4 Best Day Trips near London | 2020 Visitor Guide
As exciting and rewarding living in England’s vibrant capital is, sometimes we seek serenity and peacefulness Hyde Park just can’t give us. Instead, we dream of a weekend break in a picturesque town in Cornwall or scenic walks in the Lake District. But if your schedule and budget doesn’t allow a proper UK weekend retreat, there are still plenty of options to recharge and escape the bustle for a day.
We have four unique day breaks near London that can all be reached from the city in less than one hour, either by car or public transport. But don’t be fooled by the short distance, these hidden gems have little in common with loud and fast-paced London.
1. Lee Valley: Horse Riding
Nestled in the northeast of Greater London, Lee Valley is a great place for a relaxing day to recharge your batteries and escape the busy capital. It’s array of nature reserves and diverse wildlife makes this perfect for a full day trip to unwind and breathe in some fresh air. A great way to explore the outdoors is to get in a saddle and have a go at horse riding! Not only will this allow you to be active, it also excites animal lovers.
2. Hampton Riviera: Boat Hire
Hampton Riviera, as nice as it sounds. This gem is not far from the famous Hampton Court Palace and is the perfect place to head for some quiet. Upstream of London, this is the Thames, but not as you know. This is the perfect spot to rent a boat… grab a few friends and get on the Thames on a sunny weekend! This is one of the most popular Summer activities.
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3. Hemel Hempstead: Supercar Track Day
Feel a need for speed? If you live in Central London, you might not even have a car as travelling by tube or booking an uber is much more convenient. Venture out to Hemel Hempstead to for a driving experience on its purpose built racing track with some of the fastest cars in the world. In one of their luxurious supercars, ranging from yellow Lamborghinis to Ferraris in signature red, you will be in the front seat and put your driving skills to the test. No doubt this adrenaline-fuelled experience day is so much more enjoyable than the daily stop-and-go traffic during rush hour.
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4. Dartford: Clay Pigeon Shooting
Only one hour by train from central London. Why not head East and enjoy some Clay Pigeon Shooting. After you’ve decided who the best marksman is in your group, you’ll be treated with some light refreshments. Why not make a day of it and see some of the other things Dartford has to offer. Visit the Hall Place & Gardens to see the artistic tree sculptures. Or perhaps visit the historical Lullington Roman Villa.
Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q’s):
What is the closest international Airport?
There are multiple large airports around London. We recommend Gatwick Airport as it has trains links into central London is under 30 minutes, parking is available in Gatwick Airport and by using ParkHero, in just 2 minutes you can compare prices and book online without any reservation fees to worry about. London Heathrow and London City also have good train links and parking options.
What is the best method to get to these locations?
It is recommended to drive to these locations as some of them are fairly remote but all have parking options. If a car is not available to you, we recommend the trains. There are train stations near by to all the locations, specific locations an be found on the individual activity pages. Us the postcode and we recommend using Google Maps to find the best route from where you are.
These activities are not for me, are there anymore?
Yes, there are plenty of activities in and around London. We have dedicated our favourite 4 activities to make up for a good day trip out of London, however we appreciate that they might not be for everyone. If this is the case please see our London Activities to find more!
