Before you go
Train or tour?
How to pick the right way to go.
Most of these trips work by train from a London terminus: Oxford and Cambridge in about an hour, Brighton, Canterbury and Winchester in about an hour, Bath in about 90 minutes. Book ahead for the cheapest fares and travel after the morning rush, when off-peak tickets apply.
A coach tour is easier where the sight is far from a station: Stonehenge, the Cotswolds, Leeds Castle, Highclere Castle and Blenheim Palace. Tours usually include the entry ticket and a guide, and many combine two places in one day, such as Stonehenge with Bath or Windsor.
Plan a full day: leave by 8 or 9am and expect to be back in the evening. Each trip on the map shows the journey from London, and tapping it lists the tours with their price.
At a glance
Day trips from London compared
How long each journey takes and what a tour costs. Tap a trip to see it on the map.
| Day trip | Getting there from London | Day tour from London | |
|---|---|---|---|
| StonehengeHistoric sites | About 2 h each way by coach from central London | From £56 | See on map |
| Windsor CastleCastles | About 1 h each way by train or coach from central London | From £39 | See on map |
| Harry Potter Studio Tour (Warner Bros.)Experiences & activities | About 1 h each way by coach, or train to Watford Junction + shuttle | From £85 | See on map |
| Leeds CastleCastles | About 1 h 30 min each way by coach | From £85 | See on map |
| Warwick CastleCastles | About 1 h 30 min each way by train, 2 h by coach | From £80 | See on map |
| Blenheim PalacePalaces & royal sites | About 1 h 45 min each way by coach | From £78 | See on map |
| White Cliffs of DoverViewpoints | About 1 h 10 min each way by high-speed train to Dover | From £80 | See on map |
| Seven Sisters CliffsViewpoints | About 2 h each way by coach, or train to Seaford + bus | From £84 | See on map |
| Highclere CastleCastles | About 1 h 45 min each way by coach | From £143 | See on map |
| Bath & Roman BathsHistoric sites | About 1 h 30 min each way by train, 2 h 30 min by coach | From £56 | See on map |
| OxfordHistoric sites | About 1 h each way by train, 1 h 45 min by coach | From £71 | See on map |
| CambridgeHistoric sites | About 50 min each way by train, 2 h by coach | From £50 | See on map |
| The CotswoldsLandmarks | About 2 h each way by coach from central London | From £77 | See on map |
| Stratford-upon-AvonHistoric sites | About 2 h each way by train or coach | From £70 | See on map |
| BrightonLandmarks | About 1 h each way by train, 2 h by coach | From £84 | See on map |
| CanterburyChurches & cathedrals | About 1 h each way by high-speed train, 2 h by coach | From £80 | See on map |
| WinchesterChurches & cathedrals | About 1 h each way by train, 1 h 45 min by coach | From £92 | See on map |
Journey times are typical for direct trains and coach tours from central London; check the timetable on the day.
Ranked by our score
The best day trips from London
Castles, university cities, Stonehenge and the coast.
1
Stonehenge
Walk among the ring of standing stones and feel how small the open plain makes you. Combine it with Windsor, Bath or Oxford on a day trip from London.
Day trips & excursionsabout 8 h
Tickets from £24See on map
2Windsor Castle
Walk the stone ramparts above the Thames and step into state rooms where generations of monarchs have entertained and dressed for ceremony. Then…
Day trips & excursionsabout 5 h
Tickets from £36See on map →
3Harry Potter Studio Tour (Warner Bros.)
Walk onto real film sets, from the Great Hall to Diagon Alley, and see the costumes and props that built the wizarding world. Bring a camera and…
Day trips & excursionsabout 6 h
Tickets from £93See on map →
4Leeds Castle
Wander across the moat and through gardens to a castle mirrored in still water. Add Canterbury Cathedral and the White Cliffs of Dover for a day…
Day trips & excursionsabout 8 h
Tickets from £44See on map →
5Warwick Castle
Walk the battlements of a medieval castle rising above the River Avon, then wander its grounds at your own pace. Combine it with Oxford, Stratford…
Day trips & excursionsabout 10 h
Tickets from £22See on map →
6Blenheim Palace
Wander gilded state rooms and sweeping Capability Brown parkland at Blenheim Palace, then stand where Winston Churchill was born. It makes a…
Day trips & excursionsabout 9 h
Tickets from £28See on map →
7White Cliffs of Dover
Walk the chalk clifftops above the Channel, where the wind is fresh and the white face of the cliffs meets the sea below. Pair it with Canterbury…
Day trips & excursionsabout 10 h
See on map →
8Seven Sisters Cliffs
Walk the chalk ridge where green downs fall to white cliffs and the sea stretches out below. Pair it with Brighton on a day from London for sea…
Day trips & excursionsabout 10 h
See on map →
9Highclere Castle
Step onto the estate that played Downton Abbey, where a grand stone house rises over Hampshire parkland. Leave London's noise behind and let the…
Day trips & excursionsabout 9 h
See on map →
10Bath & Roman Baths
Step into Roman history at the Roman Baths, then wander honey-coloured Georgian terraces that glow at dusk. Pair it with Stonehenge or Windsor for…
Day trips & excursionsabout 10 h
See on map →
Guided
Day tours from London
Coach and rail tours with the lowest price from our partners.
Stonehenge
Walk among the ring of standing stones and feel how small the open plain makes you. Combine it with Windsor, Bath or Oxford on a day trip from London.
Day trips & excursionsabout 8 h
Tours from £56See on map →
Windsor Castle
Walk the stone ramparts above the Thames and step into state rooms where generations of monarchs have entertained and dressed for ceremony. Then…
Day trips & excursionsabout 5 h
Tours from £14See on map →
Harry Potter Studio Tour (Warner Bros.)
Walk onto real film sets, from the Great Hall to Diagon Alley, and see the costumes and props that built the wizarding world. Bring a camera and…
Day trips & excursionsabout 6 h
Tours from £20See on map →
Leeds Castle
Wander across the moat and through gardens to a castle mirrored in still water. Add Canterbury Cathedral and the White Cliffs of Dover for a day…
Day trips & excursionsabout 8 h
Tours from £106See on map →
Warwick Castle
Walk the battlements of a medieval castle rising above the River Avon, then wander its grounds at your own pace. Combine it with Oxford, Stratford…
Day trips & excursionsabout 10 h
Tours from £7See on map →
Blenheim Palace
Wander gilded state rooms and sweeping Capability Brown parkland at Blenheim Palace, then stand where Winston Churchill was born. It makes a…
Day trips & excursionsabout 9 h
Tours from £80See on map →
White Cliffs of Dover
Walk the chalk clifftops above the Channel, where the wind is fresh and the white face of the cliffs meets the sea below. Pair it with Canterbury…
Day trips & excursionsabout 10 h
Tours from £80See on map →
Seven Sisters Cliffs
Walk the chalk ridge where green downs fall to white cliffs and the sea stretches out below. Pair it with Brighton on a day from London for sea…
Day trips & excursionsabout 10 h
Tours from £8See on map →
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All 446 things to do in London
Museums, landmarks and hidden gems on one map, plus 17 day trips.