Day Trip to Stonehenge
The stone circle on Salisbury Plain is about 2 hours 20 minutes from London by road. Coach tours often pair it with Bath, Windsor Castle or Oxford on the same day.
4.6 out of 5 · 69,437 reviews
Day Trips from London
Day trips from London in 2026 reach Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, the Cotswolds and Bath. Oxford, Cambridge and Paris by Eurostar also fit into a single day.
Day Trip to Cotswolds
Honey-coloured villages such as Bourton-on-the-Water, Bibury and Stow-on-the-Wold lie about two and a half hours west of London by road. Tours loop through several in a day.
Day Trip to Paris
The Eurostar reaches Paris in about two and a half hours each way. A day trip from London is a long one, with an early start and a late return to the city.
Scotland lies far to the north of London, so trips there from London run over several days. Coach tours combine Edinburgh and the Highlands with stops in northern England.
Day Trip to Bath
Bath, about 1 hour 20 minutes west of London by train, centres on its 2,000-year-old Roman Baths and the Georgian Royal Crescent. The abbey and Pulteney Bridge sit close by.
Day Trip to Windsor Castle
The world's oldest occupied castle is 30 to 55 minutes from central London by train. Visits cover the State Apartments and St George's Chapel, and the Changing of the Guard on set days.
Day Trip to Oxford
Oxford is under an hour from Paddington, with guided walks through Christ Church, the Bodleian Library and the Radcliffe Camera. Some tours add the Cotswolds or Blenheim Palace.
Day Trip to Stonehenge and Bath
This combo covers prehistoric megaliths and Georgian architecture in one full day. Coach tours visit Stonehenge first, then continue west to Bath for the Roman Baths and free time.
Day Trip to Downton Abbey
Tours visit Highclere Castle, the real filming location for Downton Abbey, set in 1,000 acres of Hampshire parkland. Some add Bampton village, used for exterior shots of the show.
Day Trip to Cambridge
Cambridge is under an hour from King's Cross, known for King's College Chapel and punting on the River Cam. Guided tours cover the colleges, the Backs and the medieval market square.
Day Trip to Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio
The Leavesden studio holds original sets from the Harry Potter films, including the Great Hall. It is about 1 hour 35 minutes from London by road, or a train and a shuttle bus.
Day Trip to Wales
Wales lies west of London across the Severn, with Cardiff, the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia among its draws. Trips from London cross the border for castles and coast.
Day Trip to Stonehenge and Cotswolds
Stonehenge and the Cotswold villages both lie west of London, about two and a half hours away by road. Tours pair the stone circle with a loop of honey-coloured villages.
Day Trip to Brighton
Brighton is about an hour south of London by train, with the Royal Pavilion, the Lanes and a pebble seafront. Trips from London often pair it with the Seven Sisters cliffs.
Day Trip to Canterbury
Canterbury Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, anchors this medieval city less than an hour from St Pancras. Walking tours cover the old walls, Chaucer sites and the River Stour.
Day Trip to Seven Sisters
The chalk cliffs of the South Downs stand about 3 hours from London by road, near Eastbourne and Birling Gap. Day trips from London often combine them with Brighton.
Edinburgh is about 4 hours 20 minutes from London by direct train. A day trip there is a long one, with most of the time between trains spent in the Scottish capital.
Day Trip to Lake District
The Lake District is about 2 hours 40 minutes from London by train to Oxenholme, and over 5 hours by road. Day trips from London add a lake cruise and a cream tea.
Day Trip to Stonehenge and Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle, west of London, and Stonehenge, about 2 hours 20 minutes away by road, fit into one coach day. Many tours continue to Bath or Oxford before the return.
Day Trip to Bath and Cotswolds
Bath and the Cotswold villages both lie west of London, Bath about 1 hour 20 minutes away by train. Tours combine the Roman Baths with honey-coloured villages on the way.
Day Trip to Liverpool
Liverpool is about 2 hours 15 minutes from London by direct train. Trips from London centre on Liverpool FC's Anfield stadium and the city where the Beatles began.
Day Trip to Oxford and Cambridge
This combo visits both rival university cities in one day, with guided walks through their colleges and chapels. Coach tours spend the morning in one and the afternoon in the other.
Day Trip to Oxford and Cotswolds
Oxford, about an hour from London by train, sits at the eastern edge of the Cotswolds. Tours pair its colleges with the villages, and some add Stratford-upon-Avon or Warwick.
A ferry from Portsmouth puts you on the island in 22 minutes, with the Needles, Osborne House and coastal footpaths to explore. Full-day tours from London include transport and a guide.
Day Trip to Stratford-upon-Avon
Shakespeare's birthplace is about two and a half hours from London by road, with five heritage houses and the RSC theatre. Tours often pair it with Oxford and Warwick Castle.
