Weekend Escapes from London
Weekend escapologists, look no further! We know that sometimes you just have to get away for a couple of nights and breathe in a bit of country air. We reckon two
hours is about the furthest you want to travel from London on a Friday afternoon, so grab the car keys or jump on a train, and head out to one of our specially selected weekend escapes. We've got some cosy boutique hotels, country pubs, relaxing B&Bs and chilled-out glamping spots that you can easily reach in time for Friday night dinner. Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and even Suffolk and Norfolk in East Anglia – they're all easy from London for a great weekend away. That's the Cool Place taken care of – the rest of the weekend is all yours; see also Cool Places and Rough Guides founder Martin Dunford's tips for places to visit within half an hour of the capital.
Best Weekend Escapes from London
Wow factor treehouses near Mayfield in leafy East Sussex
Hoots Treehouses, Doozes Farm, Witherenden Road, Mayfield, East Sussex TN20 6RS
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Mayfield
Unique Shepherds Hut and Bell Tent glamping on a Kent nature reserve, with unbeatable views and wildlife aplenty.
Elmley Nature Reserve, Kingshill Farm, Elmley National Nature Reserve, Kent ME12 3RW
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Kent
Holidays in Isle of Sheppey
A luxury barn conversion for six which makes the perfect place for a rural escape
The Old Dairy, Near Riseley, Bedfordshire
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Bedfordshire
Holidays in Bedford
Lee Wick Farm Glamping, Lee Wick Farm, Lee Wick Lane, St Osyth, Essex CP16 8ES
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Essex
Holidays in Colchester
Lee Wick Farm Cottages, Lee Wick Farm, Lee Wick Lane, St Osyth, Clacton On Sea, Essex CO16 8ES, UK
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Essex
Holidays in Colchester
A lovely old Wiltshire pub with great food and stylish rooms
The Horse & Groom, The Street, Charlton, Malmesbury, Wiltshire SN16 9DL
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Wiltshire
Holidays in Malmesbury
A proper – award-winning – pub and restaurant in the heart of Harwich, with great food, cosy rooms and a fabulous restaurant
The Alma Inn, 25 King’s Head Street, Harwich, Essex CO12 3EE
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Essex
This Hampshire pub is as stylish and historic a place for a short break from London as you could wish for.
The Red Lion, Odiham, 102 High Street, Odiham, Hampshire RG29 1LP
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hampshire
Holidays in Odiham
Self-catering cottages with a swimming pool and spa in the East Sussex High Weald
Poppinghole Farm Cottages, Poppinghole Farm Cottages, Poppinghole Farm, Poppinghole Lane, Robertsbridge, East Sussex TN32 5BN
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Robertsbridge
Cool seafront hotel and restaurant offering a chic stay in up-and-coming Eastbourne
Port, 11–12 Royal Eastbourne Parade, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN22 7AR
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Eastbourne
A wide array of self-catering properties of all kinds throughout Kent and Sussex.
Bramley & Teal, 3A Stone Street Cranbrook Kent TN17 3HF
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Kent
A welcoming gastropub with cracking food and luxurious guestrooms on Essex's heavenly Mersea Island
The White Hart Inn, 1 High Street, West Mersea, Essex CO5 8QD
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Essex
Holidays in Mersea Island
A cosy – and contemporary – country inn that's a convenient home-from-home for both Oxford and the Cotswolds.
Artist Residence Oxfordshire, Station Road, South Leigh, Oxfordshire OX29 6XN
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Oxfordshire
Holidays in Witney
A charming Suffolk inn with good food and cosy rooms
Sibton White Horse, Halesworth Rd Sibton Near Saxmundham Suffolk IP17 2JJ
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Suffolk
Holidays in Saxmundham
A country-house hotel with a cool but relaxed boutique feel.
Milsoms Kesgrave Hall, Hall Road, Kesgrave, Ipswich, Suffolk IP5 2PU
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Suffolk
Holidays in Ipswich
Woodland cabins in the heart of the Hampshire countryside.
Forest Holidays Blackwood Forest, Larkwhistle Farm Road Micheldever Winchester Hampshire SO21 3BG
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hampshire
Holidays in Winchester
Nature-inspired retreats and escapes in the heart of the countryside; all just a hop from London.
Green Farm Kent: Spa, Retreats & Barn, Green Farm, Church Lane, Shadoxhurst, Kent TN26 1LS
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Kent
Holidays in Ashford
A very homely, yet stylish hotel, restaurant and wedding venue in the heart of the countryside of North Hertfordshire
The Farmhouse at Redcoats, Redcoats Green, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG4 7JR
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hertfordshire
Holidays in Hitchin
A heavenly rural retreat in an idyllic corner of Oxfordshire
The Double Red Duke, Bourton Road, Clanfield, Bampton, Oxfordshire OX18 2RB
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Oxfordshire
Holidays in Faringdon
A luxury log cabin with hot tub that's perfect exploring Canterbury and the North Kent Coast
Honey Tree Lodge, 8 Honey Hill, Blean, Canterbury, Kent CT2 9JP
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Kent
Holidays in Canterbury
Two beautiful self-catering cottages in a brilliant position in Canterbury city centre.
14 & 15 Love Lane, 15 Love Lane, Canterbury, Kent CT1 1PE
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Kent
Holidays in Canterbury
This centrally situated boutique Canterbury B&B is a perfect – and very private – base for the city.
