13 Car Free Day Trips from London Waterloo You Can't Miss

The best car free day trips from London Waterloo that you can't miss- friends always ask me what are the best train trips from London, and here are some of my favourites (as well as the ones I don't quite recommend.)

A city steeped in history, Winchester is the ancient capital and former seat of King Alfred the Great. It is a beautiful, compact city perfect for a cultured and relaxing day or even weekend- I've been several times and always enjoyed it!

Keats stayed there for a while as a 23 year old, taking a daily walk through the Cathedral Close and water meadows to St Cross. He was so inspired, he wrote his ode ‘To Autumn' after his stay there.

Things to see/ do: 

• Winchester Cathedral: where Jane Austen died and is buried; the world's longest medieval cathedral
• visit the Mill & Garden (there's a second hand bookshop and cafe)
• have a delicious meal at the Chesil Rectory: note that as it's a very old building- its the oldest house in Winchester- you have to step down to get into the restaurant so it's not the most mobility friendly. The decor and food are both lovely though!
• For the most devout Jane Austen fans, visit PG Wells, where the Austen family kept a record- some say it's the oldest bookshop in England! I love their Blind Date with a Book- for a mere £3, you get a mystery hard cover book! (You choose based on topic, but you won't know the exact book till after you buy the book and unwrap it.)

How to get there: There are direct trains from more than 1 London train station.

Journey time: 52 minutes from Clapham or 1h 15 minutes from London Waterloo.

Recommended for: History and literature buffs, foodies (great restaurants and pubs- I particularly enjoyed the Chesil Rectory)

I am always surprised that the New Forest is not more famous!

This is a group of villages that make up a particularly lovely part of England and so convenient to reach from London. Despite the proximity to London, you will be right out in nature with semi-wild horses and donkeys wandering around in Brockenhurst.

How to get there: Direct train from London Waterloo to Brockenhurst- Brockenhurst is a tiny village, with a few hotels and restaurants. It's nice for a quiet stay but if you need proximity to shops, you won't find them here. From Brockenhurst, you can take a bus or train to other parts of the New Forest, such as Lymington and Lyndhurst, both of which have many shops.)

Journey time: 1h 29 min from Waterloo to Brockenhurst.

Fun fact: The original Pig hotel started outside Brockenhurst- now there are Pig Hotels near Canterbury (at Bridge), Bath, Southampton and more.

Although Brockenhurst is lovely, if you're not into country walks, horses or spa treatments , you may run out of things to do in an hour or two (there are no shops and only a few restaurants.) Luckily, from Brockenhurst, it's only about 10 minutes by direct train to Lymington, a waterside town in the New Forest with a good High Street.

Unlike Brockenhurst, you won't find any wild ponies, cows, or donkeys wandering around the centre of Lymington, but you will find a lovely waterside area and more shops.

Journey time: 1h 29 min from London Waterloo to Brockenhurst + 10 minute train to Lymington (you need to change trains but they run very frequently)

I've combined Windsor & Eton as they are only a short walk from each other. The key attraction is Windsor Castle but the towns of Windsor and Eton both have cute high streets.

Personally, I prefer Winchester and New Forest as Windsor is a bit too touristy.

How to get there: Direct train from London Waterloo

Journey time: 30-60 minutes depending on the train station you start from.

Tip: get the audio guide if you go to Windsor Castle AND go for the guided tour 

Guildford is another London day trip I'm surprised is not more well-known- it has a cathedral, castle ruins, and quaint cobbled High Street.

How to Get there: Guildford is about 32 minutes by direct train from London Waterloo or about an hour from London Heathrow- it's actually 1 of my favorite things to do when on transit at London Heathrow.

Only 35 minutes from London Waterloo is Hampton Court Palace, which lovers of Tudor History will very much enjoy. The area is very quiet- the Palace is the main (only?) attraction, but you can also enjoy a riverside stroll.

If you get peckish, there is a tiny town centre (1 street) with a few restaurants.

This Georgian spa town enjoys a seaside location, along the gorgeous Jurassic Coast. (Parts of Dunkirk were filmed here.)

How to Get There: 2h 40 minute direct train from London Waterloo.

A major port city with a rich maritime history, most famously for being the departure point for the Titanic. It has excellent shopping and a revitalized waterfront- Jane Austen actually spent some time here! (Click here for the most iconic Austen quotes.)

Key Attractions : SeaCity Museum, Medieval Town Walls, Solent Sky Museum, Tudor House & Garden, Titanic-related landmarks, and the West Quay shopping centre.

Journey time: 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minutes

Recommended for: Shopaholics, maritime history, a city break with plenty of amenities.

A world class destination for naval history. The historic dockyard is unmissable, and the seaside atmosphere is fantastic. It's a small town but has great food- I visited a while back for an Etsy event!

Key Attractions: Historic Dockyard, HMS Victory and the Mary Rose, The Spinnaker Tower for its views

Journey time: 1 hour 30 mins. 

Recommended for: Families, history enthusiasts, shopping, seaside fun

Salisbury is a town I wanted to love but unfortunately didn't.

I visited on a weekday and the town was so quiet I barely saw anyone! Although I'm not a fan of crowds, there's a difference between quiet and peaceful and quiet and sad/ past its prime.

Unfortunately, Salisbury felt like the latter, though it may be different on the weekend. I'm definitely going to head back again to give it another go and see if I change my mind about it.

Recommended for: Cathedral lovers (Home of Britain's tallest spire, its oldest working clock, and the original 1215 Magna Carta), people interested in history (some say the oldest purpose-built hotel in Europe is in Salisbury- the Red Lion) and vintage fashion lovers (there are a few vintage shops- I picked up a great Givenchy coat there!)

Journey time: 1h 16 minute

A beachside town and cultural hub with vibrant energy, Bournemouth boasts a stunning seven-mile sandy beach, beautiful gardens, and lively town centre.

Journey time: 1 hour 45 mins. 

Key attractions: The Needles, Osbourne House, The Bournemouth Beach and pier

Recommended for: Beach lovers, families, a fun-filled weekend.

A complete island getaway. 

It feels like a world away with its stunning cliffs, beaches, and quaint villages. Plus it’s incredibly easy to get to : trains from Waterloo Station go directly to Southampton and Portsmouth. The Portsmouth Harbour station is right next to the Wightlink ferry terminal to Ryde.

Journey time: 

• 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minutes to Southampton + a 20-minute ferry to East Cowes OR
• 2 hours to Portsmouth Harbour + a 20-minute ferry to Ryde.

Recommended for: Walkers, cyclists, families, a total change of pace.

This is UK's Koreatown. (Samsung used to have a factory nearby so a large community of Koreans settled here.)

You will even see street signs and shop signs in Korean, Korean restaurants where you sit on the floor (like you do in Korea), a large H-Mart and more. When I lived in the UK a decade ago, my Korean friends and I used to go to New Malden quite often. (However, these days my Korean friends feel like New Malden is too old fashioned and you can get better Korean food in central London. If you've been, what do you think?)

Besides the Korean shops, there are a also a number of decent charity shops on the High Street where you can go thrifting.

Any questions about the best London day trips out of Waterloo station? Let me know in the comments!