Home » Destinations » Europe » England » London » Best Day Trips From London
- Last Updated on April 10, 2024
London is one of the best cities in the world to visit. Not only is it overflowing with its own sights, it has easy access to many culturally rich destinations nearby. In this article, we list our recommendations for the best day trips from London.
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Day Trips From London
Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace
This royal combination is the best day trip from London. Each sight is a quick train ride away from the city. Below is the full information for both.
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle has been the home of the British Royal Family for over 900 years. This fortress is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. It was Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite royal residence. Visitors are welcome to tour the state rooms, as the monarch is rarely home. Don’t miss St. George’s Chapel, the burial site of the most recently deceased royals (Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, mother, father, and sister) and King Henry VIII. It was also the site of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding in 2018. Book your tickets online in advance to avoid long lines at the ticket counter.
Pro Tip: This castle is over 20 miles from central London (a quick train ride) and is best visited as a combination day trip with Hampton Court Palace. Use Google Maps to plan your train route there.
Cost and Hours: £27 per adult. Open Thurs-Mon 10:00am-4:00pm (closes 3:00pm Nov-Feb). Closed Tues-Wed.
Address: Windsor SL4 1NJ, United Kingdom
Website: www.rct.uk/visit/windsor-castle
Hampton Court Palace
This gorgeous palace was built in the 1500s and served as the royal residence of the notorious King Henry VIII. From state rooms to gardens, this Tudor-turned-Georgian estate will take you a half-day to explore. Pre-booking online is recommended.
Pro Tip: This palace is 15 miles from central London (a quick train ride) and is best visited as a combination day trip with Windsor Castle. Use Google Maps to plan your train route there.
Cost and Hours: £26 per adult. Open 10:00am-4:00pm Wed-Sun (closes later and open daily in the summer, check here for detailed operating hours).
Address: Hampton Ct Way, Molesey, East Molesey KT8 9AU, United Kingdom
Website: www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace
Stonehenge & Cotswolds
Stonehenge is one of the great wonders of the world and on many travelers’ bucket lists. It is amazing to see, and is definitely worth adding it to any London itinerary. That being said, it is not that easy to reach, and can be a bit underwhelming compared to the effort of getting there. That is why we recommend combining Stonehenge with a visit to the Cotswolds to get the most out of your day trip from London. Check out our Stonehenge & Cotswolds Day Trip itinerary for details.
Bath
Bath is a beautiful Georgian (Neoclassical) town just 90 minutes by train from London. The town was founded by Romans at the site of healing natural hot springs. In medieval times, it was an important city for the wool trade. In the 18th century, it became the trendy getaway it continues to be today. If you’re looking for a culturally rich day trip from London, this is it. See our 1 day itinerary for Bath for more details.
Cambridge
Cambridge is a pretty university town 50 minutes away from London by train. The home of Cambridge University, it has a unique combination of youthful energy and medieval ambience. Some of the world’s most famous scholars were educated here, including Charles Darwin, Alan Turing, Isaac Newton, and Stephen Hawking.
The best way to see Cambridge as a day trip from London is to travel there by train and get a guided tour of the town once there.
We recommend the Cambridge Highlights Tour (~$25). If you prefer a private tour, you can reach out to the company directly by email. See info here.
The one other must-do in Cambridge is punting. This is the name given to the activity of slowly meandering down the Cam River behind the university in a small boat called a punt. We recommend a guided experience, as the punts are harder to maneuver than you might think. A shared punting experience is a good introduction to the activity, and is a good value.
If you don’t want to share a punt, a private punting experience is also a good option.
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