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If you’re traveling on a tight budget, staying in one of London’s great hostels doesn’t mean you can only explore the city center. These top destinations will only take you anywhere from 20 minutes to a couple of hours on London’s famous and reliable rail system.
1. St. Albans (20-minute train ride): More than 2,000 years of history have shaped this city, with everyone from the Celts to the Romans to the Benedictine order leaving their mark. History buffs will definitely want to visit St. Albans, and it’s certainly easy to get to from any of London’s central hostels.
2. Windsor (30 minutes by train) – Fancy learning a thing or two about the royal family? Windsor is the place you’ll want to go, especially as it’s home to the famous royal residence, Windsor Castle. There is also the Windsor Legoland theme park which can be a lot of fun to explore for the young or the young at heart.
3. Epping Forest (40 mins by train) – There’s nothing better than a stroll through a peaceful forest, especially if you need to decompress from the typically crowded areas around London hostels. Just be sure to check before you travel though, as Epping Forest is closed to the public on certain days.
4. Brighton (1 hour by train) – It only takes an hour by train to reach Brighton and you will have a wonderful time exploring the nooks and crannies of this gloriously eclectic and creative city. The Royal Pavilion and the beach with its quayside amusement park are world famous, and there is plenty to entertain any type of visitor, old or young.
5. Cambridge (1 hour by train): Here you can visit one of the world’s most acclaimed universities and go river sailing, or have someone else do the rowing for you! This quaint town is as charming as you’ve heard.
6. Oxford (1.5 hours by train) – Another acclaimed university makes its home here in Oxford, while plenty of museums will keep you busy. Oxford’s Blenheim Palace is also worth a visit, with movies like the Harry Potter series and A Little Chaos filming scenes there.
7. Bath (1.5 hours by train): The aptly named city is home to Britain’s only natural hot springs. Roman baths and spas can be a welcome gift for those who crave a nice, long soak to soothe traveling muscles and tired feet.
8. Canterbury (1.5 hours by train): Lovers of religious history and architecture simply need to take the time to visit the famous Canterbury Cathedral. The Church of Saint Martin and the Abbey of Saint Augustine are also two highlights worth visiting.
9. Salisbury (2 hours by train): Salisbury boasts beautiful religious architecture as well as lush countryside ideal for walks, bike rides and sightseeing. It also houses the best-preserved copy of the Magna Carta, of which only four intact copies remain.
10. Stonehenge (2 hours by train): Stonehenge is a marvel of Neolithic construction and is well worth spending time visiting. It is only eight miles north of Salisbury.
Keep all of these destinations in mind when you stay in one of London’s great hostels and you’ll realize just how much you can see by train.