and Soho Farmhouse, with its own gorgeous riverside garden and the perfect location for exploring.
–
11) OXFORD
Slightly larger than Cambridge, its spiritual sibling, Oxford gets a double-first in amazing museums & jaw-dropping architecture.
How far are we talking?
1hr by train (direct from Paddington), 2 by car or coach.
What’s worth seeing?
You can walk round the colleges here too, but for the best view, climb the tower at St. Mary’s to look out across the dreaming spires and the iconic Radcliffe Camera. Then check out the shrunken heads and Irish bread stamps at the Pitt Rivers Museum; find Guy Fawkes’ lantern at the Ashmolean (then go for lunch on the rooftop); see how the Botanic Garden measures up to The Other Place; punt along the river (or take a boat cruise past the countryside that inspired Alice in Wonderland); browse the Restricted Section of the Hogwarts – sorry, Bodleian Library; wander round the Museum of Natural History (the building itself is reason alone to visit); catch a flick at The Ultimate Picture Palace; listen to the choirs sing at candlelit Evensong or the bands play at the Jericho Tavern… and feel grateful you don’t have an essay to do.
Franco Alani/Unsplash
Anywhere good to eat and drink?
Arbequina offers critically-acclaimed, Barrafina-level tapas in an old chemist’s, while Bia offers jazzy sharing plates and cocktails from an ex-Tendril chef. A little further from the centre is French-leaning wine bar Pompette and if you’re feeling particularly flush, Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons is a 35-min cruise through the Oxfordshire countryside. On the other end of the scale, there’s Scandi-styled NEWGROUND, which employs former offenders, or the tiny hatch at Broche. For pubs, it’s the Turf Tavern, the old haunt of many a famous alumnus and a student favourite where you can weigh in on Nietzsche’s radical rejection of truth for perspectivism – or failing that, have a pint. And if a hunger for ice cream grips you at ten to midnight, you can always nip out to one of the G&D cafés.
What if I want to stay?
The Head of the River (£164+) has cosy rooms above a pub right by the river, and a little further out is Mollie’s, the Soho House motel (£70+)… but Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons (£955+), with its two Michelin star restaurant, vintage car hire and 5* rooms, is the ideal place for sweeping someone special off their feet and popping that magical question… “can I borrow £955?”
–
12) BLENHEIM PALACE
How far are we talking?
2-ish hrs by car, 1hr by train (going to Hanborough station)
What’s worth seeing?
If you like learning about world leaders who helped save civilisation itself from the Nazi menace during the ’40s, and seeing where they grew up, then look no further than Blenheim Palace. It’s an easy 30 minute drive from Oxford if you fancy combining the two, but there’s easily a day’s worth of grounds, lakes and fancy interiors to explore if you’re doing a day trip from London – plus there’s a regular calendar of events, from Luna Cinema pop ups to music festivals, horse riding, light trails, Christmas markets, and more.
Anywhere good to eat and drink?
The palace itself has a number of food and drink options, although The Orangery is by far the nicest: an elegant cream-coloured dining room with a glass panelled roof and huge floor-to-ceiling windows, flooding it with light. The food’s Modern British, while drinks include a short selection of classic cocktails and and nine different varieties of G&Ts.
The Crown
What if I want to stay? The Bear’s 13th century rooms, with their exposed beams and original fireplaces, are so romantic that Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton used to check in there (£153+). The Crown (£150+) only has five rooms, but they’re all beautiful, stocked with freshly ground coffee, fluffy robes and Cowshed products in the bathrooms.
–
13) BRIGHTON
Ben Guerin/Unsplash
Deck chairs. Big wheels. Fish & chips. If you’re into these things, you need to go on a day trip to Brighton (and it’s only an hour from London). The pier here has been standing for over 120 years now, somehow holding up dozens of arcade games, fairground rides and snack stands. But back on dry land you’ll also find a cluster of independent shops in quaint old buildings along The Lanes; nearly 100 flea market stalls at Snooper’s Paradise; the world’s oldest aquarium; the world’s oldest electric railway; the amazing, Indian-styled Brighton Pavilion; a toy museum tucked into Victorian cellars and a country walk through an abandoned village (with its own soundtrack).
How far are we talking?
