Day Trip Ideas In And Near London
London is an attraction hub to discover some of the exciting historic locations in and around the region. You can choose from a wide range of day trips to see the incredible variety of places, including townships, hot pools, stone cottages and royal residences. Choose London minibus hire to break free from the monotonies of the city to explore some of these attractions.
Stonehenge
With a history spanning 45 centuries, this British icon gives you a chance to walk in the footsteps of Neolithic ancestors. Learn about the theories surrounding this region, as you decipher the mystery of the unique rock formation. It is certainly a marvel in engineering, no matter it was a burial ground or a religious site. You get a chance to discover The Stone Circle and exposition around. One can also combine their trip with an expedition to Windsor Castle, known to be the Queen’s favourite residence. Discover the rich history of this place dating back to 1070, when the Conqueror William built the first castle on the site, to the luxuriously decorated apartments featuring paintings by Holbein, Van Duck and Rubens.
Brighton
With its buzzing LGBT scene, perfect pebble beach and wall-to-wall live music venues, you just cannot ask for a better place to top up your Vitamin Sea level. It’s a little over 50 miles from London, and you can catch a direct train from London Bridge, Blackfriars or Victoria. Shop up a storm in the Laines, packed with vegan eateries, independent boutiques and record stores or start by spotting seagulls on the Palace Pier. Sip a couple of pints in the Brighton Beer Dispensary and sit down to a late lunch at Silo.
The New Forest
Want to experience a safari on a day trip from London? The New Forest gives you a chance to make your way across the heather-covered heath and down dappled lanes to watch pigs hovering up fallen acorns, free ranging Highland cattle and famous ponies that have grazed there for centuries. Hardly one and a half hour drive from the city, you can hire a minibus with a driver to get you there. Once you are done, make way to the Royal Oak in Fritham for a proper ploughman’s lunch.
Bath
This is a must-visit destination if you are in London. A wonderful day awaits your visit to a place originated from two periods; Georgian and Roman. When Romans invaded England about 2000 years ago, the main attraction to them was the hot spring resource from the waters of the surrounding Cotswold Hills. On the other hand, the Georgian era saw the transformation of Bath from a backwater to an elegant spa town.
There is so much to see and do here at the Bath, and one should have enough time for a day to take free walking tours exploring the rich history of the place, while moving past all the key landmarks. Don’t forget to make a splash in the rooftop pool, Thermae Bath Spa offering stunning city views. You also get to experience old fashion shopping at the individual shops spread across. It is quite an affluent town with the shops catering for all tastes.
Dungeness
No matter what the Met Office thinks about this place, it is certainly the only desert you will find in Britain. The rocky, shipwreck dotted beach is so empty that it makes you feel like a deserted land, but with plenty going on. It is a sort of a nature reserve with a 2-mile trail around Dungeness exploring marsh harriers and glossy ibises. Munch a few snacks at the popular Dungeness Snack Shack, serving smoked cod chowder, crab rolls, lobster and warm bun. The place is roughly around 2 hours from central London, and people visit Dungeness in quest of ‘sound ears’, dating from the World War I and were built to listen out for planes.
Oxford
Oxford is globally renowned for its world-class University and ochre spires forest. It is a royal vintage palace, steeped in prestige and privilege. The atmosphere here is quite fresh and young, given the large population of students, and there is plenty of history to explore. The key highlights include 30 colleges making up the university, the historic museums and punting along the River Isis.
If you are here for a day trip, you should definitely take a tour of the colleges, and visit some of the locations that were used for the shooting of the popular book adaptation, Harry Potter. Punting is another experience well-suited for the summers. And then you have the birthplace of Winston Churchill and a monumental residence of Blenheim Palace. Don’t miss out on visiting the gastropub Fishes and the popular local cafe, Vaults & Garden.
Cambridge
Prettier, smaller and quieter than Oxford, Cambridge has its own language: quads, bumps and backs. Commence your day trip with a visit to the Fitzwilliam Museum, and purchase a box of Chelsea buns at Fitzbillies. Wander around the colleges under the Cambridge university and explore the King’s Chapel, before you get ready for some punting action. You can either hire a boat of your own or let the guides assist you. The place is 64 miles from Central London, and is easily accessible by minibus, if you are on a group trip.
Box Hill
Looking to spend your Sunday in a calm and serene environment? Box Hill is the place you should consider visiting. It features a road-cycling route that was used for the 2012 Olympic event, starting from Richmond Park, all the way passing through Hampton Court. It is not as easy as it sounds, with some hairpin bends and climbs that reward you with panoramic views of the North Downs from the peak of Box Hill. Don’t forget to munch a piece of cake from the National Trust Cafe, while saving space for lunch at The Tree, serving homemade crumbles and pies. Take a halt at the Westhumble and Boxhill station, before catching a train back to Waterloo. Sounds like an ideal day trip plan, right?