More about: 11 Best Day Trips from London
If you have enough time during your visit to London or have already visited the British capital on previous occasions, set out to discover the wonders that await you just a few hours away from the city.
1. Excursions to Stonehenge
I will never forget when my parents took me to see Stonehenge during a stay in England. I was quite young, but seeing this immense stone monument, which is over 5,000 years old, is truly impressive and unforgettable due to the mysterious stories surrounding its construction.
To take this excursion to Stonehenge, you will need to set aside a full day, as the total duration is 6 hours (it is almost a 2-hour journey), with 3 hours to visit the monument, its museum and visitor centre, where a replica of a Stone Age settlement is on display. The visit includes an audio guide in 9 languages, including Spanish, and return bus travel from London.
What does this excursion include?
- Entrance to the visitor centre and Stonehenge circle
- Bottled water
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Toilet available on board
- Audio guide
Approximate itinerary
- Departure point - London Bridge Street and Harrington Gardens, Kensington
- Departure time - 7:00 am
- Stonehenge
- Return - Back to the original starting point.
2. Excursions to Harry Potter Park and Oxford
If you're a fan of the Harry Potter saga and want to make the most of your trip to London to discover the locations where many of the scenes were filmed, this day trip is perfect for you. In addition to visiting the famous Warner Bros. Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter, you'll also get to know the historic university city of Oxford, whose imposing colleges inspired J.K. Rowling's magical universe.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter
Immerse yourself in the world of Harry Potter with a visit to Warner Bros. Studios, where you can tour iconic film sets such as the Hogwarts Great Hall, Diagon Alley and the Forbidden Forest. Discover original costumes, special effects and behind-the-scenes secrets that brought the famous saga to life.
Oxford
Before delving into the world of cinema, you will stop in Oxford, home to one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world. Here you will explore its magnificent colleges, such as Christ Church, which inspired the Great Hall at Hogwarts. You will also stroll through the historic streets that have been the setting for numerous film productions.
What does this excursion include?
- Entrance to Warner Bros. Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter
- Guided walking tour of Oxford
- Transportation in a luxury air-conditioned coach
- Professional guide throughout the excursion
Approximate itinerary
- Departure time - 8:00
- Starting point - Victoria Coach Station, London
- Guided tour of Oxford (1.5 hours)
- Free time in Oxford (30 minutes)
- Warner Bros. Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter (4 hours, admission included)
- Return - Back to original departure point
3. Excursions to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Oxford
If you prefer to see more places rather than spending more time in each one, and you have a free day to spend outside London, the excursion to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Oxford is a good idea because of its convenience and the variety and spectacular nature of the monuments it includes.
Windsor
This excursion to Windsor, Stonehenge and Oxford begins in Windsor, a magnificent medieval town just 45 minutes from London, famous for its castle, home to the British royal family for over 900 years and one of the best preserved in the world.
Stonehenge
Afterwards, you can view and take photos from outside or enter the fascinating 5,000-year-old megalithic site of Stonehenge, with the entrance fee included.
Oxford
You will continue your journey to Oxford, almost two hours from London and famous for being home to the oldest and most prestigious university in Great Britain. There you can take a walking tour of its picturesque cobbled streets with a professional guide who will take you to places such as the Bodleian Library, one of the oldest in Europe, and the Sheldonian Theatre.
What does this excursion include?
- Air-conditioned coach transfer
- Professional guide
- Guided tour of Oxford with headphones
- Option to enter Windsor Castle. You can also purchase tickets to the castle separately from the excursion without a guide or group.
- Option to enter Stonehenge
Approximate itinerary
- Departure point - Victoria Coach Station, gates 1 to 5, 164 Buckingham Palace Road
- Departure time - 8:00 am (boarding at 7:30 am)
- Windsor Castle - 1.5 hours with optional entry included
- Stonehenge - 1 hour with optional entry included
- University of Oxford - 1 hour, admission not included
- Return - Return to original starting point
4. Excursions to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Bath
Another option for enjoying a day out of London and seeing amazing places less than two hours from the capital is the excursion to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Bath, which is very similar to the previous one in terms of how it works and its duration, but visits Bath instead of Oxford and allows you to choose between the tour that includes tickets to two of these monuments or the one that gives you access to all of them.
