The Best Underrated Day Trips Londoners Are Taking in 2025
We all know the usual suspects when it comes to day trips from London: Oxford, Brighton, Cambridge… lovely, but also packed with tourists and overdone itineraries.
But ask a local where they’re heading this summer? You’ll hear about spots you won’t find on most travel lists—places that feel fresh, surprising, and blissfully under the radar.
Whether you're craving nature, history, quirky villages, or just a break from the London buzz, here are the underrated day trips Londoners are quietly loving in 2025.
1. Eynsford & Lullingstone (Kent)
Perfect for: Scenic walks, countryside picnics, and unexpected history.
Just 40 minutes from London by train, Eynsford feels like a postcard from another era—think stone bridges, a medieval castle, and even a Roman villa nearby.
📍 Don’t Miss:
Lullingstone Castle – A manor house with a World Garden of Plants.
Eynsford Castle ruins – Free entry and perfect for a peaceful sit.
Riverside pub lunch at The Plough.
Why Londoners love it: It’s calm, green, and you don’t feel like a tourist at all. Great spot for walking and zero crowds.
2. Frinton-on-Sea (Essex)
Perfect for: Quiet beaches, clean sand, and vintage seaside vibes.
While everyone’s squeezing into Southend or Brighton, Londoners in the know are heading to Frinton—a charming, family-friendly seaside town with zero arcades or party noise.
📍 Highlights:
Long sandy beach with iconic beach huts.
Great for swimming or reading in peace.
Nearby Walton-on-the-Naze has cliff walks and fossil hunting.
🗣️ Local tip: Pack your own snacks—it’s quiet, and shops close early. But that’s part of the charm.
3. Avebury (Wiltshire)
Perfect for: Mystical vibes, ancient history, and fewer crowds than Stonehenge.
Yes, everyone flocks to Stonehenge. But Avebury? Equally fascinating, way less crowded—and you can actually walk through the stones.
📍 Highlights:
Massive stone circle around the whole village.
Avebury Manor – Beautiful historic home you can explore.
Nearby Silbury Hill and West Kennet Long Barrow for extra mystery.
🗣️ Why go now: It's peaceful, eerie in the best way, and feels like your own personal portal to prehistory.
4. Chiltern Hills & Turville (Buckinghamshire)
Perfect for: Hikes, pub lunches, and Midsomer Murders vibes.
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that somehow remains a local secret. Take a train to Henley or High Wycombe and you're close to the Chiltern Hills—lush, rolling, and full of charming villages like Turville, where "The Vicar of Dibley" was filmed.
📍 Must-do:
Hike up to Cobstone Windmill.
Pub lunch at The Bull & Butcher.
Chill in the village green with local ice cream.
🗣️ Why Londoners go: It's just so English countryside, but without the daytripper buzz.
5. Arundel (West Sussex)
Perfect for: Castles, antiques, and riverside walks.
A fairytale castle perched above a sleepy riverside town? Yes, please. Arundel is easy to get to (about 90 mins by train) and has everything—charming cafes, antique shops, and boat rentals.
📍 Highlights:
Arundel Castle – Dramatic and beautifully kept.
Wetlands Centre – Great for a peaceful nature stroll.
Art galleries and indie bookshops galore.
🗣️ Local tip: Grab a seat by the river with fish & chips for the full experience.
6. Folkestone (Kent)
Perfect for: Street art, creative cafés, and sea air.
This once-sleepy coastal town is having a major glow-up. Now home to creative hubs, public art trails, and cool indie shops, Folkestone is one of the UK’s most exciting under-the-radar escapes.
📍 Must-sees:
The Creative Quarter – think Brighton meets Berlin.
The Harbour Arm – food, DJs, views.
Folkestone Artworks – outdoor art gallery across town.
🗣️ Why Londoners go: It feels cool without being full of influencers. Authentic, artsy, and still relaxing.
7. Saffron Walden (Essex)
Perfect for: Cute cafés, gardens, and old-world charm.
Only about an hour from London, Saffron Walden looks like a town preserved in time. Colourful buildings, ancient churches, a big open-air market, and a local vibe that’s hard to beat.
📍 Highlights:
Bridge End Garden Maze – Quiet and quirky.
Audley End House & Gardens – Grand stately home.
Fantastic local coffee shops and artisan markets.
🗣️ Local tip: Visit on Saturdays when the market is buzzing but still relaxed.
8. Hitchin Lavender Fields (Hertfordshire) – Seasonal
Perfect for: Summer photos, picnics, and flower therapy.
This one's seasonal but totally worth planning for. Hitchin’s lavender fields turn a vibrant purple in summer and are an hour's train ride from London.
📍 What to do:
Wander rows of lavender and pick your own.
Take dreamy photos at golden hour.
Sip lavender lemonade at the farm café.
🗣️ Pro tip: Go on a weekday to avoid the Insta crowds and enjoy the peaceful side of it.
9. Knole Park, Sevenoaks (Kent)
Perfect for: Nature walks, wild deer, and a stately surprise.
Knole is a lesser-known treasure: a huge, ancient deer park with a stunning stately home in the middle. It’s easy to reach from London (around 45 mins), and it genuinely feels like a countryside escape.
📍 Highlights:
Wild deer roam freely!
Tour Knole House – a real Tudor palace.
Peaceful walks and forest trails.
🗣️ Londoners say: You feel like you've travelled back in time… without leaving the South East.
Final Thought: Forget the Usual, Try the Local Secret
There’s nothing wrong with Brighton or Cambridge, but there’s something magical about discovering a place you don’t have to share with a thousand other people.
These underrated day trips let you skip the tourist trail and enjoy the kind of quiet, charming escapes locals love. Whether you're a Londoner looking for a change of scene or a visitor craving something real, you’ve now got a list that delivers both.
Save this post for your next weekend escape and follow @Londonyaar for more real-life London tips, hidden gems, and the spots locals actually love.