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Londoners are undeniably lucky. Few urban populations enjoy such glorious—and easily accessible—options for day-tripping. Even if vacationers or travelers have only one day to spare, head out of the city. A train ride past hills dotted with sheep, a stroll through a medieval town, or a visit to one of England’s great castles could make you feel as though you’ve added another week to your vacation.

Not only is England extremely compact, the train and bus networks, although somewhat inefficient and expensive compared with their European counterparts, are extensive and easily booked (though pricing structures can be confusing), making “a brilliant day out” an easy thing to accomplish.

Although you could tackle any one of the towns in this chapter on a frenzied day trip—heavy summer crowds make it difficult to cover the sights in a relaxed manner—consider staying for a day or two. You’d then have time to explore a very different England—one blessed with quiet country pubs, tree-lined lanes, and neatly trimmed fields. No matter where you go, lodging reservations are a good idea from June through September, when foreign visitors saturate the English countryside.

Getting Around

Wherever you’re going, plan ahead: check the latest timetables before you set off, and try to get an early start.

Station Tips

You can reach any of London’s main-line train stations by Tube. London’s bus stations can be confusing for the uninitiated. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Green Line Coach Station is on Bulleid Way (in front of the Colonnades Shopping Centre on Buckingham Palace Road) and is the departure point for most Green Line and Megabus services.

Victoria Bus Station is where many of the local London bus services arrive and depart, and is directly outside the main exits of the train and Tube stations.

Victoria Coach Station is on Buckingham Palace Road: it’s a five-minute walk from Victoria Tube station. This is where to go for coach departures; arrivals are at a different location, a short walk from here.

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