Day Trips from London - UK
This blog post takes a different approach compared to the others. Rather than presenting an itinerary, each section highlights a specific location.
Overview: Single-day and partial-day trips from London
Duration: Half day to full day
Locations visited: Oxford, Cambridge, Brighton, Cardiff, Dover (Cliffs & Castle), Canterbury, Stonehenge, Bath, Stanford-on-Avon, Windsor Castle
How to get there: Leave from London via train or bus tour
How to get around: Walking, Bus Tour, Taxi/Uber
When to go: Summer has the best weather.
Pace: Slow to Moderate
Future trips: Warwick Castle, Leeds Castle, Manchester, Liverpool, York, Cotswolds, and Newcastle
There’s so much to see out outside of London!
Oxford
I combined this trip with a one-day guided bus tour from London to Oxford and Cambridge, run by Anderson Tours. We started with pickups at three locations across central London.
Evidence of teaching at Oxford dates back to 1096, making it the second-oldest continuously operating university in the world. Oxford is composed of 43 colleges. Students who apply to Oxford are actually applying to one of these colleges, not the university as a whole.
Two of the most prominent attractions at Oxford — the Bodleian Library and Christ Church College — require tickets, which often sell out. I recommend booking in advance if you’re interested in visiting. I had my heart set on visiting the Bodleian Library but couldn’t secure tickets even with a few days' notice.
Near Trinity College is the Ashmolean Museum, England’s oldest public museum and the second-oldest university museum. It covers art and archaeology and is well-curated, offering educational exhibits without being overwhelming. Close by is the well-known Martyrs' Memorial.
Excluding the ticketed attractions, most of Oxford can be explored on foot. Some highlights include:
Carfax Tower
Bodleian Library Courtyard
The Bridge of Sighs
The Sheldonian Theatre
All Souls College
Radcliffe Camera
Christ Church Cathedral and Dining Hall (ticket required, inspiration for Hogwarts’ Great Hall)
Tom Tower
The Covered Market
Botanic Garden
Museum of Oxford
Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Pitt Rivers Museum
For non-academic landmarks, check out Oxford Castle and Prison. And if you’re ready for a break from history, the Westgate Oxford shopping mall offers modern retail therapy.
Cambridge
The second half of my Anderson Tours itinerary visited Cambridge. To my knowledge, Anderson Tours is the only group offering a combined Oxford and Cambridge trip, and one of the few providers visiting Cambridge. Oxford is easier to find tours for, as it is often paired with Stonehenge or Bath.
The University of Cambridge dates from 1209 and, like Oxford, is composed of multiple colleges (31 in total). King’s College is the most iconic and frequently visited and photographed. Many colleges require guided tours for entry, as they are functioning educational centers, and some do not allow visitors at all.
Two famous non-academic sites are the Corpus Clock and the food stalls at Cambridge Market Square. For a panoramic view, climb to the top of the clock tower at Great St. Mary’s Church.
Other places worth exploring:
Trinity College (with a tour)
The Round Church
The Mathematical Bridge
The Fitzwilliam Museum
University Museum of Zoology
Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences
Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
Bridge of Sighs
Castle Mound
For a unique perspective, try "punting" along the River Cam. Punting involves gliding along in a wooden boat pushed by a long pole.
Brighton
While there are no bus tours to Brighton (that I know of), there are trains available from multiple stations in London that take about an hour to reach the seaside town of Brighton on the southern coast of England. The town makes for a good three-quarter- to full-day trip, depending on how leisurely you want to spend your time. Many people visit the beaches for swimming and relaxing; however, as they're filled with pebbles, I might suggest skipping the beach itself. There is a long boardwalk with many restaurants, bars, and shops that give Brighton its beach-town feel, even without spending time on the beach. The highlights are definitely the boardwalk, Brighton Palace Pier, and the Royal Pavilion.
Things to check out in Brighton:
Boardwalk
Brighton Palace Pier (Arcade & Amusement Park)
Royal Pavilion & Gardens
The Lanes
Brighton Museum & Art Gallery
Brighton i360
Walk along the beach to Hove
North Laine
Seven Dials
West Pier Ruins
Brighton Marina
The town has a much more eccentric feel than much of England, and many of the bars and restaurants along the boardwalk make for a great place to grab a bite to eat or a drink.
