6 Day Trips From London

‘When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life’ - the famous saying goes. While London truly is wonderful, there is nothing wrong with wanting a break from the hustle and bustle of the busy capital. Check out this list of trips that only take a day - and if you book your tickets in advance, they won’t drain your bank account either.

Oxford

This is a must for all Harry Potter fans - Christ Church College, the Bodleian Library and New College were all actual filming locations for the movies. (You have to get tickets to actually go inside university buildings ) Even if you have never heard of Hogwarts, the atmosphere of this renowned university town is truly magical. This atmosphere, in fact, inspired authors like J.R.R. Tolkien, Lewis Carroll, and C.S. Lewis - all of whom have some memorabilia or famous locations linked to them in the city. If you are keen to learn about the literary heritage of Oxford, The Story Museum is the place for you - but there are plenty of other exhibitions for different interests as well. The Pitt Rivers museum has an extensive collection of archaeology and ethnography, and the Ashmolean Museum, Britain’s oldest public museum, displays artworks from different historical periods.

🕐: Trains from London Marylebone / Paddington - 1 hour. Coaches from Victoria - 2 hours.

Cambridge

Cambridge is more than just the university - although buildings like King’s College Chapel or Corpus Christi College are certainly fascinating. The town also has a Centre for Computing History for computer and video game enthusiasts, the Fitzwilliam museum for history lovers, and a centre dedicated to polar research. For great views, visit the university’s botanical gardens, check out the Mathematical Bridge, or climb up the stairs of St Mary’s church. Still want to feel like a true Cambridge student? Get a ticket for a tour of the university buildings, take a peek at the infamous Bridge of Sighs, or go punting on the River Cam - the closest thing to students training to beat Oxford in their annual rowing contest.

🕐: Trains from London King’s Cross / Liverpool Street - 1 hour. Coaches from Victoria - 2 hours.

Bath

This pretty spa town is mostly known for its natural hot springs - the Romans built the first baths here almost 2000 years ago. You can tour the Roman baths, but to actually dip into the springs, you’ll have to head over to the Thermae Bath Spa. If you are more fond of the Georgian period, you can visit masterpieces of the era’s architecture - the Royal Crescent, Circus, the Assembly Rooms and the Pump Rooms. There is also the Jane Austen museum, where you can learn more about the connection between Bath and the author - who included the town as a setting in two of her novels, ‘Northanger Abbey’ and ‘Persuasion’.

🕐: Trains from London Paddington - 1 h 20 mins. Coaches from Victoria - around 3 hours.

Brighton

Longing for some salty air and the sound of waves crashing into the shore? This seaside town has a charming beach with a pier stretching out into the sea. The pier is lined with food stalls and various kinds of fairground rides. Make sure to shelter your lunch from the army of greedy seagulls if you decide to eat lunch on the shore! The beach is lined with elegant hotels that were popular destinations for the British elite in the 19th century - to get the best view of them, hop in the i360 glass pod, which takes you up to a height of 450ft. Behind the hotels, you can find The Lanes, Brighton’s art district - the narrow streets are packed with pubs, cafés, and vintage shops. Brighton also gives home to the Royal Pavillion, a former holiday home of George IV - a must-see for all architecture enthusiasts.

🕐: Trains from London Victoria - 1 hour. Coaches - 3 h 15 mins.

eastbourne & Seven sisters

Another seaside gem, Eastbourne also has a pretty beach and a pier to enjoy. While the town itself might not take that long to explore, a short bus ride from the centre can get you to the starting point of a breathtaking trip over the Seven Sisters cliffs. The entire trail over the white chalk cliffs is 22 km long and takes around 7 hours to complete, but it is also possible to explore just a shorter section. Along your journey, you will get amazing views of the cliffs, a picturesque lighthouse and the town of Eastbourne.

🕐: Trains from London Victoria - 1 h 25 mins.

canterbury

Mostly famous for its cathedral, this town has a fascinating history to explore. This is the place where Thomas Becket, Canterbury’s archbishop was murdered in 1770 - and also the town where the Canterbury Tales originated from. Don’t stop after touring the majestic cathedral, take a stroll along the high street to admire the town’s architecture, check out other religious buildings like St Augustine’s Abbey and Christ Church Gate, or relax in the tranquil Westgate Gardens.

🕐: Trains from London Victoria / St.Pancras International - 1-1.5 hours. Coaches from Victoria - 2.5 hours.