Pack your bags: From countryside charm to seaside bliss, these quick, easy escapes all are under three hours away by train or car. Go for the day or stay the weekend.
LessNEW FOREST DAYTRIP — WHY IT'S GREAT: Don’t be fooled by the “new” in the name: William the Conqueror created the woodlands to hunt after his successful invasion in the 11th century. A thousand or so years later, it’s a nature retreat, with more than 5,000 wild ponies roaming freely around the national park, making it a memorable place to go on a hike.
NEW FOREST DAYTRIP — WHERE TO STAY: Set on almost 7 acres, it brims with gloriously mismatched cozy furniture and wood-burning stoves. Make sure to book a meal at its renowned restaurant: All the fare including the barn farm pork chops is sourced from within 25 miles of the hotel.
THE COTSWOLDS DAYTRIP — WHY IT'S GREAT: Covering an area of almost 800 square miles of rolling hills, picturesque cobbled stone villages, and stately homes, the Cotswolds have been a classic escape for well-heeled Londoners for good reason.
THE COTSWOLDS DAYTRIP — WHERE TO STAY: It’s made up of 32 bedrooms across the main house and cottage and includes a pub, cookery school, spa, and an event and exhibition space. It couldn’t feel farther from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Rooms from £400.
THE COTSWOLDS DAYTRIP — WHAT TO DO: The home of Winston Churchill and a masterpiece of baroque architecture, sits on the edge of the Cotswolds and is open to visitors who can find decoration for their own palaces in one of the many antique shops scattered around the nearby villages.
THE COTSWOLDS DAYTRIP — WHERE TO EAT: This pub, hotel, and restaurant in Stow-on-the-Wold dates to 947 A.D., claiming to be one of the oldest inns in England. But the food doesn’t feel dated. Its menu of fish and chips as well as chicken and chorizo burgers are classic pub fare done right.
THE COTSWOLDS DAYTRIP — WHERE TO STAY: Set on almot 100 acres of the Oxfordshire Countryside, this retreat has an indoor-outdoor pool on a lake, a cinema, a famous spa and several restaurants, making it the perfect place to recharge.
MARGATE DAYTRIP — WHY IT'S GREAT Embrace seaside kitsch in the home of the Shell Grotto and the Scenic Railway, the country’s oldest operating roller coaster, which is located at the Margate Dreamland amusement park. But it’s not all about Margate’s retro beachfront past: The town is now an art destination, thanks to the Turner Contemporary.
MARGATE DAYTRIP — WHAT TO DO: Based on the site where artist JMW Turner used to stay, the gallery celebrates the town’s connection with the romantic painter. Admission is free and has a rolling program of modern exhibitions. On now is a video and virtual reality display by Lindsay Seers and Keith Sargent called Cold Light, shaped by the life and work of Nikola Tesla.
MARGATE DAYTRIP — WHERE TO EAT: You’re by the sea, so enjoy some lobster with garlic butter or some Dover sole. This place does fresh, ethically sourced seafood right.
MARGATE DAYTRIP — WHERE TO STAY: The boutique bed and breakfast in a restored Georgina town house is less than a five-minute walk away from the beach and the Turner Contemporary. Rooms from £380 for a two-night stay.
BATH DAYTRIP — WHY IT'S GREAT: Sure, this city has been a wellness destination since the Roman times. But don’t miss the stunning architecture, including the Royal Crescent, which is a street filled with Georgian stone town homes that retain so much of their 18th century look and feel that the street has been in numerous shows and movies, including Bridgerton and Keira Knightley’s The Duchess.
BATH DAYTRIP — WHAT TO DO: The Thermae Bath Spa has the only natural hot springs in Britain that you can bathe in, and it offers signature spa treatments and facials. Bath has been a wellness destination since Roman times, do like the Romans did and relax.
BATH DAYTRIP — WHERE TO EAT: Located just a few minutes walk away from the Roman Baths, the restaurant in a vaulted cellar serves classic Italian fare.
BATH DAYTRIP — WHERE TO STAY: The five-star hotel, located on its famous namesake street, has its own Bridgerton-worthy gardens. Rooms from £360.
WHITSTABLE DAYTRIP — WHY IT'S GREAT: Whitstable is full of colorful beach huts and pebble beaches you can stroll on to get your fill of sea air. This town on the Kent coast is a foodie destination, it's known for its native oysters, which have been harvested here since Roman times.
WHITSTABLE DAYTRIP — WHERE TO EAT: The oldest oyster bar in Whitstable, complete with an Instagram-ready pink facade. It's your big chance to try the native oysters, which the place is famous for.
WHITSTABLE DAYTRIP — WHERE TO EAT: Located on Whitstable Harbor, it offers views over the Thames Estuary and has plenty of shellfish on the menu, including oysters from Whitstable Oyster Co.
WHITSTABLE DAYTRIP — WHERE TO STAY: The hotel itself is within walking distance of the beach and the high street, but book one of the converted Fisherman’s huts to have a unique seaside stay. Rooms from £95.
CAMBRIDGE DAYTRIP — WHY IT'S GREAT: Its university in the heart of the city touts notable alumni such as Sir Isaac Newton, Zadie Smith, and John Maynard Keynes, but there’s still plenty to do even if you’re not writing a pivotal book on economic theory. Visit King’s College Chapel, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture dating to 1446. After, rent a boat to go for a “punt” down the river Cam.
CAMBRIDGE DAYTRIP — WHAT TO DO: No trip to Cambridge is complete without going for a "punt" down the River Cam and getting a scenic view of the famous colleges.
CAMBRIDGE DAYTRIP — WHAT TO DO: A masterpiece of Gothic architecture, dating back to 1446, this stunning chapel is open to the public on tours and is well worth your time.
CAMBRIDGE DAYTRIP — WHERE TO DRINK: Have a pint in the same pub where Francis Crick and James Watson famously interrupted patron’s lunchtime to shout they had discovered the secret of life, DNA, in 1953.
CAMBRIDGE DAYTRIP — WHERE TO EAT: With its £275 weekend tasting menu (glass of Krug Champagne included), you can splash out at this riverside gem like you’ve just discovered gravity.
CAMBRIDGE DAYTRIP — WHERE TO STAY: Right on the River Cam, it serves up collegiate cool with modern rooms and a bar that opens to the garden so you can people-watch on the river as long as you wish. Rooms from £175.
RYE DAYTRIP — WHERE TO DRINK: The home of English sparkling wine, Chapel Down has become a destination in itself for wine in Kent, andit's only a 7-mile drive from Rye's city center.
RYE DAYTRIP — WHERE TO EAT: The modern British restaurant and cocktail bar is set in a building from the 1400s. It serves dishes like Winchelsea ribeye and bone marrow butter. For dessert, a buttermilk pudding comes with medjool dates and cinnamon crumb.
RYE DAYTRIP — WHERE TO STAY: The 600-year-old hotel where local smugglers used to carouse in the bar has 31 unique bedrooms to choose from. With that much history, the Mermaid Inn comes complete with ghost stories, like the one about a “lady in white” who has been seen in the Nutcracker Suite. Try to find the secret passageway entrance. Rooms from £150.