Skip to main content

MEMBER LOGIN

Departures Logo Created with Sketch.

JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER

Departures Logo Created with Sketch.
  • City Guides
  • Travel
  • Fashion
  • Art + Culture
  • Home + Design
Departures Logo Created with Sketch.
  • City Guides
  • Travel
  • Fashion
  • Art + Culture
  • Home + Design

FOLLOW US

LOGIN

NEWSLETTER

More In City Guides

Why Sun Valley, Idaho Is the Top Must-Visit Ski Destination in the US

Come for the newly unveiled terrain, stay for the chic day lodges and Western charm.

These Are the Things to Consider When It Comes to Evaluating Hotel Sanitation
This Beachfront Paradise Will Debut Avra Miami—And a Lobby Designed by Karl Lagerfeld—This Year
The Most Incredible Experiences to Give This Valentine’s Day, for Everyone Celebrating Love

More In Travel

  • Hotels
  • Travel Guides
  • Restaurants

Dior Launches New Bag to Pay Homage to the Late Designer's Sister

It is the pinnacle of craftsmanship and took over 18,000 stitches to create.

Tiffany & Co. Is About to Sell Its Largest Diamond Ever
Mechanical Watchmaking Was Just Made a Part of UNESCO’s Cultural Heritage List
This Reflective Parka Is Super Warm, Ultra Stylish, and My Favorite Piece of Winter Wear

More In Fashion

  • Style
  • Shopping

The 20 Most Famous Victorian Buildings Around the World

From Britain’s Westminster Palace and Victoria and Albert Museum to Sydney’s town hall, some of t

Zaha Hadid Architects Are Building a Park Into the Side of a Chinese Skyscraper
The 23 Most Famous Gothic Buildings Around the World
 Zaha Hadid Architects Creates Brutalist-Meets-Futuristic Student Housing in Hong Kong

More In Art + Culture

  • Books
  • Philanthropy
  • Film

Can’t Travel? Get the Scent of Famous Destinations With These Luxe Candles

Bring Paris or Aspen into your home.

How to Turn Your Living Room Into a Luxurious Space to Entertain
Luxury Linens That'll Make You Never Want to Leave Your Bed
Pantone Releases Color(s) of the Year for 2021—And They're All About Being Optimistic

More In Home + Design

  • Art + Design
  • Architecture
LOGIN
NEWSLETTER
  • City Guides
  • Travel
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Travel Guides
  • Fashion
    • Style
    • Shopping
  • Art + Culture
    • Books
    • Film
    • Philanthropy
  • Home + Design
    • Art + Design
    • Architecture
  • MEMBER LOGIN
  • JOIN OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
  • Contact Advertise Sitemap
Home / Travel
Travel

Idyllic Weekend Trips from London

By Maya Kachroo-Levine on June 20, 2019

Whether by train or by plane, London's easily connected to some fantastic destinations just a hop away. 

© Getty Images

SHARE:

Fortunately, whether you’re working out of the London satellite office, or on a long vacation there, you can see quite a bit of Europe in just a two or three days. That’s the beauty of its central location—a two-hour flight can put you along the Mediterranean Sea and a two-hour drive can bring you to the bluffs overlooking the English Channel.

Whether London is your home base, a frequent business destination, or a city you’re visiting for the first time, part of the international hub culture is to use all the direct flights out of Heathrow (and train routes from St. Pancras) to your advantage. If you’re looking for a luxurious, cultured mini-trip from London, DEPARTURES has a few quick itineraries that will satiate your quick-trip appetite. These seven destinations have history, art, and stunning hotels all begging to be explored.

 
Greg Gibb Photography/Getty Images

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Just an hour flight from London, Amsterdam in the summer has endless patios to enjoy a cocktail on, an impressive summer festival lineup, and a lively array of great beaches. Stay along the Herengacht canal at The Hoxton, Amsterdam, which will put you in the heart of De Negen, or the Nine Streets packed full of some of the best restaurants and hangouts in the city. Spend your Saturday morning waking up slowly in one of The Hoxton, Amsterdam’s three concept rooms (make a request for the Fruity or Floral room) before brunching at Bakers & Roasters or aboard Gs brunch boat—where you can have breakfast while sailing the canals.

