Days Out

Long hours and busy weeks? Struggling to find time to spend with friends and loved ones?  A getaway to England’s South East is the perfect tonic, ideal for recharging batteries and breaking the routine.

Best day trips in South East England

To make the whole experience completely hassle-free, we’ve focused our local knowledge to come up with a series itinerary ideas for stays in Hampshire, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.

These are some of our favourites, but they may just inspire you to, but if we can get the ball rolling, you won’t find it hard to find your own inspiration on a weekend break in South England.

Days out in Hampshire

An attractive county of contrasts, Hampshire offers visitors a unique combination of rolling countryside on The Hampshire South Area and ancient forests and sleepy villages in The New Forest;  to one of Hampshire's many vibrant and cultured cities, such as Portsmouth, which boasts a bustling coastline and first class attractions. Be sure to visit Test Valley and follow The River Test, Hampshire’s longest river, which meanders through ancient woodlands, tranquil water meadows, picturesque villages and historical towns.

Days out in Surrey

There are many places to see on a visit to Surrey, whether you are stopping for a couple of hours, visiting family, or staying for a week. Internationally renowned gardens like RHS Wisley, world-class vineyards, grand stately homes where even the Queen Mother would honeymoon and the thrills and spills of motor racing - Surrey has it all. And when you’ve shopped, gazed, rambled and sampled to your heart’s content, you can unwind in a top class spa and maybe spoil yourself with a stay in one of Surrey’s top class hotels.

Days out in Berkshire

With so many places to visit in Berkshire, you can easily forget you're right on London’s doorstep. You can’t say the word Windsor without conjuring up images of the world’s oldest castle that is still actively used today, royal history, horse racing and the changing of the guard.

A visit to Berkshire must include a trip on The River Thames which is so intertwined with England’s past it has been described as ‘Liquid History’. From the rolling hills of the Cotswolds to the outskirts of London, it is home to quaint villages and historic towns, castles and houses.

Days out in Oxfordshire

With its varied landscape, world class visitor attractions and rural heritage, Oxfordshire makes an excellent getaway destination. A magnet for Morse or Harry Potter buffs, Oxford oozes history and culture and a walk through its hallowed colleges takes you right back to Chariots of Fire and a bygone age.

Unwind in one of the county’s bustling market towns or simply watch the world go by while sipping a drink by the river and you will feel you’re a world away from everyday life.  The Oxfordshire Cotswolds is picture-book England at its best, a wonderfully unspoilt corner of England, rich in history and tradition where thriving market towns and quaint villages of honey coloured stone are set against a backdrop of outstanding natural beauty. 

Days out in Kent

Kent’s breathtaking landscape and traditions for hop-making and fruit-picking make it undeniably  ‘The Garden of England’. From mysterious marshland to the dramatic white cliffs of Dover, and from sleepy villages with their unique oast houses, to traditional seaside resorts to historic destinations like Maidstone and Medway, there’s so much to discover in Kent.

Days out in Sussex

150 kilometres of dramatic coastline and acres of lush countryside, make Sussex a magnet for tourist. Whether you're a thrill-seeker, a shopaholic, a nature lover or a foodie, Sussex will keep you coming back for more. Nestling between the South Downs and the coast is Brighton, the UK’s favourite ‘city by the sea’with its its bohemian, cosmopolitan atmosphere.

A visit to the Royal Pavilion or a ride on the Brighton Wheel will guarantee a moment of pure pleasure.  Just seven miles from Brighton, lies the market town of Lewes, with quiant antiue shops and tea rooms sure to charm you into a few impulse-buys!  Spend sometime in nearby Wealden and chill right out in some of Sussex's dramatic landscapes, idyllic forests and scenic coastline.  Don't miss one of the most iconic views in the UK, the stunning white cliffs of the Seven Sisters.