Best Day Trips from London With Kids: Break from the City
One of the things I love most about living in London is the extraordinary amount there is to do. Museums, galleries, restaurants, theatre, parks and exhibitions mean we are rarely short of somewhere to go with our son.
But there are weekends when the last thing I want is another London itinerary.
Sometimes we simply need a break from the city: more space, time outdoors and a change of scenery, without turning a family day out into a complicated trip away.
And whether you live in London or are visiting from abroad, one of the capital's greatest advantages is how easily you can escape into the English countryside. From historic castles and beautiful country estates to riverside villages and woodland walks, some of the best day trips from London with kids are surprisingly close to the city.
For this guide, I've focused on destinations that are generally within around 90 minutes of London by car, depending on traffic and where you start. Some are also accessible by train, making them appealing for international visitors who would rather explore without hiring a car. These are the places I would recommend for a memorable family day trip, with options for different ages, interests and travel styles.
The Day Trips from London at a Glance
Whether you're looking for a historic castle, a woodland adventure or a relaxing day in the English countryside, these family-friendly destinations offer something for different ages and interests.
Destination | Best for | Travel time from London | Car needed? |
Cliveden, Berkshire | Ages 3–12 · Gardens, maze and boating | 45–75 mins by car | Recommended; train + taxi possible |
The Chilterns | Ages 4–14 · Woodland and nature | 45–60 mins by train to Wendover, plus transfer | Recommended for woodland attractions |
Surrey Hills & Box Hill | Ages 5–14 · Walking and outdoor adventure | 50–75 mins by train, plus walking | No, but useful with younger children |
Hever Castle, Kent | Ages 4–14 · Castles, history and playgrounds | 60–90 mins by car | Recommended; train + taxi possible |
Windsor Castle & Great Park | Ages 5–14 · Royal history and parkland | 35–60 mins by train | No |
Marlow & the Thames | Ages 3–12 · Riverside walks and relaxed days | 60–90 mins by train | No |
The Cotswolds | Ages 4–14 · Villages, wildlife and countryside | 2–2.5 hrs by car | Recommended |
Travel times are approximate and depend on your departure point, traffic and public transport connections. Age ranges are editorial recommendations rather than official admission requirements.
Cliveden House and Berkshire: A Beautiful Family Day Trip
Berkshire is one of the easiest options when we want a break from the city without spending half the day getting there. The River Thames runs through the county, creating opportunities for riverside walks and boating, while the surrounding countryside is filled with historic estates, gardens and places that can easily occupy a family for the day.
One of our favourite Berkshire escapes has been Cliveden. We stayed at Cliveden House when our son was nine, but you don't need to stay at the hotel to experience much of what makes the destination special. The surrounding Cliveden estate is cared for by the National Trust and is a destination in its own right.
We spent hours exploring it. There are formal gardens and ponds, woodland walks, a maze and areas designed specifically for children. We wandered through the estate before making our way down towards the Thames, where we had pizza and ice cream and stopped for a little picnic.
One of the highlights was taking a boat trip along the river. It gives you a completely different perspective of the estate and turned what could simply have been a country walk into much more of an adventure. The National Trust also runs seasonal family activities during school holidays, so it is worth checking what is happening if you're visiting during half-term. What makes Berkshire particularly useful for London families is its flexibility. You can make it a day out, stay for a night or simply choose one part of the area to explore without feeling as though you've committed to a full weekend away.
Best for | Ages 3–12 for beautiful gardens, woodland adventures, riverside walks, boating and exploring a historic country estate. |
Things to do | Explore Cliveden's famous gardens, challenge the children to find their way through the maze, visit the Storybook Play Den and follow the family-friendly woodland trail with balancing beams, stepping stones and a rope swing. For an extra-special experience, book a boat trip along the River Thames. Allow at least half a day to enjoy the estate without rushing. |
Distance from London | Approximately 30 miles (48 km) west of central London, depending on your starting point. |
Getting there | Trains from London Paddington to Taplow or Burnham, followed by a taxi to Cliveden. Alternatively, drive via the M4 or M40. |
Travel time | Approximately 45–75 minutes by car, or around 60–90 minutes by train and taxi, depending on connections. |
Highlights | Cliveden's National Trust gardens, woodland trails, maze, riverside walks, seasonal family activities and boat trips on the River Thames. |
Good to know | You don't need to stay at Cliveden House hotel to explore the National Trust estate. Admission charges apply to non-members, and boat trips may require separate tickets. The National Trust advises against walking from nearby railway stations because the surrounding roads lack pavements. |
The Cotswolds: Picturesque Villages and English Countryside
The Cotswolds are one of England's most beautiful countryside destinations, known for honey-coloured stone villages, rolling hills and charming market towns. For families, there's plenty to explore, from traditional villages and countryside walks to wildlife parks and historic estates. Although further from London than the other destinations in this guide, the Cotswolds are well worth considering if you have a full day or can extend your visit overnight.