Windsor
You will begin the excursion in the medieval town of Windsor, where you can see the majesty of its castle, one of the oldest in the world. You may even be lucky enough to see the royal standard flying from the flagpole of the castle's Round Tower, which means that Queen Elizabeth II herself is inside. Don't miss the interior visit to the medieval Gothic-style St George's Chapel.
Stonehenge
On your tour of southern England, you will stop at one of the most enigmatic monuments in the world: Stonehenge. This impressive thousand-year-old stone circle is still shrouded in mystery, and its majesty will leave you speechless as you explore its fascinating history and theories about its origin.
Bath
Your adventure will end with a visit to one of the most beautiful cities in Great Britain. Bath is famous for its elegant Georgian architecture, exemplified by its Royal Crescent, a row of 30 terraced houses from 1774 arranged in a crescent, and the famous Pulteney Bridge, one of only four in the world with shops on both sides and along its length, like the well-known Ponte Vecchio in Florence.
What does this excursion include?
- Panoramic tour of Georgian Bath
- Professional guide / Audio guide in several languages
- Transport in a luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi
- Option to enter Windsor Castle
- Optional entry to Stonehenge
- Optional entry to the Roman Baths
Approximate itinerary
- Departure point - Victoria Coach Station, Gates 1-5, 164 Buckingham Palace Road, London
- Departure time - 8:00 AM (boarding at 7:30)
- Windsor Castle (1 hour)
- Stonehenge (1 hour)
- Bath (1 hour)
- Return - Vauxhall Bridge Road, London
5. Excursions to the English countryside from London: Oxford, the Cotswolds, Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick Castle
The day trip to Oxford, Warwick Castle and Stratford-upon-Avon is one of the most comprehensive and I recommend it if you are looking for some peace and quiet and nature after a few intense days in central London, as it includes some of the most beautiful places in the English countryside.
Warwick Castle
During your day trip, you will enjoy a visit to a medieval castle, Warwick Castle, built on 26 hectares of rolling hills and manicured gardens on the banks of the River Avon. There you can learn about its history through a multi-sensory attraction and live performances of medieval sports, such as jousting and archery tournaments, and explore the castle's opulent décor, such as its 17th-century Great Hall.
Stratford-upon-Avon
You will visit the birthplace of one of the greatest figures in world literature in Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare, whose house you can visit, and then stroll through the cobbled streets of another cradle of learning, Oxford, the second oldest university in the world.
What does this excursion include?
- Professional guide
- Entrance to Warwick Castle
- Headphones
- Guided walking tour of Oxford
- Wi-Fi on the coach
- Comfortable air-conditioned vehicle
Approximate itinerary
- Starting point - Victoria Station bus station
- Departure time - 8:30
- University of Oxford
- Warwick Castle (1 hour 30 minutes)
- Stratford-upon-Avon
- Return - Vauxhall Bridge Road, London
6. Excursions to Oxford and Cambridge
Wandering through the cobbled streets, parks and canals of these cities is like travelling back in time. The day trip to Oxford and Cambridge allows you to see for yourself the magnificent buildings that house two of the world's oldest and most notable universities.
Oxford
Oxford is also known for its distinctive architecture, which includes notable examples of every architectural period since Saxon times. There you can enjoy a visit to one of the oldest libraries in Europe, the Bodleian Library, and its most famous college, Christ Church, where some of the scenes from the famous Harry Potter saga were filmed and historical figures such as Lewis Carroll, Bill Clinton and David Cameron studied.
Cambridge
Newton, Stephen Hawking and Sylvia Plath are the names of other distinguished students from the University of Cambridge, a beautiful city that you will visit during the excursion, as well as its impressive library, the Cavendish Laboratory and King's College Chapel.
What does this excursion include?
