Day Trips From London: The Best Routes, Tickets and How to Book Each

The Eight Best Day Trips From London

London's rail network connects to some of England's most visited destinations in under two hours. Each destination has a specific booking strategy that reduces the total cost of transport plus entry.

Bath: Architecture and Roman History

Train: London Paddington to Bath Spa. Journey time: 1 hour 25 minutes. Multiple trains per hour.

Fare: Advance tickets from £17 to £28 single. Anytime return: £66. Book at gwr.com or thetrainline.com. Book 3 to 6 weeks ahead for the cheapest Advance fares.

What to see in Bath:

• Roman Baths: £22 adult, £12 child. Book at romanbaths.co.uk; advance booking avoids peak queues.
• Bath Abbey: Free entry; suggested donation £4.
• The Circus and Royal Crescent: Free to walk and photograph from outside.
• No. 1 Royal Crescent (interior tour): £13. Book at no1royalcrescent.org.uk.

Total day trip cost (one person, advance train): £17 to £28 train + £22 Roman Baths = £39 to £50. Allow 6 to 7 hours in Bath.

Oxford: University Architecture and Museums

Train: London Paddington or London Marylebone to Oxford. Journey time: 55 minutes to 1 hour 10 minutes.

Fare: Advance single from £13 to £18. Book at gwr.com or chilternrailways.co.uk.

What to see in Oxford:

• Ashmolean Museum: Free.
• Bodleian Library (exterior and Divinity School): Free walking. Divinity School tours: £8. Book at bodleian.ox.ac.uk.
• Christchurch College (including cathedral): £18. No advance booking required.
• Covered Market: Free.
• Punting on the Cherwell: £25 to £30 per punt (shared between the group). No advance booking.

Total cost (one person): £13 to £18 train + £18 Christchurch = £31 to £36. A full day covers most major sights.

Cambridge: Colleges and the Backs

Train: London King's Cross or London Liverpool Street to Cambridge. Journey time: 47 minutes to 1 hour from King's Cross.

Fare: Advance single from £11 to £17. Book at greateranglia.co.uk or thetrainline.com.

What to see:

• King's College Chapel: £13 adult. Book at kings.cam.ac.uk. No advance booking strictly required but the college has a daily visitor limit; arrive before 11am to avoid waiting.
• The Backs (riverside gardens): Free.
• Fitzwilliam Museum: Free.
• Punting on the Cam: £20 to £30 per punt sharing or £30 to £40 for a chauffeured punt. Operators by the river; no advance booking required.

Windsor Castle

Train: London Paddington to Windsor and Eton Central (50 minutes; change at Slough) or London Waterloo to Windsor and Eton Riverside (55 minutes direct).

Fare: Advance single from £9 to £14.

Windsor Castle entry: £28 adult, £15 child. Book at rct.uk. No separate booking required to see the Changing of the Guard (free, 11am most days; check schedule at householddivision.org.uk).

What is covered by the £28 ticket:

• State Apartments
• St George's Chapel
• Queen Mary's Dolls' House
• Semi-State Rooms (when open)

Stonehenge

No direct train service runs to Stonehenge. The options:

Option 1: Train plus Stonehenge Tour Bus

• Train from London Waterloo to Salisbury (1 hour 26 minutes; Advance from £14)
• Stonehenge Tour Bus from Salisbury city centre (45 minutes; included in Stonehenge entry)
• Stonehenge entry: £23.10 adult. Book at englishheritage.org.uk; timed entry is mandatory.

Option 2: Guided coach from London

• Multiple operators including Evan Evans, Golden Tours and National Express run guided day trips from London Victoria
• Price: £40 to £65 per person including transport and entry
• Book at any major London day trip booking platform

Total cost via train route: £14 to £18 train + £23.10 Stonehenge = £37 to £41. Full day required.

Cotswolds Villages

No direct train serves the main Cotswolds villages (Bourton-on-the-Water, Bibury, Burford). Options:

Option 1: Train to Oxford or Moreton-in-Marsh plus taxi

• Train to Moreton-in-Marsh (1 hour 40 minutes from London Paddington; Advance from £20)
• Taxi or local bus to Bourton-on-the-Water or Stow-on-the-Wold

Option 2: Guided day trip coach from London

• Full-day guided Cotswolds tours from London: £40 to £65. Operators: Evan Evans, City Sightseeing. Book at evanevanstours.com or citysightseeinguk.com.

The coach tour is the practical choice for the Cotswolds. Driving yourself offers more flexibility but requires a hire car (£50 to £80/day) and parking fees in village car parks (£4 to £8/day).

Advance Booking Rule for All Day Trips

For every day trip from London involving National Rail, this rule consistently saves money: book the train at least 3 weeks ahead. Advance tickets on most London routes release 12 weeks before departure. The cheapest prices appear in the first week of the booking window.

A same-day Anytime ticket from London Paddington to Bath costs £66 return. An Advance ticket booked 4 weeks ahead costs £30 to £40 return. The £26 to £36 saving covers most entry tickets at the destination.

Use the 16-25 Railcard, Family and Friends Railcard or Senior Railcard if eligible. Each card gives 1/3 off Advance fares and applies on all National Rail services used for day trips from London.