nice places to visit near london

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11 Picture Perfect Villages That Are Within Easy Reach Of London

From beautiful walks with scenic views to cosy pubs with roaring fires; these enchanting villages near London make for the perfect day trip to escape the city this summer.

It’s almost summer and the sun should be well on its way back to this country (finally). We all know that London has its fair share of green spaces to get lost in, but sometimes a day trip outside of the city is very much the juice that we need to drink to keep us level. And what better way to spend an adventurous day out than heading to a picturesque village near London that looks like it could have been plucked straight from a movie scene?

Escape the city and treat yourself to a well-earned weekend or day trip away. They’ll be looking as pretty as ever this summer!

1. Lavenham, Suffolk

For a trip to medieval England, a journey to Lavenham is a far simpler feat than time travel. This idyllic village boasts over 340 listed buildings and a huge, decorative church that stands 141ft tall. The high street is lined with brightly coloured buildings, including Corpus Christi Guildhall and the De Vere House, which you may recognise from the blockbuster ‘ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows ‘. It’s the perfect village near London to visit if you’re a Potterhead, or are into medieval architecture.

🚂 1 hour 20 minutes by train from Liverpool Street to Sudbury, with a change at Marks Tey. From there, hop on the 753 bus to Lavenham. 🚗 1 hour 50 minutes by car.

2. Shere , Surrey

Shere is the village where Christmas dreams actually come true. Long regarded as one of Britain’s quaintest country villages; Shere has everything you could ever hope for in a city escape : from cute cottages and a 12th-century church, to traditional boozers and a lovely village tea room. After a short visit, you won’t be surprised to learn that scenes from ‘ The Holiday ‘ were all filmed here . So, follow in the footsteps of Cameron Diaz and head on over to the White Horse Pub for a cosy drink by a warm, crackling fire. It may not be Christmas right now but the spots are all still there; still pretty.

🚂 50 minutes by train from Waterloo (or Victoria) to Dorking, followed by a 25-minute bus ride on the 32 directly to Shere. 🚗 Less than 1.5 hours by car.

3. Rye, East Sussex

Rye is a gorgeous, storybook village (okay it’s technically a town but let us have it?) in East Sussex. Filled with cobbled lanes with enchanting names like Mermaid Street and Wish Street, the place is just as magical as it sounds. As you explore the streets, lined with crooked, medieval, half-timbered houses, you’ll be transported back in time. An absolute hotspot for gorgeous walks, and there’s also a castle and a few olde inns, making it the perfect place to while away the weekend or a charming day trip from the big smoke .

🚂 1 hour by train from St Pancras International to Rye, with a change at Ashford International. 🚗 1.5 hours by car.

4. West Wycombe , Buckinghamshire

This place is so beautiful, almost the entire village is owned by the National Trust. West Wycombe is a true gem, tucked away in the lush Chiltern Hills. It has been under National Trust ownership since the 1940s due largely to the pristine West Wycombe Park and its residing manor house . However, there’s so much more to see and do including historic churches, charming pubs, and surrounding countryside that’s just waiting to be explored. You can even venture into mysterious caves that were once a meeting point for the Hellfire Club , an exclusive club for high society in the 18th century. For more information, check out our article here .

🚂 Around 30 mins by train from Marylebone to High Wycombe, and a further 10-15 mins by taxi/bus. 🚗 1.5 hours by car.

5. Finchingfield, Essex

This award-winning chocolate box village near London is categorically beautiful. Oozing with culture , Finchingfield is home to many historical landmarks. Among them, the 18th Century Roundhouse, once home to author Dodie Smith of ‘ 101 Dalmations ‘, the 15th Century Guildhall, now a museum and library, and Spains Hall, a gorgeous, imposing Elizabethan country house. Elsewhere you’ll discover the village green, plenty of cosy country pubs , and even a windmill. It’s a delightful spot and well worth exploring if you’re looking for a bit of peace and quiet.

🚂 1 hour by train from Liverpool Street (or Stratford) to Braintree. From there, hop in a 15-minute taxi. 🚗 1 hour 20 minutes by car.

