8 of the Best London Day Trips That are Fun and Easy
These London day trips include castles, legendary monuments, and stunning sea cliffs.
Looking for day tours from London to picture-perfect castles, charming countryside villages, and stunning coastal cliffs? After spending a few days in London checking landmarks off your London bucket list, you might be itching to get out and explore the famous historic surroundings like Bath, Stonehenge and Windsor.
Whether you’re searching for easy London half-day trips by train, coach excursions with a pro guide, or day trips from London by car, this list will get you started. It includes some of the best London day trips recommended by travel bloggers with all the scoop on what to see and do and how to get there.
A few of these outings can even be done in half a day if you want to return to the city for an afternoon activity or evening show. Be sure to check out this London itinerary to help plan the rest of your trip to the city.
Bristol Day Trip
By Nabiha of Verses by a Voyager
One of the most amazing day trips from London is to Bristol, a large and lively city in the southwest of Great Britain with a maritime legacy and plenty of sightseeing.
One of the top Bristol activities is the Clifton Suspension Bridge, which crosses the River Avon over a dramatic gorge. The Victorian-era landmark offers splendid views of the surrounding area and an incredible sunset. You can walk, bike or drive the stretch, or take in the scene from the blufftop Clifton Observatory, a lookout tower in a 1766 windmill.
Located on Brandon Hill, 105-foot-tall Cabot Tower is another symbol of the city. It requires a steep hike to reach the viewing platform, but the reward is spectacular panoramas.
The vibrancy of Bristol along with its dedication to culture and arts can be witnessed through the graffiti murals all around. Legendary street artist Bansky is said to be from the area and has left his marks around the city.
Bristol is about 120 miles west of London on the River Avon. The trip typically takes between 2 to 3 hours by car or bus (check Megabus or National Express for tickets). Direct trains depart Paddington Station in London stop for Bristol Parkway and Bristol Temple Meads. A super-fast version of the rail route launching December 2019 cuts the travel time to 68 minutes and 1 hour 19 minutes respectively.
Stonehenge and Bath Tour
By Sydney of A World in Reach
One of the most popular London day trips is to Stonehenge and Bath, a pair of legendary UNESCO World Heritage Sites outside of the city.
The 4,500-year-old Stonehenge in Wiltshire is one of the most famous prehistoric monuments in the world. Though I’ve heard many say they were disappointed by the small size of the stone circle and the crowds, I definitely thought it was a bucket list experience! Make sure to spend some time at the museum in the visitor center. Here, you’ll learn more about the history of Stonehenge as well as about what life was like during the neolithic times.
After visiting Stonehenge, make your way to the ancient city of Bath and its thermal springs. The picturesque downtown is ideal for grabbing some lunch and taking a walk around admiring the beautiful architecture before heading to the city’s namesake: the Roman Baths. If you still have some time before heading back to London, pay a visit to the beautiful Bath Abbey and grab a cornish pasty from The Cornish Bakery.
Arundel Castle
By Kelsey of Sights Better Seen
Looking for a cute historic market town just a stone’s throw from London? How about one with a castle, too? Arundel has it all in one London day trip.
The highlight of this West Sussex destination is certainly the hilltop medieval fortress, where the Duke and Duchess of Norfolk and their family still live. If you’re castle obsessed, you definitely don’t want to miss it! Tickets to Arundel Castle include access to the Keep, for views over the River Arun and the sea in the distance, the 14th-century Fitzalan Chapel, and the well-manicured gardens, which are said to be full of rehabilitated hedgehogs.
After spending a few hours exploring the castle, pop over to the Arundel Museum for some history on the town (admission is discounted if you have a ticket to the castle) and to the Blackfriars Dominican Priory Ruins, the stone remains of an old friary. There are plenty of tea shops to choose from for an afternoon cuppa with scones and clotted cream (Lulamae’s has a great atmosphere).
Arundel is about 65 miles south of London, down the A3 to the A283 by car. For public transit, take the Southern Line from Victoria Station in the direction of Bognor Regis (about 90 minutes to Arundel).
Coventry Day Trip
By Dagney of Cultura Obscura
Coventry is a great option for a day trip from London, with a fascinating history and unique museums.
