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 Places to Stay in Weekend escapes from London - UK weekend breaks I Cool Places
Best Weekend Escapes from London
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 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
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
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
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 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 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 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
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
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 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
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
This Buckinghamshire church makes the perfect base for exploring the Dunstable Downs.
St Mary's Church, Church End, Edelsborough, Dunstable, Buckinghamshire LU6 2EP
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Buckinghamshire
Holidays in Aylesbury
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
The Fox at Willian, Willian, Hertfordshire SG6 2AE
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hertfordshire
Holidays in Letchworth
YHA Tanners Hatch, off Ranmore Common Road, Dorking, Surrey, RH5 6BE
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Surrey
Holidays in Dorking
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
A historic and beautifully renovated restaurant with rooms in the heart of Canterbury
The Corner House, 1 Dover Street, Canterbury, Kent CT1 3HD
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Kent
Holidays in Canterbury
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
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
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
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
Two well-appointed seaside holiday cottages situated amid the big skies of the Essex Coast.
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 Brightlingsea
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 family-friendly country cottage close to the North Norfolk coast
Field House Cottage, Moorgate Road, Hindringham, Fakenham, Norfolk NR21 0BT
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Norfolk
Holidays in Fakenham
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
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
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
A traditional Buckinghamshire country house hotel with spa not far from the Thames in the Chilterns
Danesfield House, Henley Road, Marlow-On-Thames, Buckinghamshire SL7 2EY
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Buckinghamshire
Holidays in Marlow
This beautiful East Sussex vineyard has a restaurant with 10 swoon-worthy boutique rooms
Rathfinny Wine Estate, Alfriston, East Sussex BN26 5TU
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Alfriston
A lovely country-chic weekend escape, serving some of the best food in the West Midlands.
Hampton Manor, Shadowbrook Lane Hampton-in-Arden Solihull Warwickshire B92 0DQ
Holidays in West Midlands
Holidays in Birmingham
A proper country restaurant and pub, with four comfy guest rooms and superb field-to-fork cooking.
The Pointer, 27 Church Street, Brill, Buckinghamshire HP18 9RT
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Buckinghamshire
Holidays in Aylesbury
An elegant restaurant with rooms situated on a glorious Sussex estate.
Leonardslee House, Brighton Rd, Lower Beeding, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 6PP
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Horsham
A perfect weekend escape for both work and play by the Thames.
The Swan at Streatley, Coppa Club, Streatley-On-Thames, Near Reading, Berkshire RG8 9HR
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Berkshire
Holidays in Reading
Worth a trip for the bar snacks alone, but this Sussex pub also has two luxury double bedrooms.
Richmond Arms, West Ashling, Chichester, West Sussex PO18 8EA
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Chichester
Stylish rooms above a riverside restaurant and bar by the Thames in Sonning
The Great House at Sonning, Coppa Club, The Great House, Thames Street, Sonning-on-Thames, Berkshire RG4 6UT
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Berkshire
Holidays in Reading
Modern rooms in a heritage building above a stylish Surrey restaurant and bar
The Georgian House at Haslemere, Coppa Club, Coppa at The Georgian, High Street, Haslemere, Surrey GU27 2JY
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Surrey
Holidays in Haslemere
Privately owned Northamptonshire country house hotel with a relaxed vibe, a good restaurant and spa
Rushton Hall, Desborough Rd, Rushton, Kettering, Northamptonshire NN14 1RR
Holidays in East Midlands
Holidays in Northamptonshire
Holidays in Kettering
