This totally charming part of England is officially one of the best weekend trips from London

Sometimes you can only take so many weekends eating at small plates restaurants, drinking mini martinis and sweating it all out at a run club the next morning. Now and then, what you need is a few days away from London and its relentless pull of activities (and their ability to drain your bank account). That’s what weekend trips were invented for! 

Time Out has revealed the best weekend trips from the capital for 2026, with a list featuring seaside sojourns, Scottish castles and cultural city breaks.

Coming in third place in this year’s ranking was the Costwolds. This charming and quintessentially English spot is no stranger to weekend visitors. The area’s 750 green and pleasant square miles straddle Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Warwickshire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire, with attractions spanning beautiful walks, chocolate box villages and Roman history. 

Time Out says: ‘Each county has its own unique charm, but for a textbook weekend stick to Gloucestershire, land of Jilly Cooper, honey-coloured stone cottages and retired rock stars. Bibury and Bourton-on-the-Water are two of the most picturesque places but are very often overwhelmed with visitors.

‘Instead, spend time in the slightly more under-the-radar town of Cirencester (named one of Time Out’s best places to visit in the world in 2026). There, you can take a dip in the beautiful Cirencester Open Air Swimming Pool (it’s heated!), delve into Roman history at Corinium Museum and the Amphitheatre, and dine on standout Mediterranean fare at Téatro.’

The Cotswolds can be reached in an hour and a half via a train from London Paddington to Moreton-in-Marsh. It’s around two and a half hours by car. 

Time Out’s top choice for the best weekend destination in Britain right now is Birmingham – you can read all about the charms of the ‘Venice of England’ here.

Check out our full list of London’s best weekend trips for 2026. 

ICYMI: West London is getting a brand-new park next to the River Thames. 

Plus: This is officially the best beach near London for summer 2026. 

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