Day Trip to Stonehenge and Salisbury
Salisbury and its cathedral lie south of Stonehenge on the edge of Salisbury Plain. Trips from London pair the two with Windsor Castle or the Roman city of Bath.
Day Trip to Midsomer Murders
Filming locations in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire include Bampton, Warborough and Dorchester-on-Thames. Guided tours visit pubs, churches and lanes featured across the show.
Day Trip to Leeds Castle
Leeds Castle in Kent is about 1 hour 50 minutes from London by road. Tours pair it with Canterbury Cathedral and the white cliffs of Dover, some with a Greenwich boat ride.
Day Trip to English Countryside
The Cotswolds, Blenheim Palace and the stone villages of Oxfordshire make up the countryside these trips reach, about two and a half hours west of London by road.
Day Trip to Stonehenge and Oxford
Oxford, about an hour from London, and Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain fit into one long coach day. Most of these tours also stop at Windsor Castle on the way.
Bath and Oxford both lie west of London, Bath about 1 hour 20 minutes away by train and Oxford about an hour. Trips that pair them run over two days.
The Warner Bros studio at Leavesden, north-west of London, holds the sets of the Harry Potter films. Trips include entry plus a coach transfer or a train and shuttle.
Henry VIII's Tudor palace and its famous hedge maze sit just 35 minutes from Waterloo by train. The baroque gardens and the Great Vine, planted in 1769, are highlights beyond the rooms.
How to choose your day trip from London: a castle morning, a coach day or Paris
From London you can spend a morning at a royal castle, a full coach day among ancient stones and old villages, or a long day across the Channel. In 2026 we list 207 day trips and tours from London across the destinations on this page. To choose, we would ask three things: how many hours you have, what you like and whether you prefer the train or a coach.
Travellers have left more than 69,437 reviews on the trips shown here, with an average rating of 4.6 out of 5.
Of the trips shown here, the one with the most reviews is "London: Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour with Transfers", with more than 28,478 reviews and a rating of 4.7 out of 5.
Half a day, a full day or a long one: London day trips by time
Half a day
Windsor is under an hour from London by train, and its castle, the oldest in the world that is still lived in, fits into a morning. Families and anyone short on time will find our Windsor Castle tours from London the easiest day out.
A full day
Stonehenge takes 90 minutes to two hours to see, which is why coach days pair it with Bath or Windsor. The Cotswolds need the whole day too, because buses between the villages are scarce, so our day trips to the Cotswolds do the driving.
A long day
Paris is about 2 hours 15 minutes away by Eurostar each way, so the day starts very early. If a second capital is worth it, see our day trips to Paris.
Stones, colleges or cliffs: London day trips by what you like
History and castles
Stonehenge is for ancient-history fans and travellers ticking off a list, and our day trips to Stonehenge reach Salisbury Plain in about 2 hours 20 minutes. Windsor is the one for royal fans. Torn between the two? Travellers rate our Stonehenge trips higher, 4.5 against 4.4.
For medieval history there is Canterbury, with its cathedral and city walls. With children, Leeds Castle, on a lake in the Kent countryside, is the easier choice.
University cities
Book lovers and Harry Potter fans head to Oxford for its college courtyards and old libraries. It is under an hour from Paddington, with our day trips to Oxford or on your own. Cambridge suits anyone after a classic university town, with punting on the River Cam. If you want options, Oxford has more of them: 29 trips against 4 to Cambridge.
Villages and countryside
The Cotswolds, with their honey-stone villages and old pubs, are for romantics and photographers. Couples and architecture lovers tend to fall for Bath, a Georgian centre you can walk end to end. It is 1 hour 20 minutes away by direct train, and our day trips to Bath spare you the planning.
Coast and cliffs
The white cliffs of the Seven Sisters have some of England's finest coastal paths, and travellers rate our trips there 4.8 out of 5. Brighton, with its lanes, pier and Royal Pavilion, is the lively side of the same coast.
Film and TV
Harry Potter fans of all ages will love the Warner Bros studio at Leavesden, where the films were made. 48,637 travellers have already reviewed the studio trips we list. Downton Abbey fans have Highclere Castle, the house from the series, but it opens on few dates a year, so book well ahead.
