Day trips from London: 3 seaside destinations

During our stay in London, we had the opportunity to visit a few of the areas and towns a train ride away. These include seaside and countryside and there is something for everyone: from trails to historic architecture. On this article I will dive into 3 seaside options.

Railcard and trains

Regarding British trains, I found them to work generally well: they are mostly on time and in good conditions. But we have experienced a few delays on different trips in the past years. It’s good to know that you can apply for delay repay on the webpage of the train company. The application for compensation, usually consisting of a long online form, is not the most user-friendly, and the pages can be finicky, but it can be worth it depending on the amount of time lost and the price paid for the ticket.

Another consideration that makes travelling by train more accessible, price-wise, are railcards. Railcards allow the owner to get 1/3 off the price of most train fares. There are several types of Railcards and each type has a specific criteria. For example, to be eligible for the 16-25 Railcard you have to be between 16 and 25 years old or in full-time education. Another example is Two Together Railcard where the benefit is 1/3 off for adult fares for two named people travelling together aged 16 and over. Most Railcardsare priced at just £35 for a 1-year Railcard. So, depending on how many trips, and the price of the trips, it may be a good investment for you. According to Railcard.co.uk, “Typically, the cost of your Railcard will have paid for itself after 1 or 2 trips."

Depending on the availability of ticket types, which are varied and complex in the UK train ticket system, the prices vary. Another way to save some money while travelling by train is to have date flexibility:

• Travel off-peak: avoid rush hour (typically 7-9am and 5-7pm during weekdays) since it's when more expensive tickets are.
• Travel mid-week: try to avoid Fridays and weekends since these are usually the most expensive days to take the train.

Brighton

Brighton is an iconic seaside town in East Sussex, England, 47 miles / 76 km south of London. Connected with a direct train, it's one of the classic day trips to take when visiting London to breathe fresh sea air.

When we visited, the day was overcast and it rained on and off through out the day. With the help of rain jackets and umbrellas, we managed to wander around and visit most of what we had in mind.

How to get there from London

London and Brighton are connected by the Thameslink train. You can hop on this train in several stations in London such as London Bridge, London St Pancras’ International and London Blackfriars. This makes it one of the more convenient day trips from London, as you are not tied to a specific station and can choose the most practical one for you.

Tickets start at £23.80 for an Off-Peak Day Return. Depending on the availability of ticket types, which are varied and complex in the UK train ticket system, the prices could be higher. It’s more likely to get cheaper tickets when purchased in advance and for weekday trips.

The train ride lasts around 1 hour, depending on which station you hop on, with few stops along the way.

What to do

To start with, as is the case with many destinations, I would recommend walking around and exploring. Most attractions are walking distance from the station. There are cute smaller side streets and alleys worth visiting. Don't forget to get fish and chips and ice cream.

There are a few classic landmarks in Brighton that you could include in your visit.

Brighton Beach

A must see on every trip to Brighton is the beach. Even on an overcast day, as the one with had, you can walk along the shore, sit and relax and try to spot France. It's a shingle beach and most days you will see somebody taking a dip.

Piers

The only thing that remains from the first of Brighton’s piers, the Chain Pier, are weathered pillars of stone and wood that can be seen in low tide to the right of the still standing Palace Pier.

The Royal Pavilion

The Royal Pavilion is a former royal palace with Indian architecture and Chinese inspired interiors that now serves as a historic site and gardens with a café and dining hall. It's even available to rent for weddings.

You can buy tickets for a tour and spend some time in this unique building and gardens.

Brighton i360

A more modern landmark, the Brighton i360 observation tower is 162 metres tall. The viewing pod travels up and down the main structure, rising to 138 metres above the ground, making it the highest British observation tower outside of London.

Other attractions and activities

• Brighton Clock Tower (or Jubilee Clock Tower), built in 1888 for Queen Victoria's jubilee, stands at the city center, at a busy intersection.
• The Grand Brighton Hotel
• North Laine: a neighbourhood filled with cafés, vintage stores, and various stalls, centred on busy Kensington Gardens pedestrian road.
• The Lanes: much like North Laine, it’s a cultural hub where narrow alleyways are lined with shops, cafés and traditional pubs.
• Brighton Open Market: we had delicious Katsu curry at Korpan for lunch, after which we explored the stalls and store and picked up a sweet pastry for the train.
• Brighton Museum & Art Gallery
• Brighton Toy and Model Museum
• Explore vintage and antique shops

Dover + Canterbury

While the combination might be a bit random, both cities are to the east of London and, if you want to maximize the bang for your buck and train time, combinations like this one might be for you. You can see the coast and get the typical mediaeval town experience on the same outing.

