Looking for something beyond the usual suspect suggestions like Cambridge, Oxford, Brighton or Windsor found in just about every list of London day trips? They’re all more than worth their spotlight, but if you’ve already been and are after a little inspiration for your weekend escape from London, you’ve come to the right place.
Thankfully for those that don’t have a car or fancy a few drinks on their day out, there are plenty of thoroughly worthwhile and also less busy destinations in every direction out of London, and while none take longer than 2 hours, many are within an easy hour by train from London’s main station.
So let me share 10 of my favourite lesser-known easy day trips out of London, and how to get there by train.
Map of Day Trip Destinations by Train from London
Eynsford, Kent
Highlights: Scenic town, picnic by the river, castle & park walks
Eynsford is just a village, but a very charming one and with things to do in the area.
The town’s focal point is the lazily flowing Darent river, crossed by a medieval hump-back bridge and a ford road dipping right through the river. Its a nice spot to picnic on a sunny day, soak your feet and watch the more daring motorists and cyclists tackle the ford – with mixed success.
Spending the day in Eynsford with its timber-framed cottages feels like time travel back in the faraway past. And there are some great spots to venture out to nearby, too – like the Lullingstone Castle and park, or the picturesque Darent Valley. On the way you’ll wander past a beautiful nine-arch Victorian era viaduct.
Getting there
The direct train from London Blackfriars (also stops across south London) will get you to Eynsford in under an hour. For an even faster route but with a change, you can get a train from London Bridge to Sevenoaks or Swanley and change to get you to the destination.
Arundel, West Sussex
Highlights: An enchanting town with a magnificent medieval castle and an impressive cathedral
Arundel is a charming market town with pretty Georgian-era streets and more than enough to do and see on a day trip. The Arundel Castle is a must, with a beautiful garden to enjoy within it. The gothic Arundel Cathedral on the hill is another highlight, along with the views of the surrounding countryside from the upper part of town.
If it’s a nice sunny day, take a longer way along the Arun river – there is a lovely pub called the Black Rabbit where you can enjoy a drink or two with great views of the river and the castle.
Getting there
Hop on the train at either London Bridge or Victoria (also calling at Clapham Junction and East Croydon), which will get you directly to Arundel in under 1.5 hours.
Amberley, West Sussex
Highlights: A picturesque village with a unique museum and countryside walks
Just a stop short of Arundel is a quintessentially English village full of flint walled, thatched houses – Amberley. It’s a lovely place for a walk, an afternoon tea or a pub lunch. But there’s more to the area that will make it a proper day trip. Surrounded by the picturesque South Downs and lying along river Arun, Amberley is a great starting spot for a fulfilling countryside walk.
There’s also a very interesting museum you shouldn’t miss that’s near the train station itself. Formerly a chalk quarry, you can learn a lot about the old industrial and rural crafts. The Amberley Museum features an unusual collection of vintage transport and all sorts of old-school artifacts.
Getting there
Like Arundel, you can visit Amberley on a direct train from Victoria or London Bridge in under 1.5 hours.
Lewes, East Sussex
Highlights: Medieval castle, cute streets,
Steeped in history, Lewes is a lovely town to explore by foot for a couple hours. The town center is overlooked by the commanding Lewes Castle – a norman fort offering fantastic views of the surrounding South Downs. Just a short walk from the station, you can visit the timber-framed Anne of Cleves House – now a small museum featuring beautifully-preserved Tudor rooms.
For a break from the sightseeing, Lewes boasts a very pleasant high street with a nice selection of independent cafes and bars.
Getting there
The Eastbourne-bound trains from London Bridge will get you to directly to Lewes in a little over an hour.
Rye, East Sussex
Highlights: Medieval old town with cosy pubs, cool shops and nearby beaches
Rye is a great day trip option for a few reasons.
It features a very pretty hilltop town center, with its medieval cobbled streets, town walls and a castle. There are some very lovely pubs and restaurants to choose from, as well as indie shops to explore. I recommend paying a visit to the centuries-old Rye Pottery for some unique souvenirs.
For seafood fans, visit towards the end of February for the annual Rye Bay Scallop Festival.
Rye can also combine perfectly with a beach day to the vast and sandy Camber Sands, less than 30 mins from Rye by bus. Thanks to its shallow seabed, it’s one of the warmest and most-family friendly beaches in UK to enjoy a swim.
I don’t know if Rye still counts as a “hidden gem” really, but it’s nowhere near the scale of Bath or Canterbury in tourism. And getting there by train is ideal as parking can get messy and competitive during peak summer weekends.
