The good news? London is perfectly positioned for quick escapes that deliver sea views, independent shops, stellar lunches and that mental shift that comes from simply being elsewhere. These are the day trips worth pencilling we’re pencilling in for the coming weeks.
Whitstable
Where: North Kent coast
Why: Oyster shacks, shingle beaches and an easygoing arty feel make Whitstable feel reliably uplifting without trying too hard.
Travel Time By Train: Around 1hr 20 from London St Pancras or Victoria
Where To Eat:
The Sportsman which is renowned for its elevated British cooking and Michelin-garlanded to boot (do go for the Thames Estuary provided wonderfully fresh fish and oysters), or Wheelers Oyster Bar for old-school seafood charm.
What To See: Harbour Market stalls, beach walks towards Tankerton Slopes, independent galleries tucked along Harbour Street.
Make A Night Of It:
Hotel Continental – a classic, unfussy seaside establishment that’s bright, airy and perfectly placed on the seafront.
Deal
Where: Kent coast, just beyond Sandwich
Why: Less polished than some seaside towns, which is precisely its appeal – Georgian houses, good pubs and long bracing windswept walks.
Travel Time By Train: About 1hr 25 from London St Pancras
Where To Eat:
There is an embarrassment of riches for foodies in Deal. Go to Frog & Scot, housed within a former florist and run by Benoit and Sarah Dezecot, for relaxed but exquisite small plates cooking; don’t miss lunch at The Rose, whose excellent restaurant is a collaboration between head chefs Luke Green and David Gadd with input from the great Nuno Mendes; and finally try The Rose’s founders’ latest venture, Blue Pelican, which is buzzy, beautiful and Japanese-inspired – and you can even nip upstairs for a massage if the mood strikes.
What To See: Deal Castle, the pier at sunset, browsing vintage shops along the High Street.
Make A Night Of It:
It has to be The Rose, a boutique hotel that is welcoming, eclectic and every bit as seductively beautiful as you might expect having been created by an ex-Wallpaper* editor.
Lewes
Where: East Sussex, just outside Brighton
Why: A market-town feel with proper independent spirit – bookshops, antiques, pubs with fires and views over the South Downs. It even has its own currency, the Lewes Pound (but no fear; your run-of-the-mill British pound will not be snubbed).
Travel Time By Train: Roughly 1hr from London Victoria
Where To Eat:
Dill for thoughtful seasonal cooking; No 34 for exceptional small plates and a convivial atmosphere; Caccia & Tails for seriously gorgeous Italian food; The Lewes Arms or The Snowdrop for classic cosy pub stops with excellent craft beer. And Taith for the best coffee with a sweeping view across the Downs.
What To See: Lewes Castle, Charleston Farmhouse nearby (there is an outpost now in the town centre too), antique-hunting along Cliffe High Street. Don’t miss the incomparably good independent shops, from Freight to Closet & Botts to From Victoria, or the opportunity for a lovely walk around the beautiful Southover Grange.
Make A Night Of It:
Bed down at The White Hart, a 16th-century coaching inn that stands right on the high street – and as befits its owner, Raymond Blanc, this newly resurrected hotel puts the onus on beautiful food, served up with sweeping views across the South Downs.
Hastings
Where: East Sussex coast
Why: The Old Town in particular balances fishing heritage with a thriving creative scene and more cafes, pubs and independent shops than you can shake a stick (of rock) at.
Travel Time By Train: About 1hr 30 from London Charing Cross or London Bridge.
Where To Eat:
Rock-a-Nore Kitchen for standout seafood; the phenomenally good Farmyard just down the road in St Leonards for modern British small plates and biodynamic wine; and The Crown for some of the most beautifully cooked multi award-winning pub food we’ve ever had.
What To See: The fishing huts along the Stade, Hasting Contemporary Gallery, which sits right on the shingle, funicular railway views, the fishing boats bobbing out to sea at dusk, and Alastair Hendy’s unparalleled Hendy & Co homeware store.
Make A Night Of It:
The Laindons – a stylish guesthouse, which is fresh and chic and central.
Rye
Where: East Sussex, near the Kent border
Why: Cobbled streets, medieval architecture and a slightly removed-from-time atmosphere – it genuinely feels like a mini break rather than a day out.
Travel Time By Train: Around 1hr 10 from St Pancras (via Ashford)
Where To Eat:
Tillingham, just outside Rye, a winery with a restaurant that headed up by ex-Moro chef Brendan Eades who cooks over an open fire; The Gallivant’s Harry’s a stone’s throw from Camber Sands beach for a relaxed feasts cooked by an ex-Bibendum chef; Hoof for a really great burger; Knoops for excellent hot chocolate if it’s still chilly (Rye is where this chain originated).
What To See: Mermaid Street, one of the prettiest streets in the land, Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, the many independent book and antique shops. Oh, and Lamb House, where EF Benson and Henry James both one lived (not, one might add, at the same time).
Make A Night Of It:
The George in Rye – slap bang in the centre of town, cosy yet luxurious and utterly heavenly.
