Lady’s 11 Summer Day Trips from London

Summer is officially here, and it’s hot outside. Which is great, because there are so many amazing places to visit in England when the weather is warm (and even when it isn’t). If you’re looking for a quick getaway this season, today I bring you 11 lovely summer day trips from London.

Summer Day Trips from London

You can do any day trip from London in the summer, but these stand out when the days are long and the sun is shining.

My top picks for summer day trips from London range from coastal gems to university cities. Whether you like beaches, culture, food, or history, my list has you covered.

I’ve taken all these trips, and I can recommend them from my own personal experience. There’s a lot more about day trips in the beautiful book Escape London: Days Out within Easy Reach of London. You can get it here.

1. Brighton

First on my list of the best summer day trips from London is Brighton. This seaside city is at its best in warm weather, and on sunny days it’s easy to hop on a train in London and head south for a day by the sea.

From the expansive beach to the pleasure pier, there’s a lot to do on a warm summer day in Brighton. I love wandering through The Lanes and North Laine for a bit of shopping, and the Royal Pavilion is beautiful with blue sky in the background.

Direct rail services depart frequently from London to Brighton, making the seaside city an easy day trip from the capital by train.

2. Oxford

Oxford is one of the best day trips from London in any season, but it’s great in summer. For one, there’s punting in Oxford. Flat-bottomed boats are a great way to get around the waterways on hot days.

Add to that the backdrop of blue sky behind the university’s stunning buildings, and it makes a perfect summer day trip from London.

Direct rail services operate from London to Oxford, making it an easy journey to make by train.

3. Hastings

Hastings is another of my favorite summer day trips from London. This seaside town in East Sussex is rife with Norman history, but the beaches here are what draw most visitors.

There are plenty of them, too. Rock-A-Nore Beach is known for its dramatic cliffs, and Hastings Beach offers a wide stretch of pebble shoreline. The latter is also home to Hastings Pier, which has iconic striped beach huts along it.

The Hastings waterfront is full of carnival rides, net huts, and fun seafood restaurants. Behind them you’ll discover a tangle of historic streets with pretty houses and a clifftop castle.

A Hastings day trip from London is easy to do by rail. There are direct services from the UK capital to the heart of town. Along with Brighton, it’s one of the easiest beach day trips from London by train.

4. Henley-on-Thames

Back in Oxfordshire, Henley-on-Thames is another of the best summer day trips from London. With its historic church, eye-catching Town Hall, market square, and independent shops, there’s a lot to love about this place.

I like going for the annual Henley Royal Regatta, but even on quieter days this riverside town is the perfect place for afternoon tea and a wander along the water.

Rail services operate from London to Henley-on-Thames (with one change en route), making it an easy day trip from the capital by train.

5. Seven Sisters

Back in East Sussex, the Seven Sisters make an ideal summer day trip from London. Set against the iconic white cliffs on the South Downs, the pebble beaches on the English Channel here are popular places when the sun is out.

This is an easy day trip from London by car, as there’s a National Trust information center with parking at Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters. There’s a cafe and ice cream van here, and visitors can walk down a set of stairs to get to the beach below.

If you want to extend your trip, Beachy Head and its famous lighthouse aren’t far away. The same goes for Eastbourne, where there are more beaches to enjoy.

If you don’t have a car, you can see these places and more on a guided tour with GetYourGuide. I’ve done many trips with them (including this one), and I’ve always had a good experience. You can book the tour here.

6. Whitstable

Whitstable is the ideal summer day trip for food lovers. The coastal town in Kent is famous for its shellfish, and the annual Whitstable Oyster Festival is a great excuse for a visit.

But it’s worth venturing here at other times, too, whether for a trip to the beach or a seafood feast at one of the local restaurants.

Direct rail services operate from London to Whitstable, making the town an easy day trip by train.

7. Dover and the White Cliffs

Dover is another popular summer day trip from London. This coastal port town in Kent is famous for its hilltop castle, white chalk cliffs, and ferries to Calais.

Dover day trips are particularly popular with history lovers. The town’s seaside castle is one of the most famous in Britain, not least because of its layers of heritage and warren of wartime tunnels.

It’s also a top pick for lovers of the outdoors. The White Cliffs of Dover form a sheer face above the Strait of Dover, and you can see all the way to France on clear days.

The coastal paths along the cliffs are great places for walks with views, too. You can do a Folkestone to Dover walk if you want to see more than just Dover itself. It’s one of the best walks in Kent.

Direct rail services operate from London to the town, making it an easy day trip by train. You can also take a guided tour to visit Canterbury and Dover on the same trip. You can book one here with GetYourGuide.

8. Margate

Often called “Shoreditch-on-Sea”, Margate has had a renaissance in recent years. Not far from Whitstable, this town is a hipster paradise. It’s one of the best places to visit in Kent in summer.

Margate has everything from a famous amusement park to popular vintage shops and a renowned contemporary art gallery. Add to that plenty of charming streets, and it makes for a great day out from the UK capital.

Direct rail services operate from London to Margate, making this an easy day trip by train.

9. Camber Sands

Next on my list of summer day trips from London is Camber Sands. This is not only one of the best beaches in East Sussex, but also one of the most popular stretches of shoreline on the south coast of England.

With its rolling sand dunes, pretty pebbles, and plethora of dogs, Camber Sands is the ideal place to visit on a sunny day in Britain.

Add to that delicious local seafood shops and the nearby town of Rye, and this is one of my top picks for seaside day trips from London.

10. Ramsgate

Ramsgate is another of my favorite summer days out from the city. Not far from Margate, Ramsgate is a waterfront town in Kent known for its expansive sandy beach, heritage architecture, and royal harbor.

Ramsgate is one of the best beach day trips from London because its beach is huge. There are children’s amusements, arcades, and restaurants with outdoor dining to enjoy here.

Beyond the shore, the town is known for everything from shops to seafood restaurants and historic houses. The side streets are fun to explore, and the views of the boats from the hill are great to see.

As with Margate, there’s a train station in Ramsgate with direct services to London, so the town is an easy day trip from the UK capital by rail.

11. Deal

Also in Kent, Deal is another of my top picks for summer day trips from London. Located where the North Sea meets the English Channel, Deal is home to big pebble beaches and a long pier.

The town is most famous for what lies beyond the beach, though. The seafront Deal Castle is legendary, and the pastel houses and historic pubs on Middle Street are both picturesque and steeped in smuggling lore. There’s great shopping here as well.

There’s a train station in Deal with direct rail services to London, so this is another easy day trip if you don’t want to drive.

Summer Day Trips from London and Beyond

These day trips are just a handful of the places you can visit near London in summer. If you’re like me and you’re eager to soak up the sun, they’re just the places to satisfy your vitamin D craving.

Have you taken any good summer day trips from London? What were they?

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