If the UK is on your list of travel destinations and you wish to explore beyond London without venturing too far, then this blog post would be helpful for you.
In this post, we’re sharing four places in the UK ideal for a weekend getaway or a day trip from London. This covers a couple of historical small towns, a vibrant coastal city and the charming English countryside.
Before we get into the destinations, a disclaimer that what we’re sharing is based on what we’ve explored so far, so consider this as a Part 1. Over time as we explore more of this country, we might do a part 2 with a different set of places to visit around London.
The second thing we want to highlight is that, personally, we like to travel slow – and we did weekend trips to most of the destinations we’re going to share, to experience them at a relaxed pace. But many people do day trips to these destinations as well. So you can plan based on what your time and budget can allow.
BRIGHTON
Let’s start with the vibrant coastal town of Brighton, situated about 60 miles from London.
How to get there: You can get there by train, bus or car. The train is the fastest way, which is what we opted for and it’s an hour long train journey. A bus ride typically takes about 3 hours and by car it should take around 2-2.5 hours from central London.
When did we travel: We traveled in mid-June and the weather was lovely. It was mostly sunny except an afternoon when it was overcast and rainy.
Where did we stay: we stayed in this very cute two-bedroom apartment that was within walking distance from the train station and Brighton beach.
Things to do in Brighton, at a glance
Brighton has a laid-back vibe and a range of activities to enjoy. We’ll give you the highlights of what we enjoyed here but you can watch our full vlog where we’ve covered Things to do, see and eat in more detail.
- Brighton Beach: Brighton has a lovely stretch of beach to relax and take a dip in the water. Alongside the beach there are many restaurants and bars and the area is quite lively especially in the evenings.
- Brighton i360: You also have the i360 next to the beach which is a futuristic observation tower from where you can enjoy panoramic 360 views of the town.
- Brighton Palace Pier: Further down you arrive at the Brighton Palace pier, from where you can enjoy the sea side views, a family friendly amusement park with rides for all age groups, a large gaming arcade, and some snacks and drinks of course.
- Royal Pavilion: For some history and architecture, head to the Royal Pavillion – a former royal residence which blends Indian and Chinese architectural styles making it an iconic gem of Brighton.
- The Lanes is a charming district located in the heart of the town. It is known for its narrow, winding alleys and a mix of independent shops, cafes and restaurants. From traditional pubs to trendy eateries, there is something to suit all tastes.
- The Undercliff Walk is a scenic coastal pathway offering a unique way for you to explore the beautiful shoreline and the stunning chalk cliffs that rise above you. The flat terrain makes it suitable for people of various fitness levels and it can be enjoyed by walkers, joggers, as well as cyclists.
With so many things to do and see, we suggest a weekend getaway to Brighton but if your time or budget doesn’t allow that, do select and prioritize activities based on your personal interests.
CANTERBURY
Now let’s move onto the historic town of Canterbury also located about 60 miles from London.
How to get there: You can get there by train, bus or car which typically takes between 1.5 – 2 hours. We traveled there by car and it took us 1.5 hrs with a coffee stop on the way.
When did we travel: we travelled in the month of October and it was quite pleasant. It was not too cold and we were lucky the day was bright and sunny.
Where did we stay: we went for a day trip from London so didn’t need to book a stay.
Things to do in Canterbury, at a glance
- The town is most famous for Canterbury Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a significant pilgrimage destination. The cathedral, a masterpiece of English Gothic architecture, has a rich history dating back centuries.
- Medieval setting, Shopping and Dining: The town is also known for Geoffrey Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales,” a collection of stories written in the 14th century, which offer a glimpse into medieval life and society. Today, the town features well-preserved medieval streets, timber-framed buildings, historic landmarks, several shops, restaurants, cafes and tea rooms.
- In fact, we had a very enjoyable afternoon tea experience here with our family, in a tea room called The Moat Tea Rooms. Here we enjoyed traditional English tea with homemade sandwiches, cakes, scones, crumpets and more.
