Staycations Near London: Easy Breaks Within Two Hours

One of the best things about living in London is how many good weekend breaks are within easy reach. Fast trains run in every direction, so you can be on a beach, in a cathedral city or out in the countryside within two hours of leaving a London terminal, without needing a car. Here are the best options, grouped by the kind of break you want.

By the sea

Brighton

Brighton is the classic London escape, about an hour by train from Victoria or London Bridge. The pier, the Royal Pavilion and the Lanes are all walkable from the station. The Grand is the landmark seafront hotel, and our Brighton staycation guide covers the rest.

The Kent coast

High-speed trains from St Pancras make the Kent coast easy. Whitstable is known for oysters and its harbour, Margate for its sandy beach and Turner Contemporary, and Deal for its long shingle beach and pier. Folkestone has a harbour arm and a creative quarter.

East Sussex

Rye is a small medieval town of cobbled streets, and Hastings has its old town, fishing fleet and cliff railways. Eastbourne is quieter, with the chalk cliffs of Beachy Head close by. Lewes is inland but a good base for the South Downs and the coast.

Historic cities

Oxford and Cambridge are both around an hour away by train and make ideal weekend breaks, with colleges, museums and riverside walks. Our Oxford guide and Cambridge guide go into more detail.

Canterbury is under an hour on the high-speed line and has one of England's great cathedrals. Winchester, reached from Waterloo, has a cathedral, the Great Hall and water meadow walks. St Albans is closer still, with a cathedral and Roman remains.

Bath is at the edge of the two-hour range, but direct trains from Paddington make it an easy choice for a longer weekend. See our Bath staycation guide for the details.

Countryside and riverside

The Thames west of London is easy to reach. Windsor has its castle and the Great Park, while Henley-on-Thames is a riverside town with good walks along the towpath.

Arundel in West Sussex has a castle, a cathedral and walks along the River Arun, with Amberley Castle nearby for a special stay. Chichester gives you a cathedral city close to the harbour and West Wittering beach.

The New Forest is an easy trip from Waterloo. Lyndhurst is at its heart, with ponies grazing freely, and Lymington is a harbour town on its southern edge. Chewton Glen is one of the country's best-known luxury hotels. From Portsmouth, ferries cross to the Isle of Wight.

Planning your trip

Most of these places work without a car, which saves the stress of weekend traffic out of London. Book train tickets in advance for the best fares, and avoid Friday evening peak trains if you can. For a quieter trip, go midweek or outside school holidays.

For more ideas, see our guides to staycations without a car, bank holiday weekend breaks and romantic weekend breaks. And if you're staying in the capital, our London staycation guide has plenty to fill a weekend.