If you are visiting London for more than a few days, definitely plan one or more day trips from London. While there’s tons to do in London, getting outside of the city limits is a great way to better experience the culture and beauty of England. Here our eight of our favorites that are located three or less hours outside of London.
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1. Windsor
Windsor is the home of Windsor Castle, one of the oldest inhabited castles in the world. Visitors to the castle see the opulent State Apartments, Queen Mary’s Dollhouse, and St. George’s Chapel. Also in Windsor is Eton College, a prestigious boarding school. Take a 90 minute guided tour of the college and learn how the school has educated England’s elite through the ages.
Another fun thing to do in Windsor is riverboat scenic tours on the banks of the Thames River. You can also visit Windsor Great Park to enjoy serene walks along the lakes, fishing, and horseback riding. If you are horseracing fan, check to see if there’s a race at Royal Windsor Racecourse. The races are family friendly and offer entrainment suitable for all ages.
Logistics
Located just 30 minutes from London, Windsor should definitely be top of your list of day trips from London to do. Windsor is also a great place to visit when on a long layover at London Heathrow as it is located very close to the airport.
You can easily reach Windsor via public transportation, taxi/Uber, and group tour. Upon arrival, you will enjoy Windsor’s delightful town center with cobbled streets, cafes, pubs, and shops. Plan to spend 4-8 hours in Windsor depending on what you want to do. Windsor can be paired with many other day trips from London like Stonehenge, Bath, Oxford, the Cotswolds, and/or Stratford-upon-Avon.
2. Bath
Dating back to Roman times, Bath is another lovely English town steeped in history. The town is full of cultural and natural attractions to visit. The most visited attraction is the remarkably-preserved Roman Baths. The site features the remains of an actual Roman bathhouse and has interpretive exhibits on bathing and social rituals in Roman times. You can try the waters yourself at Thermae Bath Spa.
Jane Austen enthusiasts will enjoy visiting all of the sites associated with the author as well as the Jane Austen Centre. Costumed guides lead you through the center, telling you about life in Bath during the early 19th century. The center is located in one of the many Georgian buildings in the center of Bath. Here you will also find Bath Abbey, a beautiful Gothic church dating back centuries.
Logistics
Bath is located located about 115 miles from London. You reach it by car, bus, or train. The fastest way to go is by train and is the best choice for a day trip. If you plan to combine it with other destinations like Windsor, Stonehenge, or the Cotswold’s, car is the best choice. There are also many group tours that offer day trips from London to Bath, Stonehenge, and Windsor. Upon arrival, plan to spend at least two hours there to see the Roman Baths. But if you have more time, feel free to linger. There’s a ton to do in the region.
3. Stonehenge
Visiting this mystical ancient site is top on my list of day trips from London! Dating back over 4,500 years, historians and archeologists still don’t quite understand how and why Stonehenge was created. The standing stones are the star of the show, but you can also enjoy exhibits in the visitor’s center. It contains a collection of life-size Neolithic houses, exhibits of archeological artifacts, and a very fun gift shop. If you want to get a bit closer to the stones, book the Stone Circle Experience which offers small group tours inside the stone circle outside normal visiting hours.
Logistics
Stonehenge is about two hours from London. It’s not difficult to get there via car or public transportation. If you are comfortable driving on the left side of the road, you can rent a car for a day to get there. There aren’t any direct trains to Stonehenge, but you can take a train from Waterloo Station to the city of Salisbury. Then you can take a local bus or taxi to get to the standing stones. Or you can take a bus tour to the site. Plan to spend 2-3 hours in Stonehenge. Stonehenge can easily be paired with a trip to Windsor, Bath, Oxford, or a combination of these.
4. Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is William Shakespeare’s birthplace and features historical sites related to the bard. Visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace to see his childhood home. Anne Hathaway’s Cottage is a thatched cottage where Shakespeare’s wife was born and raised. Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall is where the bard attended school, saw his first plays, and created his first works. Shakespeare’s New Place is the site of Shakespeare’s final home, While the structure no longer exists, the site features gardens and art installations. You can watch a Shakespeare’s and other playwrights’ productions at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. And you can see his final resting place at the Holy Trinity Church.
Not into Shakespeare? There are a few other reasons to visit this charming market town. See thousands of exotic butterflies at the Butterfly Farm. The Bancroft Gardens offer a beautiful place to relax along the River Avon. And history lovers will enjoy Tudor World, a living history museum that gives you a glimpse of what life was like in Tudor times.
Logistics
The town is about 100 miles away from London and can be reached by car, bus, train, or group tour in about two hours. The easiest way to go is by train and is the best choice for a day trip that includes a show at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. If you plan to combine it with other destinations, car or a group tour is the best choice. Common pairings include Stonehenge, Bath, Oxford, the Cotswolds, and/or Windsor. But expect to only see one attraction when combining Stratford with other sites. If you fully want to immerse in all things Shakespeare, plan to spend the entire day (or two) there.