How to get there from London

To get to Dover from London, you have to go to St Pancras International station and take the Southeastern train headed to Ramsgate. After 6 stops and 66 minutes, you will arrive at Dover Priory, where you need to get off the train. The cost for this leg of the trip starts at £22.30 without a Railcard on weekends and £18.30 for weekdays.

After you visited Dover, go back to the Dover Priory station and take the Southeastern train headed to London Victoria. This might seem weird, but this service passes through Canterbury. The train takes half an hour to get there and has 7 stops before reaching Canterbury East station. The tickets for this journey start at £11.00, for any day of the week.

Finally, when you are ready to go back to London, walk to Canterbury West station. There are alternatives for this leg:

• Southeastern train to St Pancras International station. The ride lasts around an hour and has 4 stops. These tickets start at £18.20.
• Southeastern train to London Charing Cross station. The ride lasts 1 hour and 47 minutes and has 13 stops. These tickets start at £13.50.
• Southeastern train towards London Victoria station. The ride lasts around an hour and a half and has 10 stops. These tickets start at £16.30.

While the train ride to St Pancras International is the shortest, it might be more convenient and/or overall faster for you to take one of the other trains, if it means less time in the Tube/bus within London.

What to do in Dover

I can’t quite place how the idea of visiting Dover was planted in my brain. I have a slight suspicion that it happened reading an extract or a poem in English Literature class when I was a teen. In any case, I knew I wanted to visit the famous White Cliffs. The draw for some people is the rich history associated with WWI and WWII. You can take a ferry to France from Dover and, on clear days, you can see France from the coast of Dover.

When we arrived at the station, it was raining and we could not see France at all. So we put on our raincoats and headed to The White Cliffs of Dover. On the way we stopped for hash browns and a coffee at Costa Coffee. We continued walking and arrive to the start of the trail, where you can do a toilet stop.

The path is easy to follow and there are maps available as well. We followed the trail all the way to the South Foreland Lighthouse.

It took us about an hour with many stops for pictures along the way, because of the beautiful views. The path is mostly flat with a few ups and downs. It's well maintained, so no special shoes are needed. Though I do recommend comfortable walking shoes, sport shoes or hiking shoes.

On the other side of the path, you will find tall grasses, fields of flowers and a few shrubs and trees, the perfect complement to the stark cliffs.

In the lighthouse area, we stopped to rest for a bit and had a snack we brought with us. There is a shop with a few offerings, but I would recommend taking your own as back up, or in case you feel peckish along the way.

On the way back, we took a small detour and descended Langdon Stairs on to Langdon Bay. The descent includes a tunnel into the cliff, after which you emerge to vertical stairs that lead to the beach itself. It's quite an experience if you are up for it. We sat for a bit enjoying the view and the sound of the waves.

Recommendation: The Langdon Stairs and Bay have rougher terrain with a steeper descent and uneven ground. Be prepared for this if you want to visit this part. Another important thing to keep in mind is the tide. The beach is very short and susceptible to changes in sea levels. While visiting, always be vigilant of the tide to avoid accidents.

Another of the features of The White Cliffs of Dover is the presence of tunnels dug under the order of Winston Churchill. The Fan Bay Deep Shelter was discovered relatively recently by the National Trust and was reopened in 2015 to visitors. The labyrinth of tunnels go deep and include 125 steps to get to them.

Canterbury

Canterbury is a cathedral city and pilgrimage destination. It has a rich history spanning many centuries and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The historic center is surrounded by ancient walls and it's where we started our visit.

Canterbury City Walls

One of the first things you see when leaving Canterbury East station, are the Canterbury City Walls. You can walk along them and visit the neighbouring Dane John Gardens.

Canterbury Cathedral

From the city walls, you can make your way through the cobbled streets to the Canterbury Cathedral. Dating back to the 11th century, it was the site of many historical events throughout the years and still remains as a relevant pilgrimage site. Don’t forget to include the Cathedral’s Cloisters and green spaces in your visit.

