Weekend getaway from London - Prague vs Edinburgh vs Amsterdam

All of these are way too far away for a day trip.
Edinburgh, the easiest, is 4 hours by train, more city-centre to city centre by flying.

Do you mean day trip (there and back the same day) or do you mean a 1 or 2 night trip?
If you mean the latter:

• Yes, Edinburgh, and stop off for ½day in York on the way there or back. It is on the rail route.
• Or Paris Even quicker than Edinburgh by train.
• As you say Amsterdam.
• Brugge. By train. Possibly include a few hours in Lille as the rail route goes that way.
• Dublin, plenty of cheap flights.
• And Prague.

Thanks for your feedback! I retitled the post to clarify - I’m looking at a 2-2.5 day weekend getaway from London, not a day trip, per se.

Great suggestions - thank you!

Amsterdam or Edinburgh.

Just based i what I know, I would say the Edinburgh with a stop at York on the way there or back fits nicely with your requirements. (Excellent views, excellent old architecture and some good museums). Plus train goes centre to city centre.
I have not been to Prague (it’s on my list) but when Dealing with airports your going to lose at least half a day going and another half coming back. So that only leave 1 to maybe 1.5 days to enjoy Prague don’t know if that’s something I would want to do. But if you really want to go there who am I to say no.

Oh, I vote for the Halloween Festivities in Edinburgh!

We've been to all of them, most more than once. Its no contest-- Prague. I much like walking the streets, which are even better than walking the streets of Chelsea and Belgravia.

I live in Edinburgh and spend approx. 30 days a year in Prague and would say either are fine for the few days you have. You should be able to get reasonably priced flight from one of the London airports to Prague and flight time is only about 90 minutes..
Go on the Czech Republic forum and get some great info there on what to see and do,but it really is an amazing city.
trains for Central London to Edinburgh take less than 5 hours so worth considering but prices do vary and you might be as well flying.

Of the three I think the architecture in Edinburgh is less obviously different from what we have at home, but there's plenty to keep you busy for much longer than 2 or 2-1/2 days.

If you're really into architecture, I'd toss Glasgow into the mix for the Charles Rennie Mackintosh buildings (and others).

If you choose Prague and like Art Nouveau, I highly recommend the Obecni Dum (Municipal House). Tours are infrequent, and I don't see one in English listed for October, but a pretty building is a pretty building even if the guide is speaking French or Czech. Do pay the surcharge to take photographs.

the good thing about the Municiple House is that you can see a fair bit without the tour (I did that several years ago and worth doing.)There are several bars and cafes as well as a shop in the building so worth popping in and having a look, the main café is an ideal and stunning place for afternoon coffee and cake and the American bar downstairs an amazing place to enjoy a few drinks.
In the evening there are major concerts as well as smaller shorter tourist concerts so worth considering doing that of an evening.
http://www.obecnidum.cz/en/

We have been to all three cities multiple times. I would choose based on ease of travel, price/location of hotel, if there are any events happening that weekend. All three are wonderful and have different experiences to offer. We would return to each city again.

Thanks everyone - Prague is the winner - I’ll let you know how it goes! And - I’ll check out Edinburgh on my next trip to the UK!

Just returned from an amazing (short!) weekend in Prague! The weather was perfect - 68F (20C) both days.

Arrived Friday night, and visited all the Old Town landmarks and the Charles Bridge between approx 11pm-1am; crowds were light at that time, and the night lighting enhanced the views of the major landmarks - so beautiful to see this way! Such a great introduction to the city - and, as so many have said, it was safe and still very much alive late at night.

Saturday highlights were a morning to midday visit to Prague Castle, an early afternoon stroll along the river followed by a stop at Klementinum, a mid afternoon walk to see the area near the Powder Tower and Municipal House, an early evening Wenceslas Square walk (just in time for sunset), and a return to Old Town for dinner, shopping, site seeing, and people watching.

Sunday was a morning tour through Josefov, (beautiful, heartbreaking, haunting, and deeply moving), an early afternoon visit to St Agnes Convent, one more shopping trip in Old Town (and a chance to catch video of the Astronomical Clock at 3pm), then a walk through New Town en route to my hotel just in time to catch my ride to the airport.

There is so much more to see in Prague - and while this weekend may have only scratched the surface - it was exhilarating and satisfying!