10 Day Trips from London by Train
This time of year always gives me a fresh burst of energy - with longer days, warmer weather, and lots of opportunities for mini adventures. With the UK May bank holidays approaching (5th May and 26th May 2025), it’s the perfect time to plan a day trip out of the city. There are so many easy day trips from London that offer beautiful countryside walks and charming seaside towns - and all just a train journey away.
In this guide, I’ve rounded up 10 of the best day trips from London, complete with train journey times and a few of my favourite things to do in each destination. Whether you’re looking for nature, cute local shops, or just a change of scenery, these train-accessible spots will provide you with some inspiration for your next getaway.
Durdle Door, Dorset
Starting off strong with one of my favourite spots in the UK (and a very special place for me as it’s where I got engaged a couple of years ago!) - Durdle Door, Dorset. It’s truly a magical spot and the coastal views are so stunning. It’s bit of a longer journey (but well worth the effort) so I would make sure you leave London early to make the most of your day.
I highly recommend walking the coastal trail between Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove for the most stunning views and also stopping for lunch at The Castle Inn, Lulworth (you can also stay here overnight if you want to extend your trip).
How to get to Durdle Door from London:
London Waterloo to Wool: 2 hrs 30 mins
Pre-book a taxi from Wool station to Durdle Door (15 mins)
Seven Sisters Cliffs
The Seven Sisters cliffs are one of the most scenic coastal walks in the UK. The trail takes you along seven dramatic chalk cliffs with gorgeous views of the sea. The full hike can be challenging in parts due to the steady inclines and descents, but you really don’t need to do the whole thing to enjoy it - there are plenty of shorter, scenic options if you prefer a more relaxed day out. For the classic postcard view, head to the Coastguard Cottages at Cuckmere Haven. It’s one of the most photographed spots on the South Downs!
How to get to Seven Sisters from London:
Option 1: London to Seaford
Take the train to Seaford via Lewes (1 hour 30 mins), then walk along the coast to begin the hike. This route includes Cuckmere Haven, the Coastguard Cottages, and continues toward Birling Gap if you’re up for it.
Option 2: London to Eastbourne
Take the train to Eastbourne (1.5 hours) and either walk directly from Eastbourne towards Beachy Head, or take a short bus ride to Beachy Head and start walking from there.
From Beachy Head, you can hike to Birling Gap, which is a great spot for a picnic or rest stop. There’s a National Trust cafe and toilets, and from there you can choose to end your walk or continue along the cliffs toward Seaford.
Charlbury, The Cotswolds
There are lots of lovely villages in the Cotswolds and a few of them are surprisingly easy to access without a car, including Charlbury. It’s a peaceful, lesser-known Cotswolds village and is perfect for a quiet and easy day trip. I recommend picking up a snack or coffee from the Charlbury Deli, then follow the Charlbury Circular Walk, a relaxed countryside trail with rolling fields and woodland views.
After your walk, stop in for dinner at The Bull, a beautifully restored pub and boutique hotel. The food is genuinely divine - their menu is seasonal, thoughtful, and well worth the money!
If you want to explore a little further, stay on the train a few minutes longer and hop off at Kingham, another lovely Cotswolds village. From there, you can enjoy a scenic countryside walk to Daylesford Organic Farm - an ideal spot for foodies and farm shop lovers.
How to get to Charlbury from London:
London Paddington to Charlbury: 1 hour
Cambridge
Cambridge is a small and elegant city best known for its university. With grand college buildings, riverside walks and lots of lovely cafes, it makes a charming and easy day trip from London. Once you’re there, you can explore most of it on foot!
I highly recommend visiting Kettle’s Yard, a beautiful house-turned-art-museum that’s calming and creatively inspiring. For food, there are endless options but a couple I would recommend are Urban Larder or Bread & Meat. Stop for coffee at Bould Brothers or Hot Numbers. End your day with a riverside drink at The Mill, a cosy pub by the water.
If you want the classic Cambridge experience, book a punting tour along the River Cam. It’s the best way to see the city’s famous colleges from the water but I highly recommend to book ahead online via GetYourGuide - this is the exact tour I booked - to avoid the overpriced walk-up rates on the day.
How to get to Cambridge from London:
London King's Cross to Cambridge: 50 mins
London Liverpool Street to Cambridge: 1 hour 15 mins
Brighton
Brighton is a vibrant and creative seaside city where you’ll find lots of vintage shops, fish and chips and art everywhere you go. It’s the easiest day trip from London for anyone wanting the sea air. It gets extremely busy during weekends and summer time though so if you’d prefer something a bit quieter, head to one of the other seaside locations I’ve recommended instead.
