Do you want to avoid London’s agitation? Discover our selection of day trips from London!
The English capital has an exceptional, sometimes intense multicultural life. To slow down the pace and change air, several nearby destinations are available to you.
From academic cities (Oxford, Cambridge) to archaeological sites (Stonehenge, Bath...), to royal residences (Château de Windsor, Royal Pavilion...) and tourist attractions (Studio Harry Potter, Brighton Pier...), the options are varied. Hop on a train or take the road, you will quickly reach the cities that contribute to the charm of the United Kingdom .
Are you still looking for inspiration? We have selected for you the best excursions from London!
1. The Castle of Windsor
Photo credit: Shutterstock – sloukam
? 30 kilometres
? By car: 30 minutes
? By train: regular trains from Paddington Station, change to Slough and terminus Windsor & Eton Central Station, 45 minutes drive
To see/to do: the visit of the Castle of Windsor
The Castle of Windsor is the largest castle in the world still inhabited today. Secondary residence of the royal family, the monument has been replaced by many monarchs since its construction in the 11th century.
Unlike Buckingham Palace, which is open to the public only two months in the year, the Windsor Castle is accessible all year round. If you don’t want to get away from the capital, it’s one of the best excursions from London.
2. Cambridge
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Konstanttin
? 90 kilometres
? By car: 1h10
? By train: regular trains from Kings Cross train station, 45 minutes drive
To see/to do: King’s College Chapel, Ely Cathedral, St Mary the Great Church, a boat trip
Enjoy your stay in London to discover Cambridge and its famous campus. Your wanderings will lead you to King’s College Chapel, Ely’s Cathedral and St Mary the Great Church, monuments that testify to the rich history of the city.
To save your strength, you can also board a tourist bus or go boat along the Cam River. These tours will end in one of the many pubs in the city.
3. Oxford
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Pajor Pawel
? 85 kilometres
? By car: 1h
? By train: regular trains from Paddington train station, 50 minutes drive
To see/to do: downtown, Oxford University, thematic visits
Among the excursions from London not to be missed, there is also Oxford! Considered one of the oldest university cities in the world, it houses an impressive heritage that seems to have been spared by time.
In particular, we think of the picturesque city centre and places like the Christ Church College, which served as decors for films the Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter (notably for Pudlard). Moreover, thematic visits are regularly organized for fans and curious people.
4. Studio Harry Potter
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Chettarin
? 28 kilometres
? By car: 25 minutes
To see/to do: the visit of Studio Harry Potter
Opened in March 2012 in Leavesden, where the movies were shot, Studio Harry Potter allows to relive the adventures of the young wizard and to find iconic elements of the saga.
It allows to explore the trays of the shooting, to admire some accessories, costumes, models and, above all, to leave with nice memories. This trip is part of the trips from London to make with family.
5. Brighton
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Hert Niks
? 84 kilometres
? By car: 1h15
? By train: regular trains from London-Victoria train station, 1 hour drive
To see/to do: the beach, the Royal Pavilion, the Arundel Castle, the British Airways I350
Brighton is a pleasant seaside resort on the British coast. After enjoying her beach, venture into her small shopping streets. A must-see passage, the Brighton Pier and its many rides will take you a few hours.
On the heritage side, Brighton houses the Royal Pavilion, an astonishing royal residence that takes over from the eastern palaces, and the Arundel Castle, the former Duke House of Norfolk. A nice view of the city and the coastline awaits you at the top of the "British Airways I350", the ascent tower of the city.
6. Liverpool
Photo credit: Flickr – Spaztacular
? 335 kilometres
? By car: 3:30
? By train: regular trains from Euston train station, 2h15 route
To see/to do: The Beatles Story, Anfield Road Stadium, Albert Dock District, Tate Liverpool Museum
If Liverpool asks for more road than the other escapes proposed in our list, it is a destination that deserves every effort. Birthplace of the Beatles and residence of renowned football teams, the city has a lot to offer.
