There are SO many train day trips from London that you can do! After living in London for 7 years I've realized that because London is a HUGE city, if you live in, say, Blackheath, taking a train out of London Paddington will involve much more travel time than if you live in Notting Hill! Hence, I've decided to organize the day trips you can take out of London based on which London station the train leaves from.
London is great, but sometimes you just want to get out of the city! I've done so many day and weekend trips out of London, I've become the go-to resource for all my friends on car-free destinations that are within easy reach of the capital!
Direct Train Journeys
The locations below can be reached via direct train from London.
There are often several routes from the same station- some routes involve changing trains whilst others are direct- so make sure you book one that is direct if you want to minimize the travel inconvenience!
Bath
Take the train from London Paddington directly to Bath Spa. (1h 14 min)
Things to Do
- Roman Baths
- Bath Skyline Walk
- Jane Austen tour of the city
The City of Bath is not only gorgeous, it's also a World Heritage Site with SO much to do. (I once stayed for 2 weeks, and have visited several times, but still feel there's more I want to do!)
For example, the Roman Baths were constructed over 2000 years ago thanks to the city's natural thermal springs.
Jane Austen lived here for a time, and you can retrace her footsteps through the city, or visit the Jane Austen centre.
Bristol Temple Meads
Take the direct train to Bristol Temple Meads (1h 28 min.)
Things to Do
- Bristol Art Museum
- Bristol Cathedral
- Clifton
Oxford
Take the direct train to Oxford.
Things to Do
- Visit the famous colleges (steep entrance charges though)
- Go punting on the river
- Ashmolean Musem- free
- Pitt Rivers Museum- free but it wasn't super memorable for me
- Bodleian Library
- Oxford Covered Market- my personal favourite and definitely an Oxford hidden gem!
Bradford-on-Avon
Take a train to Bradford-on-Avon.
Situated on the banks fo the River Avon is the picturesque town of Bradford-on-Avon. There are several well-preserved buildings dating to the 17th century, such as the Jacobean Hall (a great example of English Renaissance architecture) and Tithe Barn.
The Bridge Tea Rooms are so cute, you often see them on social media such as Instagram reels.
Note that there isn't a central nexus for this town, so the shops and restaurants are fairly scattered, which is why- though charming- it's not 1 of my top recommended London weekend trips. (You have to cross the road to get to some of the restaurants.)
The town is particularly lovely in December, when everything is lit up by Christmas lights!
Changing Trains/ Bus
The following destinations require you to either change trains, or to transfer onto a Bus.
If traveling on a Sunday, note that there are often route works that may cause inconvenience to your journey!
Windsor
Take a train to Windsor & Eton Central
Although it's home to Windsor castle (the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world), Windsor isn't one of my favorite day trips from London. It's simply too crowded with tourists to be enjoyable!
If you are a huge Royal fan though, then don't miss the tour of the royal residence, where you can also see paintings by famous artists such as Holbein, Van Dyck and Rubens.
Bleinheim Palace
Getting there: Take a GWR train to Oxford, then the S3 bus towards Woodstock, which will stop at the palace’s gates. Ask the bus driver to identify the appropriate stop.
Designated as a World Heritage Site in 1987, the Palace has a history of 300 years and beautiful gardens with a lake, created by the famous landscape gardener, Capability Brown.
Most famous resident: Winston Churchill was born there in 1874.
Bruton
Take the train to Castle Cary then change for a train to Bruton. (1hr 36 minutes, though some routes are a bit slower.)
A very picturesque town with cute cafes and shops.
Stonehenge
Take the train to Salisbury, where you can get a bus to the site.
One of Europe's best known stone circles whose origins remain a mystery to today, Stonehenge dates back to 2500BC and is a World Heritage Site (including Avebury.)
There's a Museum nearby to tell you more about how the iconic structure was built.
Tip: Stonehenge can be colder than the cities, so bring an extra layer!
Not My Favorites
- Gloucester: Although it has some pretty bits, such as Gloucester Cathedral, I wasn't a huge fan of the city of Gloucester as the High Street felt dodgy. (You can read more about my day trip to Gloucester here.)
Any questions about the best London day trips by train? Let me know in the comments!
