There are ten brilliant day trips within an hour of London, and most visitors only know half of them. Within an hour by train, you can be standing in front of Windsor Castle, watching deer in Richmond Park, or taking in the full sweep of the London skyline from Greenwich Hill. None of them require a car.
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These are the best day trips within an hour of London by train or tube, chosen for their genuine worth rather than their tourist-board profile. If you are planning a longer stay in the capital, our London on a budget guide covers where to stay, eat and explore without spending a fortune.
Day trips within an hour of London: at a glance
| DESTINATION | JOURNEY TIME | BEST FOR | MAIN ENTRY COST | TICKET |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenwich | 15 to 25 min | History, free museums, views | Free (Observatory from £16) | Oyster / DLR |
| Richmond | 22 min | Nature, deer, riverside walks | Free | From Waterloo |
| Hampton Court | 35 min | Tudor history, gardens | From £29 adults | From Waterloo |
| Windsor | 30 to 50 min | Royal history, families | Castle from £28 | Paddington or Waterloo |
| St Albans | 20 min | Roman history, cathedral | Free | From St Pancras |
| Hatfield House | 22 min | Stately home, gardens | From £18 adults | From King’s Cross |
| Guildford | 35 min | Surrey Hills, castle ruins | Free | From Waterloo |
| Rochester | 40 min | Dickens, Norman history | Castle from £10 | From St Pancras HS |
| Box Hill | 55 min | Hiking, panoramic views | Free | From London Bridge |
| Epping Forest | 45 min | Ancient woodland, cycling | Free | Central Line to Epping |
Greenwich
Greenwich is the most rewarding free day out from London. The walk from the Cutty Sark up through Greenwich Park to the Royal Observatory takes about 20 minutes, and the view from the top is one of the best in England: the Old Royal Naval College below you, Canary Wharf to the left, the Thames curving east. It is the kind of view that stops people mid-stride.
The National Maritime Museum and the Queen’s House are both free and worth your time. The Royal Observatory and the Meridian Line cost from £16 to go inside, but you can stand on either side of it in the park at no charge. Allow four to five hours. Take the DLR from Bank or Tower Gateway, or a train from Charing Cross or London Bridge to Greenwich or Maze Hill.
Richmond
Richmond feels like a village that stayed calm while London grew around it. Richmond Park, at 2,500 acres, is Britain’s largest urban park. Red and fallow deer have roamed it freely since 1637 and are still there. Between October and November during the rut, you could walk within metres of stags. In summer they rest under the oaks, largely unbothered by visitors.
The town has good restaurants along George Street and a Thames towpath walk that is easy and flat. Trains from London Waterloo take 22 minutes. Entry to the park is free.
The view of London from Greenwich Hill is one of the best in England. The Old Royal Naval College sits below and the Thames curves east towards the Thames Barrier.
Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court is one of the finest examples of Tudor and Baroque architecture in Europe, and it is 35 minutes from London Waterloo. Henry VIII extended it in the 1520s, and the hedge maze has been catching visitors out for more than 300 years. The Tudor kitchens are vast, the Great Hall genuinely imposing, and the formal gardens on the river side are free to walk through.
Entry costs around £29 for adults. It is busiest in July and August; a weekday visit in April or May is considerably quieter. The palace runs seasonal events including an ice rink in winter. Travelling with children during term breaks? Our guide to cheap holidays during school holidays has more ideas for keeping family costs down.
Windsor
Windsor is about as grand as a day trip gets. The castle has been a royal residence for nearly a thousand years and is still the world’s largest occupied castle. If you time it right, the Changing of the Guard runs most mornings and is free to watch from outside the walls.
Entry costs from £28 for adults. The town has good shops and a pleasant riverside walk, and Eton College is a 10-minute walk across the bridge. Two train options: Paddington to Windsor and Eton Central takes around 30 minutes; Waterloo to Windsor and Eton Riverside takes about 50 minutes. Windsor is one of the most popular family days out from London. Our cheap school holiday ideas guide has more options for families planning around term dates.
St Albans
St Albans is one of England’s oldest cities, with a Roman heritage going back nearly 2,000 years. Verulamium Park sits on the footprint of the original Roman town, and the best-preserved Roman theatre in Britain is nearby and free to visit. The Cathedral is a genuine mix of Norman and medieval architecture, and its position at the end of the old town’s main street gives it a proper sense of arrival.
The city is 20 minutes from London St Pancras on Thameslink and compact enough to walk everywhere. There is a market on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with independent cafes and good pubs nearby. A half-day is enough for most visitors; a full day gives you room to breathe.
Hatfield House
Hatfield House is one of the finest Jacobean houses in England. Built in 1611 for Robert Cecil, it sits in extensive grounds that include formal gardens, a kitchen garden, a maze and an adventure playground. Elizabeth I spent much of her childhood here, and the connections to the early monarchy are woven throughout the house and its collections.
Entry to the house and gardens starts from around £18 for adults; the gardens alone are cheaper. It is a 22-minute train from London King’s Cross to Hatfield, followed by a 10-minute walk. Open April to October, with specific opening days varying by season. Check the Hatfield House website before you go.
