The best day trips from London Bridge, which you can easily reach by direct train, boat, or tube in under 2 hours. (Also which towns I do not recommend visiting!)
London Bridge is a fantastic starting point for both day trips and weekend trips from London, with direct train lines heading primarily into Kent and East Sussex.
To be honest, not all of Kent and East Sussex are worth visiting- some places are quite dodgy. I've been to a number of towns that I would not care to revisit, so scroll down to learn from my mistakes!
Canterbury
For: history and literature lovers (Canterbury tales anyone?) Or people with an interest in religion.
How to Get There: Direct train from London Bridge to Canterbury West. (This is 1 of the 2 train stations that serve Canterbury.)
Journey Time: about 1 hour 30 minutes, direct train (if you go from London St Pancras, it's under 1 hour)
I've been to Canterbury several times, most recently on my way to The Pig at Bridge.
Canterbury is home to a UNESCO World Heritage site where you can find:
- Canterbury Cathedral (Romanesque and Perpendicular Gothic architecture), dating back to 597AD
- the oldest church in the English-speaking world that is still in use today: Church of St Martin
- the ruins of St Augustine’s Abbey (a burial place for the Anglo-Saxon kings of Kent in the past)
If you stay at Canterbury Cathedral Lodge, you can get a great view of Canterbury Cathedral!
Whilst the historical sites are incredible, the High Street has suffered in recent times and is quite rundown. If you're short on time, I suggest skipping town and, instead, heading over to Westgate Gardens, where you can punt down the river. For a full list of things to do in Canterbury, click here.
Rochester (Kent)
For: fans of Charles Dickens
Journey time : direct Southeastern train from London Bridge (about 1h 30 minutes) and St Pancras (about 40-50 minutes)
A beautifully preserved Dickensian town: Charles Dickens lived here, and Rochester is packed with history. It's 1 of the nicer towns you can get to directly from London Bridge- many of the towns London Bridge has a direct connection to are somewhat dodgy (such as Chatham, which is just down the road from Rochester!)
Visit Rochester Castle (1 of the best-preserved Norman keeps in England), Rochester Cathedral (2nd oldest cathedral in England!), and Guildhall Museum.
The High Street has antique shops, charming tea rooms, hipster coffee shops, charming pubs, boutiques and secondhand bookshops.
Keep in mind that many things- such as the Castle and Museum are closed on Mondays! Click here for my complete review of a day in Rochester England.
Brighton (East Sussex)
For: people looking for quirky and creative vibes; LGBTQ+ and sustainability
Journey time: 1 hour 5 minutes, direct train.
London’s favourite seaside escape, Brighton is vibrant, quirky and has something for everyone: the famous Brighton Pier, the independent shops of The Lanes, and the spectacular Royal Pavilion.
Brighton is quite an eclectic place- you'll find lots of hippie and alternative places there. It also has a thriving vegan and vegetarian food scene.
Hastings (East Sussex)
For: history lovers (think the Battle of Hastings in 1066), people who love the coast and quirky independent shops. A less polished seaside experience- not for those who like it posh.
Journey time: 1 hour 35 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes, direct train.
A historic fishing town with a gritty, creative edge, I personally find the Old Town of Hastings quite charming. It has many independent shops and a furnicular.
You can also climb up to coastal ruins, visit the fantastic. Jerwood Gallery, and learn about the 1066 Battle of Hastings at Battle Abbey.
Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
For: a day out in a pretty town, shopping, easy access to lovely walks and to take the waters (of a natural spring, historically touted as curing all manner of evils.)
Journey time: 44 to 47 minutes, direct train.
Famous for The Pantiles, a colonnaded walk-away with boutiques, cafes and art galleries, Royal Tunbridge Wells is not to be confused with its neighbour Tonbridge!
Royal Tunbridge Wells is a Georgian Spa Town set on the edge of the beautiful High Weald Area of outstanding Natural Beauty. It's pretty much the poshest location on this list of easy train trips from London Bridge.
Take Bus 291 to nearby Groombridge Place (famous for its gardens and vineyards; closed at the time of writing for renovations) or Bus 256 (followed by a 23 minute walk) to Scotney Castle with its fairy tale ruins and gardens.
St Albans
For: Roman history lovers
St. Albans is home to England's 1st Saint, Roman ruins, and a fascinating cathedral. (Click here for how to spend a day in St. Albans.)
It also has a good High Street, with a good mix of independent boutiques and chain shops.
Lewes (East Sussex)
For: Country walkers, antique lovers and people who are looking for hidden gems.
Journey time: 1 hour 18 minutes- 1 hour 44 minutes, direct train.
A historic country town nestled in the South Downs, Lewes is 1 of my favourite London day trips by train.
Packed with character, home to a Norman castle, independent bookshops, traditional pubs and Harvey’s Brewery, I honestly think it's a hidden gem!
The surrounding Downs also offer some of the best walking country in the south.
Sevenoaks
For: Classic English Village and easy but scenic walks
Not for people looking for independent boutiques.
How to Get There: Direct train from London Bridge- several run each hour. Some go straight from London Bridge to Sevenoaks whilst others stop at a few other stations along the way.
Journey Time: Under 30 minutes
What to Do: The highlight is the herd of wild deer at Knole Park (a medieval deer park), in my opinion, but Knole House (a stately home turned National Trust property) is also very interesting. (Read my full review of a day in Sevenoaks here.)
There are also other historic manor houses such as Ightham Mote nearby (but not within easy walking distance.)
Greenwich
For: maritime lovers
Journey time: you can get there by train, tube, or even boat from London Bridge.
Although Greenwich is part of London, there are so many reasons to go to Greenwich, a UNESCO World Heritage site, that I'm including it on this list too:
- its rich maritime history & to see the Cutty Sark
- the Royal Observatory
- admire the Royal Painted Hall
- to stand on the Prime Meridian!
- explore the beautiful Greenwich Park with its incredible views of London
- browse Greenwich market (I used to have a shop at this market back in 2016!)
Eastbourne (East Sussex)
For: A calmer, more relaxing coastal break with incredible natural beauty.
Journey time: 1 hour 25 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes
Eastbourne is a more traditional and elegant Victorian seaside resort with Victorian hotels, 19thC pier and a wide promenade fronting a stretch of quintessentially British shingle beaches. It’s known for its well-kept gardens, the famous Beachy Head White cliffs, and the South Downs on its doorstep. It’s a great base for spectacular coastal walks.
Folkestone
Journey Time: about 1h 30 minutes, direct train
Folkestone has several cute independent shops and I very much enjoyed my lunch overlooking the waters at Rocksalt Restaurant. (Would be very happy to return.)
However, I confess to feeling a little on edge in the town centre. Nothing happened but I didn't feel super safe as a solo female traveler. (The town centre was very empty mid-week and there were a lot of empty store fronts.)
Not Recommended
Chatham- when I told a British friend I had visited, his first question was "Why?!"
Tonbridge- hit or miss. The part outside the train station isn't the nicest but it does have a picturesque river and castle. Unfortunately, there weren't a lot of cute shops or restaurants so not much to do in the town itself though lots of good walks nearby. (I definitely prefer Royal Tunbridge Wells- you have a nice town centre AND walks.)
Any questions about the best day trips from London Bridge? Let me know in the comments!