Best for | Ages 4–14 for picturesque villages, countryside adventures, wildlife and exploring traditional English towns. |
Things to do | Explore the riverside village of Bourton-on-the-Water, visit the historic streets of Stow-on-the-Wold, discover the honey-coloured cottages of Bibury or spend time at Cotswold Farm Park, where children can meet farm animals and enjoy outdoor play. Choose one or two locations for a day trip rather than trying to cover the entire region. |
Distance from London | Approximately 90–110 miles (145–177 km) to the eastern Cotswolds, depending on the destination. |
Getting there | Drive via the M40 or take a train from London Paddington to Moreton-in-Marsh, with onward transport to nearby villages. |
Travel time | Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes–2 hours by train to Moreton-in-Marsh, or 2–2.5 hours by car, depending on destination and traffic. |
Highlights | Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold, Bibury, beautiful countryside walks and Cotswold Farm Park. |
Good to know | The Cotswolds cover a large region, and many villages are easier to explore by car. For families with younger children, an overnight stay allows more time to enjoy the area without rushing. |
Discover Our UK Formative Experiences Guide
This guide brings together meaningful cultural institutions, historic spaces, civic environments, markets, and natural landscapes across the UK that quietly shape confidence, articulation, perspective, and intellectual comfort over time. Grounded in our proprietary Formative Travel™ framework, this guide offers a more intentional approach to the experiences and environments that shape childhood.
Download your FREE UK Formative Experiences Guide →
The Chilterns: English Countryside and Pretty Villages
The Chilterns are easy to overlook because they sit so close to London, but that is precisely why they work so well for a spontaneous escape. The landscape stretches across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, with wooded hills, chalk landscapes, villages and miles of walking routes. This isn't necessarily somewhere I would approach with a long list of attractions to complete. The attraction is being outside.
Choose a walk that suits the children's ages, stop somewhere for lunch, explore a village and allow the day to unfold without an elaborate itinerary. For children accustomed to London weekends, simply having enough space to walk, explore and discover things independently can completely change the rhythm of the day.
And because parts of the Chilterns are so accessible from London, you don't have the psychological hurdle of planning a “trip”. You can decide to go for the day, leave in the morning and still be home that evening. For me, that is sometimes exactly what a break from the city should be.
Best for | Ages 4–14 for countryside walks, woodland adventures, charming English villages and relaxed family days outdoors. |
Things to do | Start at Wendover Woods for a family walk, forest play and a picnic. Choose a shorter woodland trail for younger children or a longer countryside walk for older children. Afterwards, explore Wendover's market-town streets and stop for lunch or afternoon tea. Families with a car can extend the day to nearby villages and viewpoints. |
Distance from London | Approximately 40 miles (64 km) northwest of central London to Wendover, a convenient starting point for exploring the Chilterns. |
Getting there | Trains from London Paddington to Taplow or Burnham, followed by a taxi to Cliveden. Alternatively, drive via the M4 or M40. |
Travel time | Direct Chiltern Railways trains from London Marylebone to Wendover. Driving is useful for exploring multiple villages and more remote walking routes. Travel time: Approximately 45–60 minutes by train to Wendover, or around 60–90 minutes by car, depending on traffic. |
Highlights | Wendover Woods, scenic countryside trails, traditional market towns, woodland walks and picturesque villages. |
Good to know | The Chilterns cover a large area rather than one attraction, so choose a specific village or walking route before travelling. Wendover is a convenient starting point for families travelling without a car, although some countryside attractions require additional transport. |
Surrey Hills and Box Hill: Countryside Walks Near London
The Surrey Hills are another particularly useful option when what we need is countryside rather than a holiday. This is an area I would choose during a busy school term when we want to get outdoors but don't necessarily want to pack bags, check into a hotel and turn the weekend into another logistical exercise.