Richmond Park has been home to red and fallow deer since 1637. Autumn is the best time to see the stags during the rut, but the herds are visible year-round.
Guildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey and makes for a satisfying half-day trip from London. The steep cobbled High Street runs down to the River Wey, passing the 17th-century clock tower. The ruined medieval castle, free to enter, sits just off the shopping street and gives good views over the rooftops.
It is 35 minutes from London Waterloo. The North Downs Way passes close to the town centre, so if you want to add a walk into the chalk hills of Surrey, Guildford is a good base. The town has a good spread of independent shops, restaurants and pubs.
Rochester
Rochester is 40 minutes from London St Pancras on the high-speed Southeastern service, and it delivers a proper medieval experience: a Norman cathedral, one of the best-preserved Norman castles in England, and a high street that Charles Dickens knew well and wrote about. The Dickens connection is visible throughout the town, with a Dickens festival held each June.
The castle keep, managed by English Heritage, costs around £10. The cathedral is free. The town is easy to walk and compact. If you want to extend the visit, the village of Cobham and the surrounding Medway countryside are a short journey away.
The Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty begins less than an hour from central London. Guildford, Box Hill and the North Downs Way are all accessible by train from Waterloo.
Box Hill
Box Hill is part of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and offers some of the best walking within an hour of London. The summit gives panoramic views south across the Weald of Surrey and Sussex. It appeared in Jane Austen’s Emma as the site of the famous picnic, and in the 2012 Olympic road race.
There is no entry fee. The National Trust has a visitor centre and cafe at the top. By public transport, take a train from London Bridge to Box Hill and Westhumble station (around 55 minutes), then walk up through the woods. The path is steep in places but manageable. Views are best on clear days between October and April.
Epping Forest
Epping Forest is the closest large area of ancient woodland to central London and one of the best free day trips available. The forest covers around 6,000 acres and includes walking trails, cycling routes, horse riding and open-air swimming at Highams Park Lake. Much of it has been managed as wood-pasture since the Bronze Age, and the ancient beech pollards in the older sections are like nothing else you will find near London.
The Central Line runs to Epping, taking around 45 minutes from central London. Chingford and Loughton are also good entry points for specific trails. The forest is at its best in autumn for the leaf colour and in late spring for bluebells.
Epping Forest covers around 6,000 acres of ancient woodland on the edge of London. Entry is free year-round and the Central Line runs to Epping in around 45 minutes.
Train fares to all of these destinations are significantly cheaper when booked in advance. Our guide to the best time to book a holiday from the UK explains the booking windows that consistently deliver the lowest prices. And if you want to turn a day trip into a long weekend, our guide to getting more days off work shows how to use bank holidays and annual leave to stretch the calendar further.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best day trip from London within an hour?
Greenwich, Richmond and Windsor all make exceptional day trips, each under an hour from central London. Greenwich is best for free history and panoramic views; Windsor for royal spectacle and a grand castle; Richmond for nature, deer and riverside walks.
How do I get to Windsor Castle from London?
Two train options: London Paddington to Windsor and Eton Central takes around 30 minutes; London Waterloo to Windsor and Eton Riverside takes about 50 minutes. Both stations are a short walk from the castle. Rail fares are cheaper when booked ahead via National Rail or Trainline.
Is Greenwich worth visiting as a day trip from London?
Yes. Most of Greenwich’s highlights are free, including the National Maritime Museum, the Queen’s House and the grounds of the Royal Observatory. The Observatory itself costs from £16 if you want to go inside. Budget a full morning or afternoon.
Can you do Hampton Court Palace as a day trip?
Easily. Allow three to four hours for a thorough visit including the maze and the Tudor kitchens. The palace is 35 minutes from London Waterloo and entry costs around £29 for adults. The riverside gardens are free to walk through.
What are the best free day trips from London within an hour?
Greenwich, Richmond Park, Epping Forest, Guildford and Box Hill all have free main attractions. The two national museums at Greenwich are free. Richmond Park and Epping Forest charge nothing to enter. Box Hill has no entry fee and offers panoramic views across Surrey.
How far in advance should I book train tickets for day trips from London?
Advance tickets on National Rail can be 50 to 70 per cent cheaper than on-the-day fares. Tickets for most routes go on sale 12 weeks ahead. Windsor, Hampton Court and Rochester are all significantly cheaper if you book in advance rather than on the day.
What are the best day trips from London for families with children?
Windsor Castle, Hampton Court and Hatfield House are all particularly good with children. Windsor for the castle and riverside, Hampton Court for the maze and Tudor kitchens, and Hatfield for its adventure playground and grounds. All three are under an hour from London by train.
Kate Acaster is Chief Editor at Flight Tribe. She writes about practical travel planning, budget airlines, baggage rules, city breaks, beach holidays and good hotels that do not cost daft money.
Kate has travelled through Europe, South America and beyond, usually with a notebook, a half-formed plan and a strong opinion on airport snacks. At Flight Tribe, her work focuses on helping UK travellers understand what is included, what costs extra, and whether a trip is worth booking at the price shown.
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