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Are you looking for the best day trips to take from London?
London is unarguably an amazing city. In fact, it’s my favorite European capital city, and one of my favorite cities in the whole world. There’s always something to see or do in London, which means it’s new and exciting every time I visit.
But, despite the never-ending options of things to do and see in London, there are some times when you might want to experience something different. And when getting out of London is the goal, you have lots of great options for day tours and trips.
England is a relatively small country, and many of the best places to visit are accessible as a day trip from London.
The best day trips from London
Here are some of my top recommended day trips from London:
1. Oxford
Distance from London: 1 hour by train
Why you should go: Explore one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world that has existed for nearly 1,000 years.
Chances are, no matter where you are in the world, you’ve heard of the University of Oxford. It’s one of the most well-respected and oldest establishments of higher education in the English-speaking world.
It’s a place high-school-me once dreamed of attending, falling in love with its dramatic old buildings and dreamy English accents vicariously through books and movies.
My dreams of attending Oxford never did come to fruition, but that didn’t mean I no longer wanted to visit “the city of dreaming spires.” Oxford makes a great day trip from London, being less than an hour away by bus or train.
Once in Oxford, you can wander in and out of shops in town, and visit some of the university’s most famous colleges on a day trip.
I got to visit Christ Church College, one of the largest of Oxford’s 38 colleges. The dining hall here was said to be the inspiration for the Great Hall of Hogwarts in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series.
Top Oxford tour options:
- Oxford and Cotswolds Villages Day Trip
- Downton Abbey and Oxford Tour from London
- Harry Potter Studio Tour and Oxford Day Trip
- Harry Potter Walking Tour of Oxford
2. Bath
Distance from London: 1 hour and 20 minutes by train
Why you should go: Escape the hustle and bustle of London and marvel at the ancient Roman baths and picturesque sights around this smaller English city.
The city of Bath would make a good weekend break from London, but is a fun day trip option, too. This city in southwest England is best known for the ancient Roman baths that are easily its top tourist attraction (and they ARE truly fascinating), but there’s more to see in Bath than just baths.
The whole city of Bath was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987, and other points of interest include the beautiful Bath Abbey, pretty parks and gardens, the symmetrical Georgian-style Royal Crescent, and Pulteney Bridge over the River Avon, which was built to resemble the Ponte Vecchio and the Ponte di Rialto bridges in Florence and Venice.
The best Bath tour options:
- Stonehenge and Bath Day Trip
- Bath, Stonehenge and The English Countryside Day Tour
- Bath, Avebury and Lacock Village Small-Group Day Tour
3. Stonehenge
Distance from London: 1 hour and 45 minutes by car
Why you should go: Take in this strange and impressive historic site, which is one of the most-visited and well-known in all of England.
No trip to the UK would be complete without a visit to this famous site. Is it touristy? Yes. Is it overrated? Perhaps a bit. But you still absolutely have to visit Stonehenge anyway, just to say you did.
Visiting Stonehenge (and nearby Avebury) is an easy afternoon trip from London. And, while walking around the mysterious standing stones is cool, I’d recommend adding it to another jaunt outside of London because it doesn’t really take all that long.
Top Stonehenge tour options:
- Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, and Bath from London
- Inner Circle Access of Stonehenge including Bath and Lacock Day Tour
- Stonehenge and Bath Day Trip
4. The Cotswolds
Distance from London: 1 hour and 50 minutes by car
Why you should go: Experience serene nature and quaint storybook villages in one of the most beautiful areas of the English countryside.
The Cotswolds is a region in southwest England that has been designated an AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) due to its picturesque scenery, made up of a collection of quaint villages and rolling countryside.
Villages like Bibury and Castle Combe are among the most scenic in all of England.
While the villages of Cotswolds are not too far from London, most of them are not accessible by train and have limited bus options. If you want to have the best experience visiting the Cotswolds on a day trip from London, your best option is to rent a car or join an organized tour that stops at multiple villages.
The best Cotswolds tour options:
- Lunch in the Cotswolds Tour from London
- Small-Group Complete Cotswolds Tour
- Oxford and Cotswolds Villages Day Trip
5. Stratford-Upon-Avon
Distance from London: 2 hours by car
Why you should go: Shakespeare fans or anyone interested in history will be fascinated by the quaint town that is the birthplace of the world’s most famous playwright.
Any Shakespeare lovers out there? If so, then Shakespeare’s birthplace is a place you simply cannot skip!
You can visit the house where The Bard was born (and enjoy recitations of some of his best scenes by costumed actors in the backyard), along with 5 other properties tied to Shakespeare’s life. You can also visit Holy Trinity Church, where the playwright is buried.
Stratford-Upon-Avon itself is also quite lovely and photogenic.
If you’re in town long enough, be sure to catch a play, too. The Royal Shakespeare Company is based in Stratford, and there are quite a few places around town to catch performance onstage.
Tour options to Stratford-upon-Avon:
- Oxford, Cotswolds, Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick Castle Day Trip
- Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon and Cotswolds Tour
6. Windsor Castle
Distance from London: 40 minutes by train
Why you should go: If you’re at all interested in the British royal family, you will not want to miss touring this royal residence that is nearly 1,000 years old.
For all you fans of the royal family, Windsor Castle should most definitely feature on your UK itinerary. This medieval castle has been a royal residence stretching all the way back to Henry I, and the Queen still uses it today (it’s one of her favorite places to go on the weekend).
Visitors to Windsor can tour the ornate State Apartments, visit gothic St. George’s Chapel, and check out special exhibits in the Drawings Gallery. You can also catch a Changing of the Guard ceremony every day outside the Horseshoe Cloister.
7. Warwick Castle
Distance from London: 1 hour and 50 minutes by car
Why you should go: Perfect for families with children, this castle offers a more entertaining and interactive experience, combined with history.
If you’re looking for a family-friendly day trip from London, consider a visit to Warwick Castle. This real castle is today somewhat of medieval amusement park (it’s now owned by the same company that owns all the Madame Tussaud’s wax museums). That doesn’t mean it’s not cool to visit, though.
Attractions include 3-D shows, archery displays, interactions with birds of prey, and lots of “quests” for the kids. The castle also has a couple of jousting shows daily (which are really quite entertaining), and is home to a gigantic trebuchet – the largest catapult in the world, according to the castle’s marketing material.
Tour options:
- Oxford, Cotswolds, Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick Castle Day Trip
- Warwick Castle Admission Ticket
8. Harry Potter Studio Tour
Distance from London: 50 minutes by car or bus
Why you should go: Casual and serious Harry Potter fans alike will enjoy this studio tour experience featuring full sets, costumes, and props from the films.
Harry Potter fans will not want to miss a Harry Potter tour at the Warner Brothers studios just north of London. The majority of the Harry Potter films were shot in these studios in Leavesden, and they have now been transformed into a museum-like experience for fans.
You can see actual film sets, costumes, props, and concept art from the movies, and enjoy interactive experiences that capture the magic of the Harry Potter world.
The studios are located less than an hour north of London, but the easiest way to get there is by car, so if you don’t have your own transportation, you will want to book a tour that includes transport.
Tour options:
- Harry Potter Tour of Warner Bros. Studio with Transport from London
- Harry Potter Studio Tour and Oxford Day Trip
RELATED: A Harry Potter-Lover’s Guide to London