You can stroll along Brighton Pier, explore the streets of The Lanes for vintage finds and independent shops. You’ll also find the Royal Pavilion in the middle of the city where you can sit in the gardens for a picnic.
For brunch or lunch, you’ll be spoilt for choice but I’d recommend Food for Friends (a delicious veggie restaurant), Artist Residence Brighton or Flour Pot Bakery.
How to get to Brighton from London:
London Victoria or London Bridge to Brighton: 1 hr
Box Hill
For an easy nature escape from London, Box Hill is the perfect choice! It’s located in the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is an ideal spot for walking, picnicking, and soaking up peaceful countryside views - especially if you're craving some greenery without travelling too far. I visited for the first time last year and loved it - there are lots of different trails you can do (find more information here) but I recommend the Stepping Stones walk.
I also recommend taking your own picnic to enjoy on the hilltop - a brilliant, low-key escape from the busy city life!
How to get to Box Hill from London:
London Victoria to Box Hill & Westhumble: 50 mins plus short walk
Oxford
Oxford is another beautiful university city with lots of history and lovely architecture and is also best explored on foot. You can wander around Oxford’s most famous colleges, such as Christ Church and Magdalen, which are all open to visitors. For a great view over the city, climb the tower at the University Church of St Mary the Virgin (entry to the church is free but if you’d like to go up, tickets are £6).
I also highly recommend wandering further to my favourite part of the city, Jericho. It’s a creative neighbourhood full of local shops, cafes, and canalside walks and it’s a little off the tourist trail. From here, you can also walk to Port Meadow where you can stop for a picnic.
How to get to Oxford from London:
London Paddington to Oxford: 1 hr
London Marylebone to Oxford: 1 hr 5 mins
Bath
Bath is one of England’s most beautiful and historic cities, famous for its Roman roots and honey-coloured stone buildings. It’s one of my favourite day trips from London and there’s lots to do!
You could also book to visit the Roman Baths but there are plenty of free, historic spots to explore if you’re looking to keep costs down. For example, you can wander the elegant streets of the Royal Crescent and The Circus, two of the city's most iconic Georgian landmarks and stop at Pulteney Bridge.
A few places I’d recommend include The Oven Pizzeria, Cafe au Lait (for a laid-back brunch) and Mjolk (for coffee and pastries). Or you can find lots more ideas on Bath Eats Instagram too. There are lots of lovely local shops in Bath too, including Found, a clothing and homeware shop, Perspherone Books - an independent bookshop that reprints neglected fiction and non-fiction, mostly by women writers or Topping & Company Booksellers.
How to get to Bath from London:
London Paddington to Bath Spa: 1 hr 20 mins
Rye and Camber Sands
Rye is a picturesque town full of cobbled streets and charming houses. You can spend your morning wandering down Mermaid Street where you’ll find plenty of independent shops and cosy spots to explore. For brunch, head to The Fig and don’t miss a stop at the original Knoops for your mid-afternoon chocolate fix - it’s where the now-famous chain began and I remember visiting years ago!
From Rye, you can catch a bus to Camber Sands, one of the most beautiful sandy beaches in the region. It’s a great spot for a picnic and sunset or just for a beach walk - perfect for if you’re craving some sea air.
How to get to Rye from London:
London St Pancras to Rye (via Ashford International): 1 hr 10 mins
Margate
Finally, last on the list is the lovely seaside town of Margate, which has undergone a vibrant revival in recent years. It’s a great spot to visit if you love for shopping for vintage treasures or if you are a fan of the renowned artist J.M.W. Turner, as it is home to the impressive Turner Contemporary art gallery - I love the sea view from here too.
In Old Town, you will discover lots of lovely shops, including the quaint Margate Bookshop. For brunch (or lunch), I recommend dining at The Greedy Cow Cafe or alternatively, I have some new spots on my list that I’ve saved for my next visit, including Dive and Forts Coffee and No. 42 by Guesthouse, all of which come highly recommended. If you have some time to spare, you can also catch a bus to Botany Bay, where you can wander along the coast and maybe even catch a lovely sunset by the sea.
How to get to Margate from London:
London St Pancras to Margate: 1 hr 30 mins
To summarise, here is a round-up of the 10 best day trips from London by train:
Durdle Door, Dorset
Seven Sisters hike
Charlbury and Kingham, The Cotswolds
Cambridge
Brighton
Box Hill
Oxford
Bath
Rye and Camber Sands
Margate