One of the real standouts is the Coventry Transport Museum. This place is massive, and definitely one of the top things to do in Coventry! The museum details the history of transportation throughout the years, from monocycles to race cars. There’s even a 4D simulator so that visitors can experience driving in the world’s fastest car. However, we particularly loved the bicycle section — did you know that bicycles contributed to progressive views of women in the UK?
You can also explore the ruins of the Old Coventry Cathedral, bombed during WWII, and learn about the Coventry refugee experience at the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum.
The city is often overlooked by tourists, and none of the sites we visited were particularly busy. This is a shame because we thought Coventry was a real underrated gem! If you’re looking for a unique day trip from London, definitely consider Coventry.
Coventry is located in central England, about 100 miles northwest of London. Express trains from London Euston reach Coventry in an hour and the regular London to Coventry train just under 2 hours. Alternatively, National Express buses leave regularly from Victoria station and take around 2.5 hours.
Seven Sisters Cliffs and South Downs National Park
By Loredana of Destguides
The Seven Sisters, a range of white coastal cliffs on the English Channel, is a great place to go for a half or full-day hike just outside of London proper. The chalky bluffs are part of South Downs National Park in East Sussex, a sweeping landscape of rolling hills, ancient forests and breathtaking seaside.
A circular walking route along the cliffs is about 8 miles long and takes 6 or so hours to complete. From the top, you can see excellent panoramic views over the water and of the grasslands. Access to the path, along with parking and some facilities, can be found in Birling Gap, East Dean and Seven Sisters Country Park.
I decided to check out the Seven Sisters cliffs on New Year's Day for a half-day walk in nature. They were simply stunning and the weather was stable and temperature relatively mild. It only took about 2.5 hours to get there by car from Central London (give or take a bit depending on traffic), a drive through the quaint villages and countryside that the UK is known for.
The Seven Sisters are about 80 miles south of London on the coast. For transit, take the Southern line from Victoria Station to Eastbourne or Seaford (about 90 minutes) and hop on bus route 12 for stops at Birling Gap, East Dean or Exceat (for Seven Sisters Country Park).
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
(The Making of Harry Potter)
By Elizabeth of The Fearless Foreigner
Calling all Harry Potter fans! Whether you are a muggle or a wizard, a visit to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour is one of the best day trips from London. Located in Leavesden, the studio tour gives you a behind the scenes look at how the Harry Potter films were made.
Leavesden has one of the largest movie studios in Europe. Two huge warehouses are now designed for Harry Potter fans to visit and see how the movies were made. While walking through the huge spaces you can see the real props, costumes and sets from the films. There are several interactive exhibits, including broomstick riding. Even the biggest Potter fanatics will learn some new interesting facts and stories.
Have you been wanting to try Butterbeer? You can do that here too! There are special events and workshops to participate in as well, like a “Behind the Seams” experience all about the costumes used and the work that went into creating them. It was pretty cool to be able to try on some of the actual robes!
Make sure to buy your ticket at least two to three months in advance, as this day trip from London is extremely popular.
Windsor Castle
By Michelle of Harbors and Havens
Known as the queen’s weekend home, Windsor Castle was constructed by William the Conqueror and has been home to the royals for more than 1,000 years. At an impressive 13 acres, the fortress is one of the oldest and biggest castles still occupied today (look for the Royal Standard flag flying to see if the Queen is there). This is a great London day trip if you’re into the royals, castles, or history.
Carve out some time to walk around the charming riverside towns of Windsor and Eton just outside the castle, too, where the old-timey streets are full of pubs and souvenir shops.
St. Albans Day Trip
By Deeptha of The Globe Trotter
With historic streets, beautiful buildings and a thriving food scene, the old market town of St. Albans is truly a gem of a city, and an easy and fun day trip to take from London. The city is packed with places to discover and experience, including several historical St. Albans attractions.
The St. Albans Cathedral, one of the oldest places of continual worship in the UK, is the main draw for visitors. The city has a few other notable distinctions, like being home to a medieval clock tower and the ruins of a Roman theater from around 140 AD. One of its pubs, Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, even claims to be the oldest in the country. Other places to visit include the St. Albans Organ Theatre and the St. Albans Museum and Gallery.
St. Albans is located 25 miles north of central London in Hertfordshire. The train from St. Pancras International to St. Albans City takes less than 30 minutes so it is an easy half-day trip from London.
