London is in easy reach of coast, sea and countryside. Shopping, historic cathedrals, sandy beaches and traditional English market towns can all be reached from London in under2 hours by train. Here are just a few ideas:
Visit Norwich Cathedral and Castle
Norwich offers an intriguing mix of ancient and modern. Shopping malls, historic streets, Victorian arcades and open air markets offer a great choice of household name department stores and small independent shops selling everything from jewellery to mustard. The city is built around the Norman Castle and the 900 year old cathedral, which are linked by a maze of back streets and alleys, including Elm Hill dating from Tudor times.
Getting There
Trains to Norwich leave from Liverpool Street. Trains run every 30 minutes and the average journey time is 1 hour 55 minutes.
Rochester Cathedral and Chatham Dockyard
The Medway Towns of Rochester and Chatham are an ideal escape from London’s hectic pace. Rochester, with its castle and cathedral, has a history dating back to Roman Times. Three miles away, Chatham Dockyard celebrates over 400 years of shipbuilding, including Nelson’s HMS Victory and Dickens’ World celebrates the life and work of Charles Dickens; who spent most of his childhood in Rochester.
Getting There
Trains to Rochester and Chatham leave from St Pancras (via the high speed Channel Tunnel Link) and Victoria. Trains run every 30 minutes from St Pancras, with an average journey time of 40 minutes. Trains from Victoria run hourly and take an hour.
The Oxfordshire Cotswolds for Tea Rooms and Antique Shops
The Oxfordshire Cotswolds are the epitome of the traditional English Countryside. Bustling market towns, ornate tea rooms, antique shops and sleepy villages with thatched cottages are found in a region recognised as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Oxfordshire Cotswolds cover an area west of Oxford and includes the towns of Burford, Witney and Chipping Norton.
Getting There
Trains run from Paddington to Charlbury and Kingham. Bus connections at Kingham provide links to Burford, Witney and Chipping Norton. Trains run hourly and the journey takes 1 hour 25 minutes.
Portsmouth Harbour has Britain’s Tallest Tower
Portsmouth is a waterfront city with a long naval tradition. The attractions in the Historic Dockyard include The Mary Rose Museum, HMS Victory and The Royal Naval Museum. A more recent development is the Spinnaker Tower at Gunwharf Quays. Taller than Blackpool Tower or the London Eye, Spinnaker Tower offers unrivalled views of Portsmouth Harbour, The Solent and The Isle of Wight.
Getting There
Trains to Portsmouth leave from Waterloo. Trains run every 30 minutes and the average journey time is 1 hour 37 minutes.
Other Ideas for a Day Out from London
There are plenty more attractions in easy reach of London by train including:
- The seaside resorts of Margate and Eastbourne
- The world’s longest pier at Southend
- The university cities of Oxford and Cambridge
- The Royal Pavilion and shopping in Brighton
- The Royal Castle at Windsor
National Rail provides up to date details of train times and fares.
Image Credits
All photographs are taken from Geograph and are the copyright of the named photographer; but can be freely reproduced under the terms of a Creative Commons License.
John Oyston - I am a freelance travel writer, accountant and further education teacher. I have spent a lifetime travelling across the UK, Western Europe ...
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