7 Longport, 7 Longport, Canterbury, Kent CT1 1PE
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Kent
Holidays in Canterbury
Self-catering lodge stays within the Blenheim Palace estate
Blenheim Palace Lodge Retreat , Bladon Rd, Bladon, Woodstock OX20 1PT
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Oxfordshire
Holidays in Woodstock
A revamped estate pub with rooms dedicated to members of the Guinness family in a lovely, rural part of Suffolk
The Guinness Arms, The Street, Icklingham, Suffolk IP28 6PS
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Suffolk
Holidays in Mildenhall
A romantic glamping hideaway for two close to Canterbury, Whitstable and the North Kent Coast
The Enchanted Faraway Tree, 8 Honey Hill, Blean, Canterbury, Kent CT2 9JP
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Kent
Holidays in Canterbury
A romantic treehouse hideaway for two close to Canterbury and the North Kent coast
Tree House Hideaway, 8 Honey Hill, Blean, Canterbury Kent CT2 9JP
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Kent
Holidays in Canterbury
This cool and thoroughly up-to-date coaching inn is the perfect spot for a short break in Bury St Edmunds
The Angel Hotel, 3 Angel Hill Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP33 1LT
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Suffolk
Holidays in Bury St. Edmunds
Luxury self-catering accommodation in the grounds of an ancient Essex priory
St Osyth Priory, West Field Lane, Essex CO16 8GW
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Essex
Holidays in Colchester
A pair of romantic luxury glamping retreats deep in the heart of Sussex
Kenny's Hut and Cleo's Hut, Bull's Lane, Cowfold, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 8AP
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Horsham
A purpose-built log cabin designed to provide a back-to-nature glamping getaway for jaded city folk.
A Secret Garden, 8 Honey Hill Blean Near Canterbury Kent CT2 9JP
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Kent
Holidays in Canterbury
A high-end Sussex holiday cottage for 2 right in the middle of the South Downs
The Piggery at John Bulls House, Bull's Lane, Cowfold, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 8AP
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Horsham
The perfect eco- and walking-friendly hostel, easily reachable by train and bang on the South Downs Way.
YHA South Downs, Itford Farm, Beddingham. Near Lewes, East Sussex BN8 6JS
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Lewes
YHA Tanners Hatch, off Ranmore Common Road, Dorking, Surrey, RH5 6BE
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Surrey
Holidays in Dorking
High-end Sussex holiday home by the sea overlooking the ruins of a 13th-century abbey
Eagles Nest at Greyfriars, Greyfriars Friars, Road, Winchelsea, East Sussex TN36 4ED
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Rye
High-end two bedroom apartment near the Sussex coast with the ruins of a 13th-century abbey in the grounds
Herons Wood at Greyfriars, Greyfriars Friars, Road, Winchelsea, East Sussex TN36 4ED
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Rye
A brilliantly updated country pub – plus it's close to London, serves great food and is dog-friendly!
The Fox at Willian, Willian, Hertfordshire SG6 2AE
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hertfordshire
Holidays in Letchworth
This comfortable Hampshire pub with rooms is a perfect short break from London and gives the chance to spend time on the huge estate of the Duke of Wellington.
The Wellington Arms, Basingstoke Road, Stratfield Turgis, Hampshire RG27 0AS
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hampshire
Holidays in Basingstoke
A fairytale treehouse set amidst sumptuous woodland with lots of facilities
Cedar Hollow @ The Oaks, The Oaks, Old Road, Oxford Oxfordshire OX3 8TA
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Oxfordshire
Holidays in Oxford
A relaxed, rural wine retreat with more than a dash of luxury in the rolling Surrey Hills
Denbies Vineyard Hotel, London Road, Dorking, Surrey RH5 6AA
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Surrey
Holidays in Dorking
Funky boutique B&B in a convenient location in Canterbury.
House of Agnes, 71 St Dunstans Street Canterbury CT2 8BN
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Kent
Holidays in Canterbury
Winner of 'Best B&B' and 'Guest House of the Year' – VisitEngland 2023
Piglets Boutique Country Stay, Piglets Boutique Country Stay, Piglets Corner, Top Road, Upper Green, Wimbish Village, Saffron Walden, Essex CB10 2XJ
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Essex
Holidays in Saffron Walden
A contemporary and welcoming pub with rooms close to the heart of Cambridge
The Waterman, 32 Chesterton Road, Cambridge CB4 3AX
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Cambridgeshire
Holidays in Cambridge
An award-winning country pub with good food and very comfy rooms.
The Pheasant, Gestingthorpe Essex CO9 3AU
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Essex
Holidays in Halstead
Beautiful Whitstable beachfront B&B with hot tub
Driftwood Beach House, 230 Faversham Rd, Seasalter. Whitstable, Kent CT5 4BL
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Kent
Holidays in Whitstable
Modern hotel rooms in the very heart of royal Windsor
Goswell House, Goswell Hill, 135 Peascod Street, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 1DS
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Berkshire
Holidays in Windsor
An elegant country hotel on the Essex-Hertfordshire border, as seen on the Great British Bake Off!
Down Hall, Matching Road, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire CM22 7AS
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hertfordshire
Holidays in Bishop's Stortford
This contemporary Essex pub is the perfect spot for a night out or weekend away
The Lion Inn, Main Road, Boreham, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 3JA
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Essex
Holidays in Chelmsford
Newmarket's best place to stay – a classy hotel with great facilities and a spa
Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa, Bury Rd Newmarket Suffolk CB8 7BX
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Suffolk
Holidays in Newmarket