Box Hill is probably the best-known family starting point, with walking routes and extensive views across the surrounding countryside, but the wider Surrey Hills offer woodland, villages, gardens and plenty of places for a long lunch. What I like about this kind of escape is its simplicity.
You can leave London after breakfast, spend several hours walking and exploring, stop somewhere lovely to eat and return home that evening feeling as though you've actually been somewhere. For younger children, you don't necessarily need much more than that. For older children, longer walking routes give you the opportunity to make the day more active.
Best for | Ages 5–14 for countryside walks, panoramic views, woodland trails and outdoor family adventures close to London. |
Things to do | Begin at the Box Hill viewpoint for sweeping views across the Surrey countryside. Follow the gentle hilltop stroll with younger children or take the two-mile natural play trail through the woods. More adventurous families can tackle the Stepping Stones walk, descending towards the River Mole before climbing back to the summit. Stop at the National Trust café or bring a picnic. |
Distance from London | Approximately 25–30 miles (40–48 km) south of central London to Box Hill. |
Getting there | Trains from London Victoria or Waterloo to Box Hill & Westhumble, depending on the service, followed by a walk towards Box Hill. Alternatively, drive via the A24. |
Travel time | Approximately 50–75 minutes by train to Box Hill & Westhumble, plus walking time, or around 60–90 minutes by car. |
Highlights | Box Hill's countryside views, woodland trails, the River Mole, scenic walking routes and the surrounding Surrey Hills National Landscape. |
Good to know | Some Box Hill routes involve steep slopes, steps and uneven terrain, so choose a trail suitable for your children's ages and walking abilities. The route from the railway station to the summit involves a steep uphill walk, making driving more convenient for families with younger children. |
Kent: Historic Castles and Gardens Near London
Kent is one of the most versatile options for a family break from London because there is considerably more to it than simply going for a country walk. There are castles, historic houses, gardens, villages and large stretches of countryside, which means you can choose the experience according to your children's ages and interests.
That also makes Kent useful throughout the year.
During spring and summer, the gardens and countryside are reason enough to visit. In autumn or on less predictable days, having historic houses and castles to explore gives you more flexibility.
For children, I particularly like destinations where the history is tangible. A castle or historic estate gives them something to investigate rather than simply asking them to accompany us on a beautiful country walk. And if you are willing to travel a little further through the county, Kent eventually gives way to the coast. That opens up an entirely different kind of escape, although for the furthest coastal destinations I would be more inclined to stay overnight.
Best for | Ages 4–14 for exploring historic castles, beautiful gardens, English history and countryside adventures. |
Things to do | Explore Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, using the children's interactive audio guide. Outside, challenge the family to navigate the Yew Maze and Water Maze, visit the Tudor Towers adventure playground, or let younger children explore Acorn Dell. Walk around the lake and gardens, with seasonal boating available on selected dates. Allow four to five hours for a relaxed visit. |
Distance from London | Approximately 30 miles (48 km) southeast of central London to Hever Castle, or around 45 miles (72 km) to Leeds Castle near Maidstone. |
Getting there | For Hever Castle, take a train from London Victoria or London Bridge towards Edenbridge Town, followed by a taxi. Alternatively, travel to Hever station and walk approximately one mile along a rural route. For Leeds Castle, trains run from London Victoria to Bearsted or Hollingbourne, followed by a short taxi journey. |
Travel time | Approximately 60–90 minutes by car to Hever Castle, or around 75–100 minutes by train and taxi. Leeds Castle is approximately 70–75 minutes by train to the nearest stations, plus a local transfer. |
Highlights | Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, its beautiful gardens and grounds, Leeds Castle, family-friendly historical experiences and the surrounding Kent countryside. |
Good to know | Kent is a large county, so choose one castle or estate as the focus of your day rather than trying to explore the entire region. Both Hever Castle and Leeds Castle require admission tickets, and some activities have additional charges. Advance booking is recommended during school holidays. |
Windsor Castle and Windsor Great Park
Windsor deserves a place of its own because it works particularly well when you want something between a London cultural day and a countryside escape.
