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The best day trips from London

Fast trains put castles, university towns and the seaside within an hour or two. Most leave from a handful of stations, so it pays to stay near the right one.

  1. Windsor Castle

    About 30–40 minutes from Paddington (change at Slough) or under an hour direct from Waterloo.

    Stay nearby: Paddington · ~$230/night

  2. Oxford

    About an hour from Paddington; colleges, the Bodleian Library and the Ashmolean.

    Stay nearby: Paddington · ~$230/night

  3. Cambridge

    Under an hour from King's Cross on the fast trains; punting on the Backs.

    Stay nearby: King's Cross · ~$270/night

  4. Bath

    About 1 hour 20 minutes from Paddington; Roman baths and Georgian crescents.

    Stay nearby: Paddington · ~$230/night

  5. Brighton

    About an hour from Victoria, or by Thameslink from London Bridge and St Pancras.

    Stay nearby: Westminster · ~$320/night

  6. Canterbury

    About an hour on the high-speed line from St Pancras; the cathedral and medieval centre.

    Stay nearby: King's Cross · ~$270/night

  7. Warner Bros. Studio Tour

    About 20 minutes from Euston to Watford Junction, then a shuttle bus. Book ahead.

    Stay nearby: King's Cross · ~$270/night

  8. Stonehenge

    Train to Salisbury from Waterloo, then the tour bus, or a coach tour from central London.

  9. The Cotswolds

    Best by guided tour or hire car; trains reach Moreton-in-Marsh from Paddington.

  10. Greenwich

    Not quite a day trip: a boat ride down the Thames from central London.

    Hotels in Greenwich · ~$200/night

Written by the StayAreas editorial team · Updated Oct 2026 · How we research our guides

Hotels we'd book in Paddington

Our top area for this guide. Mid-range doubles cost about $230 a night.

Paddington guide

Best value

The Pilgrm

Why we like it: Small, stylish rooms steps from the Heathrow Express.

Typical budget rate in Paddington: ~$120/night

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Best value

Novotel London Paddington

Why we like it: Modern canal-side hotel with family rooms.

Typical mid-range rate in Paddington: ~$230/night

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Best value

Hilton London Paddington

Why we like it: Grand railway hotel attached to the station.

Typical mid-range rate in Paddington: ~$230/night

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FAQs

What is the easiest day trip from London?

Windsor, about 30–40 minutes by train, and Greenwich, by boat or DLR, are the easiest. Oxford and Cambridge are about an hour each.

Should I book day trip trains in advance?

Advance tickets for a specific train can be much cheaper on longer routes like Bath. For Windsor, Cambridge and Brighton, off-peak tickets bought on the day are usually fine.

More London guides

Where to stay in London

Hotels in PaddingtonMid-range from ~$230/night

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