Getting there
Hop on the speedy Javelin train to Ashford at London St Pancras or Stratford International, then a brief change at Ashford will get you to Rye. All in just over 1 hour, combined.
Marlow, Bucks
Highlights: A quaint riverside town with great restaurants and river boating
This tranquil Buckinghamshire town is a beautiful riverside destination full of historic streets and excellent eateries (including some Michelin-starred establishments).
Less busy than the nearby Henley-on-Thames, Marlow still offers the same relaxing Thames path riverside walks and feels more quaint. There are also some great riverfront beer gardens to bask in the sunshine with lovely views.
You can even hire one of the self-drive electric boats for a casual cruise along the Thames, or join a mini boat cruise.
The central Higginson Park has plenty going on especially on the weekends – and you can pop into the free Marlow Museum to get familiar with local history. Nearby you’ll even find a statue of Sir Steve Redgrave – the symbol of Marlow’s rowing heritage.
Getting there
You can use the Elizabeth Line for this one. Get on the Lizzie line anywhere in London (Paddington, Liverpool Street etc) all the way to Maidenhead, then change to the local short train to Marlow. All in all, around 1.5 hours depending where you get on in London.
Whistable, Kent
Highlights: Fresh seafood and beaches
If you don’t like seafood, maybe skip this one. Whistable is all about oysters, mussels, cockles and top notch fish & chips. The seafood is everywhere – from sit-down restaurants to pop-up stands – and the oysters come at a more reasonable price than in London.
It’s no Caribbean, but there are pebbly beaches all along the coastline that are very doable for a swim on the warmer days and when the tide’s not out. And a few decent pubs to follow up your swimming – my tip is The Old Neptune. Or for a spot of afternoon tea, visit the Whistable Castle that also features some well-kept gardens.
Getting there
London St Pancras is the best option, getting you to Whitstable in around 1hr 20 mins. You can also get a slower train from London Victoria or Charing Cross.
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Highlights: Beautiful historic town with a great park, abbey ruins and top-level beers
This quaint Suffolk market town remains a very underrated day trip destination.
To start with, Bury boasts a beautiful cathedral (named after St Edmund, hence the town name) and an impressive central park built around old Abbey ruins, fountains and rose gardens.
The elegant town center has a nice feel to it, and you can enjoy a leisurely stroll along the little river Lark. If you fancy a drink and aren’t claustrophobic, UK’s smallest pub The Nutshell is also in Bury St Edmunds. If you like ales, you can do a tour at the Greene King Brewery – it’s a 5-min walk south of the cathedral.
Getting there
Will take you a little under 2 hours from Liverpool Street. You’ll need to change once – at Stowmarket – for a short 15-min second leg that will get you to Bury St Edmunds
Ely, Cambridgeshire
Highlights: River boating, markets and a stunning cathedral
Just a stop beyond Cambridge is small city of Ely. It’s really more of town, but having a cathedral qualifies Ely as a city.
For a compact and walkable place, Ely has a lot to see and do. It’s most famous for Ely Cathedral, known as the “ship of the Fens” and dominating the landscape for miles. Walk up the 170 steps to check out the art of its octagonal tower up close, before admiring the Cambridgeshire panorama from high up.
Ely is a great city to explore by foot, but I’d argue it’s best enjoyed by boat along the river Ouse. Or you can take a long stroll along its towpaths. Be sure to pop down to Ely Markets, dating back to over 800 years and now featuring a vibrant Craft, Food and Vintage Market on Saturdays.
Getting there
Ely is on same speedy line as Cambridge, so nicely accessible. A train from London Kings Cross will get you to Ely in around 1hr 15 mins.
Chichester, West Sussex
Highlights: History, shopping and the nearby seaside
Chichester has everything for a nice day out – a walled medieval town center, an impressive cathedral.
The city dates all the way back to Roman times, characterised by the city walls surrounding it and the remnants of a Roman amphitheater (but don’t expect to see much of it). Chichester Cathedral is a sight to behold, and a good selection of indie shops and cafes complete the day out.
Why not combine the day trip with the nearby coast, just a short-ish bus ride away? The village of Bosham is one of the prettiest spots on England’s south coast and worth the countryside walk from the bus stop. And a 30 minute bus ride from Chichester to West Wittering will take you to a vast, sandy beach that’s one of the least busy during heatwave weekends.
Getting there
The best train route is with Southern Rail from London Victoria, taking 1.5 hours direct to Chichester. You can also join the service from Clapham Junction and East Croydon.
I hope this collection of my 10 favourite easy train day trip from London list inspired some of your future weekend plans. If you’ve been impressed by other hidden gem towns and villages within reach from London, let me know in the comments as I’d love to check them out!
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