THE hustle and bustle of living in the UK’s capital can sometime be overwhelming, let along the expensive price of doing things in the city during your free time.
But less than an hour outside of , there are a number of amazing places to visit that won’t break the bank.
London is surrounded by amazing destinations for days out, such as Windsor (above)
And this includes some seaside spots like Canvey Island (above)
Think seaside spots with glorious ice creams and historic towns with breathtaking architecture…
Here are some of our favourite laces to visit, all within an hour from the Big Smoke.
Windsor, Berkshire
Travel Reporter says…
Just 56 minutes direct from you can explore a town bursting with history, which is the ultimate royal destination.
One of my favourite spots, located at the bottom of the high street is none other than a
Located within a former chemist, pub features a fascinating facade with symbols relating to the original chemist below the first floor windows.
Admittedly, visiting the castle itself is a small fortune (around £60 per adult), you can enjoy the outside of the impressive buildings for free by heading onto the Royal Mile – a long, flat walk with breathtaking views of the castle and, if you’re lucky, grazing deer.
To see the stunning town from a new perspective, head on one of the Duck Tours – where a duck-themed vehicle heads from the road onto the river to explore the castle from a different angle.
Obviously, you can head to Windsor Resort nearby too and with you can get two free tickets.
An off-peak day single train ticket from London Waterloo to Windsor and Eton Riverside costs from £8.90 per person.
In Windsor, you can head on a Duck Tour that explores both the road and river
Windsor is also home to a great Wetherspoons pub
Canvey Island, Southend-On-Sea
Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter says…
The reclaimed in the Thames Estuary in Southend-On-Sea is a great spot to escape to from the hustle and bustle of the city, for a truly British seaside spot.
The town has everything you’d want from a seaside town, including arcades, quaint cafes, shops and of course, a long sandy beach.
There are even tidal sea pools at the beach as well which are completely free to use.
But unlike many popular seaside destinations across the country, prices in Canvey Island remain low with a cone of chips costing as little as £2.70 from Bruno‘s Fish and Chips.
Make sure to head to one of the kiosks outside the arcades or on the road – they are all owned by the same family and have the most friendly, chatty staff – and pick up a ‘Brown Derby’, which is a doughnut with classic soft serve on top, for £3.80.
A train from London Liverpool Street Station takes around 50 minutes to reach , and then you can hop on a bus for around 10 minutes to reach Canvey Island.
An off-peak day single costs from £9.40 per person.
Canvey Island has everything you’d want from a seaside resort, including a beach, arcades and cafes
Make sure to head to the small kiosks and grab a ‘Brown Derby’
St Albans, Hertfordshire
Assistant Travel Editor says…
Just one stop on the train and an easy 20 minutes from London St Pancras station (at certain times), the leafy city of bears nothing of the skyscrapers in our capital’s city centre.
What sets this Roman city, formerly named Verulamium, apart from any other countryside day trip is its history – and you won’t have to shell out buckets on museum entry to take it all in.
A simple stroll around the park where the ruins of a weathered Roman wall still stand surrounded by ancient trees, will showcase its fascinating tale.
There’s a plethora of walking routes along the winding River Ver, one of the UK’s only remaining chalk rivers – keep your eyes peeled for all manner of wildlife, I once spotted a colourful mandarin duck bobbing on the water.
There’s also a traditional picture house dating back to 1908 that’s been given a fresh makeover and now features comfy sofas and huge arms chairs with varnished tables from which you can order a cheese board or a glass of wine while watching the latest blockbusters.
A train fare from to St Albans costs from £15.90 for an anytime day single.
St Albans is just one stop on the train from London St Pancras Station
It is home to lots of cobblestone streets which have boutique delis and coffee shops
Brighton
Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor says…
What could be better than a trip to the seaside for proper city escapism?
In my opinion, is one of the best seaside destinations within reach from London.
That’s because it’s got soul and character which can be found in its higgledy piggledy antique shops and quirky bakeries that make up the maze of alleyways in The Lanes.
It still has all the beachy fun you’d get from a typical coastal city though, including an action-packed pier with both modern and traditional arcade games, as well as some properly good chippies, selling battered fish doused in vinegar.
Even when a swim is off the cards and the sun isn’t shining, you won’t be short of things to keep you busy.
Its wild bars with live music have made Brighton a destination that’s known for its nightlife, but a flurry of top notch Michelin guide and sophisticated members clubs have muscled their way to the city in recent years, giving the city a new lease of life.
A train from to Brighton takes around 58 minutes and costs from £37.80 for an anytime day single.
Brighton is another seaside spot within reach of London, with a thriving pier
Epping, Essex
Travel Writer says…
At the end of London’s Central Line on the tube is a great day out for families and it only costs £1 for kids.
The Epping Ongar Railway is the closest vintage steam train experience to London and you can chug through three miles of the beautiful countryside in Epping forest.
Even better for kids, you get picked up from Epping Station, just 35 minutes from central London, in a classic red double-decker bus and taken to the station to pick up the train.
This is all included in your ticket price.
The railway has lots of events throughout the year, including a beer festival, Halloween ‘terror train’, festive lights express and a Santa service.
On selected days, kids go for just £1 and you might even meet some familiar characters like Bluey, Peppa Pig and The Gruffalo there too.
You can book tickets in advance, which will include a bus fare, via Epping Ongar Railway’s website.
Epping is located on the Central Line and to get to the destination from Zone One it costs £3.80 with an Oyster card or contactless or £7 for a single cash fare ticket.
