So, you’re visiting London (baby) and you’re a bit fed up with the city air? No problem, here are our favourite days out that’re a mere hop, skip and jump out of the capital.
Whether you’re travelling by car or train, we’ve got something for you. Next up, day trips by coach – right?
Trains are a great way to travel – free Wi-Fi, two hours to listen your favourite podcast and drink a Costa coffee, winner. Although, beware of the frequent train strikes – check out details of when the next strikes will be.
Luckily, the capital is very well connected - so a day out from London is easily done by train.
Ahhhh, the sea air (and a bunch of vegan hipsters) … The beauty of Brighton just keeps on giving. With the quickest service taking 52 minutes, you’ll have plenty of time at the beach, simply catch the train at Victoria or London Bridge (where trains depart every half an hour).
Whether you’re just visiting for the beach, the funky cafes or record shops, you’ll be sure to find something that everyone enjoys. And hey, why not stop in at the oldest functioning aquarium in the world? SEA LIFE Brighton has plenty sights to keep you busy.
Without a doubt one of the most picturesque cities in the UK, Bath is something of a walking museum. Explore the Roman bathhouses and wander past stunning Georgian houses, it’s the perfect peaceful-yet-interesting day out from London town.
If you’re missing the big city, check out Walcott Street (Bath’s version of Camden Town), for a slice of familiarity. Oh, did we forget to mention that the train only takes an hour and a half? That’s insane.
Oh, so you really feel like classing up your trip to London? Yes, you read the heading right. Paris is a mere 2.5 hours from St. Pancras station.
Why spend hours at the airport spending serious cash on a sandwich and crisps when you could just hop on the Eurostar? If you’re up early enough, you could have breakfast in front of the Eiffel Tower. One day in Paris will have you checking off the iconic tourist spots, think Louvre, Sacré-Cœur, Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe – your Insta feed will truly be poppin’.
If you’re lucky enough to have a car in London, you can pretty much get anywhere – just beware of the traffic... We’ve heard it can get pretty gnarly.
Though you may think this is easily done by train, travelling around by public transport once you’re in the Cotswolds can be quite challenging – hence why we’d recommend a car for this one. Just a two-hour drive from London, you can explore the varying counties and villages that the Cotswolds spreads across.
Soak up the gardens and countryside views while visiting local landmarks – be sure to head to Cirencester (the 'capital' of the Cotswolds) and stop by Made by Bob, a local Michelin-star restaurant (or grab some bits from the deli).
This one is also around two-hours from London and is a great opportunity for you history-lovers (or conspirators) to have a nosey at what all the fuss is about. It’s a bit of a marmite kind of thing – we can’t guarantee you’ll love it, but you may as well be able to tick it off your list.
You can discover the historic site in as little as two hours but could spend the whole day exploring Stonehenge and the Wiltshire area if you fancy – there's plenty of looking to be done. Don’t be fooled though, Stonehenge isn’t the only historic site in the area, there are markings made by Romans, Normans and Saxons all arcoss Wiltshire.
Also, Stonehenge is part of English Heritage, you can save 15% on an annual English Heritage membership to enjoy unlimited access to hundreds of historic places!
Another checklist location, the Isle of Wight feels a lifetime away from the busy streets of London. The drive is a little longer for this day out (taking just over three hours) but well worth driving to catch the spectacular cliff-side views on the way. Of course, there’s some amazing beaches, but there’s also more obscure things to visit, like The Garlic Farm. Stop in for lunch, browse the shop or buy some (extra) garlicy chutneys, relishes and much more – it's incredibly-unique.
Feel like injecting a bit of adventure into your peaceful day out? The island is packed with opportunities to let your hair down – tree-climbing, sailing and paragliding are all on the roster perfect for you day out adventure lovers.
Wanna stay inside of London, but don't fancy spending much? Check out our favourite free (and nearly free) London days out. Going with the kids? We also have the ultimate guide to planning a family staycay in London town - you're sooo welcome.
At Days Out, you can book the UK’s best attractions (y’know the proper FOMO inducing ones?) -- we know where’s perfect for you. Find your next adventure.