18 day trips from London to escape the city

The secret might be well and truly out about Whitstable, but this fab little seaside town is far from overhyped. Grab brunch at Farm & Harper, fish and chips at Ossie’s and a glorious pint of craft at the Twelve Taps, and treat yourself to a dozen oysters to go at Wheelers Oyster Bar on the high street. Once you’ve walked the length of the beach and admired the beach huts, settle in at the famous pub-on-the-beach Old Neptune for a pint and wait for sunset to fall. Plus, Whitstable is so near, you’ll be back home before you know it – as long as you don’t get too caught up in all its loveliness and miss the last train.

How far? 50 miles

Get there One hour 15 minutes from St Pancras International, around two hours by car.

Whether you’ve been to Oxford or not, you'll have heard of its reputation. Oxford has history, food, humour – and it’s got some of the most beautiful colleges, museums and pubs on the planet.

So, if you want to soak up the views then Oxford in the place to be. Grab a tea and cake at The Grand Café; meander round the shops of the Covered Market; take a punt down the river; eat at Gee’s; or have a drink at The King’s Arms, where countless illustrious thinkers have put the world to rights over the years. Who knows what you'll come up with?

How far? 59.7 miles

Get there Get a 50mins train from London Paddington 

With its pebble beach, wall-to-wall live music venues and buzzing LGBTQ+ scene, there’s nowhere better for topping up your Vitamin Sea levels than Brighton. Start your day by dodging seagulls on the Palace Pier, then shop up a storm in the Lanes, which are a haven of independent boutiques, record stores and vegan eateries. After, treat yourself to a couple of pints in the Brighton Beer Dispensary, which champions small Sussex breweries like the Hand Brew Co.

How far? A little over 50 miles

Get there One hour by train from Victoria, Blackfriars or London Bridge; around two hours by car. 

Quieter, smaller and (whisper it) prettier than Oxford, Cambridge has plenty to keep you entertained. A visit to the Fitzwilliam Museum is a fine way to start your trip, followed by a bite at Fitzbillies. Make sure to buy a box of the sticky chelsea buns to take home. Spend a couple of hours wandering around the colleges and King’s Chapel before taking to the river for a spot of punting: you can opt to man your boat yourself (be warned: it's harder than it looks) or get a behatted expert to guide you. Come teatime, head for Grantchester and feast on scones in The Orchard Tea Gardens, just like poet Rupert Brooke.

How far? 64 miles

Get there 45 minutes by train from King’s Cross; one hour ten minutes from Liverpool Street; around two hours by car. 

Though it might not get shouted about the way Margate and Whitstable do, Deal ticks all the day-trip boxes with its quaint rows of Georgian houses, unique boutiques and well-loved Saturday market. Kick things off at Deal Castle (built by Henry VIII as part of an ambitious chain of coastal forts), then treat yourself to lunch at 81 Beach Street or Victuals & Co. Parisian-style bottle shop Le Pinardier is great for stocking up on gluggable goodies, and make sure you stop by gallery-cum-homewares boutique Taylor-Jones & Son, where Delilah the sheepdog will welcome you with open paws.

How far? Just over 80 miles

Get there One hour 20 minutes by train from St Pancras International; around two hours by car. 

A glorious water-themed day awaits you in the city of Bath. Start as you mean to go on with a tour of the Romans baths (sadly, no paddling allowed in our modern day) before making a splash in the Thermae Bath Spa – the rooftop pool has stunning views of the city. Once you’ve dried off, make like Jane Austen and stroll along the Royal Crescent. Peckish? Sally Lunn’s teahouse is home to the Sally Lunn Bun, a kind of sweet brioche bap – for a Bath spin on the cream tea, order one toasted and spread with strawberry jam and clotted cream.

How far? 115 miles

Get there One hour 30 minutes by train from Paddington; two hours 30 minutes by car. 

In Chaucer’s day, this was where people came for a big old religious knees-up. Today, Canterbury is a little more sedate, but its large student population means you can still find a rowdy edge to the city. Kick things off with a leisurely stroll down the King’s Mile, home to boutiques aplenty. Lunchwise, you’re spoilt for choice, from bento boxes at Tamago or pizza straight from the oven at indoor farmers’ market The Goods Shed. Round off your very own Canterbury tale with a visit to the Beaney House of Art and Knowledge, which features one of the world’s most important collections of cow paintings and a mummified Egyptian cat.

How far? 61 miles

Get there One hour by train from St Pancras International; around one hour 30 minutes by car.

There’s a reason so many Londoners moved to St Leonards-On-Sea during lockdown – it’s a cracking day out from the Big Smoke for beachside drinks and a tonne of great food spots. Head to food market Heist (basically a much nicer version of Boxpark) for orange wine and street food, then sink pints at Goat Ledge, a vibey, colourful shack right on the beach. If you fancy splashing out a little, book dinner at the fabulously old-school St Clement’s for white tablecloths and delicious seafood. Plus you've got easy access to the rest of Hastings for its Old Town, pier and the Norman castle ruins.

How far? 58 miles

How to get there: A one hour 18 minute train from London Charing Cross

The antique shops and higgledy-piggledy cobbled lanes of Rye make it feel like a little slice of the Cotswolds on the coast. After you’ve satisfactorily browsed around the accurately named Tiny Book Store, treat yourself to a seafood lunch surrounded by lobster pots at Globe Inn Marsh, followed by Sussex real ale or a glass of local wine at The George. The Chapel Down vineyard is just up the road and well worth a visit if you want to know the ins and outs of wine-making – or simply enjoy a tipple with their signature wine tasting. Ten minutes away, you'll find the pillowy dunes of Camber Sands – the perfect place to roll your trousers up and take a splash through the shallows, take a kite for a spin or just park your towel, stretch out and relax.

How far? 79 miles.

Get there One hour 10 minutes by train from St Pancras International (with a change at Ashford); around two hours by car. 

Biking to green and pleasant Surrey is a wheely nice way to spend a Sunday (sorry) – plus, Box Hill was part of the 2012 Olympic road-cycling route. Start in Richmond Park and pedal down past Hampton Court – it should take you about two hours. After a 1.6 mile climb and some hairpin bends (easier than it sounds!), you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of the North Downs from the top of Box Hill. Grab a slice of cake from the National Trust café, and save space for lunch at The Tree, which serves homemade pies and crumbles. Your last stop is Box Hill and Westhumble station, where you can load your bikes on to a train back to Waterloo. Whew!

How far? 30 miles

Get there Two hours by bike (obviously). Plan the route carefully before you set out, and take a map and a puncture repair kit, plus water and snacks.