There’s so much to do and see in London that there’s no pressing need for visitors to take a trip outside the city boundaries. However, there are some great day trips you can do from London, and a visit to these places will show you a very different side of England.
If you’re spending time in London and you’ve got a spare day, then it’s well worth getting out of town and seeing some of the amazing sites the rest of England has to offer. With sprawling green countryside, ancient monuments and wonderful food and drink, you won’t be disappointed.
Stratford-Upon-Avon
The birthplace of William Shakespeare, arguably the most famous English language writer of all time, means Stratford-Upon-Avon is a great place to visit. Nestled in the Warwickshire countryside about two and a half hours outside of London, you can find a different view of England in Stratford-Upon-Avon, whilst tracing the footsteps of the great Shakespeare.
Stratford-Upon-Avon is home to all kinds of theatre productions, festivals and museums to make you wish you had more time to spend in this wonderful spot.
Weybridge
If you fancy somewhere a little closer to London, then Weybridge is just a one-hour drive away. Set on the River Wey and bounded by the River Thames to the North, this town combines the best of London with beautiful Surrey countryside all around it.
Stop in at the Flintgate Pub in Weybridge before checking out Mercedes Benz World, the London Bus Museum and the Brooklands Museum. It might not have as many attractions as London itself, but Weybridge offers more than enough entertainment to keep the family happy for days on end.
Stonehenge
With over 1.5 million visitors in 2018, Stonehenge was the 7th most visited paid attraction in the UK. As one of the most famous prehistoric monuments in the world, Stonehenge is a world heritage site, and a must-see if you’ve got time.
Located not far from Salisbury, the stones are about a 1.45-hour drive from London – a short drive to be able to take in such an iconic monument!
Bath
Built as a wellbeing destination for the Roman Empire, Bath maintains all its historic charm to this very day. With wonderful Georgian architecture, Roman baths and Britain’s only natural thermal hot springs you can bathe in, there’s plenty to do in this West Country city.
Bath is about a 2-hour drive from London, which takes you through some of England’s nicest countryside as you tour the villages of the Cotswolds.
Oxford
Home to the world’s second oldest university, Oxford is an hour and a half outside of London and it offers some great activities for a day trip.
The University of Oxford tour is well worth doing, but there are also botanical gardens, Blenheim Palace, Harry Potter location tours and much, much more. So, if your family enjoys prestigious universities, plant life, royal palaces and Harry Potter, then Oxford is your place!
