Lady’s 20 Lovely Day Trips from London

One of the most common questions I get asked is “what are the best day trips from London?”. I’ve written about the subject before, but today I want to bring you new locations and A Lady in London’s guide to choosing the right day out for your travel style and personal taste.

Day Trips from London

Below are day trips from London that cover a range of geographies and cater to a variety of interests. I’ve visited all of the destinations, and can personally vouch for how good they are.

There’s more about day trips in the beautiful book Escape London: Days Out within Easy Reach of London, too. You can get it here.

Unique Day Trips from London

I’ve also included day trips that are perfect for specific seasons and trips that are best for traveling via bus, car, or train. If you’re interested in those, make sure to read to the end of this post.

1. Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle was one of my first day trips from London when I moved to the UK. It was just as magical as I remembered it from a childhood visit, and I loved everything from the decadent interiors to the fascinating history.

There are great tours you can take of the castle, and you can see everything from the State Apartments to St George’s Chapel. If you’re lucky, you can catch the Changing the Guard ceremony at Windsor Castle, too.

It’s worth staying to see some of the town as well. Windsor has great shops and pretty streets to explore, not to mention a huge park to walk in.

Nearby Eton is home to one of England’s most famous schools, and it’s easy to walk there from Windsor. The architecture in Eton is stunning, and there are great restaurants if you want to stop for lunch.

Windsor Castle is close to London, so it makes for a good day trip if you love all things royal or are pressed for time.

2. Winchester

I’ve taken several day trips to Winchester over the years, and every time I go I fall more in love with the city’s pretty streets, secret gardens, and bucolic riverside walks.

From King Arthur’s Round Table to the burial place of Jane Austen, Winchester has a lot going for it. Winchester Cathedral is one of the most famous places in the city, and there are also historic ruins and cute cafes to explore.

The Hospital of St Cross, a medieval almshouse with stunning walled gardens, is also beautiful. It’s a short walk from the city center and is well worth a visit. It’s been a filming location for series like Wolf Hall, so you may recognize it.

Winchester is the perfect day trip for history lovers and cathedral fans.

3. Stamford and Burghley House

Friends introduced me to Stamford and Burghley House in Lincolnshire.

I loved the beautiful streets in Stamford and enjoyed walking around to take in the heritage buildings. It’s easy to explore on foot and has pretty scenery along the River Welland, too.

And that’s to say nothing of the rooms and grounds at Burghley House. This 16th-century English country house is a prime example of Elizabethan architecture.

With lavish interiors and expansive gardens, this country mansion is one of the most impressive stately homes in England.

The combination of Stamford and Burghley House is a great day trip if you like historic houses and English towns with rich heritage.

4. Hever Castle Day Trips from London

I visited Hever Castle, Anne Boleyn’s childhood home, on a day trip to Kent with friends. The castle and moat were stuff of fairy tales, and it was amazing to see the rooms where Anne spent her childhood.

Hever Castle is unique in that it’s surrounded by a double moat. Dating back to the 13th century, it has layers of history to explore both inside and out.

I adored how the gardens were huge and bursting with color. There was everything from seasonal blooms to fountains and footbridges to discover. The topiary hedges were fun, too.

This is the ideal day trip if you’re a castle fan or garden lover.

5. Petworth

Down in West Sussex, I once went to Petworth with friends for a day out. From cobbled streets to cozy pubs, the town itself is a gem. I loved the shops, half-timbered facades, and colorful doors.

The incredible art and gardens at Petworth House thoroughly impressed me, too. The stately home had a great collection of paintings by everyone from Thomas Gainsborough to Anthony van Dyck.

Its grounds were designed by renowned landscape designer Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, too.

Petworth is one of the perfect day trips from London for art lovers and country house enthusiasts. Given Petworth House is right in town, the combination of exploring the streets and seeing the stately home is a great one.

6. York

York might seem a long way from London, but I discovered how easy it was to take a day trip from London by train a number of years ago. Since then I’ve done it again.

On my first day trip to York I was won over by everything from York Minster cathedral to the tiny Snickelway lanes lined with half-timbered facades.

The restaurants and cafes were excellent, too. York has some of the prettiest historic buildings in the UK, and I couldn’t stop taking pictures while I was there.

On my second visit I traveled to York on what I consider one of the best day trips from London at Christmas.

Each year, the annual Christmas markets take over the streets and squares and turn the city into a winter wonderland. It was amazing to see them all and take in the seasonal spirit in York.