- Walking tour of Oxford and Cambridge
- Visit to Christ Church College
- Lunch
- Visit to King's College
- Professional guide
- Luxury air-conditioned coach
Approximate itinerary
- Departure point - Fountain Square, Colonnade Walk, Buckingham Palace Rd, Victoria, London
- Departure time - 8:30
- University of Oxford
- Christ Church
- King's College Chapel
- Bodleian Library
- University of Cambridge and its bookshop
- Return - Back to the original starting point
7. Excursions to Downton Abbey and the Cotswolds
If you're a fan of the iconic Downton Abbey series, this excursion from London will take you to explore the real locations where the series was filmed and discover the charming landscapes of the Cotswolds, one of the most picturesque regions in England. Immerse yourself in the history and luxury of the British aristocracy as you visit the impressive Highclere Castle, the mansion that brought the Crawley family's residence to life.
Highclere Castle
The tour includes a visit to Highclere Castle, the majestic estate that served as the iconic mansion of Downton Abbey. Here you can explore its luxurious halls, libraries and gardens while discovering the real history behind this impressive noble residence.
Cotswolds villages
In addition to visiting the castle, the tour will take you on a tour of the Cotswolds, a fairytale region with villages full of stone houses, cobbled streets and green landscapes. Among the highlights is Bampton, the village that represented Downton in the series and home to iconic landmarks such as St. Mary's Church.
What does this excursion include?
- Entrance to Highclere Castle
- Visit to the main locations of Downton Abbey
- Tour of the Cotswolds
- Transport in a luxury air-conditioned coach
- Expert guide on the history of Downton Abbey
Approximate itinerary
- Departure time - 8:30
- Starting point - Victoria Coach Station, London
- Visit to the village of Bampton (location of Downton in the series)
- Tour of the Cotswolds
- Visit to Highclere Castle (entrance fee included)
- Return - Back to the original departure point
8. 5-day excursions to the Devon and Cornwall region
Discover the beauty of the medieval villages of Devon and Cornwall on this 5-day excursion that will take you through some of the most breathtaking landscapes in southern England. If you are looking to escape the hustle and bustle of London and explore the history, nature and mysteries of this region, this tour is perfect for you.
Devon and Cornwall
During this tour, you will visit charming villages such as Exeter, Tintagel, Glastonbury and Dartmoor, where you can admire their castles, ruins and historical monuments. The tour will allow you to learn about the history of these places while enjoying their spectacular natural landscapes.
Stonehenge
One of the days will be dedicated to visiting Stonehenge, the famous circle of monoliths that remains an enigma to archaeologists and travellers from all over the world. You will have plenty of time to explore this iconic site and learn about its theories and stories.
What does this excursion include?
- Transport in an air-conditioned vehicle with a driver-guide
- Tour of Exeter, Tintagel, Glastonbury and Dartmoor
- Visit to Stonehenge
- Four nights' hotel accommodation with breakfast
- Small groups for a more personalised experience
Itinerary
- Departure point - Victoria Coach Station, London
- Departure time - 9:00
- Day 1 - Depart London and visit Stonehenge and Exeter
- Day 2 - Tour of Dartmoor and Tintagel
- Day 3 - Explore the Cornish coast
- Day 4 - Glastonbury and return to Devon
- Day 5 - Return to London
9. Excursions to Paris by high-speed train from London
Make the most of your trip to London to discover Paris, the iconic City of Light, on this day trip to the French capital. Thanks to the high-speed train, you can travel comfortably between the two capitals and enjoy a full day exploring the most iconic corners of Paris.
Tour of Paris
After a journey of around 4½ hours by train, you will arrive in the majestic city of Paris. There, you will take a panoramic bus tour of its most representative sites, such as the Sacré-Coeur district , the Champs-Élysées and the Place de la Concorde. Throughout the day, you will be accompanied by an expert tour guide, who will help you discover the secrets and history of the city.
Cruise on the Seine
To complete the experience, the excursion includes a cruise on the River Seine, from where you can admire impressive monuments such as the Eiffel Tower. You will also enjoy a delicious three-course lunch with champagne as you sail along the waters of Paris' iconic river.
What does this excursion include?