1hr by train, 2 by car.
Anywhere good to eat and drink?
The Mash Tun for a beer. Drifter’s just opened on the beachfront for palomas, oysters and an all-vinyl soundtrack. Otherwise The Ginger Pig for something a little more laid-back; Burnt Orange for smoke-scorched dishes in a stylish courtyard; Palmito for Ecuadorian-Indian fusion; and 64 Degrees for intimate theatrical dining. And yes, it seems a bit silly to take a day trip from London just to end up at a Dishoom, but they’ve just opened a standalone Permit Room bar here, and it’s fantastic.
What if I want to stay?
The Grand Brighton‘s like a real-life Grand Budapest with views over the sea (£99+), while Snooze is a gloriously retro boutique hotel where you can text for breakfast in bed (£94+). The family of Artist Residence hotels never disappoints, and their Brighton townhouse is a boutique bolthole with ping pong tables and seaside views (£161+).
See our full Brighton guide
14) BROADSTAIRS
Transport yourself back to Victorian-era London, when city dwellers hopped on trains and steamboats to escape the capital’s smog in favour of some sea air. It’s said that even the young Princess Victoria was a fan of Broadstairs and would holiday here with her Mother between 1826 and 1836. If it’s good enough for HRH then it’s good enough for us.
How far are we talking?
1 hour and 20 mins by train and just over 2 hours by car.
What’s worth seeing?
When the sun shines, make your way to Viking Bay – a sandy little stretch that becomes the centre of the town’s action during the summer months. There’s also The Dickens House Museum, where you can see artefacts relating to the author’s life and time that he spent in the coastal town between the 1830s and 1850s, and Bleak House where Dickens and his family spent every summer for more than 10 years. If the weather isn’t in your favour, there’s always The Palace Cinema, a deceptively sizeable picture house built in 1911, which was originally a puppet show theatre hall.
Anywhere good to eat and drink?
Top of the list in Broadstairs is Kebbells for fresh-off-the-boat seafood and views over Viking Bay. Following hot on its heels, particularly for winning seafood is Jetty Broadstairs, which sits right on the pier giving diners a sweeping view of the harbour and beyond. It wouldn’t be a day trip to the seaside without an ice cream so make a beeline t0 Morelli’s Gelato on Victoria Parade, which is decked-out with all the pastel-hued trappings of a 1950s ice cream parlour.
What if I want to stay?
The Royal Albion Hotel (£100+) is a prime spot for a mini seaside vacation. It’s right on the seafront and has 21 stylishly decorated rooms but the best part? There’s a generous full-English included in the bed and breakfast price.
–
15) CANTERBURY
Home to a little thing called Canterbury Cathedral that people literally make pilgrimages to. And if that doesn’t float your boat, the punting tours along the city’s waterways will: floating past the cottages, gatehouse turrets and flowers is like something out of a Disney film.
How far are we talking?
90mins by car/train.
What’s worth seeing?
Culture buffs can find Hockney artwork, the original Bagpuss and a crow wearing a coat at The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge; or catch a show at The Marlowe. Wandering through Canterbury’s medieval streets is pretty atmospheric – make sure you stop by the Crooked House, a wonky bookshop that’s somehow still standing. And if you can venture a few miles out of the town, you can go on a vineyard tour and English wine tasting with the Goodenough family (whose wines are more than adequate). Finally, Huckleberry Woods is a farm that only has micro animals – micro pigs, mini donkeys, teddy bear sheep, tiny bees (?) – most of which you can take out for walks. But if you’re after something more heart-racing, you can spot arctic foxes, wolves and bears at night at Wildwood.
The Goods Shed
Anywhere good to eat and drink?
Foodies should make their pilgrimage to The Goods Shed, a cathedral to locally grown veg, artisan cheeses, home-made pickles, freshly baked bread and ethically sourced meat – all of which is rustled up into a stunningly good menu in the attached restaurant. For pubs, squeeze into The Dolphin or The Thomas Becket, and roll into Refectory Kitchen the next morning for a slap-up brunch followed by a Garage coffee.
What if I want to stay?