York is your ideal destination if you love historic streets and magical atmosphere.

7. Sissinghurst Castle Garden

Back in Kent, I discovered the beauty of writer Vita Sackville-West’s Sissinghurst Castle Garden my first year in London.

The flower beds and bluebell woods were spectacular, and the backdrop of the castle and oasts rounded out the idyllic scene.

It was fun to get to the castle by train and walk back to the station afterwards. My friends and I stopped at a local pub for a pint on the way, turning the trip into a country walk at the end.

Sissinghurst is one of the perfect day trips from London for garden lovers and literary types.

8. Margate Day Trips from London

I took a day trip to Margate—aka “Shoreditch-on-Sea”—and enjoyed soaking up this hipster paradise on the Kentish coast.

With an amusement park, vintage shops, a contemporary art gallery, and charming streets, this town has a lot of variety.

Margate is also home to the Turner Contemporary, a renowned art gallery and museum with an impressive permanent collection and great temporary exhibitions.

Margate is one of the top day trips from London for hipsters and seaside lovers alike.

9. Birmingham

I discovered Birmingham a few years ago when I took a day trip from London to visit the city’s famous Christmas markets.

I’ve been back since and found a place full of creative spaces, beautiful architecture, and amazing museums.

There are historic shopping arcades to wander through, pedestrianized streets to walk down, vibrant markets to explore, and lots of beautiful roads to stroll along.

I love the contemporary design of the library, which has great views over the city center. And that’s to say nothing of the important Pre-Raphaelite art collection in the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

This is one of the best day trips from London if you love art and exploring cities.

10. Rochester

I fell in love with Rochester as soon as I saw its famous castle from the train. It took a few more years to visit, but when I did I found a gorgeous town full of pretty streets and classic English atmosphere.

The castle and cathedral are highlights of a day trip to Rochester, but there are a lot of great bookshops, cafes, and parks to explore as well.

Rochester is also famous for its Charles Dickens connections. He lived here and many of the buildings on the high street are named after characters from his books and life.

In fact, more places in Rochester feature in his writing than any other part of Britain besides London.

Rochester is for you if you love a Norman castle and places with literary connections.

11. Leicester

Leicester surprised me. Perhaps the most underrated city in Britain, I arrived with low expectations and left overwhelmed by the city’s rich history, great cafes, and stunning architecture.

From Richard III’s burial site to impressive Victorian buildings and a Roman Wall, Leicester has layers of history to discover. It’s also home to the Leicester Museum and Art Gallery, which has a great Arts and Crafts Movement collection.

This is one of the best day trips from London if Shakespeare, history, and unexpected treasures get your heart pumping.

12. Leeds Castle Day Trips from London

I’ve visited Leeds Castle twice, and both times I fell for its historic charm, striking moat, and vast grounds.

Over 900 years old, this fortress has colorful interiors, an extensive hedge maze, and activities like falconry to entertain guests of all ages throughout the year.

Speaking of which, on my first visit I went for a Leeds Castle falconry experience. It was fun to fly the birds of prey around the gardens.

On my second day trip to Leeds Castle I enjoyed touring the castle’s rooms, which are beautiful to see. The Lady Baillie Bedroom and Dressing Room were particularly appealing with their sumptuous decor.

There’s even a unique Dog Collar Museum with a collection of historic canine collars. It’s the largest on public display in the world.

Leeds Castle is one of the best day trips from London if you love a legendary fortress with a storied past.

13. Cheltenham

Out in the Cotswolds, I adored the pretty spa town of Cheltenham as soon as I saw it. Since then I’ve been back several times to explore its colonnaded streets, eat at its acclaimed restaurants, and visit its impressive art gallery.

I love the Arts and Crafts Movement collection at the The Wilson. It’s one of the most important and impressive collections in the country, and it’s great to see all the furniture and design work.

I’ve also been to Cheltenham for the horse racing. There’s a famous racetrack just outside the town center, and it’s an exciting place to spend a day with friends.

Cheltenham is one of the top day trips from London if you love Regency buildings, the Arts and Crafts Movement, or the thrill of the races.

14. Newcastle

Newcastle is another city I thought was too far to visit in a day. But again the train proved me wrong. My first visit to the city was a day packed with Victorian streets, stunning bridges, and great art museums.

I loved walking across the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, seeing the exhibitions in the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, and looking across the River Tyne to the silver curves of the Sage Gateshead.