- Return ticket on the high-speed train
- Bus tour of the main sights of Paris
- Cruise on the Seine with three-course lunch and champagne
- Tour guide throughout the excursion
- Free time to explore the city
Itinerary
- Departure point - St Pancras Station, London
- Departure time - 6:00
- High-speed train journey to Paris
- Panoramic bus tour of the city
- Cruise on the Seine with lunch
- Free time to explore Paris
- Return to London by train
10. Day trips to Leeds, Canterbury, Dover and Greenwich
Explore some of the most fascinating places in south-east England on this day trip from London. From the majesty of Leeds Castle to the imposing Canterbury Cathedral and the iconic white cliffs of Dover, this tour will immerse you in the country's history, culture and most impressive landscapes. You will also end the day in Greenwich, the cradle of British navigation.
Leeds Castle
Known as "the most charming castle in the world", Leeds Castle is an architectural gem surrounded by spectacular gardens and lakes. During the visit, you can explore its luxurious rooms and learn about its fascinating history, which spans from the Middle Ages to the present day.
Canterbury Cathedral
In the medieval city of Canterbury, you will visit its famous cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This impressive temple is the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury and has witnessed important historical events, such as the murder of Thomas Becket in 1170.
White Cliffs of Dover
One of England's most iconic landscapes is the White Cliffs of Dover, an imposing chalk formation overlooking the sea. From here, you can enjoy spectacular coastal scenery and learn about the strategic importance of this area throughout history.
Greenwich
The tour ends in Greenwich, famous for its naval history and the Prime Meridian. Stroll through this charming London neighbourhood, visit its markets and discover Britain's maritime heritage at places such as the Cutty Sark and the Royal Observatory.
What does this tour include?
- Entrance to Leeds Castle
- Guided tour of Canterbury Cathedral
- Tour of the White Cliffs of Dover
- Stop at Greenwich
- Transport in a luxury air-conditioned coach
- Expert guide throughout the tour
Itinerary
- Departure time - 8:30
- Starting point - Victoria Coach Station, London
- Visit to Leeds Castle (entrance fee included)
- Tour of Canterbury and visit to the cathedral
- Stop at the White Cliffs of Dover
- Exploration of Greenwich
- Return - Back to the original starting point
11. Excursions to Edinburgh from London
Make the most of your stay in London to discover Edinburgh, one of the most fascinating cities in the United Kingdom. On this day trip to Edinburgh, you will travel by high-speed train to the Scottish capital, where you can explore its impressive historic centre and enjoy a sightseeing bus tour to discover the city's most iconic spots.
Tour of Edinburgh
Upon arrival in Edinburgh, you will have access to a hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus, allowing you to explore the city at your own pace. You can admire iconic sites such as the Royal Mile, Holyroodhouse Palace and St Giles' Cathedral, among other points of interest.
Edinburgh Castle
One of the highlights of the tour is a visit to Edinburgh Castle, one of Scotland's most impressive fortresses. From its walls, you will enjoy spectacular views of the city, as well as discovering its history and the Scottish Crown Jewels.
What does this excursion include?
- Return ticket on the high-speed train
- Hop-on hop-off tourist bus in Edinburgh
- Entrance to Edinburgh Castle
- City map and information guide
- Free time to explore Edinburgh at your own pace
Itinerary
- Departure time - 6:30
- Departure point - King's Cross Station, London
- High-speed train journey to Edinburgh
- Sightseeing bus tour of the city
- Visit to Edinburgh Castle (entrance included)
- Free time to explore
- Return - Train back to London in the afternoon
Other activities in London that may interest you
If you haven't decided on a specific excursion yet or simply prefer to organise your time in the capital beforehand, here are some articles and guides I've written that may help you decide which attractions, tours or places you'd most like to visit. I hope you find them useful! You can start by 10 Best Tours in London and also read about London Eye Tickets or Madame Tussauds in London: Tickets and Tours.
If you prefer to visit as many attractions as possible, I recommend making your trip more efficient by purchasing a tourist card (in this article on London Tourist Cards I recommend the best ones) or booking a ticket for the tourist bus, a quick and convenient way to get around the city. Read more information in this article: London Hop-On Hop-Off Buses.