Excursions from London: the best day trips around London

Visited by millions of tourists every year, London is a city to see and explore thoroughly. A metropolitan, multicultural city with an ancient history, London is huge and has so many places to visit, a visit cannot be exhausted in a weekend, all the more so if you plan to see the surrounding area. But what are the best destinations for a nice out-of-town excursion? Let's find out together the best day trips around London.

1 - Stonehenge

With their charm and mystery, the gigantic stones of Stonehenge have spanned the millennia to the present day. Impossible not to visit the Neolithic site if you are in London, as it is only 137 km from the British capital.

It is a cromlech, i.e. a circular construction, made up of stones, also known as megaliths, topped by lintels. Although the function of the stones at Stonehenge remains debated, it is thought to have been an astronomical observatory, which, in fact, displays all its beauty on equinox and solstice nights. Unfortunately, however, the stones were moved and reinforced in the early 1900s and it can only be theorised that they now represent the original layout.

• Distance: 137 km

• Gettingthere: You can take a train from Waterloo Station to Salisbury, there is one every hour and the journey takes 1½ hours. The cost of the ticket is £36.00 (approximately €42.00). Salisbury is almost 10 miles from Stonehenge and, to get to the site, you can catch the Stonehenge tour buses outside the station, one runs every half hour, tickets start at £17.00 (€19.50) Get directions

• Times: meet at 13:30 for the summer afternoon tour, or 10:30 for the winter tour. 08:00 for the morning tour. The tour takes 6-7 hours. The site is open from 09:30 to 20:00 in summer, in winter until 17:00.

• Ticket price: £19.00 (€21.00)

• Recommended cards, tickets and tours: From London: Stonehenge half-day tour

2 - Oxford

What can you say about Oxford that you don't already know? It is home to one of the most famous and prestigious universities in the world, and, with its very British ambience, is a very quaint place to visit. Oxford is not even 90 km from London, an excursion that can easily be done in a day, if you plan the places to visit well.

In fact, Oxford has a wealth of visitable colleges, but also museums and libraries that you will find as you explore the quaint, ancient city. One museum among all, the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, is not to be missed. This is not only a place where culture reigns supreme, it has also become a very touristy place and the setting for the Harry Potter adventures, so if you want, you can even take part in a tour dedicated to the locations of the wizard.

• Distance: 90.6 km

• How to get there: from Paddington there is a train every half an hour, the journey takes about an hour from £21.00 (€23.00 approx.) each way. There are also numerous organised tours departing from London. Get directions

• Timetable: the numerous colleges can be visited at different times which can be found on their website

• Tickets: from £2.00 (€2.23), some colleges or museums are free, as is the Natural History Museum

• Card, tickets and recommended tours: Oxford: walking tour of the city and university

3 - Cambridge

After Oxford, we cannot miss the other world-famous university city, Cambridge, a hundred kilometres north of London. Cambridge can also be visited with numerous tours combined with Oxford and departing from London, but if you decide to go on your own, don't worry! You can take part in the official guided tours of the University of Cambridge, which last a couple of hours on average, and learn all about the history of this institution, visit the huge book-lined rooms of the various colleges and hear anecdotes about the most famous students. The tours usually start from the Visitor Information Centre in Cambridge and you can choose from various formulas, the most classic of which is a visit to the University of Cambridge with St. John's College, discover where Newton studied and learn about his famous apple tree.

• Distance: 87.4 km

• How to get there: Trains depart from King's Cross station every 10 minutes and take 50 minutes, tickets start at £25.00 (€27.00) one way. Get directions

• Timetable: the classic tour of Cambridge and St.John's College departs at 12 noon from the Visitor Information Centre and takes 2 hours.

• Ticket price: from £20.00 (€22.30)

• Recommended cards, tickets and tours : Cambridge University: Student-guided walking tour

4 - Canterbury and its Cathedral

The ancient city of Canterbury is located on the coast southeast of London, about a hundred kilometres from the capital. Canterbury is especially famous for its historic Cathedral, which became a very important destination for many pilgrims in the Middle Ages. The city centre, of medieval origin and appearance, is surrounded by walls built by the Romans and criss-crossed by very characteristic cobbled streets.

The Cathedral dates back to 597 AD and is still the seat of the Church of England and the Anglican Communion. Its architecture features Gothic and Romanesque elements, with beautiful stone carvings and stained glass windows. After visiting the Cathedral, it will be nice to get lost in the streets of the charming centre. Many tours departing from London offer a combined visit to Leeds Castle and the town of Dover.