Since then I’ve been back to see more of Newcastle. I’ve discovered historic pubs, amazing views, and some of the most entertaining nightlife in the UK.

If urban exploration is your idea of a good time, Newcastle is one of the best day trips from London.

15. Dover Day Trips from London

The iconic white cliffs first drew me to Dover, and I stayed for the castle and its secret World War II tunnels.

Dover Castle is one of the most impressive historic fortresses in England, and it’s worth visiting for its rich history and clifftop views. There’s even a lighthouse that dates back to Roman times.

On subsequent day trips to Dover I explored the waterfront and enjoyed views across the English Channel. I even did a country walk from Folkestone to Dover once. It was great to take in the seaside landscapes and see more of the area.

I’ve also done a Canterbury and Dover day trip that combined two of the most famous places in Kent into one day out.

However you do it, Dover is one of the best day trips from London if you like military history and intrigue.

16. Leeds

Leeds was another city that caught me unaware and thoroughly delighted me.

I arrived not knowing what to expect, but I quickly became enamored with its Victorian shopping arcades, the interior of its Corn Exchange, and its cool cafes.

I’ve been back a number of times since then, and I always love the bustling shopping streets and heritage buildings. The County Arcade might just have the prettiest interior I’ve ever seen, and I love that there’s a Harvey Nichols in Leeds.

Leeds is the ideal day trip from London if you love a bit of retail therapy.

17. Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace wowed me from the moment I arrived. The birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and an impressive building in its own right, I found the palace and gardens stunning.

The main residence of the Dukes of Marlborough, Blenheim Palace is the the only non-royal, non-episcopal stately home in England to be called a palace.

Easily twinned with a trip to nearby Oxford, the palace is a great place to spend a day exploring.

This is one of the ideal day trips from London if you love stately homes and want to see one of Britain’s finest.

18. Ely

Underrated Ely is another of the best day trips from London. Ely is a famous cathedral city in the UK. Ely Cathedral traces its origins to 672, and its historic interiors are stunning.

Away from the church, there are a lot of great things to do in Ely. The city has a pretty riverfront area and rich history. It’s brimming with historic streets, great shops, and bustling markets. It even has a house that was once lived in by Oliver Cromwell.

19. Amersham

Just outside London, Amersham is one of the easiest day trips from London. Located in Buckinghamshire, the town is so close to the UK capital you can reach it on the tube.

Amersham is particularly famous for the historic houses and buildings on the high street in Old Amersham. It’s also known for country walks, as it’s located in the Chiltern Hills. An Amersham day trip is a great way to see the highlights.

20. Bletchley Park

Just north of the city, Bletchley Park is another easy day trip from London. This World War II codebreaking center in Buckinghamshire is so close to the UK capital you can reach it on a 35-minute train ride from Euston station.

Bletchley Park is famous for being the top-secret workplace of codebreakers like Alan Turing, and it’s considered the birthplace of modern computing.

A day trip to Bletchley Park is a fun way to learn about the important work that was done here during the war.

Seasonal London Day Trips

In addition to the ones above, I’ve also written about London day trips in various seasons.

My summer day trips post will help you find the top days out from London in the warmer months.

Since the days are longer, you can go farther and see more of the places that come alive when the legendary English gardens are at their finest. Summer is great for beach day trips from London, too.

My day trips from London in winter post will show you the best places to go when the days are short and the weather lends itself to being indoors.

My spring day trips post reveals the best places to go near London when the weather starts warming up and the seasonal flowers start to bloom.

My autumn day trips from London post will help you find the top destinations near the UK capital for beautiful foliage and seasonal colors.

Day Trips from London by Bus, Train, and Car

If you’re looking to take one of the best day trips from London using a specific mode of transport, I’ve written all about those, too.

My day trips from London by train blog post has information on the easiest places to travel near London by rail. It’s amazing how many locations you can get to by train in the UK.

My day trips from London by car post will help you find the top days out if you want to drive. There are a lot of great underrated day trips from London that you can get to if you have your own car.

I’ve also written about specific day trips from London by bus. My favorite is one to Oxford and the Cotswolds, but there are a lot more to discover, too. You can see additional ideas in my post about the best day trips from London without a car.

I’ve even written about cheap day trips from London. They’re great options if you’re on a budget but want to see more of England beyond the capital.

I hope this guide has helps you choose the perfect place for your travel style. Happy travels!

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

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