Done Buckingham Palace and the Tower? Then it is time to get out of town. Within an hour or two of the capital, you can wander a royal castle, punt along a university river, eat fish and chips on a Victorian pier, or stand among 5,000-year-old stones. Here are the 12 best day trips from London, with how to get there by train and what not to miss.
1. Windsor: Castles and Royal History
Getting there: About 35 to 40 minutes from London Paddington (change at Slough) to Windsor & Eton Central, or about 55 minutes direct from London Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside.
Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and a favorite home of the royal family.
- Tour the State Apartments and see Queen Mary's Dolls' House.
- Visit St George's Chapel, where many monarchs are buried. Choral Evensong is free to attend.
- Walk the Long Walk into Windsor Great Park.
- Cross the bridge to Eton and its famous college.
Don't miss: The Crooked House of Windsor, a teashop that leans dramatically because its timbers warped as they dried.
2. Cambridge: Colleges and Punting
Getting there: About 50 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes from King's Cross or Liverpool Street.
- Take a punt along the River Cam past the Backs, the lawns behind the colleges.
- Visit King's College Chapel, with its stunning fan-vaulted ceiling.
- Browse the market square and the Fitzwilliam Museum (free).
- See modern art in a former home at Kettle's Yard.
Don't miss: The ceiling of the RAF bar at the Eagle pub, covered in graffiti left by Second World War airmen. It is also where the discovery of DNA's structure was first announced.
3. Oxford: The City of Dreaming Spires
Getting there: About 1 hour from Paddington or Marylebone by train, or about 1 hour 45 minutes by the Oxford Tube coach.
- Tour the Bodleian Library and see the domed Radcliffe Camera.
- Find Harry Potter filming locations, such as the Divinity School and the staircase at Christ Church.
- Visit the free Ashmolean Museum and Pitt Rivers Museum.
- Take a punt on the River Cherwell, then settle into an old pub.
Don't miss: A cookie from Ben's Cookies in the Covered Market, where the famous chain began in 1984.
4. Brighton: Seaside Fun
Getting there: About 1 hour from Victoria or London Bridge.
- Stroll Brighton Palace Pier and ride the fairground attractions.
- Eat fish and chips on the pebble beach (watch out for the seagulls).
- See the extravagant, Indian-inspired Royal Pavilion.
- Get lost in the independent shops of the North Laine and the Lanes.
Don't miss: Snoopers Paradise, a sprawling indoor flea market full of vintage clothes and curiosities.
5. Bath: Roman Baths and Georgian Elegance
Getting there: About 1 hour 20 minutes from London Paddington.
The whole city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, thanks to its Roman baths and honey-colored Georgian architecture.
- Tour the Roman Baths, one of the best-preserved Roman sites in northern Europe.
- Soak in the rooftop pool at Thermae Bath Spa, fed by natural hot springs.
- See the sweeping Royal Crescent and Bath Abbey.
- Walk the six-mile Bath Skyline loop for countryside views.
Don't miss: The Jane Austen Centre, or the Jane Austen Festival each September, when the streets fill with people in Regency costume.
6. Stonehenge: Prehistoric Wonder
Getting there: About 1 hour 30 minutes from London Waterloo to Salisbury, then a tour bus to the stones. Many guided tours from London combine Stonehenge with Bath.
Built in stages from around 3000 BC, Stonehenge is one of the world's most famous prehistoric monuments, and its purpose is still debated. The visitor center explains the theories, and a shuttle takes you to the stones.
Don't miss: Salisbury Cathedral, home to Britain's tallest spire and one of the four surviving original copies of Magna Carta.
7. Canterbury: Cathedral and Medieval Streets
Getting there: About 55 minutes from St Pancras by high-speed train, or longer from Victoria or Charing Cross.
- Tour Canterbury Cathedral, the mother church of the Church of England and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Explore the Roman Museum, built around a Roman town house.
- Taste local produce at the Goods Shed farmers' market.
- Take a river tour on the Stour.
Don't miss: A coffee with a view at the café in the Beaney House of Art and Knowledge on the High Street.
8. The Cotswolds: Picture-Perfect Villages
Getting there: About 1 hour 30 minutes from Paddington to Moreton-in-Marsh or Kingham, then local buses or taxis. A car or small-group tour makes it much easier to see several villages.
- Visit Bourton-on-the-Water, the "Venice of the Cotswolds," with its low stone bridges.
- Photograph Arlington Row in Bibury, one of England's prettiest streets.
- Climb Broadway Tower for views across several counties.
- Browse the antique shops of Stow-on-the-Wold.
Don't miss: A long pub lunch in a village inn.
9. Rye: Smugglers and Cobbled Lanes
Getting there: About 1 hour 10 minutes from St Pancras, changing at Ashford International.
- Walk up Mermaid Street, with its steep cobbles and crooked timber houses.
- Have a drink at the Mermaid Inn, a former smugglers' haunt.
- Climb Ypres Tower for views over the marshes.
- See Lamb House, once home to American novelist Henry James.
Don't miss: Camber Sands, a huge sandy beach a short bus ride away.
10. St Albans: A Market Town With Roman Roots
Getting there: About 20 minutes from St Pancras.
- See St Albans Cathedral, built partly from Roman bricks.
- Explore Roman walls, mosaics, and a Roman theater in Verulamium Park.
- Shop at the street market, held since medieval times.
- Visit the St Albans Museum + Gallery in the old town hall, with its courtroom and cells.
Don't miss: Sunset over the ruins of Sopwell Priory.
11. Hampton Court Palace: Tudor Drama
Getting there: About 35 minutes from London Waterloo, or by boat along the Thames in summer.
- Explore Henry VIII's palace, including the Great Hall and Tudor kitchens.
- Get lost in the UK's oldest surviving hedge maze.
- See the astronomical clock and the royal art collection.
Don't miss: Seasonal events, from the summer flower festival to the winter ice rink.
12. The New Forest: Ponies and Ancient Woodland
Getting there: About 1 hour 30 minutes from London Waterloo to Brockenhurst.
The New Forest National Park is a mix of ancient woodland and open heath, where ponies, donkeys, and cattle roam freely through the villages. Rent a bike in Brockenhurst, follow the cycle trails, and stop for a cream tea in Lyndhurst or Burley.
Tips for Day Trips From London
- Book trains in advance for the cheapest fares, and travel off-peak where you can. A Railcard can save a third on many fares.
- Check engineering works on weekends, when some routes use replacement buses.
- Start early to make the most of daylight, especially in winter.
- Keep your phone online for train times, platform changes, and maps. An egoViet UK eSIM works across the country.
Want to go further? Try a London to Paris day trip or one of our extreme day trips in Europe. Planning time in the city too? See the best things to do in London.
FAQs: Day Trips From London
What is the best day trip from London?
Windsor, Oxford, Cambridge, and Bath are the most popular. Choose Brighton for the seaside, the Cotswolds for villages, or Stonehenge for prehistoric history.
What is the easiest day trip from London by train?
St Albans (about 20 minutes), Hampton Court (about 35 minutes), and Windsor are the quickest. Oxford, Cambridge, Brighton, and Canterbury take about an hour.
Can you visit Stonehenge and Bath in one day from London?
Yes. Many guided tours combine the two, or you can take the train to Salisbury for Stonehenge and continue to Bath, though it makes for a long day.
Can you visit the Cotswolds without a car?
Yes, by train to Moreton-in-Marsh or Kingham and then local buses, but services are limited. A small-group tour lets you see more villages in a day.