the 5 best day trips from London

The English capital is fantastic, there’s no denying it, but while you're in England, you can take advantage of your time and explore other cities in the country as well! If you're traveling to London for leisure and have a few extra days to spare, or if you're doing an exchange program there, this post is for you! Below, I’ll share with you the 5 best day trips from London!

Before thinking about doing day trips from London, answer one question: how many days do you have to explore the capital? If your answer is 4 days or less, I suggest skipping the idea of day trips and focusing on sightseeing in London itself. The city is huge, and to enjoy it properly you’ll need at least 3 days, but ideally, 5.

Another tip: don’t fall into the trap of doing a day trip to Paris (or any other major city)! I know the temptation is real, there’s a lot of cool and affordable stuff over there, but it’s impossible to truly experience Paris in a single day, seriously! You’ll just end up spending time and money only to say you were there and take a picture with the Eiffel Tower.

Let’s get to the list of the best day trips from London!

Seven Sisters Cliff.

Best day trips from London

It’s important to know that for a day trip to be worthwhile, the travel time shouldn’t be too long. So, the tip is to choose destinations that are at most 2 hours and 30 minutes away from the city you’re in.

Another cool thing is that to do day trips from London, you don’t need a car. You can do several great outings by train or bus! If you're traveling with a group of 4 or 5 friends, renting a car might be more cost-effective and a fun adventure. See what works best for your situation and let’s hit the road!

Brighton

It’s a coastal city, popular with tourists, and known for its vibrant cultural scene.

Distance from London: approximately 110 km, about 1 hour by train or 1 hour and 45 minutes by car. The city is located in the southeast region of England.

When to go: July and August are the best months, as the weather will be warm and visitors can enjoy the beach as well.

What to do: enjoying the beach is one of the top activities during summer. If the weather isn’t quite right for the beach when you visit, you can take a walk along the pier, which has several stalls and food options. For those wanting a more cultural experience, it’s worth visiting the Royal Pavilion, a truly fascinating palace.

The beach in Brighton is full of pebbles.

Cambridge

It is a university town where famous personalities such as Stephen Hawking, Isaac Newton, and Charles Darwin studied.

Distance from London: approximately 100 km, around 70 minutes by train or 90 minutes by car. The city is located on the southern coast of England.

When to go: any time of the year.

What to do: you can start the day with a boat ride on the River Cam. Then, visit the University of Cambridge, don’t miss Trinity College and Wren Library. Another tip is to walk across the Bridge of Sighs and also explore The Backs, which is a park (if it's summer, it's worth having a picnic there).

Cambridge

Windsor

Distance from London: approximately 50 km, about 1 hour by train or 50 minutes by car. The city is located west of London.

When to go: any time of the year.

What to do: The main reason people choose Windsor as a day trip from London is to visit the famous Windsor Castle, where Prince Harry married Meghan Markle in 2018. I recommend buying your castle ticket in advance. Don’t miss the State Apartments and St. George’s Chapel. For more details about the castle, visit the official website. https://www.rct.uk/visit/windsor-castle

Stonehenge

It’s a structure made up of stones standing up to 5 meters tall. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Distance from London: approximately 150 km, about 2 hours and 15 minutes by train or 1 hour and 45 minutes by car. The city is located west of London.

When to go: any time of the year. Since it’s a very touristy destination, it’s a good idea to avoid holidays and weekends.

What to do: The tour to Stonehenge can be done through a guided excursion or independently. If you have time, it’s worth extending your visit to include Salisbury.

Stonehenge

Seven sisters cliffs

One of the most beautiful natural landscapes in England!

Distance from London: approximately 130 km, around 2 hours and 30 minutes by train or 2 hours by car. The city is located west of London.

When to go: the trip is more enjoyable in June, July, and August, when the weather is warmer and milder. It’s very windy there, so winter can be quite cold.

What to do: the highlight of the trip is the view. If the day is nice, I recommend bringing snacks and drinks for a picnic. Enjoy the view and forget about everything else!

Some people wonder whether it's worth doing day trips from London to Liverpool (which is 2 hours and 20 minutes away) or Cardiff (1 hour and 50 minutes). In my opinion, it’s not worth it, not because of the distance, but because both cities have a lot of cool things to do. I think it’s more interesting to spend at least one night there. So, I recommend them as weekend getaway destinations. Edinburgh and Glasgow in Scotland are also places I suggest visiting for at least a weekend.

So, did you like my suggestions for day trips from London? Depending on how many days you have and the time of year, you can even fit in more than one trip! If you have any questions, compliments, or suggestions, just drop them in the comments below!

Kisses and see you in the next post!