Exploration
9 day trips outside London to boost your Instagram game
Want a weekend escape with a difference? From paragliding to prehistoric monuments, you’ll be the envy of your social media feed.
Londoners – are you lacking Insta inspiration (there’s only so many times you can post snaps of Big Ben and Tower Bridge). Are you also keen to escape the smoggy skies and crowded streets without having to book a holiday afar?
Fear not. From the geologically dramatic to the downright adventurous, here are nine achievable day trips for you to find some cool experiences and mini adventures, with the prospect of some A-grade social media posts to boot.
1. For the action shot
Lee Valley, Hertfordshire
There’s nothing quite like a photo of pure paddle power to rack up your Insta followers. Lee Valley is super easy to access from London – and yet its adrenaline-pumping white water rapids look a world away from the concrete jungle. The centre runs canoeing and kayaking courses for all abilities, with group rafting packages available from £50 per person.
How to get there: It’s an easy hop by train. Take the Abellio Greater Anglia Line from London Liverpool Street to Waltham Cross (25 minutes) or from Tottenham Hale (12 minutes), then it’s just a 10-minute stroll to the centre. It’s also 10 minutes from the M25 if you prefer to drive.
Total time to destination: From 22 minutes
2. For the cute village shot
Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire
The Cotswolds have to be one of the most quintessentially British places, with dramatic hills and gloriously golden villages of thatch roof cottages and honey-coloured cobbles. Nicknamed “Venice of the Cotswolds”, Bourton-on-the-Water is a much-loved Gloucestershire oasis with a lovely green, cute tea shops and five little bridges over the River Windrush. Does it get more photogenic than that?
Getting there: From London, it’s just over a two-hour drive via the M40 and A40. Or from Paddington, take a 90-minute train to Moreton-in-Marsh, then catch the Pulhams bus No.801, which takes around 30 minutes.
Total time to destination: 2 hours
3. For animal lovers
New Forest, Hampshire
Unsurprisingly, adorable pictures of animals do remarkably well on Instagram, with doe-eyed puppies and kittens amassing like after like. If you don’t have your own four-legged friend to post on your feed, then head to the New Forest National Park, where 3,000 ponies roam free. When you’ve finished snapping the friendly residents, there are plenty of Insta-worthy adventures to be had, from hiking to cycling.
Getting there: The New Forest is reached within 89 minutes from London Waterloo. South West Trains connects to eight stations in the New Forest, including Brockenhurst, Ashurst and Lymington.
Total time to destination: 89 minutes
4. For a shot of history
Stonehenge, Wiltshire
This is perhaps the world’s most famous prehistoric monument, so it’s little wonder that Stonehenge has made our list. Standing tall on Salisbury Plain, the 5,000-year-old stone circle was one of the UK’s most Instagrammed sights in 2017. And with its awe-inspiring structure – arguably Neolithic man’s most astonishing achievement – and easy access from London, it’s easy to see why. Word to the wise: you might want to copy this.
Getting there: Take the train from London Waterloo to Salisbury (90 minutes), which is nine miles from Stonehenge. A 33-minute bus ride with The Stonehenge Tour completes the journey.
Time to destination: 2 hours 3 minutes
5. For dramatic geology
Cheddar Gorge, Somerset
You’ll have to set the alarm extra early for this day trip, but it’ll be worth it for the incredible photos you’ll come away with. With its awe-inspiring cliffs and extraordinary subterranean stalactite caverns, this natural landmark is a sight to behold. Gouged through the Mendips, it’s Britain’s grandest limestone ravine – and is also a great climbing spot for those with a head for heights.
Getting there: If the three-hour drive doesn’t take your fancy, the train from Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare takes 2 hours 15 minutes. From there, it’s a 55-minute transfer to Cheddar on FIRST bus 126.
Time to destination: Around 3 hours
6. For thrill-seekers
Woldingham, Surrey
To truly impress your followers – and accrue some more – an aerial shot should do the trick. Just south of London, Woldingham is a pretty village that comes alive with paragliders and hang gliders when the weather is good. Take to the skies with Green Dragons, who organise tandem paragliding tours and hang gliding experiences. Just don’t forget your GoPro.
Getting there: Take a direct, 33-minute train from Victoria to Woldingham, then it’s a 30-minute walk.
Time to destination: 1 hour 3 minutes
7. For dramatic landscapes
Seven Sisters, East Sussex
Remnants of dry valleys, this series of chalk cliffs in the South Downs offer plenty of Kodak moments. It has both spectacular landscapes and seascapes to capture, and when you’re done snapping from on high you can head into the beach, hike or cycle along the South Downs Way or go canoeing at the Seven Sisters Canoe Centre.
Getting there: From Victoria, catch the Eastbourne train and change at Lewes for Seaford (1 hour 28 minutes). Then take the 12, 12A or 13 bus to the Country Park at Exceat (15 minutes).
Time to destination: 1 hour 43 minutes
8. For flower power
Heacham Lavender Fields, Norfolk
It’s a fact: flowers are pretty. So whack them on your Instagram feed to spruce it up. A trip to Norfolk Lavender will sort you out. Here you can immerse yourself in the purple blooms (the summer season is the most vibrant), before checking out nearby adventures, such as hiking along the Norfolk coastline and taking on a high ropes course.
Getting there: Driving is the easiest and fastest way to reach Heacham, with a driving time from London that’s just shy of three hours.
Time to destination: 3 hours
9. For camera-ready beach huts
West Mersea, Essex
West Mersea is home to a row of pretty, pastel-coloured beach huts that not even an amaterur photographer could mess up. If you take your seaside game seriously, you can’t miss this trip. When you’ve got the shot, get your kitesurfing kit out – Mersea is a mecca for kitesurfers and windsurfers when conditions are right. It’s also home to The Company Shed, a renowned seafood restaurant.
Getting there: It’s an easy 70-mile drive from London via the A12 but check the tide times first as Mersea is accessed via a causeway.
Time to destination: 2 hours, traffic dependent
Now, for some truly unusual UK mountain trails, click the link below