Top 5 day trips from London

There are so many activities and attractions in London that you can spend weeks in the city before falling bored. For guests staying longer than a few nights at the Central Park Hotel Bayswater, we recommend taking a day trip. This is a great way to learn more about English history and culture and to experience the breathtaking natural scenery. These are the top day trips from London this summer. 

  1. Margate – best seaside day trip

Brighton in East Sussex is the perennial favourite day trip for those fancying a day at the seaside. Margate is located in the county of Kent and has a calmer vibe popular with families and couples staying at the Central Park Hotel Bayswater. This town has a sandy beach and a nostalgic theme park called Dreamland. There are several interesting attractions including the Margate Caves and the Turner Contemporary Art Gallery. 

Trains for Margate depart from London Kings Cross St Pancras and London Victoria and take around 1 hour and 25 minutes. 

  1. Bath – best day trip for luxury and wellness 

Bath is the gateway to the Cotswolds for those staying at hotels near Central London and a hub for culture and luxury experiences. Visit the Roman Baths to learn about the history and check into the Thermae Bath Spa for a pampering session in the mineral waters. The city has museums devoted to Jane Austen, fashion, and decorative arts.

In terms of dining, you have a bounty of cafes, bistros, and gastropubs as well as traditional afternoon tea at the Pump Room.

  1. Oxford – best day trip for history 

Cambridge and Oxford are the two classic university cities each with a prestigious university. We recommend Oxford to our guests at Central Park Hotel Bayswater as trains depart from Paddington and Marylebone. Principal sites include the Bodleian Library, the Ashmolean Museum, and Oxford Castle and Prison. You may also want to explore the Oxford Botanic Garden and take a punting tour past beautiful buildings. 

The fastest trains take 1 hour and slower routes take 1 hour and 90 minutes.  

  1. Thorpe Park – best theme park day out

Thorpe Park is one of the best theme parks near London. This attraction is most suitable for families with older children and teenagers or adults as the rides are thrilling. You will find such white-knuckle roller coasters as Stealth, Swarm, and Nemesis Inferno. 

We recommend avoiding Thorpe Park on summer weekends and during the British school holidays as queues for rides are very long. 

To get there, you will train from London Waterloo to Staines and then catch the bus to the park.

  1. Surrey Hills – best day trip for nature and hiking

The Surrey Hills is a green region southwest of London with hiking trails, National Trust properties, and several wineries. Guests of hotels near Central London can choose to rent a car and drive around the area or take a train to one of the towns in Surrey. 

Catch a train to Dorking from where you can embark on the Box Hill hike and visit Denbies Vineyard. Alight at Farnham and follow the North Downs Way to Guildford. The Devil’s Punch Bowl is a popular trail leaving from Haslemere Rail Station.

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