5. The Cotwolds
The Cotswolds is a region in southcentral England known for its scenic landscape. Expect to see lush greenery, rolling hills, meandering streams, and idyllic villages featuring a distinctive golden limestone known as Cotswold stone. In the summer, visit the Cotswold Lavender Fields to see row after row of vibrant purple flowers.
Outdoor enthusiasts will love visiting this picturesque area. There are many trails in the region suitable for all hiking abilities. The most famous is Cotswold Way spanning 102 miles and offering stunning views. You can walk the entire way. But for a day trip from London, one of the shorter circular or linear walks would be a better choice.
Notable towns along the way are Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold, Chipping Campden, and Broadway. There’s no shortage of churches, mansions, and castles in the area. The most famous are Sudeley Castle, Blenheim Place, and Gloucester Cathedral.
Logistics
The absolute best way to travel to the Cotswolds is by car. This gives you ultimate flexibility to explore the area extensively. Remember that you will have to drive on the left-hand side of the road and that roads in this region are winding and narrow, often wide enough for only one car. You can also do a day trip to the area by train from London Paddington Station stopping at Charlbury then at Kingham then at Moreton-in-March. Then you can take a bus or taxi to Bourton-on-the-Water. Reverse this to get back to London. This blog post has more details on this experience.
Not into driving or train hopping? Simply take a group tour to (or just through) the region. Options include tours that focus just on the area or combine it with Stonehenge, Bath, Stratford-upon-Avon, and/or Oxford.
6. Oxford
Home to Oxford University, this country town is chock full of historic buildings featuring stunning architecture. The university offers visitors many unforgettable activities. Visit the famous colleges within the university, such as Christ Church, Magdalen College, or Balliol College. Or take a comprehensive tour of the entire university. Several other attractions are also open to the public, such as the Oxford Botanic Garden, Ashmolean Museum, Bodleian Libraries, Museum of Natural History, and the History of Science Museum.
Outside of the university, enjoy a pint at a historic pub and shop for treasures at the Covered Market. You can participate in (or just watch) punting on the River Cherwell or Thames. Don’t forget to browse for books at Blackwell’s Bookshop. And take a guided tour of Oxford Castle & Prison to learn about this 1,000 year old site and the people who lived here, both voluntarily and involuntarily!
Logistics
Oxford is located located about 60 miles from London. You reach it by car, bus, or train. The fastest and easiest way to go is by train. If you plan to combine it with other destinations like Windsor, Stonehenge, Bath, or the Cotswolds, private car or group tour is the best choice. You can fill a full day (or more) in Oxford, but expect to spend only a few hours there if you plan to combine it other places.
7. Canterbury
Located in the opposite direction of the other 6 day trips we’ve covered, Canterbury of the Canterbury Tales fame is about 65 miles from London. Canterbury is the home of two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Canterbury Cathedral and St. Augustine’s Abbey. Museums in the town include Westgate Towers Museum & Viewpoint, Beany House of Art & Knowledge, the Kent Museum of Freemasonry, and the Roman Museum. Another great thing to do is explore the River Stour on a guided punt or riverboat tour.
Logistics
Canterbury is located located about 65 miles from London. You reach it by car, bus, or train. The fastest and easiest way to go is by train. Once there, it’s simple to take an additional 30 minute taxi, bus, or train ride to see the Cliffs of Dover as well. You can also see Canterbury, the Cliffs of Dover, and other places on a guided bus tour from London. You can spend an entire day or more visiting Canterbury or just one or two attractions on a multi-destination itinerary.
If you have a lot more than one day, you can visit Canterbury on a pilgrimage. The Pilgrim’s Way to Canterbury takes 15 days to walk from Winchester to Canterbury, The Becket Way to Canterbury takes 11 days and starts in Southwark.
8. Dover
Our final stop on our day trips from London is Dover. Dover Castle is a must-see, as are the White Cliffs of Dover soaring above the English Channel. On a clear day, you can see France across the channel! An interesting and unusual site is Dover Western Heights, which is a hidden fort built during the Napoleonic Wars.
Cap off your day in the Dover area at the beach. Get up close and personal with marine life plus get a great view of the Cliffs of Dover from the water on a Dover Sea Safari. You can also take a stroll, picnic, sunbathe, and enjoy views of the boats and yachts at the marina.
Logistics
Dover is about 75 miles from London and can be reached by car, bus, or train. The fastest and easiest way to go is by train. Once there, you can walk or take a bus, rideshare, or taxi to most sites. Rideshare or taxi is the easiest way to get from the Dover train station to the Cliffs of Dover and other sites that are further afield. Guided bus tours from London are also available. You can spend an entire day visiting the Dover area or just one or two attractions when combining with other sites.
What tops your list of day trips from London?
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