• Distance: 92 km

• How to get there: From St Pancras station you can catch a train on the Southeastern line, it takes less than an hour and there are trains every twenty minutes/half an hour. Tickets start at £34.00 (€38.00). Get directions

• Hours: the Cathedral can be visited Monday to Saturday from 09:00 to 17:00, Sunday from 12:30 to 14:30

• Ticket Cost: £12.50 (€14.00) Cathedral ticket, Sundays free

• Recommended cards, tickets and tours: From London: Leeds Castle, Canterbury Cathedral, Dover

5 - Leeds Castle

Leeds Castle is located some forty kilometres south of London and you can usually choose to take tours that include the previous destinations combined. Indeed, it is impossible to leave England without visiting one of its many famous castles.

The one in Leeds, in particular, is among the most beautiful castles in the world. Leeds Castle is a good 900 years old, well worn, no doubt about it. Not only the well-preserved rooms of the castle will enrapture you and transport you back in time, but also the 500-acre surrounding garden and the free falconry shows, a dip into English medieval traditions.

• Distance: 66.2 km

• Gettingthere: From Victoria there is a train every half hour to Hollingbourne, which takes 1 hour 15 minutes. Then from Troys Mead bus stop you can take the 13 bus towards Penfold Hill, from here the Castle is 400 metres away. The train costs £20.00 (€23.00) each way. Get directions

• Hours: The Castle is open daily, in the summer season from 10:00 to 18:00, in the winter season it closes at 17:00

• Ticket price: £26.00 (€30.00)

• Recommended cards, tickets and tours: From London: Leeds Castle, Canterbury Cathedral, Dover

6 - Dover and the Cliffs

London is close to the English Channel coastline and is very well connected to all the coastal cities, so why not go as far as the world-famous cliffs of Dover, where the tumultuous waters of the Atlantic break, an outpost of England? For centuries, when ships cross the channel, the first sign they see in the distance are the steep, white cliffs of Dover, overlooking the sea, truly scenic.

Also very interesting in Dover is Dover Castle, where the Secret Wartime Tunnels are preserved, tunnels built by General Twiss during the Napoleonic Wars and then discovered and used during the Second World War as a secret shelter and switchboard. From London you can take numerous private tours to visit Dover, also in combination with Canterbury.

• Distance: 116 km

• Gettingthere: From London Bridge Station you can take a train on the Southeastern line which takes 1 hour 45 minutes. There are frequent ones, every half hour, from £28.00 (€31.00) each way.

• Timetable: always cliff-top accessible, the Castle is open daily from 10am to 6pm

• TicketCost: Castle ticket costs £20.00 (€23.00)

• Recommended cards, tickets and tours: From London: Leeds Castle, Canterbury Cathedral, Dover

7 - Seven Sisters Country Park

The cliffs of Dover are by no means the only scenic and interesting point of interest on the English south coast, quite the contrary! From London it is possible to travel to many destinations, for example Eastbourne, where the Seven Sisters Park begins, so called because seven rocky headlands make up the park, a wild and green natural landscape in which to spend a day away from the hustle and bustle of London.

There is a marked path from Eastbourne to Seaford, it is quite easy to walk through and very scenic. In particular, don't miss Beachy Head, the limestone headland from which you can see two lighthouses, Belle Tout lighthouse, no longer working, and Beachy Head lighthouse, at the foot of the cliff. The latter is really scenic and still in operation. If you feel like going on this excursion, remember to take food and water with you, there is only one available restaurant on the route, the area is really unspoilt.

• Distance: 96.5 km

• How to getthere: from Victoria station you can take one of the very frequent Southern line trains to Eastbourne and from there walk to the beach. The journey takes 1½ hours from £34.00 (€38.00) each way.

• Times: always accessible, the full walking tour takes 3 hours, round trip.

• Ticket cost: free

• Card, ticket and recommended tours: Seven Sisters and South Downs: 1 day tour from London

8 - Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is located about forty kilometres west of London, an hour by train, and is well worth a visit. This magnificent castle is the largest and oldest on the European continent and is still in operation, meaning that over the centuries it has never been abandoned and still retains its original purpose: the second residence of the Queen of England. Founded around 1070 with an imposing walled fortification that is still standing today, the castle did not, however, always look like this. Successive monarchs have in fact contributed, some more, some less, to the castle's architecture.

