Sometimes, the best adventures don’t require a week off or a suitcase full of clothes. A day trip offers the perfect mini-getaway, allowing you to escape your routine, explore new places, and recharge — all in just one day!
If you are living in London, it’s a blessing because London is a hub for every destination. You can travel easily from London to anywhere in the UK. If you live in London, you should visit these places for a perfect day trip.

To help you easily find information about these places, I have divided each one into three sections: Overview, Top Attractions, and How to Get There. So, let’s get started!

Pro Tip: If you travel a lot outside of London, buying a Railcard is the best option to save money. You can save ⅓ of your ticket price with a Railcard.

Pro Tip: If you are in a group of 3-9 people, you can save money on Group tickets. The best thing is, if you or your group members don’t have a Railcard, you can still save ⅓ of the ticket price by buying tickets as a group.

Oxford

Overview: If you love Harry Potter, you’ll love Oxford. Oxford is a city known for its universities and colleges, as well as its beautiful architecture. You’ll also experience proper historic English culture here. Oxford is a tourist city, and almost 9 million people visit it annually.

Top Attractions: University of Oxford, Christ Church College, Trinity College, Bodleian Library, Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology, Divinity School.

How to Get There: From London Marylebone Station, there are direct Chiltern Railway services (1 hour and 25 minutes) to Oxford. From London Paddington Station, the GWR (Great Western Railway) train takes just 51 minutes to reach Oxford. Train ticket prices vary, but you can find off-peak day returns for £34.40. Local transportation costs around £10, food around £50, and activities around £50. Total cost for a day trip will be around £150, though you can make it more affordable by cutting down on costs.

Cambridge

Overview: Cambridge is another historic city located on the River Cam in Eastern England. It’s famous for the University of Cambridge, which is one of the top universities in the world.

Top Attractions: University of Cambridge, Fitzwilliam Museum, Punting tours, King’s College Chapel.

How to Get There: You can travel from London Liverpool Street Station in about 1 hour and 10 minutes. The fastest train is operated by Great Northern from London Kings Cross Station. Ticket prices are around £31.80.

Brighton

Overview: Brighton’s seaside is one of the main attractions in the city of Brighton and Hove, located in East Sussex, England. It’s a popular summer destination and one of the nearest seaside towns to London.

Top Attractions: Brighton Pier, Royal Pavilion, Brighton i360, Sea Life Brighton.

How to Get There: You can take a direct train to Brighton from London Farringdon Station, with trains operating every 30 minutes. The regular ticket price is £22.70, but with group tickets, you can get it for just £15.55.

Eastbourne

Overview: Eastbourne is a town in southeast England, known for its lush rolling landscapes, stunning beaches, and iconic chalk sea cliffs.

Top Attractions: Eastbourne Pier, Seven Sisters Cliffs, Towner Eastbourne.

How to Get There: You can travel from London Victoria or East Croydon Station to Eastbourne via Southern Railway. It takes around 1 hour and 20 minutes from both stations, and tickets cost about £24.

Canterbury

Overview: Canterbury is a city in southeast England famous for its ancient buildings and Roman walls. If you love medieval architecture, history, and ancient culture, Canterbury is a must-visit.

Top Attractions: Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury Roman Museum, The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge.

How to Get There: From London St Pancras International Station, it takes less than an hour to reach Canterbury. You can take the Southeastern Railway, with ticket prices around £36.

Leeds

Overview: Leeds is located in West Yorkshire, England, and is often referred to as the unofficial capital of Yorkshire. It’s a cultural city with a diverse, international population. You’ll find a rich cultural vibe with award-winning national theatres.

Top Attractions: Leeds Corn Exchange, Kirkgate Market, Leeds Art Gallery, and Central Library.

How to Get There: You can take a bus or train to Leeds. Buses are cheaper than trains — you can find National Express bus tickets for £9-£11, and it takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes from London Victoria. Train tickets start at around £63, and from London Kings Cross Station, it takes about 2 hours and 18 minutes to reach Leeds.

Bath

Overview: Bath is a city in Somerset County, England. It is located west of London and southeast of Bristol. The city was founded by the Romans, who used the natural hot springs as a thermal spa. It became an important center for the wool industry during the Middle Ages.

Top Attractions: Roman Baths, Bath Abbey, Holburne Museum.

How to Get There: You can take a GWR (Great Western Railway) train from London Paddington station to Bath Spa, which takes 1 hour and 25 minutes. The cheapest ticket starts from £62. Bus tickets start from £12.50, but the bus takes much longer—almost 3 hours to get to Bath.

Surrey

Overview: Less than half an hour from central London, Surrey is a beautiful area to visit. It is located in the southeastern part of England. The main town is Woking, where the largest population resides, followed by Guildford and Walton-on-Thames.

Top Attractions: Thorpe Park Resort, Brooklands Museum, Hampton Court Palace.

How to Get There: To reach Surrey, head to one of its towns, such as Woking or Guildford. Driving is the easiest option, with Surrey being just a 29-mile drive from central London. Alternatively, you can take a train from London Waterloo station, which takes 32 minutes to reach Guildford and costs approximately £23.

Stonehenge

Overview: Stonehenge is one of the most famous prehistoric monuments in the world, located in Wiltshire, England. It consists of a circular arrangement of massive standing stones, some topped with horizontal lintels, forming a unique structure. This ancient site dates back to between 3000 and 2000 BCE, though the area was used even earlier.

Top Attraction: Stonehenge.

How to Get There: Take a South Western Railway train from London Waterloo station and get off at Salisbury. From St Paul’s Church bus station, take the X2 bus to Devizes. After a 19-minute, 10-stop journey, get off at the Visitor Centre bus stop. A short 5-minute walk will take you to Stonehenge. The off-peak return train ticket costs around £25, and the return bus ticket will be around £10.

Pro Tip: Book your Stonehenge ticket in advance to get a cheaper rate. Online tickets cost £22.70 for adults, while same-day tickets cost £27.20 for adults.

Windsor Castle

Overview: Windsor Castle is one of the official residences of His Majesty The King. It is the largest occupied castle in the world and was built over 900 years ago.

Top Attractions: Marvel at mythical paintings and gaze at the gold interiors.

How to Get There: Windsor Castle is located in Windsor, about 25 miles west of central London. You can either drive or take the train. From London Paddington station, it only takes 25 minutes to reach the castle.

Day trips are ideal for those who want to enjoy a change of scenery without the hassle of planning a long vacation. Whether you’re visiting a nearby town, hiking a scenic trail, or relaxing by the beach, a day trip provides the thrill of travel with minimal effort. Plus, it’s budget-friendly!
Next time you’re craving a break, consider a day trip! It’s the perfect way to enjoy new experiences without the stress of extended travel.

Please contact Habit England if you need any further assistance!