Katie Gregory

While London has stacks of family-friendly things to do – from parks and museums to play areas and activity centres – it’s always nice to treat the kids (and yourself) to a day trip. Luckily, you'll find fresh air and adventure just an hour or two outside the city's hectic centre. Whether you’ve got a Saturday, half term or summer holiday to fill, we’ve got plenty of ideas for London day trips with kids, by train or by car. You’ll find brilliant ideas for animal lovers, daring adventurers and youngsters (and parents) who just want to run free in the great outdoors. From ancient castles and retro theme parks to enchanted trains and real-life steam engines, these are London’s best family-friendly day trips, all within easy reach of the capital.   RECOMMENDED: The best day trips from London RECOMMENDED: The best areas of natural beauty near London

Falmouth is a two-for-one destination. The Cornish harbourside town lines up all the classic seaside essentials, while its position on the Fal Estuary also makes it a springboard for reaching the sleepy hamlets, meandering creeks and secret gardens of the Roseland Peninsula. This decidedly green spot basks in a mild microclimate, making it bloom like a tropical paradise – even in the frosty winter months. And with everything from peaceful boat trips to immense tropical gardens, you're never short of things to do either. Here's how to spend the perfect weekend in Falmouth.  RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in England📍 The best things to do in the UK At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Did you know, no new houses have been built in Castle Combe since the 1600s? Well it’s true, and that’s just one of the things that make this such a picture-perfect little town. Castle Combe is a special kind of place, and if you’ve been, you know. This is where you can live out all of your Downtown Abbey dreams (which was actually filmed here, don’t you know).  Here you’ll find historic monuments, cute villages and traditional tearooms, all with that incredibly cute, honey hue across strings of Cotswolds-esque stone cottages, lined with rich greenery. You’ll only need a couple of nights here, as you can see the town by foot, but if you nab a nice hotel, why not stay longer? From famous pubs to fine dining, here are the best things to do in Castle Combe.  RECOMMENDED: 📍 The best things to do in Bath📍 The best things to do in Bristol📍 The best things to do in the Costwolds

Broadstairs is probably most famous for being one of Charles Dickens' favourite places to escape to. But, often overlooked in favour of neighbouring Margate or Whitstable, this town has got much, much more going for it.  With its backdrop of chalk cliffs and seven golden bays to be explored, Broadstairs has sea views for days – many of which can be enjoyed with a pint in hand or while gorging on some its  excellent food offerings. You can build up a hefty appetite by navigating the area's gorgeous coastal trails or perusing its superb independent shops. So, without further ado, these are the best things to do in Broadstairs right now. RECOMMENDED: 🌤️ The best things to do in Deal📍 The best things to do in Ramsgate 👀 The best things to do in Whitstable  At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Everyone loves St Ives. Cornwall’s most charming town is everything visitors want this gorgeous part of the world to be, featuring weather-beaten pubs, vanishing beaches, shimmering light and architectural magnificence at every turn. Tate St Ives is the town’s leading act, but its artistic streak extends far beyond that rightfully celebrated spot, although it is easy to comment that St Ives is art in town form.Yeah, St Ives is lyrical, we can say that much. The best things to do in St Ives will stir the imagination and relax the heart all at once. Embrace everything this place has to offer, and you’re in for the trip of a lifetime. Also, seafood! Beaches! Come on, it is Cornwall; what else do you expect?

In this secluded corner of Wales, paradise awaits. Okay, it isn’t your stereotypical paradise with palm trees and drinks in coconuts, but Pembrokeshire remains one of the most magical places in the United Kingdom. Trace a line on the map directly west of London, and you’ll eventually reach Dale, a tiny village on the edge of the Celtic Sea and a great base for exploring the area.What does it mean to explore the area? Coastal serenity, primarily, but the best things to do in Dale offer all sorts of village charm. Get ready for sand, sea and serenity in Dale. You might even get some sun, if you’re lucky.