A striking example is the beautiful St. George's Chapel, started by Edward IV and completed by Henry VIII. The village of Windsor, around the castle, is also very impressive. The State Apartments and Semi-State Rooms inside the Castle can also be visited, if, of course, the Queen is not present at the Castle.

• Distance: 35.8 km

• How to getthere: From Waterloo Station take a train to Windsor&Eton Riverside, station a 10-minute walk from the castle (1 hour, £10.80 / €12.00)(Get directions). Tours from London also available with transfer included

• Hours: The Castle is open daily, in summer from 09:45 to 17:15, in winter it closes at 16:15, with last admission one hour before closing. St. George's Chapel is closed every Sunday for the service, but you can attend without visiting.

• Ticket cost: £20.00 (€22.30) in normal service, half if the Queen is present and therefore part of the Castle is closed to the public.

• Recommended cards, tickets and tours: Windsor Castle Entrance Ticket

9 - Warwick Castle

Warwick Castle is one of England's most beautiful medieval castles, shrouded in a truly unique aura of charm, just 147 kilometres from London: not to be missed. The Castle, built from 1068 by William the Conqueror on the banks of the River Avon, is magnificently preserved and you can visit its towers, keeps, State Rooms, Victorian flats and the Mill and Engine House areas.

Historically, it is associated with the Earl of Warwick, one of England's oldest noble titles. The beautiful gardens are also a must-see. They cover 64 acres and were designed by Capability Brown, a famous English landscape architect, in 1750. Inside you can see ancient armour, handicrafts and valuables, and there is also an acting troupe that offers daily performances to recreate that magical medieval atmosphere in the castle's rooms and dungeons.

• Distance: 147 km

• How to getthere: From London Marylebone you can take a Chiltern Railways train to Warwick, the journey takes 1 hour 25 minutes, there is one every half hour, the ticket costs £31.30 (€35.00) one way. From the station, the Castle is a 15 minute walk. Get directions

• Hours: open daily 10am-5pm

• Ticket price: £20.00 (€22.30)

• Recommended cards, tickets and tours: Warwick Castle Tour

10 - Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court is a beautiful palace in South West London, just a few miles away and easily accessible, its magnificence is well worth a day's visit, especially as it is set in lush parkland. The building was constructed in 1515 for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey who, having risen to the position of Chancellor, wanted a residence worthy of his prestige. Within a short time, however, King Henry VIII, having failed to obtain the Pope's approval for his divorce from Catherine of Aragon, broke relations with the cardinal and took possession of the palace, enlarging several areas. At the end of the 17th century, a further renovation gave rise to the meeting of the Tudor and Baroque styles. The palace is huge, so make sure you dedicate a whole day to it, and you can have lunch in the medieval restaurant inside.

• Distance: 20.2km

• Gettingthere: From London Waterloo you can take a South Western train to Kingston, the journey takes half an hour, there are services every ten minutes and the ticket costs £7.40 (€8.25) one way. From Kingston R stop you can take the 111 bus and get off after 5 minutes at Hampton Court Gardens. Get directions

• Hours: open daily from 10am to 6pm

• Ticket price: £22.70 (€25.31)

• Recommended cards, tickets and tours: Hampton Court Palace Tour

11 - Warner Bros Studio

The Warner Bros film studios, about 31 kilometres north of London, are a true paradise for Harry Potter fans. The visit takes about half a day. Inside the studios the props are preserved to recreate the original settings, so you can enter the Gryffindor rooms, Dumbledor's office, the Great Hall and many other places from the saga of the world's most famous wizard.

Inside the studios there are plenty of merchandise shops for you to indulge in and numerous attractions to visit, and you can also choose between various types of visit, almost all of which offer a transfer service from London or even just the guide, who in some cases is a Muggle, who will accompany you during the train journey from London and during the visit to the Studios. We strongly advise you to book your visit, as entrance fees are usually sold out months in advance.

• Distance: 31.7 km

• How to get there: from London Euston you can take a West Midlands line train to Watford Junction, it takes about a quarter of an hour, the ticket costs £10.50 (€11.70) each way. From the station you can take the 10 bus and get off after 10 minutes at Ashfields, the entrance to the Studios is about 8 minutes walk. Get directions

• Hours: open daily from 08:30 to 22:00

• Ticket Cost: Varies depending on type of visit and whether there is a private transfer or not, from €11.38

• Card, ticket and recommended tour: Harry Potter Studios and private transfer from London