- Punting: Our favorite activity however was to go punting along the river Stour. This involves propelling a flat-bottomed boat with a long pole, a leisurely and traditional activity in several British towns. We went with the Canterbury Punting Co. on a 45 mins shared tour which offered a unique perspective and insights into the city’s history and landmarks.
We went for a day trip to Canterbury and we think spending a day here is good enough, given that all the main things to do, see and eat are within walking distance of each other.
THE COTSWOLDS
Now we’re taking you to the English countryside, to the Cotswolds – a large area located in south-central England, known for its picturesque landscapes and charming villages.
How to get there: Similar to other destinations we shared earlier, you can get here by train, bus or car and it can take anywhere between 2-3 hours depending on where in the area you’re traveling to. We drove to the Cotswolds – the drive from London to our first stop, a town called Stow-on-the-wold, was about 80 miles which took us about 2.5 hours with a coffee stop in between.
When did we visit: We visited in May that is the shoulder season. It was not overcrowded in the popular villages and the days were mostly pleasant with a slight chill in the mornings and evenings.
Where did we stay: We stayed in this cozy cottage surrounded by farms, in a village called Kingham. It’s close to popular villages like Stow-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on-the-Water – and so we could easily drive down to these villages.
We’re sharing the highlights of our trip here but you can watch our full vlog and also go through our itinerary for the details.
- The highlights for us was our stay in a cozy cottage in the midst of the idyllic countryside, surrounded by farms that offered us unobstructed views of the area around.
- Exploring the pretty village called Bourton-on-the-Water built on the banks of river Windrush which flows through its center.
- Birdland Park and Gardens with our toddler, which is a wildlife park that is home to a variety of bird species. Our little one had a great time in this park. She was really excited to see the Penguins and the colourful flamingos, especially the bright orange ones.
- We also loved spending time at the Cotswold Farm Park. This is a working farm and a visitor center that offers an interactive and educational experience for all ages. Here we got the opportunity to get up close with several animals. We also bought animal fodder and fed several animals through a chute, an activity that Pixie seemed to enjoy quite a lot as well.
Besides this, there’s a lot more to see and do in the Cotswolds so we suggest a weekend trip to experience it more and enjoy the tranquil countryside.
BATH
The last one we want to share in this post, is the historic town of Bath.
How to get there: Situated around 100 miles from London, you can get here by train, bus or car. Taking the train is the fastest way which is what we did and it took about 1.5 hours to get there.
When did we visit: We visited in December as we wanted to see the Christmas Market in Bath. However, the weather was cold, wet and grey this time of the year.
Where did we stay: We stayed in this one-bedroom apartment very close to the city center and most of the places of interest were within walking distance from here.
Things to do in Bath, at a glance
- The city’s name is derived from the Roman-built baths, which are among the best-preserved ancient baths in the world. The Roman Baths complex includes the Great Bath, hot and cold bathing rooms, and a well-preserved temple. You can go in and view these but cannot bathe in here.
- If you do want to bathe in the mineral-rich natural water then you can visit the Thermae Bath Spa – a modern spa complex located in this town. Children under 12 are not allowed here so we couldn’t visit with our little one but this is a very popular to-do when in Bath.
- Other than this Bath is known for well-preserved Georgian architecture. In fact, the city’s entire historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage site. You can take in the sights and several landmarks just by walking around town.
- We also enjoyed a relaxed afternoon tea when we needed a break from walking around. We tried the bath bun which originated here, which is a bun topped with some fruit, raisins and sugar glaze – and of course we had some scones and cake with some traditional English tea to unwind for sometime.
- Lastly, if you’re visiting close to Christmas, then you cannot miss the Christmas Market in Bath – it’s one of the best in the UK which boasts around 170 stalls.
In the case of Bath we feel a day trip should be good enough. However, if you prefer a more relaxed pace and wish to spend a couple of hours in the spa, then a weekend getaway works out better.
So that’s it for now and we hope this was useful. Don’t forget to check out our other blog posts and YouTube videos from the UK and beyond. If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments and we’ll try our best to answer them.
Happy and safe travels, folks!
