Bristol
Journey From London: Just over an hour and a half from Paddington
If you are coming to Bristol just for the day, then there really is just one place to head: Clifton. Glorious garden squares are thronged by Georgian townhouses, which you’ll also find teetering vertiginously up the hill overlooking the Clifton Suspension Bridge and the Avon Gorge. Wander around Clifton Village’s lovely shops, which are a masterclass in beautiful independent boutiques, and do stop in for a swim at the Bristol Lido, an immaculately restored 19th-century pool overlooked by a very much 21st-century tapas bar. For more Bristol tips, read our full guide here.
If You Do Stay Over: Book a room at Number 38 Clifton, a perfect boutique hotel with views over Durdham Down parkland.
Hastings & St Leonards
Journey From London: 90 minutes from St Pancras
For a long time, Hastings and St Leonards languished as two amongst many of the downtrodden seaside towns scattered along the south coast. Happily, that story has been completely rewritten over the past decade or so, with both places now attracting visitors by the score thanks to the profusion of charming independent shops, cafes and restaurants that have sprung up. Aside from the sheer joy of seeing the sea – whether it is grey and moody or glistening under the sun – there are a few things you really must not miss. Do, for example, visit Alastair Hendy’s staggeringly lovely hardware emporium in the warren of streets that make up Hastings Old Town. Absolutely do not forego lunch at The Crown, which has rightly been garlanded with a brace of awards for its fantastic and reasonably priced food. Make sure you make time to take a thrilling journey up the cliffside on the funicular. And do poke about the beautiful black fishermen’s huts on Rock-A-Nore beach, where you’ll also find the small but moving Shipwreck Museum. Over in St Leonards, which you can either hop on the train or walk to if you have time, there is a plethora of indie shops to explore, notably on Norman Road. Above all, however, do not miss a glass of wine and a nibble of charcuterie at the cosy and exemplary Farm Yard, purveyors of local food and natural wine. Check out our full guide to East Sussex here.
If You Do Stay Over: Book into The Old Rectory, a stunningly chic B&B in a period house owned by fashion designer, Lionel Copley.
The New Forest
Journey From London: An hour and 45 minutes from Waterloo
If you want to escape towns and cities completely, The New Forest, one of the country’s largest and most beloved National Parks, is an excellent option for a day trip – or indeed longer if you can spare the time. Spanning some 300 miles, it stretches from the Solent up to Salisbury, between which points you will find ancient woodland dotted with the prettiest villages as well, of course, as the beautiful shoreline. And then there are the wild ponies, the magical sight of which is enough to make the journey worth it in itself (lucky nature lovers may also even encounter roaming wildcats and bison too). It all feels pleasingly remote from city life, allowing you to completely switch off in the area which was first created as William The Conqueror’s hunting grounds. There is a wealth of cosy pubs with roaring fires, but do also make time to stop for something stronger at Dancing Cow Distillery – or why not hire a bike to explore the area from Cycle Experience (not necessarily in that order)? Check out our full guide to Hampshire here.
If You Do Stay Over: If money is no object, then Chewton Glen’s treehouses are a delight. However, we will forever adore the original The Pig in Brockenhurst, with its delightful conservatory and relaxed home-from-home atmosphere.
Oxford
Journey From London: Under an hour from Paddington
Oxford makes the perfect day trip from London. It’s super quick – and even if your journey is plagued by rail strikes, the Oxford Tube coach service runs every fifteen minutes from Victoria. For those who have never toured the university itself, do make sure you go and poke around some of the colleges (the magnificent Christ Church is perennially popular for its Harry Potter and Brideshead revisited connections, but Magdalen – alma mater of Oscar Wilde and John Betjeman – is arguably even lovelier, while New College and St John’s too are resplendent). A wander around The Covered Market is a joy (do try the pizza at Sartorelli), while a visit to the Ashmolean – Oxford’s answer to The British Museum – is both enriching and rewarding. Do head up to the top floor to catch sight of Turner’s painting of Oxford High Street to see how much has changed since the 1800s (a clue: not that much at all). To get off the beaten track, head over to Jericho, where you’ll find independent cafes aplenty, our favourite of which is Branca, a deli-come-restaurant that is a stylish delight. Meanwhile, for some of the best food in Oxford, head east to the Cowley Road where you will find reliably excellent and creative tapas at Arbequina. Do not leave, though, without visiting the Bodleian Libraries, nor having had a pint at the ancient Turf Tavern, which you’ll find down a tiny alleyway – the challenge is to find it.
If You Do Stay Over: Oxford is somewhat low on great hotels. But The Old Parsonage melds a cosy, warren-like 17th-century sensibility with five-star luxury.