The Epping Ongar Railway is the closest vintage steam train experience to London
Cambridge
Travel Reporter says…
On a train from London King’s Cross, is just 48 minutes away and well worth the visit.
You can choose to tour the universities, or just wander around and you’ll still be able to take in all the incredible sights.
Some colleges have free entry to the grounds so you can get a closer look for absolutely nothing, these include Christ’s College, Trinity Hall and Peterhouse – but check opening times before you go.
Entry to the Fitzwilliam Museum is free, so you won’t have to spend a penny to take a look around at the exhibits.
Take a walk by the to spot some people punting along the water, and there’s always the option to have a pit stop in The Anchor pub too.
A single train fare from to Cambridge costs from £31.90 per person.
In Cambridge, you can tour the universities or just wander around them
Grantchester, South Cambridgeshire
Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter says…
is a little trickier to get to from London – but for anyone who’s in Cambridge, it’s well worth popping over.
And in a cab, you can be there from Cambridge station in 12 minutes – so technically, it’s still an hour from London.
I recently visited the village and for anyone who needs a break from the city, it’s perfect.
There are a multitude of from The Rupert Brooke to The Green Man and The Red Lion.
But if you don’t do anything else, go to The Orchard Tea Garden which is set in an apple orchard and they have a great selection of homemade cakes and scones.
And of course, around the village you’ll spot from the ITV series, also called Grantchester, starring Robson Green.
A single train fare from London King’s Cross to Cambridge costs from £31.90 per person and then a taxi will cost you around £15-20.
Alternatively, it is an hour walk from the station.
Granchester is home to The Orchard Tea Garden which is set in an apple orchard and they have a great selection of homemade cakes and scones
Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire
Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter says…
Getting to the town of Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire can surprisingly take as little as 29 minutes from London King’s Cross.
As one of the first ‘garden cities’ in the country, Welwyn has plenty to offer from cafes to little shops which are all found around the Howardsgate loop.
Quite often there are live music events and street food vans pulled up around the green too.
Some of my favourite stops are the Welwyn Coffee Lab, Megan’s in the Garden City, and if you head to the outskirts, Tewingbury Farm is a popular spot.
You can pick from a fancy à la carte menu, or a lighter pizza in the pretty courtyard.
A single train fare from London King’s Cross to Welwyn Garden City costs from £15.20 per person.
As one of the first ‘garden cities’ in the country, Welwyn has plenty to offer from cafes to little shops
Oxford
Deputy Travel Editor says…
I spent my childhood growing up just outside of , but its only as an adult I realised just how amazing it is as a city break holiday.
I recommend doing an open-top bus tour – touristy I know – but it means you can sometimes peer into the university gardens which you can’t enter, or see from the streets.
The Covered Market is a must-visit as well.
Moo Moos is where you will find people on their lunch break grabbing a massive milkshake out of any chocolate bar or sweet you can think of.
And if you need somewhere to stay, just outside of the city is Mollie’s Motel, a trendy American roadside hotel for just £60 a night.
Trains from take 56 minutes and start from £5.40.
The open-top bus tour of Oxford allows you to peer into the university gardens
Folkstone, Kent
Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor says…
Having made the move from London to the less-than-an-hour-away seaside town is fast becoming a popular day trip destination.
There is the Harbour Arms, celebrating its 10 years this year, which is full of restaurants, bars and shops built into shipping containers.
I also recommend the beautiful Creative Quarter, which is home not only to a but also amazing food (make sure to try Burrito Buoy for fantastic Mexican).
Put it in the diary for next summer too, when the long-awaited funicular reopens.
Trains from London St Pancras take 54minutes and start from £14.90.
In Folkstone head to the Creative Quarter, which is home not only to a Banksy but also amazing food
Canterbury, Kent
Caroline McGuire, Travel Editor says…
is pretty much the perfect city for a day trip – it’s very
beautiful, extremely walkable, has great pubs and restaurants.
History buffs have plenty to keep them occupied.
The Romans built a wall around the city that was rebuilt in Medieval times, and still stands to this day – you walk through the West Wall gate to reach the centre of town from the train station.
is free to visit, while tickets to the cathedral cost from £18.
One of the nicest ways to see the city is by boat, with several
options including canal cruises, punting tours and self-guided canoe
trips.
Reward yourself with a pint afterwards at one of the many, many pubs – my favourites are the Cherry Tree and The Old Buttermarket.
The fastest train to Canterbury West takes 51 minutes from St Pancras station and a single fare costs from £43.
Canterbury is the ideal city for exploring on foot with lots of great pubs and restaurants
And it only takes 51 minutes to get there from London
Diggerland, Kent
Travel Editor says…
Diggerland is one of those places that is SO much better in person.
I almost thought it was a joke before I visited and, after a trip with
my son, I came away a total convert.
There’s no digger-based fun they haven’t thought of.
We spent the day riding dumper trucks around a gravel pit, digging
stones out of a hole with a full-sized digger and riding around a
muddy concourse while seated in an enormous bucket.
You can dig for mud, “gold bricks”, stones or toy ducks. You can drive
a dumper, take a digger safari, ride backwards in a bucket carousel –
somehow, they’ve made 20 different rides from machinery.
If that doesn’t suffice, there are also plenty of coin- operated
(you’ve guessed it) car and digger rides dotted around the place.
Plus, there are minimal queues for each attraction.
Trains to Strood from St Pancras take 33 minutes and cost from £27 for a single ticket and it’s a short bus ride from Strood to
At Diggerland, families can spend the day riding dumper trucks around a gravel pit 