Courtesy Heckfield Place

Hampshire, United Kingdom

Just an hour outside London, you can retreat Heckfield Place in the Hampshire countryside. A restored Georgian home that’s been standing for 250 years, the property is nestled within 400 acres of rolling English hills. While in Hampshire, you might see a show at Mayflower Theatre, tour Winchester Cathedral, or just spend your afternoon in Heckfield Place’s alluring wine cellar.

Leemage/Getty Images

Florence, Italy

For a bespoke micro-trip, Original Travel plans unforgettable three-day itineraries perfect for a long weekend. Travel with them to Florence where you’ll stroll through the botanic paradise of the Boboli Gardens, see celebrated artistic masterpieces at The Uffizi, and explore the famed Florence Cathedral. Original Travel will take care of your luxury hotel booking and all the logistics—all you have to do is board the plane after work on Friday, and it’s just a two-hour flight to Italia.

Franz Pritz/Getty Images

The Scottish Highlands, United Kingdom

A top priority during your visit to the Highlands is, of course, planning a few distillery visits; Ardnamurchan Distillery is a good place to start if you’d like to do a full tour, followed by the Dalmore Distillery and Ben Nevis Distillery. For a five-star hotel in a full-on Victorian mansion, you won’t do better than Glencoe House, where you can book a Bell Tower Suite with a hot tub in your own, private walled-off garden.

Martin Moos/Getty Images

Loire Valley, France

Because of the aristocratic fascination with the Loire Valley, this stretch of French countryside has benefitted from quite a bit of money going into gorgeous chateaus and other architectural feats in the area. The Loire Valley exudes an air of romance that you can really only experience in France. Go wine tasting at Château de Brissac, stay at Château de Verrières, and spend your evenings strolling along the Loire—France’s longest river.

Getty Images

Canterbury, United Kingdom

An hour outside London, a Canterbury weekend provides the perfect opportunity to see the White Cliffs of Dover. These bluffs lining the English Channel are breathtaking—and they’re about half an hour from Canterbury. Exploring the town of Canterbury itself is essential, too. Be sure to tour Canterbury Cathedral, the oldest church in England (of those still in use)—it was built when St. Augustine came to Canterbury 1,4000 years ago.

Courtesy Ashford Castle

County Mayo, Ireland

Escape the bustle of London to the 350 acres surrounding Ashford Castle where you can spend the weekend horseback riding, kayaking, or golfing on property. Ashford Castle is celebrating 80 years as a historic luxury hotel this year, having opened in July 1939. The former home of the Guinness family, the estate in County Mayo has separate hideaway cottages for a romantic stint away, in addition to the suites within the castle itself.

Explore More in Travel

tout-img

Why Sun Valley, Idaho Is the Top Must-Visit Ski Destination in the US

tout-img

The Most Incredible Experiences to Give This Valentine’s Day, for Everyone Celebrating Love

tout-img

These are the Hottest Winter Happenings in Beaver Creek, Colorado This Year


Marketing Events & Promotions

Become a DEPARTURES VIP

Join our Weekly Newsletter

Privacy Statement
Join our Weekly Newsletter
Departures Logo Created with Sketch.
  • City Guides
  • Travel
  • Fashion
  • Art + Culture
  • Home + Design
FOLLOW US
Other Meredith Corporation Travel & Leisure Group websites: 
  • Travel + Leisure
  • Food & Wine
Related Websites for DEPARTURES International Editions:
  • DEPARTURES-International.com
Learn more about the American Express Platinum Card® benefits

View Terms of Service  and  Privacy Statement.   Ad Choices EU Data Subject Requests All users of our online services subject to Privacy Statement and agree to be bound by Terms of Service. Please review.

© 2021 American Express Company. All rights reserved. Departures® is published by Meredith Corporation Travel & Leisure Group, a subsidiary of Meredith Corporation. Departures is a trademark of
American Express Marketing & Development Corp. and is used under limited license. Meredith Corporation Travel & Leisure Group is not affiliated with American Express Company or its subsidiaries.

  • RSS
  • Advertise
  • Advertise
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Promotions
  • Site Map

Member Login

The current issue of DEPARTURES is available exclusively to American Express Platinum Card® Members.

Cancel