The Falstaff has beautifully designed bedrooms arranged around a central courtyard, with a cocktail bar and pizza restaurant to boot (£106+). Even more decadent is The Pig (£275+), three miles outside of town but boasting atmospheric bedchambers in a beautiful old manor house where Led Zeppelin played gigs in the 70s. There’s a great restaurant, kitchen garden, snugs with open fires and spa treatments in potting sheds, too. And while Canterbury makes for a really easy and excellent day trip from London, it’s worth stopping over so you can take a long walk the next morning to…
–
16) WHITSTABLE
Nicholas Brett/Flickr
As seaside day trips from London go, Whitstable is tough to beat. All along the pebbled beach you’ll find shacks and restaurants hawking oysters, mussels and lobster that’ve been hauled fresh from the waves in front of you.
How far are we talking?
90mins by train or car.
What’s worth seeing?
Go for a bracing dip, take a canoe or paddleboard out on the water, or just relax with a takeaway pint before wandering along the High Street, where independent bookshops, antique furniture shops and vintage clothing stores stand shoulder to shoulder (our favourites include Harbour Books, Frank, Conway & Sons and Anchors Aweigh). Finally, grab a cone from Morelli’s and head up to Whitstable Castle (really more of a big castle-shaped house) and have a nose around the rooms and gardens – they play host to occasional events from farmers’ markets to witches’ fairs.
Anywhere good to eat and drink?
Wheelers Oyster Bar doesn’t have to rely on its pretty pink exterior – the fresh seafood pulls the punters in. Dine in, or take a pint of cockles to enjoy on the shingle beach.
If you’re booking far enough ahead, score a table at the thoroughly unpretentious (and Michelin starred) pub The Sportsman, or squeeze in for a bite at Harbour Street Tapas. For pitch-perfect coffee and a slice of cake, try the house roast at Blueprint café, or the quaint Windy Corner Stores for a table in the sun.
What if I want to stay?
These converted fishermen’s huts (£95+) are right by the harbour and overlook the oyster bays. The Driftwood Beach House only has two rooms (£170+), but they both come with their own private outdoor jacuzzi. And The Duke of Cumberland’s smart, newly zhuzhed rooms (£167+) are an easy walk to the beach (and from the pub).
–
17) STRATFORD-UPON-AVON
Birthplace of William Shakespeare, it’s safe to assume that this sweet little town is at least a little bit inspiring.
How far are we talking?
2hrs by car/train.
What’s worth seeing?
The quaint historic centre, with its thatched cottages, boasts not one but six ye olde places connected with the bard – his birthplace, Anne Hathaway’s cottage, their daughter Susanna’s house and his mother Mary Arden’s farm (those last two are still closed, currently), his school and Holy Trinity Church, where he was baptised and buried beside Anne and various other relatives. If after all that you need a reprieve (Shakespeare’s word, by the way), you can take a rowing boat out along the canal, watch satisfying marble runs at this museum of mechanical art, and see the bard’s work performed at one of Britain’s most prestigious theatres, the home of the RSC.
Young Shih/Unsplash
Anywhere good to eat and drink?
Salt is a once Michelin-starred, crowd-funded restaurant by Paul Foster (who cut his teeth at Le Manoir and Restaurant Sat Bains), while The Woodsman serves fantastic Modern British food in a gorgeously rustic 16th century setting below the Hotel Indigo.
What if I want to stay?
Pick your time period at Hotel Indigo (£120+), which has bedrooms in Tudor, Georgian and modern buildings, all sumptuously decorated to suit. The White Swan (£133+) is a cosy wood-panelled tavern with rooms upstairs, where exposed beams and four-posters abound.
–
18) HASTINGS & ST LEONARDS
Ben Guerin/Unsplash
If Margate wants to claim the title of Shoreditch-on-Sea, Hastings is ready to battle it out. This elegant seaside retreat puts its own characterful spin on modish natural wine bars, art galleries and pop-ups, with some terrific places to eat and drink and invigorating sea air to boot. Neighbouring St Leonard’s is a short beach stroll away, with iconic art deco buildings and a vibrant cultural scene of its own.
How far are we talking?
Around 2 hours by train or car.
What’s worth seeing?
