London is the most visited city in Europe, and almost the most visited city in the world! If you’re traveling to the UK, chances are you’ll be hitting up London. While there are so many things to do in London (like these 25 places!), there is so much more to England and the UK than just London. It is so important to get out of the capital, even if it’s just for a day! There are so many charming towns in England to see.

London has excellent transportation connections to pretty much everywhere in the country, making a daytrip easy with public transportation. Keep in mind that while train journeys can be much faster, they will also be more expensive than taking a coach bus! If you plan on using either trains or coaches for several trips in the UK, I’d recommend investing in a National Rail Coachcard (train) or National Express Coachcard (for National Express buses). Keep in mind that MegaBus also operates from London to many of these locations in the UK! Here are my top picks for the best daytrips from London.

1) Hampton Court Palace

A trip to Hampton Court Palace is one of the most popular daytrips out of London. While you don’t necessarily need a full day because of its proximity to Central London, you could easily spend a whole day here. The palace complex is stunning, the gardens are beautiful, and the informative exhibits give you a real feel for the history of the building itself: Tudor, Baroque, and Georgian architecture combined in one. This was a royal home from Henry VIII onward, so you can see how the royals actually lived!

Don’t Miss: The Chapel Royal, with its exquisite ceiling, and the Great Hall with its huge hammer-beam roof.

Distance from London: The overground train (South West Trains) service from London Waterloo takes about 30 minutes. Hampton Court Palace is in Zone 6, so it is possible to use an Oyster card for your journey!

2) Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter

If you’re a fan of Harry Potter, this is a necessity for your trip to London. It is simply a dream come true! Walking through the filming studio of the beloved movie franchise, you can live your dreams as you see sets, costumes, props, and more. The collection of souvenirs in the shop is superb. Book your tickets in advance, as they are sold for a specific timed-entry. Like Hampton Court Palace, you could do a half-day trip here if you’re short on time.

Don’t Miss: The beautiful model of Hogwarts Castle at the end of the tour, and the chance to buy Butterbeer!

Distance from London: You can take a direct train from London Euston northwest to Watford Junction (20 minutes), which you can use your Oyster card for. You can then take a Studio Tour shuttle bus from the station directly to the site (15 minutes) for a total travel time of about 35 minutes. Note that the shuttle bus is not included in admission; a single ticket is £2 or a return is £2.50.

3) Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle was established as a royal residence in 1070 by William the Conqueror. Today, it is still home to England’s monarch, making it the oldest occupied fortress in the world. You can feel like royalty for a day as you peruse the State Apartments and the grounds. Windsor Castle has been extra popular lately, as it is the setting for Prince Harry’s wedding to Meghan Markle! Windsor is very close to Central London, so you could shorten your time here to a half-day as well.

Don’t Miss: St George’s Chapel, which was the burial place for many of England’s monarchs (including Henry VIII), and Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House.

Distance from London: One of the easiest ways to get to Windsor Castle is to take the train from London Paddington to Slough, and then switch trains at Slough for Windsor & Eton Central station. This journey takes anywhere from 35-60 minutes. The castle is a 10-minute walk from the station.

4) Salisbury/Stonehenge

Another great daytrip from London is the quaint town of Salisbury, with its absolutely stunning Gothic cathedral (the 123m spire is the tallest in Britain). This can easily be combined with a trip to nearby Stonehenge, a pile of stones in the middle of a field and one of the most famous landmarks in England (and the world in general!). Book your tickets to Stonehenge in advance to avoid long lines when you arrive. Get up early and seize the day to make both happen!

Don’t Miss: Salisbury Cathedral is home to a copy of the Magna Carta, a document from 1215 that acknowledged individual freedoms. Also Stonehenge is kind of a big deal—I’ve been once and I’m not rushing to go back, but I am glad that I’ve seen it.

Distance from London: Trains to Salisbury (from London Waterloo) takes about 1.5 hours; coach about 3 hours. There is a tour bus that leaves Salisbury every half hour (in summer) or every hour, and arrives at Stonehenge roughly 30 minutes later (for more info, visit their website here).

5) Bath

Bath is beautiful town, originally founded by the Romans in 44 AD. Today, it is home to stunning Georgian architecture and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Roman Baths (a museum surrounding the geothermal springs and Roman life), Bath Abbey, and the Georgian architecture of the Royal Crescent, the Circus, and the Pulteney Bridge, make it one of the most beautiful cities in England.

Don’t Miss: The Roman Baths. Although it can be very busy, the museum is one of the best-preserved ancient Roman spas in the world.

Distance from London: Train to Bath Spa (from London Paddington) takes about 1hr 45 minutes; coach about 3-4 hours. Again, start early to maximize your time!

