10 of the Best Day Trips from London (No Car Needed)

While the sun has been shining, I've been revisiting my favourite UK destinations; Margate was delightful yesterday! Today, I'm sharing ten of the best day trips from London, all of which you can reach by public transport in under two hours.

My 50 Favourite London Restaurants (Updated 2026)

Since I moved back to London 15 years ago, I've spent a lot of time eating my way around the city's increasingly diverse restaurant scene. To help me keep track, I started jotting down my favourites in a Moleskine notebook, which eventually evolved into a Google Sheet and then a blog post in 2016. An update was long overdue and here it is: my 50 favourite restaurants in London. 

The Caffeine Chronicles: Foreign Exchange News

If The Phoenician Scheme left you longing for more Wes Anderson, you might like to pay a visit to West London's Foreign Exchange News. The beautifully designed coffee shop would fit right in to Anderson's universe and — just as importantly — the coffee is great and there really is a working bureau de change inside!

How To Spend a Perfect Weekend in Oxford (Updated 2026)

I grew up just outside the university city of Oxford and lived there for 15 years before defecting to The Other Place and then London. I often return to visit my parents, explore old haunts and check out the ever-expanding food and specialty coffee scene. This is my guide to spending a perfect weekend in Oxford, complete with a map of my favourite things to do and see and places to eat, drink and stay.

The Caffeine Chronicles: Green Routes, Oxford

While I was back in Oxford last weekend, I finally made a long-awaited visit to Green Routes, the flagship cafe of local roaster Routes Coffee. Located on Magdalen Road, Green Routes serves top-notch specialty coffee and brunch in a cosy, multi-level space. It's well worth the stroll (or short bus ride) from Oxford city centre to East Oxford.

A Right Royal Day Trip to Windsor

With reasonable weather forecast for the recent bank holiday, I visited the historic town of Windsor. Less than an hour from London by train, Windsor is a great day trip destination whether you're into English history, the Royal Family or simply fancy a stroll along the River Thames. Most visitors (including me) head straight for Windsor Castle, but there's lots more to see and do — even when it rains (sadly, it did!).