Deal, Kent
Image: Paul Brown 67/ Wikimedia Commons
Journey From London: An hour and 20 minutes from St Pancras
If you want an enlivening blast of sea air, head straight for Deal in Kent, where you can wander pretty lanes down to the beach, beguiled all the way by the array of delightful cottages. As Margate’s more sedate cousin, there is an art scene – do visit Linden Hall Studio, a gallery in a converted chapel – but chiefly it is the food that’s the draw here. Do try Frog and Scot, which serves up local fare with a French flavour and even has a negroni corner (our kind of place), as well as the lovely The Rose, whose Scandi-style menu is almost as exquisite as its interiors.
If You Do Stay Over: The aforementioned The Rose is the place. Charming, idiosyncratic and wholly beautiful, it comes as no surprise that its proprietor is an ex-Wallpaper* editor.
Rye, East Sussex
Journey From London: An hour and ten minutes from St Pancras
There are few places in existence so postcard perfect as Rye. Right on the coast, it is home to Camber Sands, a long stretch of sandy beach pleasingly punctuated with dunes to leap from or picnic upon. But, unlike most coastal towns, we’d come to Rye (one of the Cinq Ports) regardless of its proximity to the sea. Utterly exquisite, it was the inspiration for former resident EF Benson’s sublime Mapp & Lucia series of books, as well as being the former home of another literary giant: Henry James. On that note, do explore The National Trust-run Lamb House, which was once home to both writers (at different times). A beautiful red brick Georgian house with an exquisite walled garden – Benson fans: it is the inspiration for Lucia’s much-coveted house and garden, in which she famously skips – there is nowhere more ideal for a cup of tea on the lawn when the weather is clement. After that, walk around the corner to Mermaid Street, a cobbled hill that snakes back down to sea level and is flanked by wonderfully names houses (‘the house opposite, and the ‘house with two doors’ are two such examples); it just happens to be one of the most beautiful streets in the country. If you’re hungry, head to Hoof for a burger by the fireside; if you’re thirsty, head to the lovely The Standard Inn for ale; and if you’re shopping, do not neglect to visit Soap and Salvation, one of our favourite interiors finds of 2022, or haberdashery extraordinaire, Merchant and Mills.
If You Do Stay Over: The George In Rye is situated on the town’s pretty high street. Its restaurant is the ideal place for an oyster and a glass of local sparkling wine, while its rooms are heavenly, luxurious – and where the A-list stay when they’re in this corner of the world.
Cambridge
Journey From London: 45 minutes from King’s Cross
Cambridge is always a good idea. Quick and easy to reach from the capital, go to explore the resplendent colleges (the grandest amongst them is Trinity) and, in good weather, to while away an afternoon punting on the River Cam. In fine weather, loll on Parker’s Piece with a picnic, but if you happen to go when it’s not fine, then you will be richly rewarded by visits to Kettle’s Yard art gallery, as well as the Fitzwilliam Museum – on which note, you must try a famous iced bun from the even more famous Fitzbillies. However, if it’s a truly sublime lunch you’re after, head to Bread And Meat for a gourmet sandwich, followed by a drink at The Free Press, which was formerly a printing press that distributed free papers.
If You Do Stay Over: The University Arms had a an £80m makeover five years ago and, in doing so, showed all other university towns how it’s done, if only they would follow suit… It is, without question, the best spot to bed down for a night in the town.
Lewes, East Sussex
Journey From London: A little over an hour from Victoria
It may seem counterintuitive to suggest Lewes over the more famous Brighton (which we also love), but in the interests of taking the road less travelled, we shall stick to it. And it really is worth a poke around, not least thanks to its array of antique shops (No 1 Lewes chief among them) and independent boutiques (Freight HHG, From Victoria and Closet and Botts are the finest). If, however, you are in search of ale, then Lewes is a winner on that front too; as home of Harvey’s Brewery, it is awash with excellent pubs, from the John Harvey Tavern to the eccentric and wonderful The Snowdrop), while it is also supports other smaller emerging breweries too (The Beak and, nearby, Burning Sky). For those who are keen to soak up the town’s history, do visit the Norman Lewes castle, as well as the fascinating Anne of Cleves House before repairing to the tranquil Southover Grange Gardens for a cup of tea amidst the roses. Before catching your train home, do have a last drink at The Depot cinema’s bar, which is a perfect spot, no matter the weather. If you do have longer, ensure that you head over to Firle for a lunch at the lovely Ram Inn, in our books the platonic ideal of the country pub, and then head to Charleston Farmhouse to explore the country outpost of the Bloomsbury set. Back in Lewes, if you’re looking for a special place for lunch, book into the small but perfectly formed Fork, which recently got a rave review from Grace Dent, and do try a beer in the diminutive The Patch, whose regularly changing beers are testament to the proprietor’s passion and knowledge.
If You Do Stay Over: Lewes is curiously low on hotels. Trevor House is a gorgeous Gerogian B&B right on the high street and almost certainly the best bet. If you venture slightly out of town, then Blue Door Barns are rustic and charming.
By Nancy Alsop
January 2023
Hero image by Mangopear creative on Unsplash
