Quick Trip Ideas Outside Of London

London is a spectacular city and whilst it might have most things, it doesn’t have every thing. That’s why we’ve decided to collect a few of our favourite potential day trip destinations located just a short train journey from the centre of the UK capital. So, whether you’re at a loss for things to do this upcoming October half term with your kids or are struggling for weekend date ideas - read on and prepare to escape the city!

Hot Air Ballooning in Biggleswade
Hot air balloon trips are often listed amongst the top rung on people’s bucket lists, but you don’t need to travel halfway across the world to live that dream. Take a quick train from St. Pancras to Biggleswade (the idyllic Bedfordshire market town with a name you can’t help but love) and you’ll find several hot air balloon packages being run out of the Mansion House.

Fish and Chips on the Southend Pier
Boasting the longest pier in the world, a theme park and some of the most stunningly old-fashioned seaside imagery this side of Blackpool, Southend has been a popular getaway for Londoners for decades. And with good reason.

Tea and Scones at Windsor Castle
The weekend retreat of Her Majesty the Queen herself, this 13-acre castle is the largest of its kind in the world and has remained a royal residence for almost a thousand years. Whether you’re a royalist or not, the sheer jaw-dropping beauty of this fairytale castle cannot possibly be denied.

 Image Source: Pixabay

Shop Till You Drop at Bicester village
Giving Oxford Street a good run for its money, this charming little hamlet isn’t just a quaint London suburb - it’s also home to over 100 boutique shops and designer outlets. The discounts you’ll find here will truly astound you and there are regular bus trips that run between London and Bicester every day.

Channel The Druids at Stonehenge
Arguably the most famous rocks on the planet, you might have seen it on TV and read about it in history books, but nothing will be able to prepare you for the sheer majesty of Stonehenge. Beyond the rocks themselves, a visitor centre and museum reveal another side to the monument and whilst you’re in the area, you might as well pop in to Salisbury Cathedral too and have a peek at the Magna Carta and the world’s oldest working clock.

Soak Up The History at St Albans
Just a 20-minute train journey from St. Pancras, this heritage site has been a part of England’s complex tapestry for as long as London itself. Originally a Roman settlement, this ancient site also boasts one of the country’s most famous cathedrals and is also something of a pilgrimage point for beer drinkers, as it boasts more pubs per capita than anywhere else in the country. We’ll drink to that!