Easy Trips from London!
Whenever anyone is going to London, they always come to me first. And I always tell them take a day or weekend trip outside of London! While, yes, there are so many amazing things to do in London, there are also so many things outside of London! Here are a list of places you need to visit outside of London, categorized into weekend trips and day trips. Remember, this is MY list. There are many other places to go too. Also, I have not been to some of these places but friends have and they loved them!
Climb to the top of the University church in Oxford for amazing views of the city!
First, up is OXFORD which I highly, HIGHLY recommend!! This is such an easy day trip with it only being an hour and half by train. You’ll be able to take in the English countryside and explore a college older than some countries/dynasties/empires. In London, you don’t always here to classic British accent but you will definitely hear it here. You can explore the college, climb up the University Church, and visit the book shop. If you’re looking for a bite to eat, I recommend eating at the Turf Tavern, which opened in 1381, and enjoy classic British food. Stay for the toffee pudding! Also, I recommend walking around and getting “lost.” The town is beautiful and every street is just gorgeous.
Turf Tavern is a must! It’s a bit hidden but worth it. It’s the oldest pub in Oxford!
Next is Cambridge. Another very old college but still worth the visit! It’s another easy train journey and about the same travel time as Oxford. Walk around, enjoy the sights, and eat at The Eagle, where Watson and Crick famously announced to lunchtime patrons that they had discovered "the secret of life."
The DNA pub in Cambridge!
Another great one is Canterbury, an English classic! An easy train trip to Kent. Explore the Church of England, walk the through the shops and find the tilted book store! The architecture of this town is also very Tudor which is different compared to Oxford and Cambridge.
Check out the titled book store in Canterbury!
Next up is Bath. This is more than an hour train ride, so not too bad but way farther than Oxford. If you’ve ever seen a movie or TV show set in England, chances are it was in Bath. From Bridgerton to Pride and Prejudice, it is a very classic British sight. Explore the Roman baths, the Royal Crescent, and of course the Jane Austen museum. This can be a day trip as well as a weekend trip!
Roman Baths are a must!
Fancy the beach? Well only an hour from London is Brighton! Filled with the fish can chips and the famous Brighton Pier, you can enjoy a trip to the seaside. An easy day trip and easy to navigate! Explore the Lanes with all the cute shops and relax on the beach (It is pebbled FYI)! Also, check out the Brighton Pier with the arcade and boardwalk.
The Brighton Pier!
This might be the easiest day trip from London. It’s also technically in the Greater London area. Windsor! An easy 30 mins via train to see Windsor Castle where the current King and Queen reside. Explore the castle, walk down the Royal Mile, and cross the Thames and explore Eton! You can see the former royals’ graves as well when you enter the chapel.
Eat ice cream right next to where Harry and Meghan got married!
If you want to see France (and maybe some underpants!), check out Dover! Sitting right on the English Channel, this is your place to maybe chance a glimpse of France. The Southernmost point of England is Dover where you can get the ferry to Calais. Explore the castle, hike the White Cliffs and explore the town. When I was there, I sat on the beach (which is sand! but it’s not the nicest beach) and I saw someone swim in. She completed the swim from France to England, crossing the English channel! I was actually shocked because I was not expecting to see that! Also, when I was hiking the cliffs, I ate the best Cornish pasty ever and I think about that to this day.
The White Cliffs are beautiful!
A few more day trips:
Seven Sisters - Another amazing day trip to see the White Cliffs. This is in addition to Dover and while Dover is much, MUCH easier to get to, Seven Sisters is much prettier. If you want a prettier view rather than an easier commute, the Seve
Cotswolds - the iconic English villages are in the Cotswolds! It’s a huge area and you could include this on your Stratford-Upon-Avon trip. Rent a car, drive around, and stay in a classic English cottage.
Stratford-Upon-Avon - Shakespeare’s birthplace! I have never been but if you’re a big Shakespeare fan, you just have to check it out! You can also combine this with a Bath/Cotswolds trip and make a whole weekend of it!
WEEKEND TRIPS (in case you want am extended stay!):
I won’t be going into details with this section because there’s so much to do! These definitely need a weekend to explore and really understand the city!
Bath/Cotswolds - You can easily do these two separately for a day trip, but if you want to do both, you can easily make a weekend out of it!
Edinburgh
Manchester/Liverpool
Cornwall
Cardiff/Wales
Glasgow
York
Written for Tom Williams because he’s on his second trip to London!!