Cardiff, Wales
Cardiff, the capital of Wales, is about two hours by train from London (again, you probably won't find a bus tour). You can take a train to Cardiff Central, and after exploring the city center, either walk about 45 minutes or take a 15-minute Uber to Cardiff Bay, which, as its name implies, is on the water. Along the waterfront, you'll find many shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions, as well as boat tours if you have the time. I would recommend setting aside a full day (think 12-ish hours), especially when factoring in travel time. If you have more than one day, Cardiff also makes a good base for exploring the rest of Wales, as many tours depart from the city.
While in Cardiff, here are some things to explore:
Cardiff Castle
City Centre
Victorian Arcades (Castle Arcade, Royal Arcade, and Morgan Arcade)
Bute Park
National Museum Cardiff
Wales Millennium Centre
Mermaid Quay
Norwegian Church Arts Centre
Tiger Yard
Cardiff Bay Trail Walk
Ronald Dahl Plass
Pierhead Building
Principality Stadium
Alexandra Gardens
Dover Castle and Dover Cliffs
Like the other destinations, there are multiple bus tours from London to Dover Castle and the White Cliffs. Many tours focus solely on the cliffs, but the castle is a fascinating highlight, showcasing centuries of history. It features a Roman-era lighthouse, a medieval castle, and WWII tunnels.
Things to see at Dover Castle:
Roman Lighthouse
Saxon Church
Henry II’s Keep
Battlement Walk
Medieval Tunnels
Wartime Tunnels
Hospital Tunnels
The grounds include numerous exhibits, cafes, and souvenir shops. If you have time, explore the town of Dover for additional war-related museums and sites.
Nearby, the White Cliffs of Dover offer stunning views. The cliffs, made primarily of chalk (a soft white limestone), feature several parking lots and hiking trails for various timeframes. While we didn’t descend to the beach, it’s an option. On clear days, you can even see France!
Canterbury
The top attraction in Canterbury is Canterbury Cathedral, home to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the leader of the Church of England. The cathedral dates back to 597 but has undergone many alterations and expansions over the centuries. Restoration work is ongoing in 2024. Tickets are required to enter, but most tours include them.
Other notable sites in Canterbury:
St. Augustine's Abbey
Saint George’s Tower
Eastbridge Hospital of St. Thomas the Martyr
Kings Bridge
Canterbury Roman Museum
The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge
Conquest House
The Crooked House
Blackfriars Chapel
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle, located west of London in the town of Windsor, is a great option for a half-day trip. There are both guided tours from London, as well as trains to Windsor & Eton Central or Slough, where you can take a short shuttle train to Windsor. The full trip takes under an hour. While the 900-year-old castle, one of the official royal residences, is the main attraction, the town itself is also quite charming and worth a stroll. You can purchase tickets ahead of time and skip the ticket line at the castle. Walking around the castle and grounds will take about 2–3 hours, depending on your level of interest. Some highlights include the museum, the State Apartments, Queen Mary's Dolls' House, St. George's Chapel, and the Round Tower. Please note that photography is not permitted in most of the interior rooms; however, this policy is not always strictly enforced.
Bath
The main attraction in Bath is the Roman Baths, built around 60-70 AD during Roman Britain. The baths are fed by geothermal water from a nearby source. The site includes the Sacred Spring, the Roman Temple, the Roman Bath House, and a museum.
Most guided tours from London combine a visit to Bath with other stops like Stonehenge. The Roman Baths exhibit is incredibly well done and memorable.
If you have extra time, consider exploring:
Pulteney Bridge
Bath City Parade Gardens
Palladian Bridge
The Bath Lookout
The Bath Skyline
Sham Castle
Bath Abbey
Stonehenge
Stonehenge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is estimated to be around 5,000 years old. It’s one of the most photographed locations in England outside of London. Many bus tours from London include a stop at Stonehenge.
Visitors typically walk along a circular path around the stones, except during solstices or equinoxes, when access is closer. Many say the anticipation of seeing the stones is more exciting than the stones themselves.
Stratford Upon Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is often a short stop combined with other locations. The town is centered around William Shakespeare, and notable landmarks include:
Shakespeare’s Birthplace
Holy Trinity Church
Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall
The Guild Chapel
Anne Hathaway’s Cottage
I hope these suggestions inspire your next day trip from London!
