The Best Day Trips from London

Windsor day trip from London: DIY or guided?

Windsor is close enough that the train is never the problem. The problem is the ticket for the castle, and the honest answer is that we could not read a current price at the source. Fares read from southwesternrailway.com on 16 August 2026.

The 12 best day trips, ranked

Ordered by how well they repay a full day - factoring travel time, what you can actually see, and how easy they are without a car.

1. 
   1

   Windsor Castle

   History & royals

   40 km west · 35–55 min by train

   The largest occupied castle in the world and a working royal residence. St George's Chapel (burial place of ten monarchs, including Elizabeth II), the State Apartments and the Long Walk through Windsor Great Park fill a comfortable day. Go early - entry queues build by 10:30 in season.

   Getting there: Two rail options: London Paddington to Windsor & Eton Central with one easy change at Slough (~35 min), or a direct South Western Railway train from Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside (~55 min). Both stations are a 5-minute walk from the castle gates.

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2. 2

   Oxford

   Architecture & museums

   90 km northwest · ~55–75 min by train

   The oldest university in the English-speaking world. Tour the Bodleian Library, climb the University Church tower for the best skyline view, and visit Christ Church's hall and cathedral. The Ashmolean Museum is free and world-class.

   Getting there: Direct GWR trains from Paddington (~55 min fast services) or Chiltern Railways from Marylebone (~75 min, usually cheaper). Oxford station is a 10-minute walk from the historic centre.

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3. 
   3

   Cambridge

   Colleges & punting

   90 km north · ~50–80 min by train

   King's College Chapel is one of the finest Gothic buildings in Europe, and punting on the River Cam past the Backs is the classic way to see seven colleges in an hour. More compact and quieter than Oxford - easier to cover in one day.

   Getting there: Direct trains from King's Cross (~50 min non-stop services) or Liverpool Street (~80 min). The station is a 20–25 minute walk or short bus ride from the colleges.

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4. 
   4

   Bath

   Roman history & Georgian architecture

   185 km west · ~80–90 min by train

   The only place in Britain with natural hot springs, used since Roman times. The Roman Baths museum, Bath Abbey, the Royal Crescent and Pulteney Bridge are all within a 15-minute walk of each other. Book the Roman Baths online to skip the line.

   Getting there: Direct GWR trains from Paddington to Bath Spa roughly every 30 minutes. The station is inside the walkable Georgian centre - no local transport needed.

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5. 
   5

   Brighton

   Seaside & nightlife

   85 km south · ~60 min by train

   London's classic seaside escape: the Palace Pier, pebble beach, the Lanes' independent shops and the flamboyant Royal Pavilion. Best on a sunny weekday when the crowds thin. Fish and chips on the beach is obligatory.

   Getting there: Direct Thameslink and Southern trains from Victoria, London Bridge, Blackfriars and St Pancras - typically 4–6 per hour. Brighton station is a 10-minute downhill walk from the seafront.

6. 
   6

   Stonehenge & Salisbury

   Ancient history

   140 km southwest · ~90 min train + 30 min bus

   The world's most famous prehistoric monument, 4,500 years old. Pair it with Salisbury Cathedral - Britain's tallest spire and an original 1215 Magna Carta. This is the one trip where an organised tour genuinely beats DIY on time and cost.

   Getting there: South Western Railway from Waterloo to Salisbury (~90 min), then the Stonehenge Tour bus from the station (~30 min, includes entry options). Alternatively, full-day coach tours from central London bundle transport and timed entry - the simpler option here.

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7. 
   7

   Canterbury

   Cathedrals & medieval streets

   100 km southeast · ~55–90 min by train

   England's mother cathedral, seat of the Archbishop and site of Thomas Becket's murder in 1170. The medieval centre, city walls and punting on the Stour make it an easy, compact day. Evensong (usually 17:30) is free and unforgettable.

   Getting there: High-speed Southeastern trains from St Pancras to Canterbury West (~55 min) or slower, cheaper services from Victoria to Canterbury East (~90 min). Both stations are a short walk from the cathedral.

8. 
   8

   Seven Sisters & Eastbourne

   Hiking & coastal views

   100 km south · ~90 min by train

   The white chalk cliffs you've seen in every British film - higher and less crowded than Dover's. The clifftop walk from Seaford to Birling Gap and Beachy Head is one of England's great coastal days. Bring layers; the top is always windy.

   Getting there: Direct trains from Victoria to Eastbourne (~90 min), then the 12/12A/12X bus toward Brighton stops at Seven Sisters Country Park. Or start at Seaford station and walk the clifftop east to Eastbourne (~21 km, a proper hike).

9. 
   9

   Hampton Court Palace

   Tudor history & gardens

   20 km southwest · ~35 min by train

   Henry VIII's great Tudor palace: the Great Hall, the world's oldest surviving hedge maze, vast Baroque gardens and the Tudor kitchens. Technically still in Greater London, which makes it the easiest 'day trip' on this list - half a day is enough.

   Getting there: Direct South Western Railway trains from Waterloo to Hampton Court station every 30 minutes - the palace is directly across the bridge. Zones 1–6 travelcards and contactless caps cover it.

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10. 
    10

    Cotswolds (Moreton-in-Marsh)

    Villages & country walks

    135 km northwest · ~90 min by train

    Honey-stone villages, sheep-cropped hills and proper pubs. Moreton is the only classic Cotswolds base on a direct London line, which makes a car-free Cotswolds day genuinely possible - most visitors don't realise that.

    Getting there: Direct GWR trains from Paddington to Moreton-in-Marsh (~90 min). From there, walk the town, take the 801 bus toward Bourton-on-the-Water, or taxi to Chipping Campden or Stow-on-the-Wold.

11. 
    11

    Rye & Camber Sands

    Medieval towns & beaches

    110 km southeast · ~70 min by train

    Rye is arguably England's best-preserved medieval town - cobbled Mermaid Street, a 900-year-old church tower you can climb, and smuggling history in every pub. Pair it with the dunes of Camber Sands, one of the southeast's only proper sandy beaches.

    Getting there: High-speed from St Pancras to Ashford International (~40 min), then the Marshlink line to Rye (~20 min). The 102 bus runs from Rye to Camber Sands beach in 10 minutes.

12. 
    12

    Whitstable

    Seafood & harbour towns

    95 km east · ~75–90 min by train

    Kent's oyster town: working harbour, weatherboard cottages, shingle beach with pastel huts, and native oysters shucked at the harbour stalls for a couple of pounds each. Low-key, foodie and far less touristy than Brighton.

    Getting there: Southeastern trains from St Pancras (via high-speed, ~75 min) or Victoria (~90 min) direct to Whitstable. The harbour and beach are a 10-minute walk from the station.

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