Four days in London is generous, and one of the best things about the city is how quickly you can leave it. Within an hour or two of central London, you've got medieval castles, Roman ruins, rolling countryside, ancient stone circles and some of the prettiest villages in England. If you've already got a couple of West End shows booked and you're wondering what to do with the rest of the long weekend, a day trip might be exactly the change of pace you need.

Here are the best options for Easter 2026, whether you want to drive, take a train or let someone else do the navigating on a guided tour.

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is the easiest and most rewarding day trip from London. The oldest and largest occupied castle in the world is just 30 minutes by train from London Paddington (via the Elizabeth Line to Slough, then a change), and you can comfortably see it in half a day.

The State Apartments are magnificent, St George's Chapel is one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in England, and the changing of the guard (when it takes place) adds a ceremonial flourish that's less hectic than the Buckingham Palace version. Entry tickets from £31 include an audio guide.

If you'd rather not navigate the trains yourself, a half-day guided tour from London (from £57) handles all the transport and includes expert commentary on the way. You'll be back in central London by early afternoon, leaving time for an evening West End show.

For families, Windsor is right next to LEGOLAND Windsor Resort (from £35), which makes a strong alternative day out for children. You'd need to choose between the castle and LEGOLAND rather than combining them, as each is a full-day commitment, but both are excellent.

Stonehenge and Bath

The Stonehenge and Bath combination is one of the most popular day trips from London for good reason. You get a 5,000-year-old stone circle and a stunning Georgian city with Roman ruins, all in one day.

A Stonehenge and Bath day trip (from £99) departs from central London in the morning and returns by early evening. You'll spend time at Stonehenge with the audio guide, then head to Bath for free time to explore the Royal Crescent, the Circus, Pulteney Bridge and the city centre. The trip runs about 10 and a half hours, so it's a full day, but a well-paced one.

If you want more packed into the day, the Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, Bath and Roman Baths day trip (from £109) adds Windsor to the itinerary plus entry to the Roman Baths. It's a longer day (about 11 and a half hours) but you cover a remarkable amount of ground.

For a shorter commitment, a Stonehenge half-day tour (from £69) gets you to the stones and back in about 7 hours, leaving the rest of the day free for London.

The Cotswolds

The Cotswolds is the England you see on chocolate boxes and period dramas: honey-coloured stone villages, rolling hills, thatched roofs, country pubs. It's about a 2-hour drive from London, which makes it a realistic day trip, especially if someone else is driving.

A small group Cotswolds day trip (from £95) visits Bourton-on-the-Water, Bibury and other picture-postcard villages with a guide who knows the area. You'll have free time in each village to wander, take photos and stop for lunch. The trip runs about 11 hours.

If you want something more leisurely, the Cotswolds day trip with lunch (from £120) includes a sit-down meal at a traditional country pub, which turns the day into something closer to a countryside experience than a sightseeing dash.

The Cotswolds at Easter is particularly beautiful. The hedgerows are filling out, the fields are green and the lambs are everywhere. If you've spent the rest of the weekend in the theatre and the Tube, a day in the countryside is the perfect reset.

Leeds Castle, Canterbury and the White Cliffs of Dover

This is the day trip for history lovers. The full-day tour (from £125) takes you to Leeds Castle in Kent (sometimes called the loveliest castle in the world), Canterbury Cathedral (seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury and a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the White Cliffs of Dover, where England faces France across 21 miles of Channel.

It's a long day at about 10 and a half hours, but the variety is excellent. Leeds Castle is set on two islands in a lake and has beautiful grounds, Canterbury is one of England's most atmospheric cathedral cities, and the White Cliffs are genuinely stirring to see in person.

Oxford and Cambridge

For a more cerebral day out, the Oxford and Cambridge day tour (from £119) visits both of England's most famous university cities in a single day. You'll see the colleges, chapels, libraries and quadrangles that have been educating scholars for over 800 years.

Oxford alone is worth a day. The Bodleian Library, Christ Church (the Harry Potter dining hall), the Radcliffe Camera and the covered market are all within walking distance of each other. Cambridge adds the Backs, King's College Chapel and a completely different architectural flavour. The 10-hour tour manages both without feeling rushed.

Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace (from £28) is technically within London (Zone 6) but feels like a proper day out. Henry VIII's favourite palace sits on the Thames in south-west London, and you can reach it by train from Waterloo in about 35 minutes, or by river boat from Westminster for a more scenic approach.

The palace itself spans Tudor and Baroque architecture, with the famous Maze, the Great Hall, the Tudor Kitchens and 60 acres of formal gardens. At Easter the gardens are coming into bloom, and the palace often runs seasonal events over the bank holiday. Allow at least half a day, though you could easily fill a full day.

Hampton Court is a particularly good option if you don't want to commit to a full-day coach tour. You can get there and back independently, set your own pace and still be in the West End for an evening show.

Insider Tips for Easter Day Trips

Book guided tours well in advance. Easter is one of the busiest weekends for day trips from London, and the most popular tours (particularly Stonehenge and the Cotswolds) sell out early. Coach tours typically depart from Victoria or near Baker Street between 7:30am and 9:00am.

If you're doing a full-day tour and want to catch an evening show, check the return time carefully. Most coach tours arrive back in London between 5:30pm and 7:00pm, which is tight for a 7:30pm curtain. A half-day tour or an independent trip (Windsor, Hampton Court) gives you more flexibility.

Pack layers and comfortable shoes. The English countryside in early April can be cool and the weather changes quickly. Many of the castles and villages involve uneven surfaces and a fair amount of walking.

Consider the balance of your weekend. If you've spent Friday and Saturday at West End shows and London attractions, a Sunday day trip to the countryside provides a welcome change of scenery. Then you can end the weekend with a final show on Easter Monday.

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The Best of England, Just Outside London

One of London's greatest advantages is its location. Within a couple of hours you're standing inside a 5,000-year-old stone circle, wandering through a medieval castle or sitting in a Cotswolds pub watching sheep in the field outside. A day trip during the Easter long weekend gives you the best of both worlds: London's theatre and culture in the evenings, England's history and countryside during the day.

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