Take a look at our guide to Hastings and St Leonards for the full run-down, but the highlights reel includes strolling along (and maybe even sunbathing on) the sandy-shingle beach; leafing through old books with a cup of coffee at Hanushka Coffee House; gallery-crawling and vintage shop rummaging; exploring the ‘Twittens’ (rambling alleyways) of Hastings and taking a bracing walk through the clifftop country park to land in the charming village of Fairlight.
The Royal
Anywhere good to eat and drink?
In a word: yes. Check out Farmyard for locally-sourced small plates & natural wines in a candlelit, rustic setting; The Royal, once a run-down pub and now reborn as a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant from a couple of St. John and Moro chefs; and Goat Ledge for seafood-stacked sarnies at any time of year.
What if I want to stay?
There are some exceptionally stylish apartments and homes to rent here – the kind that’ll have you fantasising about becoming a digital nomad who swims in the sea at 6am every day. You can find the top picks in our guide to where to stay in Hastings & St Leonards. But as B&Bs go, full eccentricity marks go to St Benedict Victorian Bed and Breakfast, whose owners have painstakingly restored their townhouse to its 19th century glory with a trove of eclectic antique finds (£105+).
–
19) HENLEY-ON-THAMES
If the name rings a bell, it’s because they have a regatta here every year in which Oxbridge students race each other on the Thames. You can take a more leisurely trip by hiring your own boat or hopping on a cruise. There’s even a rowing museum.
How far are we talking?
1hr from London by car or train.
What’s worth seeing?
Meadows line the river beyond the town centre – Mill and Marsh Meadows have deckchairs for hire and live music from the bandstand in summer, plus canoes for hire. After that you can take in an exhibition at the contemporary art gallery, Informality, then tour the town’s independent shops: Mary Berry’s a fan of Machin’s, a butchers with its own smokehouse attached; Wild & Rust stocks dried flower bouquets and handmade candles; Jonkers has beautifully bound rare books and Tudor House Antiques is packed to the eaves with centuries-old odds and ends. And if you can venture a bit further into the countryside, you can tour Fairmile Vineyard for wine tastings overlooking the rolling hills.
Anywhere good to eat and drink?
Bistro at the Boathouse for all day dining on a riverside terrace, or Shellfish Cow for eccentric surf ‘n’ turf, capped off with a trip to Hof’s for wine. A ten minute drive into the countryside takes you to The Bottle & Glass Inn, a rustic bolthole offering everything you could want from a good country pub.
What if I want to stay?
Henley’s Hotel du Vin (£110+) is housed in a 17th century brewery and has a festoon-lit courtyard for dinner and drinks.
–
20) TUNBRIDGE WELLS
Scotney Castle | David Aiken, Flickr
Okay, so there are tons of London workers who visit Tunbridge Wells every day, you know, to go home. But for those who don’t, you’re missing out on a great destination for an excellent day trip from London, thanks to its gorgeous Pantiles shopping arcade, some stunning parks, and the restorative waters known to cure any 18th century disease.
How far are we talking?
1hr by car or train, direct from Charing Cross/Waterloo.
What’s worth seeing?
Take a long walk across the 6500-acre Ashdown Forest (the inspiration behind Winnie-the-Pooh’s more modest 100 Acre Wood), or cycle along this old railway line reclaimed by nature. Scattered around the town there are some romantic old manor houses, including Groombridge Place (currently closed for renovation) with its ‘Drunken Garden’, Penshurst Place (open weekends only), and Scotney Castle, a fairytale ruin and manor house with turrets, a moat and walls overgrown with ivy and white wisteria.
Anywhere good to eat and drink?
Juliet’s serves seasonal café fare and a slap-up breakfast, while occasion spot The Warren rears wild boar, cattle and deer for its dishes just outside Ashdown Forest. For fine dining, try Thackeray’s, or take a 15-minute taxi to The Poet at Matfield. And on a warm night, book a table on The Beacon‘s terrace for amazing countryside views.
The Beacon
What if I want to stay?
The Tunbridge Wells Hotel (£85+) is perched on the Pantiles, with a cosy candlelit bistro and rooms filled with antiques, while The Mount Edgecumbe is a lovely family-run gastropub with rooms upstairs (£135+). Further out, it’s definitely worth staying over at The Beacon after a meal – their rooms are beautifully styled, with rolling hilltop views (£132+).
