Lady’s 7 Lovely Spring Day Trips from London

Spring is here and I’m itching to travel. But while it’s easy to look abroad for seasonal sunshine, some of my favorite places to visit in spring are within an hour or two of London. England comes alive with color and life around this time, and every year I try to travel to as many of my favorite towns and gardens as I can. If you want to experience the best of the season, today I bring you my top picks for spring day trips from London.

Spring Day Trips from London

You can do any day trip from London in the spring, but there are some that stand out for good reasons. Whether they’re gardens with seasonal blooms or Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, they’re worth a special trip in March, April, and May.

From day trips by car to day trips by train, they’re all in easy reach of London in the springtime. You can also go on a guided day tour. You can see options and book one here.

I’ve taken all the trips on my list in spring, so I can recommend them from my own personal experience. 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.

1. Sissinghurst Castle Garden

Next on my list of the best spring day trips from London is Sissinghurst Castle Garden in Kent. Not far from the UK capital, it’s known for its stunning seasonal blooms.

Of all the spring gardens I’ve seen in the UK, Sissinghurst is the most memorable.

The formal gardens are bursting with color in May, and the woods are full of bluebells. The castle and its oasts make a lovely backdrop to the scene, too.

2. Hever Castle

Anne Boleyn’s childhood home of Hever Castle is another of the best spring day trips from London. The castle and its surrounding moat are straight out of a fairy tale, and the grounds delight with their expansive gardens.

Tulips abound in April, and as the spring progresses the manicured gardens fill with bulbs and perennials. There’s even a water garden with fountains for hot days.

If you’re a fan of visiting castles near London, this is the perfect seasonal day out for you.

3. The Cotswolds

The Cotswolds are lovey at any time of year, but in spring they have two things that make them even more beautiful: lambs and gardens.

Spring lambs are just about the cutest things I’ve ever seen, and the area is full of them between March and May.

Add to that the floral “rooms” in Hidcote Manor Garden and dramatic pools in Kiftsgate Court Gardens, and the Cotswolds are full of seasonal sensations.

There are also great towns and villages you can visit and walks you can take in the Cotswolds in spring. Some of my favorites include Painswick and Moreton-in-Marsh.

If you want to, you can visit on a day tour to see the highlights. You can book one here.

4. Polesden Lacey

Down in Surrey, Polesden Lacey is another of my favorite days out from London in spring. It’s an Edwardian house in which the original owner, Margaret Greville, entertained royalty and celebrities in the early 20th century.

The Gold Saloon was designed to impress maharajahs, and there’s an important collection of art and ceramics. From Dutch Old Masters to Faberge specials, there’s a lot to admire.

But it’s the gardens at Polesden Lacey that make this place worth a special trip in spring. They’re bursting with purple wisteria, climbing roses, bluebells, and herbaceous borders, all with views across the Surrey Hills.

There are acres of countryside to explore and marked walking paths, so it’s a great place to get into nature as well. This is the ideal place to visit if you like historic glamor and country walks.

Polesden Lacey is a National Trust property, too, so there’s free entry for members. You can get a membership here.

5. Tulleys Tulip Fest

If you love tulips, Tulleys Tulip Fest is another of the best spring day trips from London. Located near Gatwick Airport, this farm puts on an impressive display of seasonal blooms each spring. There are 1.2 million tulips in over 100 different varieties here.

Tulleys Tulip Fest doesn’t just stop at flowers, though. There’s a classic Dutch-style windmill, food and drink stalls, and props you can pose for photos with.

If you’re looking for a colorful day out from London in spring, this is a great place to visit. You can get here by a combination of train and bus from the city if you don’t have a car, too. Just book tickets well in advance, as they sell out.

6. Petworth

Down in West Sussex, Petworth is another of my favorite spring day trips from London. This town has great spring color and more charm than I ever imagined.

Not only are there cobbled streets and cozy pubs here, but also beautiful buildings to admire throughout the town. Being here is like stepping back in time.

Then there are the impressive interiors and gardens of Petworth House. The stately home near London is packed with incredible art, and the grounds come to life in spring with daffodils and bluebells galore.

7. Cambridge

First on my list of spring day trips from London is Cambridge. This university city in the UK is one of the most beautiful places to visit in the springtime.

I’ll never forget my first spring day trip to Cambridge. It was early April and it started to snow when I arrived. But even though the weather wasn’t as sunny as I hoped, I still loved the look of Cambridge in spring.

The blossoms, botanical garden, and daffodils won me over. I’ve been back several times since, and no time of year has been as beautiful as springtime. If you want to go, my free self-guided walking tour of Cambridge will show you the highlights.

Best Spring Day Trips from London

These day trips are just a sample of the amazing places to visit near London in spring. If you’re like me and are itching to travel right now, they’re great alternatives to destinations further afield.

Have you been on any spring day trips from London? Where did you go?

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