Canterbury is a daytripper's dream. Just an hour by train from London and within easy reach of the coast, arriving here it's easy to see why pilgrims have been heading to this Kentish gem for over 1,000 years. Its spectacular cathedral is where Archbishop Thomas Becket was martyred, killed by Henry II’s knights. And it's to Saint Thomas’s shrine where the characters in Geoffrey Chaucer's ‘The Canterbury Tales’ were heading. These days, an altogether less pious pilgrimage involves languid river punts, exploring superb antiques shops and sipping pints in half-timbered pubs – but any trip here should always start with that epic cathedral. RECOMMENDED: Visit nearby Whitstable, Margate and Sandwich

Brighton is the perfect destination for kids with energy to burn. Whether it’s a day spent on the most quintessential of English beaches, eating fish and chips and playing in the sea, or spending a fortune in coppers on the pier's arcades, it’s about as old-school as it gets. But with excellent free parks, a string of brilliant (if pricey) attractions and a series of ace museums, there are tons of options for when the weather takes a turn for the worse or boredom sets in. This is our guide to the best things to do in Brighton with kids. RECOMMENDED: The best family day trips near London

Newbury is always reinventing itself. From ancient wool hub to grain-trading hotbed, the town has morphed its way through the centuries – and it’s still doing it in 2020. Between grand houses and endless listed buildings, now you’ll find up-and-coming indie restaurants, a market that champions emerging designer-makers and buzzy pubs serving a young crowd. And then there’s the star attraction for fans of a certain period drama: a nineteenth-century country house with a thoroughly modern-day following. RECOMMENDED: The best day trips from London 

Wells sits pretty on the edge of the Mendip Hills, about an hour south of city-break heavyweights Bristol and Bath. One of England’s smallest cities – second only to the City of London, fyi – it’s perfectly proportioned for a day trip, with each pristine medieval sight an easy walk from the next. Start at the gorgeous Gothic cathedral, wander over to the moated Bishop’s Palace, then tread the cobbles of Vicars’ Close, the best-preserved of its kind in the country. Take it easy and embrace this pint-sized city’s go-slow feel. RECOMMENDED: Dazzling day trips near London

Need a bit of inspiration to fill in the last couple of weeks of the school holidays? There's a ridiculous amount of fun to be had across the capital – not to mention a wealth of family day trips to take. And if you've already managed to take them to an education event or two, why not treat the kids to an afternoon tea? RECOMMENDED: Summer holidays in London

Looking for things to do in London with little ones? When you’ve explored the city’s child-friendly museums and run around all of London’s playgrounds, why not treat the kids to a traditional afternoon tea. It might have a fancy rep, but afternoon tea doesn’t have to be a snooty, kid-free zone. From cake on a London bus to creative spreads inspired by their favourite stories, here are some the best high teas for families.  RECOMMENDED: The best afternoon teas in London

Come face-to-face with the beasts who once roamed the city in the Museum of London’s new interactive digital installation. 'Beasts of London' takes visitors on a journey through London’s past via a cast of animal narrators. Ages 7+. 

Explore the universe via a planetarium show at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. Watch ‘The Sky Tonight Live’, presented by an astronomer, to find out what is in the stars for the month ahead. Whimsical, but also super fascinating.  While you’re at the Royal Observatory, do also get a selfie straddling Earth’s eastern and western hemispheres on the Prime Meridian Line. Or, you could also learn about dark matter at neighbouring exhibition ‘Phantom of the Universe’. Then wander through the Time and Longitude gallery and ponder how anyone got anywhere before sat nav.

Get stuck into this interactive exhibition: with an explosive chemistry bar, daily shows and demonstrations, offers a touchy-feely tour of all things science that will leave the kids’ heads spinning. Afterwards, you can always treat them to a science-themed afternoon tea at The Ampersand Hotel next door, because they’ll never be too old for posh cakes shaped like planets.

There’s no shortage of places to nurse a cuppa in London, whether you’re sipping a loose-leaf blend from a bone china teacup, or dunking a bag of English breakfast in a mug. But in southern Cornwall, you can drink the UK’s only homegrown tea right on the land the leaves were picked from. Tregothnan Tea Estate is the UK’s first tea plantation. It’s a vast Cornish estate that dates back to the 1300s and houses the biggest historic botanic garden in Cornwall. Thanks to a warm microclimate, all sort of rare plants thrive here, like camellia sinensis – better known as tea plants – and heady herbs like chamomile (also good for tea). Tregothnan first started selling its hand-picked tea back in 2005 and now the British blends are stocked in Liberty. Photograph: Tregothnan Tea Estate Swing by to take a private tour of the gardens followed by a cream tea, or take part in one of the estate’s educational sessions like beekeeping and a tea-making masterclass where you can learn to make your very own brew.  Photograph: Tregothnan Tea Estate Then pop into the estate’s shop and stock up tea and biscuits (because no tea break is complete without a snack) and head home for another brew. Milk, no sugar, ta.  Near Truro, Cornwall. Private tour and cream tea from £65. Find out more here.  Fancy staying over after drinking tea all day? Book a room at Cornwall’s best hotels ... or if you’re in the capital, have a scone with your cuppa at one of London’s afternoon tea experiences