The best day trips from London by car are the ones where the car earns its place: villages without a station, two or three stops in one day, or a family that would rather not juggle luggage, pushchairs and train changes. This guide lists every destination we cover, with the drive time from central London and the type of day each one suits. The times are free-flow estimates from Trafalgar Square, so allow extra for traffic, especially on Friday afternoons and summer weekends.
Our chauffeur picks you up at your door, drives, waits while you explore and brings you back. Because it is hourly hire outside London, you set the pace. See how our pricing works or ask for a quote for any trip below.
Short drives: day trips from London by car in about 1 hour
These are the nearest options, between 45 minutes and an hour and a half. They suit families with young children and anyone who wants a long day on site.
Windsor (about 45 minutes)
Windsor Castle is the world’s largest inhabited castle, and the town below it is pleasant to wander. It is the easiest of all the trips and leaves time for the Thames at Eton or Windsor Great Park. See our London to Windsor page. Check visiting times on the Royal Collection Trust site before you go.
Harry Potter Studio Tour (about 45 minutes)
The Warner Bros. Studio Tour is at Leavesden, north-west of London. Tickets are timed and booked in advance, and a driver saves the shuttle-and-train routine with children. Details are on our Harry Potter Studio Tour transfer page.
Oxford (about 1 hour 30 minutes)
Colleges, libraries, museums and covered markets, all walkable from the centre. It is the classic first day trip for visitors. Read London to Oxford by car for parking, traffic and how long to allow.
Cambridge (about 1 hour 30 minutes)
Punting on the Cam, King’s College Chapel and the Backs. Cambridge is flatter and smaller than Oxford, which makes it a good choice for older relatives. Our Cambridge page covers the route.
Bicester Village (about 1 hour 30 minutes)
A designer outlet shopping centre in Oxfordshire. Visitors often pair it with Oxford, since the two are close. See London to Bicester Village.
Medium drives: 1 hour 30 to 2 hours
Highclere Castle (about 1 hour 35 minutes)
The setting of Downton Abbey. The castle opens on set dates only, so check the official Highclere Castle site before choosing the day. We cover it on the Highclere Castle page.
Canterbury (about 1 hour 35 minutes)
A cathedral city with a medieval centre, in Kent. It makes a calm day for couples. Our Canterbury page has the detail.
Brighton (about 1 hour 40 minutes)
The seafront, the pier and the Lanes. Brighton is the obvious choice on a hot day, and the roads out of London are slow on summer Fridays. See London to Brighton.
Seven Sisters (about 2 hours)
The white chalk cliffs on the Sussex coast, reached at Birling Gap. It is a walking day: bring proper shoes and check the weather. Details on the Seven Sisters page.
Stonehenge (about 1 hour 55 minutes)
Stonehenge is run by English Heritage and needs timed tickets booked ahead through the English Heritage website. Most people allow about two and a half hours on site, so it pairs with Salisbury or Bath. Read London to Stonehenge.
Cotswolds (about 2 hours 5 minutes)
Stone cottages, village greens and tea rooms. This is the day trip where a car matters most, since the best villages have no train station. We usually plan three villages and a pub lunch. See the Cotswolds page.
Long day trips: over 2 hours
Stratford-upon-Avon (about 2 hours 10 minutes)
Shakespeare’s birthplace, the riverside and the theatres. Our Stratford-upon-Avon page explains how to fit it into one day, or to combine it with the Cotswolds.
Bath (about 2 hours 30 minutes)
The Roman Baths, the Royal Crescent and Georgian terraces, all in a World Heritage city. Bath is the longest trip in this guide, so start early. Read London to Bath.
Free places and quirky ideas outside London
Many people searching for free places to visit outside London by car want a walk, a view or a village without an entry fee. Seven Sisters and the Cotswolds villages cost nothing to walk around, and the Thames at Windsor is free too. Parking, food and attraction tickets are extra, so check the official sites for current prices.
For something less obvious, ask us. Because a chauffeur is booked by the hour, a route such as Oxford, a Cotswolds village and a pub is a custom trip rather than a fixed tour.
Car, train or coach?
| Private driver | Train | Coach tour | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Door to door | Yes | No | No |
| Several stops in a day | Yes | Rarely | Fixed stops |
| Villages and countryside | Yes | Limited | Limited |
| Cheapest for one person | No | Usually | Sometimes |
For a solo traveller heading to Oxford, Cambridge or Brighton, National Rail is usually the cheapest option, and an advance ticket costs far less than a walk-up fare. A car makes more sense from three people upwards, or whenever the destination is off the rail map.
What if you want to go further?
Overnight stays, Manchester, Cornwall and Paris are possible by car too, but they are quoted on request. See Manchester, Cornwall and Paris. For bigger parties, our minibus and coach hire takes up to 16 in a Sprinter.
How to book your day trip
- Choose the destination (or two) from the list above.
- Tell us your date, pick-up address, number of passengers and any stops you want.
- Pick your car: E-Class or S-Class for up to 3, Range Rover for up to 4, V-Class for up to 8.
- We send a fixed price, VAT included, before you confirm.
- Use the form below or the contact page to start.
Last updated 20 October 2026.
