Looking for an easy train trip from London Bridge? This Day Trip to Wye from London by Train might or might not be for you - scroll down to find out more about our experience visiting and staying there!
When I was on my way to Boys Hall, a lady at a shop in Ashford told me that her daughter was the manager of a hotel in Wye that was just as good but cheaper. (Very important)
I'm always on the lookout for new places to cover on this blog (i.e. reachable from London without a car). As I pay for all the stays myself- the blog has earned a grand total of $8!- a cheaper stay is always good. Moreover, since the village of Wye (in Kent) is a direct train ride from London Bridge AND voted by the Sunday Times as one of the best places to live in the UK (AND the "hotel"- actually a pub with rooms (New Flying Horse), not a hotel- was not too expensive), I thought it'd be an interesting feature!
Getting There
There are regular direct Southeastern trains from London Bridge Railway Station to Wye in 1 hour 25 minutes. The station is unmanned for part of the day and there is NO cafe or shop at the station. (But it's not far to the closest cafe.)
Note: when you exit Wye Railway Station, which dates back to 1846, there is a short train track that you will need to cross to exit. You MUST watch out for incoming trains before exiting!
Where to Stay
At under 2 hours from London by train, you can get to and back from Wye in a day.
However, if you want to stay overnight, there are a couple of pubs with rooms, such as The New Flying Horse (which is where we stayed (unsponsored)- I will cover it in a separate review.)
Things to Do
Like Brockenhurst in the New Forest, Wye is a TINY village.
If you're looking to get away from the madding crowd, this is probably the place for you. (We didn't see any tourists when we were there- and if you do, I think they'll most likely be local tourists, not internationals.)
I can see why it was voted as a good place to live- the food is surprisingly good! We ate at the Tickled Trout and The New Flying Horse, and both had very good food. (Better than the nearby Boys Hall. In fact, 1 reason we would return to Wye would be to have the breakfast at The New Flying Horse (shown above).)
However, there isn't a lot to do in town- there are just a handful of shops and 1-2 coffee houses. There's 1 small grocery store (Co-op), 1 gift shop (Ticketyboo, only open half the week), 1 pharmacy, a library, a few places to eat... This isn't the place to visit if you like a bustling town life or want to sit in a cafe and watch the world go by. (I suggest visiting Lewes instead.)
It is, however, the place to go if you want a quiet country walk.
For nature enthusiasts, there is a 6 mile circular walk that starts and finishes at the New Flying Horse. (Wye is actually on the Pilgrims' Way and the North Downs Way.)
You will, however, need good walking shoes. I've been on many country walks around London and managed with no issue in sports shoes, but the one at Wye was just MUCH TOO slippery (even though it wasn't raining.)
There's also the standard quaint church in the town centre which you can always pop in to.
I'd recommend visiting on the 1st/ 3rd Saturday of the month (9- 12, at The Green) if you can as that's when the monthly market is held.
Where to Eat
We were very impressed by the food at:
The New Flying Horse
It really goes over and above the standard: you even get free appetizers, like in a Michelin-starred restaurant!
Just note that portion sizes are HUGE so you may not need a 3 course meal here (or even 2....) Read more about the food in my New Flying Horse, Wye review.
The Tickled Trout
It not only looks cute and has a picturesque setting (overlooking the water), it even has good food.
The fairy lights hanging from the ceiling made it SO cozy and gorgeous. I would be happy to return!
There is also a Chinese restaurant in Wye (which we did not try)- FYI it doesn't open every day.
Recommended For
People who want a peaceful, affordable, dog-friendly stay within easy reach of London by train, enjoy good food, and have proper walking gear.
Not recommended for people who want to see cute shops, and feel unsafe if there are not many people around- we saw many 10 people on the streets during our stay! (As women of color, we didn't feel unsafe in Wye.)
Any questions about Wye in England? let me know in the comments!