St Augustine’s Abbey

Part of the Canterbury World Heritage Site, St Augustine’s Abbey was founded by St Augustine himself and it represents a vital piece of Christian history in England. The ruins and museum are great for history buffs. The abbey is open daily from 10am to 5pm. Tickets for adults cost around £10.00, when booked in advance. For more information, visit the English Heritage site here.

St Martin’s Church

Visit the oldest church in continuous use of England. St Martin’s Church is open to general visiting between 11am and 3pm Wednesday to Sunday. The grounds are beautiful and inspire such reverence with its ancient tombs. For more information, visit their site here.

The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge

Hosting the city’s visitor center, The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge is a recommended stop to include. You can get information about attractions in the city as well as visit the gallery and exhibition space.

Westgate Parks and Westgate Towers

The beautiful Westgate Gardens are a great place to sit and have a snack and ideal for a stroll along the river as well. They are a good place to end the day, given their proximity to Canterbury West station. The park is right by Westgate Towers, ancient portals to the city, which feature a museum, escape room and restaurant.

Other attractions

• Roman Museum
• Punting on River Stour
• Franciscan Gardens
• Canterbury Market: every Wednesday and Friday
• Whitstable: neighbouring coastal town

Rye + Camber Sands

Similar to the Dover + Canterbury mix, this combination is a great opportunity to visit historical towns and seaside locations, all in one outing.

How to get there from London

To get to Rye from London, you can go to St Pancras International station and take the Southeastern train headed to Dover Priory. After 3 stops and 38 minutes, get off the train at Ashford International. There, you have 4 minutes to change platforms and trains and take the Southern train to Eastbourne. Ride this train for 3 stops and 22 minutes and get off the train in Rye station. It doesn’t seem straightforward, but it's easy to do and the connection is well coordinated. The return trip starts at £45.70 without a Railcard any day of the week.

To go from Rye to Camber Sands, there are several possibilities:

• Walking/biking: there is a walking and biking paved path that connects Rye with Camber. The walk is around 4.5 km / 2.8 mi, which can take around 1 hour to walk.
• Driving: the drive takes around 10 minutes, covering a distance of 6 km / 3.9 mi.
• Public transport: use the 100 Bus to Camber New Romney. You should get off the bus at Farm Lane, after 11 minutes (4 stops).

What to do

Rye

Rye, East Sussex is a frequent feature in London day trips lists, which is not a surprise. This charming town features cobbled streets and picturesque architecture. Its proximity to the English channel makes it an attractive destination to those who want to experience the historic feel and dip their toes in the sea on the same day.

Explore the cobbled streets

When I visited Rye, I arrived fairly early and, as a result, felt like I was the only one awake. I took full advantage by wandering around. The Instagram famous Mermaid street definitively lived up to the hype. Look out for the cute houses bordering this street, especially their quirky names.

Visit historical sites

Visit the Rye Castle & Museum, with its two buildings to immerse yourself in the local history. Right by one of the buildings, there is a nice viewpoint you can visit. Other relevant highlights are the Lamb House and St. Mary's Church with its panoramic views.

Rye Harbour Nature Reserve

Enjoy the views of wildlife and historical buildings like Camber Castle. Find more information here.

Camber Sands

After visiting Rye, I really wanted to have lunch at the beach. So, armed with an iced coffee and homemade sandwiches for later, I started the trek to Camber. After crossing a sheep field, you can follow a paved walkway that’s shared with bikes. The way is mostly flat and you can enjoy the views of the surrounding fields. On the way, I crossed a few families riding bikes, which looked like fun as well; a way to cover the distance faster. I just popped in an audiobook, walked and drank my coffee.

I went into the beach itself around zones C and D, after a quick pit stop at the toilets in the car park. When I finally crested the last dunes, it was around noon and it was low tide. The sea seemed a mile away. Nonetheless, I removed my shoes and trudged on over wet sand. After a quick dip of my feet on the cold water, I walked back to the dune, chose a spot and had lunch.

There were many families and groups of friends on the beach enjoying the sun and the water. I took advantage of my comfy sitting spot and read the afternoon away to my heart’s content. I wanted to visit Rye some more before my train back. So after a few hours, I walked back.