City life in London can be hectic at times. With lots of tourists and crowds it can feel quite overwhelming. You may feel like you need to escape for a day or two to see new scenery. Luckily for you, there are many places outside of London that you can visit for the day. What’s even better is that there are great transport links between London and nearby towns/cities. This means that you do not have to drive because there is likely a train or coach that will take you. I would recommend a train for a faster route, however, coach trips can sometimes be relatively cheaper (although you are on a stricter timetable for leaving and coming home). This list will focus on trains as I think it is the best way to get a full day out of the trip. Here are 5 perfect day trips by train within an hour of London.
FYI – as spring is slowly approaching, you may want to add these destinations to your list.
Brighton
Brighton is a great day trip if you are looking to explore a fun seaside town. It is located around an hour away from London Victoria. Although it is definitely better in the summertime, it is still enjoyable all year round as there is more than just the beach. You can spend the day exploring the lanes, finding cute coffee shops, thrift shopping and visit some quirky bars. In addition to this, there is the Seven Sisters Cliff hike. If you get to Brighton at an early time and fancy a bit of a challenge, you can head to Eastbourne for the hike before spending the afternoon in Brighton. A bonus mention is for the outstanding sunsets that Brighton has to offer. If you happen to go when it isn’t very cloudy, please try and stay until sunset. I promise you won’t regret it!
Bath
Bath is located around 1 hour and 15 minutes from London (depending on where in London you are travelling from). This picture perfect town is a great day trip from London. If you enjoy learning about English history, you can head down to the Roman Baths for an hour or two. If you’d like a day of relaxation, then head over to the Thermal Bath Spa (I’d recommend booking this in advance as it is extremely popular). In addition to this, there are some lovely restaurants and bars to try out too!
Canterbury
Based in Kent, Canterbury is located just under an hour away by train. In this cute, charming city, there are options to visit the famous Cathedral, take a punting tour along the river and visit the local pubs, restaurants and coffee shops. In the summer, you can enjoy a leisurely stroll along the riverside at Westgate Gardens, surrounded by beautiful nature.
Cotswolds
Only an hour away from Paddington Station is the famous Cotswolds. Known for its wholesome village aesthetic, Cotswolds is a great day out if you are looking to explore the English countryside. The trip gives you an idea of how different the countryside looks from the busy city life. Everything is a lot slower (apart from the tourists). Though I personally think it is better when it is sunny and warm, it can be a trip for anytime of the year. There are pubs, cafes and other shops to visit within each town. You can either get the train between the villages, or once you are in the village, you could catch the bus. Just beware of the time tables as they are not as frequent as London.
Cambridge
You may know Cambridge because of the University, but this city is a beautiful place and more people who try to visit. Although it feels like it should be further, the train to Cambridge can take just over an hour. This means you can leave in the morning and spend the day exploring before heading home for dinner. There are several things to do such as a boat ride along the river or visiting the Botanic Gardens. You can also spend your time wondering the streets, looking around the markets and visiting Kings College Chapel.
Final comments
These destinations allow you to go away for the day without spending money on accommodation. It means you may have to wake up early to fully enjoy the whole day, but it will be worth it! Make sure you take lots of pictures and remember to plan your route carefully.
