London is a cool place to be. It’s up there with the most famous world cities, like New York and Paris—and, naturally, there’s a whole lot of fun stuff to do in central London (be sure to purchase Go City’s London pass here, which will save you $$ on London’s top attractions!). Due to the England’s location in Europe, you’ll also be able to take some amazing 2 day trips from London.
When I was living in London for a couple of months, I would have loved a list of the best 2 day trips from London so I could have visited other areas during the weekends. After all, there’s only so many free things to do in London.
But what if you want to explore beyond? Don’t worry guys; there is a whole lot to see in England.
From ancient ruins and stunning towns, with famous streets and sights, all the way to areas of natural beauty, this country packs a punch when it comes to offering up a never-ending list of things to do.
Guided Tours may take in sights like Windsor Castle and Leeds Castle, but if you want to make the most of your time, and want more than just a one day trip London edition, why not take two days? And if you’re really feeling adventurous, consider making a longer trip to see the best beaches in Cornwall.
Stay overnight and really get to grips with what England has to offer—here are some of my favorite 2 day trips from London to get you started!
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Best 2 Day Trips from London
Lake District
The Lake District is a National Park in Cumbria, Northwest England. It’s such a beautiful place to visit and it is well worth a two-day trip from London.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the National Park includes Scafell Pike—England’s tallest mountain—and Lake Windermere, the country’s deepest and largest natural lake.
You can take the train from London and feel like you’re in your very own Harry Potter escape through the English countryside, or opt to drive the 300-mile journey yourself.
Once you’re there, spend your time walking in the natural beauty of it all and visiting villages with cozy, traditional pubs, of course!
Leeds
Just under 200 miles from London, Leeds is a very different city than London. It’s a university town in Yorkshire that makes for the perfect base to explore the surrounding area.
From here, you can easily get out into another of England’s national parks, the Peak District, or make a trip to York with all its ancient history.
For more hiking goodness just on the doorstep of Leeds, the Yorkshire Dales is a great place to get out into nature.
Edinburgh
Easily reached from London by train (taking about five hours), the capital of neighboring Scotland is well worth a visit. To really maximize your two days, you can take the Caledonian Sleeper Train overnight from London.
This ancient city has a medieval old town, including Edinburgh Castle and a whole lot of charming buildings and streets to explore.
Because J.K. Rowling lived and worked in Edinburgh as she wrote many of the Harry Potter books, it’s a good place to start your Harry Potter tour (if you’re a fan, of course).
It’s easy to see how the breathtaking architecture and atmosphere of Edinburgh inspired Rowling’s famous fantasy franchise.
You can even hop on a train—the Hogwarts Express, no less!—by yourself or as a small group as you head on an 84-mile excursion, passing locations from the films.
Stonehenge
The mysterious standing stones at Stonehenge are a must-see if you’re looking to explore England’s ancient history.
Dating back to as early as 3000 BC (that’s INSANE), Stonehenge is a part of all of our history as humans. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and while it’s an easy day trip from London, it can be easily combined with other nearby sites.
A lot of the English countryside gets overlooked during people’s trips to this country, so don’t miss out!
Head South West toward the west coast and take your pick of homey hotels or even hop on a tour that will help you uncover more of England’s heritage. Honestly—it’s so beautiful in that area!
Paris
What? You get to Paris from London THAT easily?
Yes—you can.
It takes just a couple of hours on the undersea Eurostar train (aka the Chunnel) and hey—you’re in Paris. Book yourself into a chic Parisian hotel for the night, visit some of Paris’ highlights or spend your time eating and drinking around the city.
If you’re looking for ideas on what to do and where to eat, be sure to check out my Paris Travel Guide!
And it doesn’t have to cost a small fortune—check out the amazing Airbnbs on offer in Paris and you will see there’s a lot of affordable chic on offer!
Oxford
Oxford is a famous city that is home to one of the world’s oldest (and most prestigious) universities. With all that history bubbling around in this fascinating city, it has got to be on your England itinerary.
Just 60 miles from the capital, it is super easy to reach on a day trip from London, but staying overnight and making it a two-day trip instead is a good idea.
It’s not just IN Oxford that you’re going to find all the amazing sights—nearby is the stunning UNESCO-recognized Blenheim Palace, with all its manicured gardens and boasting over 300 years of history.
Then there’s Highclere Castle, which (as fans will know, of course) is the setting for the global sensation that is Downton Abbey. It’s easy to reach from Oxford, and less than 30 minutes away by car.
Needless to say, you should definitely have your own wheels if you plan to explore this area of the country—there’s SO much to see! It’s insane!
Bath
Bath is an ancient Roman (yes, ROMAN!) town about 100 miles from London. The Romans loved it because of its hot spring baths and built lavish lodgings to enshrine the water. You can actually still see the Roman baths to this day, which is pretty incredible.
There’s also a whole lot of other historical sights to see, like the majestic Bath Abbey and more modern sights, like the Circus and its links to English literature.
If you travel to Bath, there are a number of day tours and walking tours you could make, or simply hop on a small group tour around the city—you will REALLY notice the difference from London when you’re here. It’s so pretty!!
Be sure to read my Bath Travel Guide here!
There you have it guys—my favorite 2 day trips from London that you can take, meaning you can see a whole lot of what England has to offer and explore many different places.
Who knew you could even get to Scotland and France that easily from the English capital city?! It’s a convenient place to base yourself on a trip to the British Isles. If you’re wanting to do a longer trip, check out this 14 day North Coast 500 itinerary.
And if you’re looking for things to do in the outdoors, I highly recommend exploring the Thames River, Cotswolds, and The New Forest National Park.
While I haven’t been to London with kids, this guide to London with tweens will give you all the inside scoop on visiting with kids in tow.
Tag me (@wtfab) in your Insta stories and pics—let me know what awesome sights you hit up when you’re traveling around this amazing country!
Be sure to check out my other London travel guides here.
Tea Time at The Berkeley
Sketch London
Top 18 Most Instagrammable Restaurants in London
38 Different Things to Do in London + Everywhere to Eat and Drink
London in A Day
15 Delicious Notting Hill Brunch Spots
FAQs
Yes, London is definitely worth visiting! There is so much history to explore and sights to see you’ll fall in love with the city.
Traffic in London gets bad, so get familiar with the tube right away—it will save you time and money and it’s very easy to navigate.
London is generally a safe place to travel to, however, it is important to always be aware of your surroundings and stick towards more populated areas.
Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