How to compare day trips from London: entry tickets, trains and coaches
Before you book, check two things on each of our London trips: whether the entry tickets are included, and whether it leaves by coach or by train.
| Destination | Ideal for | From London | Trips | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stonehenge | Famous sights | ~2h 20 by road | 36 | 4.5 |
| The Cotswolds | Villages, photographers | ~2h 30 by road | 27 | 4.8 |
| Paris | A second capital | ~2h 15-2h 30 by Eurostar | 11 | 4.5 |
| Bath | Couples, architecture | ~1h 20 by train | 18 | 4.5 |
| Windsor Castle | Families, short on time | 30-55 min by train | 36 | 4.4 |
| Oxford | Books, Harry Potter | ~1h by train | 29 | 4.5 |
| Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey) | Downton Abbey fans | ~1h 45 by road | 8 | 4.7 |
| Cambridge | Punting, a classic university town | ~1h by train | 4 | 4.0 |
| Harry Potter studio, Leavesden | Harry Potter fans | ~1h 35 by road | 22 | 4.7 |
| Brighton | Seaside, shops and food | ~1h by train | 4 | 4.6 |
| Canterbury | Medieval history | ~1h by train | 11 | 4.5 |
| Seven Sisters | Coastal walks | ~3h by road | 6 | 4.8 |
Table data is indicative and comes from the GuruWalk catalogue. Each activity's current details, including availability, are the ones shown on its listing when you book.
Frequently asked questions about day trips from London
What is the best day trip from London?
The best day trip from London depends on how much time you have and what you like. Windsor suits a royal morning, Stonehenge with Bath suits ancient history and Oxford suits book lovers. The trip with the most reviews right now is “London: Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour with Transfers”, with 28,478 reviews and a rating of 4.7 out of 5.
Where can you go within 2 hours of London?
Within two hours of London you can reach Windsor, Oxford, Cambridge, Brighton, Canterbury and Bath by train. By road, the Harry Potter studio, Highclere Castle and Leeds Castle are in that range too. Stonehenge and Paris take a little more than two hours.
How do you get to Stonehenge from London?
Stonehenge is about 2 hours 20 minutes from London by road, on Salisbury Plain. The visit itself takes 90 minutes to two hours, which is why coach day trips pair it with Bath or Windsor.
Which country can you visit on a day trip from London?
France is within a day trip from London, because Paris is about 2 hours 15 minutes away by Eurostar from St Pancras. The day starts very early and the schedule is packed, so it suits travellers who want two capitals in one trip.
What is the best small town to visit outside London?
For small towns, look at the Cotswolds, with villages of honey-coloured stone, thatched cottages and old pubs. Buses between the villages are scarce, so a guided day trip or a car works best. If you prefer one compact place, try Bath.
What is a good day trip from London with kids?
Windsor is the easiest day trip from London with kids, because the castle is under an hour away by train and fits in a morning. Leeds Castle, on a lake in Kent, adds a maze, a grotto and falconry. The Harry Potter studio at Leavesden pleases fans of all ages.
Which day trips from London can you do by train?
By train you can reach Windsor from Waterloo or Paddington, Oxford from Paddington and Bath on a direct line. Paris is a train trip too, by Eurostar from St Pancras. The Cotswolds are harder without a car, because buses between the villages are scarce.
Do day trips from London include the entry tickets?
It depends on the trip. Some include every entry ticket, while others leave them out, cover only some of the sites or charge them with the option you pick. For Windsor Castle or Stonehenge, read what each trip includes before you book.
Continue planning your trip to London
- Free tour
Free Tours in London
Boat Tours
History Walking Tours
Changing of the Guard Tours
Buckingham Palace Tours
Westminster Abbey Tours
British Museum Tickets
Jack the Ripper Tours
Tower of London Tours
Afternoon Tea
Food Tours
London Eye Tickets
Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tours
Churchill War Rooms Tickets
Night Tours
The View from The Shard Tickets
Theatre Tickets
Other Experiences
Keep planning your tripWhat else to do in London: AI itineraryFree and in minutes: GuruWalk's AI builds your day-by-day itinerary with real activities, prices and times.
Explore all day trips from London
Day Trip from London to StonehengeDay Trip from London to CotswoldsDay Trip from London to ParisDay Trip from London to BathDay Trip from London to Windsor CastleDay Trip from London to OxfordDay Trip from London to Stonehenge and BathDay Trip from London to Downton AbbeyDay Trip from London to CambridgeDay Trip from London to Harry Potter Warner Bros StudioDay Trip from London to WalesDay Trip to Stonehenge and CotswoldsDay Trip from London to BrightonDay Trip from London to CanterburyDay Trip from London to Seven SistersDay Trip to Lake DistrictDay Trip to Stonehenge and Windsor CastleDay Trip to Bath and CotswoldsDay Trip to LiverpoolDay Trip from London to Oxford and CambridgeDay Trip to Oxford and CotswoldsDay Trip from London to Stratford-upon-AvonDay Trip to Stonehenge and SalisburyDay Trip from London to Midsomer MurdersDay Trip to Leeds CastleDay Trip to English CountrysideDay Trip to Stonehenge and Oxford
More popular day trip destinations
© GuruWalk SL