There is obviously Windsor Castle, which gives the day a strong historical element, but the wider appeal for families is being able to combine that with Windsor Great Park. The scale of the park gives you a completely different experience from London's green spaces. You can walk, explore and spend much of the day outside rather than treating Windsor purely as a sightseeing destination.
That combination works particularly well with school-age children: enough history to make the day interesting, but plenty of opportunity afterwards to simply be outdoors. Its proximity to London also means there is no real need to stay overnight unless you want to. It is exactly the sort of destination that can make an ordinary Saturday feel like a proper excursion without requiring much planning.
Best for | Ages 5–14 for royal history, castle exploration, extensive parkland and an easy family day outside London. |
Distance from London | Trains from London Paddington via Slough, or direct services from London Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside |
Getting there | Explore Windsor Castle's State Apartments, discover the magnificent St George's Chapel when open, and use the multimedia guide to bring the castle's history to life. Afterwards, explore Windsor's historic town centre and walk part of the Long Walk in Windsor Great Park, with views towards the castle. Allow approximately two to three hours for the castle and additional time for the park. |
Travel time | Approximately 40–60 minutes by train, depending on route and departure station |
Highlights | Windsor Castle, historic streets, riverside walks and Windsor Great Park |
Good to know | Windsor Castle requires admission tickets; Windsor Great Park offers extensive outdoor areas, though some attractions have separate charges. |
Marlow: A Beautiful Riverside Town Near London
If the priority is less sightseeing and more simply getting away, Marlow is another easy option.
Its position on the Thames makes it particularly appealing in warmer weather, when the pleasure is in walking beside the river, exploring the town and stopping somewhere for lunch rather than working through an itinerary.
This is the sort of escape I increasingly appreciate because it doesn't need to be ambitious.
You can combine a riverside walk with the surrounding Buckinghamshire countryside, or use Marlow as part of a wider day exploring the Thames and Chilterns. It also pairs naturally with Cliveden if you are staying in the area rather than returning to London the same day.
Best for | Ages 3–12 for relaxed riverside walks, picturesque English scenery, family lunches and an easy escape from the city. |
Things to do | Begin with a walk through Marlow's historic town centre and across the famous suspension bridge. Continue to Higginson Park, where children can enjoy the large playground, including a ship-themed play structure. Walk along the River Thames, stop for a picnic or riverside lunch, and consider a boat hire or river cruise when operating. Allow three to five hours for a leisurely visit. |
Distance from London | Approximately 35 miles (56 km) west of central London. |
Getting there | Trains from London Paddington to Maidenhead, followed by a connecting train to Marlow. Alternatively, drive via the M4 or M40. |
Travel time | Approximately 60–90 minutes by train, depending on connections, or around 50–80 minutes by car, depending on traffic. |
Highlights | Marlow's historic town centre, the River Thames, Marlow Bridge, riverside walks, independent shops and restaurants, and the surrounding Buckinghamshire countryside. |
Good to know | Marlow is particularly enjoyable in spring and summer, when families can spend time walking beside the Thames and exploring the town. Most central attractions are accessible on foot, making it a relatively straightforward day trip without a car. Train journeys require a change at Maidenhead, so check connections before travelling. |
Additional Resources
If you want to travel further and make the hotel itself part of the experience, I've included some of our favourite stays in my guide: Weekend Breaks UK: Luxury Family Escapes Worth Travelling For.
Which Break From the City Should You Choose?
The answer depends less on which destination is “best” and more on what you need from the day.
If we want history and something for our son to explore, I would look towards Windsor or Kent. If the purpose is simply walking and getting outdoors, the Chilterns and Surrey Hills make far more sense. For the Thames, boating and a beautiful historic estate, Berkshire is particularly easy. And for a relaxed riverside day, Marlow requires very little planning.
That distinction matters. I don't think every family weekend needs to become a checklist of attractions. Sometimes what we need from leaving London is precisely the opposite.
Looking for More Family Experiences in London?
Of course, not every weekend needs to involve leaving London.Some of our favourite family experiences are much closer to home, particularly during the summer holidays and school breaks. For families looking for inspiration within the city, you might also enjoy:
And if you're looking for somewhere special to stay in London itself, you can also read my review of The Milestone Hotel in Kensington.
Shanti
The Kensington Diary
Comments