–
21) THE COTSWOLDS
So, this one’s a biggie – it’s 800 square miles. But apparently every inch of those miles looks stunning. If we were a betting publication, we’d put money on the fact that the term “rolling hills” was invented here.
How far are we talking?
2hrs by car if you hustle… train is more problematic, and you’ll need to prep ahead if you’re hoping to plan a one-day trip from London. Some villages have direct connections to Paddington, but it gets more complex the further west you go. Luckily there seem to be more boutique hotels in the Cotswolds than any other part of the country, so you could take a weekend to do it.
What’s worth seeing?
This handy site has 124 walking routes of varying lengths, which you can filter by your starting location and accessibility requirements. And it’s not just about the natural landscape – Cotswolds villages are ridiculously picturesque, with cobbled lanes, honey stone cottages and babbling brooks. You could pretty much pick a place on the map at random, but some of the most popular villages are Castle Combe, where the most modern buildings are from the 1600s; Kingham, easily accessible from London; Broadway, where you’ll find some great restaurants; Bourton-on-the-Water, known as the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’; and Bibury, home to cottages covered with flowers and a trout farm where you can catch your own dinner.
Anywhere good to eat and drink?
Ox Barn At Thyme for seasonal plant-based food in a rustic farmyard setting: otherwise The Wild Rabbit for Michelin-starred Modern British from the comfort of a 1750s inn. The team behind The Pelican have expanded with The Bull in Charlbury, a rustic, wood-beamed pub that’s stood on a corner of the village for almost half a millennium.
What if I want to stay?
Thyme (£400+) really has the whole package: it began as a cookery school and now has beautiful rooms and a spa attached, with in-house workshops on everything from cooking to floristry. You can also borrow wellies and bicycles to explore the surrounding towns and countryside. For similar – but more affordable – rustic charms, take a look at The Bull’s rooms (£180+) or The Lamb Inn in Shipton-under-Wychwood (£139+). Cowley Manor (£277+) recently reopened under the steer of the team behind Covent Garden’s Henrietta Hotel and the Experimental Cocktail Club, while No. 38 (£140+) is set in a Cheltenham townhouse for a more urban base.
–
22) RYE
Ray in Manila/Flickr
A quaint cobbled town in East Sussex, Rye offers up everything from up-cycled furniture shops and timber-framed inns for boozing, to ancient moated castles and long beach walks along nearby Camber Sands.
How far are we talking?
By train you can do it in about 90 minutes – but you’ll have to change twice, so best to drive if you can. You’ll get down there in a relatively zippy 1h40.
What’s worth seeing?
This is a place where the day trip from London itinerary will look after itself – climb the tower at St. Mary’s to get the lay of the land; head to Mermaid Street, frequently voted one of the prettiest in Britain; then follow your nose along cobbled lanes to find vintage shops, tea houses and independent bookstores scattered throughout the town.
Anywhere good to eat and drink?
Landgate Bistro is a critically acclaimed eatery serving modern and classic British dishes, but for something more relaxed, The Fig does great brunch, lunch and sharing plates for dinner. The Union Rye‘s also well worth checking out for its sharing menu of locally-sourced produce, and occasional takeovers by an impressive roster of guest chefs.
The Union Rye
For drinks, The Mermaid Inn is said to be haunted by 18th century smugglers (and does good beer), while Rye Waterworks is a colourful micropub in an old water pumphouse. And you’re almost legally obligated to get a hot chocolate from the original Knoops.
What if I want to stay?
Stay above The Fig in characterful boutique chambers (£160) or book one of the dog-friendly rooms above charming bakery Whitehouse (£150+). Jeake’s House (£155+) has an atmospherically old-school feel to it, like the setting for an Agatha Christie novel. Or, you could always just stay in this windmill (£135+).
NOW TAKE A HIKE…
Elena Zieg/Unsplash
…which we mean in the nicest possible way. One of the easiest ways to get out of London for a day trip is to take a short drive, bike ride or train journey to one of these amazing pockets of nature for a good long walk (ending up, miraculously, at a picture-perfect country pub). From coastal hikes to strolls over rolling greenery with incredible views, we’ve gathered together some of the best hikes near London here.
Looking for something to do IN London? Look no further than our guide to the Best London Walks…