In addition to the thematic tours (Yellow Duck Marine Tour, Magical Mystery Tour...) and commemorative places created for fans of music and round balloon, it hosts the unique Albert Dock district, the contemporary art gallery Tate Liverpool, the largest marine museum in Europe, the Merseyside Maritime Museum, as well as superb cathedrals.
7. Stonehenge
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Abdoabdalla
? 135 kilometres
? By car: 1:30
To see/to do: the visit of the museum and the site of Stonehenge
Stonehenge is undoubtedly one of the best day trips from London. Listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, this unusual place is one of the most famous prehistoric monuments in Europe.
You should start the visit by the museum dedicated to the history of the site. It contains 250 objects and tools of the Neolithic, as well as the reconstituted face of a man of the time.
A shuttle journey, included in the museum ticket, will transfer you to the famous stone circle. On site, let yourself be carried by the magic of the place.
8. Bath
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Alexey Fedorenko
? 180 kilometres
? By car: 2h
? By train: regular trains from Paddington train station, 1h20 ride
To see/to do: the visit of Bath Bath and Museum Baths, shopping on the Pulteney Bridge, the panorama of Bath Abbey
Close to Stonehenge, Bath, also classified as Unesco World Heritage, is an interesting detour. Famous for its Roman baths, the city was able to preserve thermal baths built almost 2,000 years ago.
After contemplating these vestiges, take the direction of the banks of the Avon River, admire the magnificent examples of Georgian architecture of Queen’s Square, climb to the top of the Tower of the Bath Abbey...
If you have a little time left, cross the Pulteney Bridge, this iconic bridge houses two shops, one on each side.
9. The cliffs of Seven Sisters
Photo credit: Shutterstock – GlennV
? 115 kilometres
? By car: 1:30
To see/to do: visit to the Seven Sisters Cliff Park, beach
In the east of Brighton, the impressive white chalk cliffs of the Seven Sisters are uncontourable. From the seaside resort you can reach this breathtaking landscape by shuttle or simply continue your road by car.
These great rocks of thousands of years will not leave you indifferent! As the visit is quickly dispatched, you are advised to pair the Seven Sisters' visit with Brighton's.
10. Mersea Island
Photo credit: Shutterstock – PannaPhoto
? 90 kilometres
? By car: 1h20
To see/to do: walk on the island, boat trip
This small island of Essex is to be added to the list of excursions from London. Typical of the English coastline, Mersea Island charms visitors with its beach constellated with colorful huts, its houses with pastel colors, its preserved nature and its seafood restaurants. It is a charming destination.
11. Deal
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Helen Hotson
? 120 kilometres
? By car: 1:30
? By train: regular trains from Charing Cross train station, 2h10 route
To see/to do: the beach, the castle Tudor
The small maritime town of Deal deserves its place in the selection of day trips from London. With its pebble beach, its pier on pilots, fishermen's houses and Georgian charms, this village of Kent invites you to walk.
His main attraction is undoubtedly his castle Tudor, commissioned by Henri VIII . Beautifully restored, it is open to the visit. The children even have the opportunity to borrow wooden boots and muskets before moving into the castle tunnels. An original output that will allow them to let their imagination run free.
12. Rye
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Helen Hotson
? 110 kilometres
? By car: 1:30
? By train: regular trains from Saint-Pancras and Charing Cross train station, with a change in Ashford, 1h40 route
To see/to do: visit Mermaid Street and Saint Mary’s Church
Perched on a hill, on the edge of the Kent, Rye is one of the most beautiful cities in England. Despite the passage of time, it preserved its medieval aspect and its picturesque alleys. The most famous of them is Mermaid Street, which is in the ranking of the most beautiful streets in the country.
We will also note the presence of an amazing cemetery in the heart of the city. Finally, if the weather is key, it is possible to climb the tower of the village church, the Saint Mary’s Church, to contemplate the landscape.
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