6. Much Hadham, Hertfordshire

Much Hadham is a gorgeous little village in Hertfordshire, not too far from Stansted Airport. It may be small but it’s certainly mighty, boasting a whole lot of culture . Visit the Forge Museum — housed in listed buildings dating back to 1480 – to learn about the history of this remarkable village. There are also loads of lovely country walks in and around the village, and a couple of great pubs to finish out the day. What more could ask for from a day trip ? You won’t get snow at this time of year (at least, you’re not likely to), but it’s well worth a visit.

🚂 40 minutes by train from Liverpool Street to Bishop’s Stortford, followed by a 25-minute bus. 🚗 1 hour 10 minutes by car.

7. Wendens Ambo, Essex

This charming village in the countryside near London is packed full of thatched cottages and lovely country gardens . It got its unusual name from the joining of the villages of Great and Little Ambo back in the 1600s, and means “both Wendens” or “Wendens together”. Wendens Ambo is the perfect spot to begin a countryside walk, with its storybook looks and its easy-to-reach location. If you’re after an easy escape from London, then this is a great place to start.

🚂 1 hour by train from London Liverpool Street to Audley End. You’ll arrive smack bang in the middle of Wendens Ambo! 🚗 1.5 hours by car.

8. Castle Hedingham, Essex

Not too far from Wendens Ambo, you’ll find another of the prettiest villages near London – Castle Hedingham – home to a fairytale castle which, funnily enough, is called Hedingham Castle . While the castle gets loads of visitors, the village itself is also well worth a wander around. It’s packed full of cute cottages and half-timbered houses and is also the starting point for the 150-year-old Colne Valley Railway. This short one-mile line offers the perfect opportunity to take a ride on a real-life vintage steam train. Perhaps a great one to take the kids to then?

🚂 1 hour by train from Liverpool Street to Braintree, followed by a 45-minute bus. 🚗 1.5 hours by car.

9. Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire

Next on this roundup of the most beautiful villages near London is the charming Great Missenden – once the home of legendary author Roald Dahl. Synonymous with leafy lanes, ancient churches, higgledy-piggledy streets and the rolling green hills of the Chilterns, it’s a cute spot that has been used as the filming location for a range of different TV shows – including ‘ Midsomer Murders ’. There are plenty of great walks and cycling trails surrounding the village itself, and you can even follow the ‘Roald Dahl Village Trail’. This will take you to Roald Dahl’s grave and past sites such as Sophie’s ‘norphanage’ in ‘The BFG’ or the library visited by Matilda.

🚂 40 minutes by train from Marylebone. 🚗 Less than 1.5 hours by car.

10. Lurgashall, West Sussex

Tucked away in the rural Chichester district of the South Downs lies Lurgashall , a picturesque village near London that only has a population of around 600 or so inhabitants. There’s a pleasant village green here which is arguably the centre of the village, and Blackdown – the highest spot in West Sussex – which is synonymous with the former Poet Laureate Lord Alfred Tennyson. There’s a fab winery here which is family-run and specialises in fruit wines and meads. Be sure to also check out The Noah’s Ark pub – a beautiful 16th-century country boozer with a cottage garden, open fires, real ales and locally sourced food to sustain you.

🚂 55 minutes by train from Waterloo to Haslemere. From there you’ll need to catch a bus to Midhurst and then the Y2 bus on to Lurgashall. The journey should take about 130 minutes in total. 🚗 Around 90–120 minutes by car.

11. Brockenhurst, Hampshire

Our last addition to this roundup of the best villages near London is a real gem. Located right in the heart of the picturesque New Forest National Park – Europe’s largest surviving area of ancient pasture woodland – Brockenhurst is a bustling village synonymous with wildlife at every turn, acres of unspoilt ancient woodland, and miles of walking and bike trails. There are some great pubs here, as well as restaurants, boutique stores, quaint tea rooms and some excellent accommodation options that range from campsites to B&Bs, and self-catering spots too. You’ll really feel like you’re in the countryside here – wild ponies, deer and herds of cows regularly wander through the village!

So there you have it – a roundup of some of the most picturesque villages near London which are well worth a visit. Whether you’re looking to visit charming tea rooms in the New Forest or cosy up by a roaring fire in Shere, you’re sure to find it in this guide!

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