Explore the English countryside from London

With cobbled streets, medieval walls and boats gently bobbing in the harbour, Rye in East Sussex is the definition of a picture-perfect English getaway. History enthusiasts will appreciate Lamb House, once home to EF Benson, author of the Mapp & Lucia series. And it’s not the only landmark in town: Ypres Tower, built in the 13th century, has served as a private home, prison and court hall. It’s now a museum which you can visit.

Rye is built on a hill, and from the top, you’ll spot the River Rother winding through Rye Harbour Nature Reserve towards Camber Sands – a wild, sand dune-fringed beach that’s popular with windsurfers and paddleboarders.

One hour 20 minutes by train / Two hours 10 minutes by car

The River Ouse wriggles through this lively market town in East Sussex. Lewes is full of character, with pottery boutiques, The Fifteenth Century Bookshop and the vibrant Lewes Flea Market. For a picnic, browse the Lewes Farmers’ Market or the Friday food market, set in a Grade II-listed tower. Or enjoy lunch at The Snowdrop Inn – choose the garden beneath a limestone cliff, or dine indoors under birdcages and milk pails. Our top tip? Climb the tower of Lewes Castle, an 11th-century Norman fort, for panoramic views over the countryside beyond.

One hour by train / Two hours by car

Enjoy champagne and strawberries as you punt along the River Cam, which meanders through this historic university city. Most boating tours begin beneath Magdalene Bridge and drift past colleges dating back to 1209 – famous students include Charles Darwin, Isaac Newton, Alan Turing and Sylvia Plath.

If you’d prefer to stay on land, we recommend relaxing in the meadows by the river, or taking a stroll south to The Orchard Tea Garden, where deckchairs are scattered among the trees. On warm days, you can cool off in the open-air Jesus Green Lido or find shade by the fountain in the 18th-century Cambridge Botanic Garden.

50 minutes by train / One hour 35 minutes by car

Antique shops filled with vintage teddy bears, heirloom clocks and period furniture line West Street in this quaint Surrey town. After browsing the independent boutiques and Dorking Artisan Market, step inside the Grade II-listed St Martin’s Church. When the sun is shining, take a walk along Pipp Brook to Pippbrook House, a former library designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott – the architect behind London’s St Pancras Station. Plans are underway to transform it into an arts centre, but for now, you can learn about its history at Dorking Museum & Heritage Centre.

50 minutes by train / One hour 35 minutes by car

Windsor is steeped in royal history, with its iconic castle standing as the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world. Built for William the Conqueror in the 11th century, Windsor Castle remains a working royal residence and is open for visitors to explore its magnificent State Apartments and St George’s Chapel. The surrounding Windsor Great Park, once a royal hunting ground, offers miles of scenic walking trails, ancient oak trees and tranquil lakes – perfect for a leisurely afternoon stroll or a picnic.

Beyond the castle, you can visit Frogmore House, or wander the charming streets lined with boutique shops and traditional pubs. After lunch at Nell Gwynn’s tearoom near the castle, enjoy a riverside walk along the Thames towards Royal Windsor Racecourse, or catch a performance at Theatre Royal Windsor.

50 minutes by train / 55 minutes by car