In the same way that London is more than just red buses, black cabs, and a rather large parliamentary clock, England is more than just the vigor of London. Escaping big city life is often exactly what we need when we travel, so it only makes sense that any trip to the capital should factor in the potential for weekends away. London makes it easy to achieve: National parks teeming with wildlife, windswept beaches home to seaside cafes, and historic cities with cobbled streets are all surprisingly easy to get to. Some of the best weekend trips from London are under a two-hour drive away—plenty more are just shy of three—and train connections make it sometimes faster.
The Best Airbnbs for Weekend Trips From London, According to Vogue:
- For a Quintessential Countryside Escape: Hoo Cottage, from $676 per night
- For a Spa Retreat: Central Bath Apartment, from $295 per night
- For a Seaside Weekend: Regency Flat, from $245 per night
- For an Off-the-Grid stay: The Boathouse, from $578 per night
- For Hilltop Rambles: Top of the World, from $696 per night
- For a Historic Getaway: Oxford Cottage, from $580 per night
The Cotswolds have been the darling of British summertime for many years, popular with Londoners looking to escape city life. Houses here feel like they’re from a fairy tale—and this 17th-century thatched-roof cottage is one of the fairest of them all.
Located in the market town of Chipping Campden, Hoo Cottage is as charming as they come, with exposed stone walls, wood-beamed ceilings, and a back garden in the center of a postcard-perfect British landscape. Make Daylesford Farmshop—a 20-minute drive away—one of your first stops, to stock up on organic produce for dinner.
Rooms: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Amenities: Kitchen, washer, dryer, heating, garden, on-street parking
Location: Chipping Campden, the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire
Distance from London: 2 hours and 40 minutes
Central Bath Apartment
If you’re visiting Bath, do it in style. This Grade II-listed home (a designation given to buildings of special architectural or historic interest) sits on the road connecting two of the city’s prettiest and most lauded Georgian sights: the Circus and the Royal Crescent. Its interior design matches the vibe, with elegant period-style design complemented by touches of country life—riding boots placed beside a cast-iron fireguard inside, terracotta pots next to Victorian wrought-iron chairs on the outdoor patio. It’s here, on the patio, that you’ll find your own personal sauna—though it’s no match for the city’s more famous thermal waters. Thermae Bath Spa is one of the best.
Rooms: 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
Amenities: Kitchen, heating, garden, sauna
Location: Bath, Somerset
Distance from London: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Regency Flat
Brighton is one of the closest cities to London for a weekend getaway; it also comes with a beach. Vibrant, free-spirited, and sometimes a little scruffy around the edges, some love it, others don’t—and Brighton is very ok with that.
I spent three years living here and fell for slow mornings on the beach, lunch at independent cafes, and long dinners usually followed by a party. If you do decide to delve in, book this grand apartment on the seafront. It has high ceilings, decorative Regency-style furnishings, and lots of natural light; plus, it’s within walking distance to all the main attractions, but far enough away from it all to feel calm.
Rooms: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Amenities: Kitchen, washer, heating, elevator
Location: Brighton, East Sussex
Distance from London: 2 hours and 15 minutes
The Boathouse
North Norfolk remains under the radar, much to the delight of those who holiday here. Wild beaches surround acre upon acre of farmland, dotted with quaint flint villages—places I visited every weekend as a child for windswept walks followed by hearty meals in a local pub.
On the banks of a lake within a country estate, this stilt-built, Tudor Revival-style home designed by celebrated local architect George Skipper is as grand inside as it is out. Sweeping sands, small market towns, and pub lunches await (The Brisley Bell is a top spot for lunch); or, you could leave it all behind in favor of slow days by the lake—there’s a small rowing boat here for guest use.
Rooms: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Amenities: Kitchen, washer, dryer, heating, garden, grill, on-site parking
Location: North Norfolk
Distance from London: 2 hours and 45 minutes
Top of the World
It’s not quite on top of the world, but this rural shepherd’s hut is at the top of a wildflower meadow, set on the 500-acre Burrow Farm Estate. It’s as close as you can get to escaping it all while retaining the modern comforts of a more traditional stay: a hamper of local products welcomes you; armchairs cozy up next to a wood-burning fire; underfloor heating keeps your toes warm on crisp mornings; a hot tub invites you to relax day or night.
As for your itinerary, you have options. Choose a walk through the chalky Chiltern Hills, or make the 30-minute drive to Windsor Castle; a bastion of British royalty, it was founded in the 11th century and is the oldest inhabited castle in the world.
Rooms: 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
Amenities: Kitchen, heating, outdoor dining area, grill, on-street parking
Location: Hambleden, Buckinghamshire
Distance from London: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Oxford Cottage
The UK is brimming with history, but this Grade II-listed cottage has more than most. Once a 17th-century inn for highwaymen (either armed thieves or semi-heroic versions of Robin Hood, depending on who you ask), the original building was destroyed by fire. The cottage as it stands today was rebuilt in 1840. Georgian-style design remains, complete with sash windows, decorative cornicing, plus an original fireplace and pine floorboards. Its outdoor area is just as pretty, with colorful plants (a Judas tree, a Mount Etna Broom, roses, and jasmine) filling the garden. Oxford, too, has a long history: its university, which is almost 1,000 years old (and home to plenty of Harry Potter filming locations), is a short walk away.
Rooms: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Amenities: Kitchen, washer, dryer, heating, garden
Location: Oxford, Oxfordshire
Distance from London: 1 hour and 45 minutes
The Cot
Hold your horses! Actually, in this part of the UK, it’s ponies—before you rush to get to this 400-year-old cottage, take a leisurely drive through the adjacent New Forest National Park, where thousands of them roam free. Sometimes, they come right up to your car; spotting them from small country roads is one of my favorite things to do on this particular road trip.
Located in Lymington, The Cot is a small and cozy cottage with old-world charm. The national park is a five-minute drive away (though it gets prettier the deeper you drive), while Lymington High Street and its yacht harbor are a short stroll in the other direction—The Yacht Haven is a good place to stop for refreshments.
Rooms: 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
Amenities: Kitchen, heating, garden, on-street parking
Location: Lymington, Hampshire
Distance from London: 2 hours and 45 minutes
Georgian House
Perhaps the best thing you can do at this Georgian home is to wake early and read a book overlooking the quiet greenery of the park, just opposite. This is a peaceful escape away from the crowds, but an easy base from which to explore one of the city’s most popular sights: King’s College, which was founded by King Henry VI in 1441 and is about a 15-minute walk away. After exploring its Gothic architecture, wind your way back home, passing the 15th-century church of Great St. Mary’s, Trinity College, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (also known as the Round Church) on your way. The next day, make your way to the river—there are a few punting stations surrounding the park.
Rooms: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Amenities: Kitchen, washer, heating, cot, garden, on-street parking
Location: Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
Distance from London: 1 hour and 30 minutes