6) Oxford

One of the most famous university towns in the world, Oxford oozes academic charm. The universities are by far the most popular tourist attraction, including the Bodleian Library and the Radcliffe Camera. It’s also home to interesting (and oftentimes historical) pubs, and a handful of fantastic museums!

Don’t Miss: Christ Church College. It is the largest and grandest of all of the Oxford colleges, and was used as a filming location for Harry Potter!

Distance from London: 1 hour to 1hr 45 minutes by train (from London Paddington); 1hr 40 minutes to 2 hours by coach.

7) Cambridge

If you’re interested in university towns, Cambridge is just as excellent a choice as Oxford! Like Oxford, Cambridge also boasts beautiful university buildings (which again are the main tourist sites), as well as having old churches and the opportunity for punting along the river.

Don’t Miss: King’s College Chapel, one of the most beautiful Gothic buildings in the country. The fan-vaulted ceiling will make your jaw to drop.

Distance from London: Anywhere from 45 minutes to 1hr 40 minutes by train (from London Kings Cross or London Liverpool Street); 2 to 2.5 hours by coach.

8) Stratford-Upon-Avon

This charming town’s main claim to fame is as the home to William Shakespeare, one of the most famous authors of all time. He was born in Stratford and died in Stratford exactly 52 years later on the same day. Stratford has a set of five houses linked to his life, his grave in Holy Trinity Church, and the world-famous Royal Shakespeare Company to remind visitors of the importance of the Bard.

Don’t Miss: A play by the Royal Shakespeare Company—matinees are completely doable during a daytrip, and can often be very affordable with rush seats!

Distance from London: 2-3 hours by train (from London Euston or London Marylebone); 2hr 50 minutes to 3hr 15 minutes by coach. Definitely start your day early to make the trip worthwhile!

9) Dover

Located as the closest port to mainland Europe, Dover is an important historical place. Dover Castle and its fascinating network of wartime tunnels and Roman, Saxon, and medieval buildings is a must-see, as well as the nearby White Cliffs of Dover, one of the greatest symbols of England. Besides those two main attractions, there’s not much else to see in Dover, as the town can feel a bit rundown these days.

Don’t Miss: Both Dover Castle and the White Cliffs deserve several hours each.

Distance from London: Trains to Dover Priory take anywhere from 1 hour to 2.5 hours; coach will take anywhere from 2hr 15 minutes to 3 hours.

10) Canterbury

Canterbury is the home of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, the Archbishop of Canterbury (the primary seat for the Church of England), and the magnificent Canterbury cathedral. The city is also filled with old, historic buildings that seem to pop up around every corner. It is certainly possible to spend more than just a day here, but if you’re short on time it’s absolutely doable on a daytrip.

Don’t Miss: Canterbury Cathedral, a famous Gothic cathedral and one of the top attractions in Southeast England. Archbishop Thomas Becket famously met his end by being murdered inside the cathedral in 1170. Make sure you visit the crypt, one of the oldest parts of the cathedral.

Distance from London: 1-2 hours by train, or 1hr 35 minutes to 2 hours by coach.

11) Brighton

This seaside playground is another of London’s most popular daytrips. Stroll along Brighton Pier with an ice cream, take a dip in the sea at the beach, marvel at George IV’s Royal Pavilion, or check out the views from the new observation tower, British Airways i360. You’ll have plenty to do here on a day from London!

Don’t Miss: Brighton Pier and the Royal Pavilion, the city’s two most famous landmarks.

Distance from London: 1 hour by train from London Victoria or London Bridge, or 2hr 15 to 3 hours by coach.

12) York

If you want to feel like you’ve stepped back in time, York is the city for you! Wander the medieval, cobblestone streets, explore the hidden passageways (called snickelways) including the most famous, the Shambles, and enjoy 2000+ years of history. I might be biased as I live in York, but I think this is one city you must visit in England—and yes, you can visit it as a daytrip from London! While ideally you’ll have several days in York (and time to explore Yorkshire!), you can get a good feel of the city in just a day.

Don’t Miss: York Minster, Northern Europe’s largest Gothic cathedral, the Jorvik Viking Center, and Museum Gardens!

Distance from London: 2 hours by train from London King’s Cross. York is more or less inaccessible by coach from London, as the journey takes 5-7 hours. Tickets between London and York are extremely expensive last minute, so try to book in advance!

Read More: 5 Things You Must Do In York, 10 Hidden Gems To See In York, 20 Things To Do In York That Are Absolutely Free

Have you ever taken a daytrip from London? Where did you choose to go?

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