Summer Day Trips from London

Bschirg, look into heading down to the Seven Sisters area (part of the South Downs Way Coastal Path) . If you use the search function on this site and type in “Seven Sisters” or “Seven Sisters Cliff Trail Planning” you can read a number of reports and questions/answers about how to get there and how incredible it is. One of our forum members, MZ, went there by taking the train to Seaford and walking the cliffs then taking the train back to London from Eastbourne.

Another poster, wanderingclaire, had some great advice from her plan. If you search for our names I think the link will come up. My family went from Victoria station to Eastbourne and took the Coaster bus to the Seven Sisters Visitor Center and walked the Seven Sisters back to Birling Gap and busing back to Eastbourne to return home to London. Absolutely breathtaking scenery. One of, if not the best memory of our first trip to London was taking this day trip. I highly recommend it!

Edited to add the link of the thread

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/england/seven-sisters-cliff-trail-planning

Have you considered Cambridge or Oxford? Richmond? Greenwich?

https://www.visitcambridge.org/

https://www.visitoxford.org/

https://www.visitrichmond.co.uk/

https://www.visitgreenwich.org.uk/

Go to Hampton Court. It has a choice of period tours, the guides are in Costume. Take Thames boat there and train back or vice versa. Another day trip to Greenwich and the Guide Meridian. A visit to Highgate Cemetery with cool monuments. These are close to London but seem so different. Look at www.nationaltrust.org.uk under Metropolitan London for easy access fun on the Underground, Day Return Trains and Buses. Since you can't walk amongst the stones at Stonehenge, the boys might be not impressed. Bath is especially worth it to Jane Austin fans. Bath has the Roman Baths which are very interesting. Check to see if Windsor Castle is open to view. If you go to Dover, stop at Canterbury Cathedral. Liverpool if you want to immerse in Beatles or go to Soccer/Football game. Bon Voyage!

Hampt Court is great and being close to London very easy to get to. If you go on a nice day the gardens are lovely

For somewhere a bit more different, I’d go for Oxford (or Cambridge). The “Oxford Tube “ bus will drop you in the centre of town from where you can explore. A tour of the Bodleain Library is a Must but needs to be booked in advance

You've had good suggestions above.

I'm pleased to see Winchester on your list. I don't think it gets enough of a shout out here. Easy train trip, and there's the castle, the cathedral and Winchester college (posh boys school, that you can book to visit.) Although the cathedral loses to Salisbury on the outside, IMO it is way more interesting on the inside. But if you go to Stonehenge, Salisbury pairs much better with that. Its a bit what appeals to you, I found Stonehenge boring, but am probably out voted by those who find if fascinating.

I would drop Liverpool as a day trip option. Just about doable as a day trip, but with so many options much easier, unless you really, really want to do it I'd pass. And I love Liverpool.

Other options, depending on interests. You don't mention the Harry Potter studio tour. I've never been, but everyone I know who has seem to really enjoy it (even the non-Potterheads). Easy train from Euston. But you have to book the tour way in advance.

There is also the WW2 code breakers and early computer site at Bletchey Park. I found this fascinating. Easy trip to get there from Euston.

Also Hampton Court Palace. You could travel part way or one way there along the Thames. It is also near Richmond (Ted Lasso.

Or Greenwich. Again possible to travel along the Thames to get there. Maritime Museum, Cutty Sark ship. And the Prime Meridian at Greenwich Observatory.

Edit to add. Look also at www.walks.com They do some day trips from London. I think they do Cambridge and the Cotswolds, maybe Oxford. Check if they have a trip when you are here, there have blue badge guides and their trips are very well organised. But their options wont show on their site until nearer the time.

I agree with others that Liverpool is too far for a day trip. I think the other options you have are good. For me, the best day trips from London are:

-Kent coast (Whitstable, Margate, etc)
-Brighton
-Bath
-Oxford
-Cambridge
-Portsmouth
-Winchester
-Stonehenge/Salisbury
-Windsor

To me, Greenwich and Hampton Court Palace are part of London so I wouldn't really consider them day trips tho I think they are great places to visit.

if you consider Cambridge (only 48 minutes nonstop train from London Kings Cross station, the fastest trains are twice an hour) all 4 piling into a punt and being punted by Cambridge University students along the Cam River next to the colleges is a quite unique experience.

For a bit of history either the Polar museum or the Fitzwilliam