Journey time: Two hours by car

When one is tired of London, one is tired of life and then, one eventually heads to the Cotswolds, a gathering of adorable countryside villages. Thatched roofs, cosy pubs and winding lanes abound here, as do some notable residents: celebrities including Kate Winslet and Hugh Grant own property here.

Journey time: An hour by train

Britain isn’t known for its beaches but Brighton has a special place in the hearts of brick-bound Londoners. It’s a seaside town that’s as popular with hippies as weekenders, with as many fine diners as alternative record stores proliferating the town behind the pebbly sand. 

Journey time: An hour by train

This stately town has a reputation for grandeur, both for its historic architecture and famed university (which it the oldest in the English-speaking world). The city itself is perfectly picturesque and captures a mixture of Medieval, Gothic and Classical styles, among others.

Journey time: Two hours by car

Cool, gritty and bohemian, busy Bristol’s biggest claim to fame is its birthright to international graffiti artist Banksy, who began his career on its streets. Littered with edgy boutiques, cool cafés (there’s a strong set of vegan eateries) and a general anti-establishment vibe, the city is the kind of place where everything feels new wave – from wine bars to the inland surf lake.

Journey time: Two hours by car

The birthplace of Shakespeare leans hard into its literary association: it’s home of the Royal Shakespeare Company, you can tour the childhood home of Anne Hathaway and explore the various cottages The Bard live in throughout his life.

Journey time: An hour and 10 minutes by train

This is the English town a thousand Medieval costume dramas: higgledy-piggledy cobbled streets, a few crumbled former defensive towers, the crash of waves at windy shores in the distance. Sequester yourself in a  600-year-old pub or take a brisk walk towards the beach.

Journey time: An hour and 20 minutes by train

A punt isn’t “a gamble” in the city of Cambridge – it’s the term for boats that float on the River Cam, the water source that loops the edge of the historical heart. It’s undoubtedly the best way to explore some of Cambridge’s prettiest and best-preserved architecture, especially if you cruise under the arching Bridge of Sighs.

Journey time: An hour and 45 minutes by car

“New” is somewhat of a misnomer; given this Robin Hood-esque forest was named so by William 1 way back in 1079. Its original purpose was as a hunting ground; these days it’s an idyllic mix of gnarled woodlands, sweeping open moors and a haven for wildlife like deer, ponies and donkeys.

Journey time: An hour and 40 minutes

Medieval architecture prevails in this charmingly crooked little town, where streets and quiet canals are lined with chalk-coloured chocolate-box houses and sturdy castle walls. Less than a kilometre beyond the city centre, the Church of St Martin makes a fascinating side trip – the diminutive church is the oldest in the country.

Make like the Queen and escape to Windsor, where the namesake Castle casts an impressive shadow over a charming little town. Visiting the castle is an obvious day trip highlight - see where the monarchs like to spend their weekends by poking through the elaborately dressed state rooms and salons, where gilded frames, antique portraits and glittering chandeliers adorn every ceiling.

Journey time: An hour and 40 minutes

Squint hard enough and you might be able to spot a speck of France glimmering on the far side of the English Channel. Memorialised in a scores of songs and poems, these stark cliffs truly are a site to behold as you take a very English walk high above the ocean.

Journey time: An hour and 50 minutes

Visiting little Lavenham is like stepping back into the Middle Ages. The town’s structures are some of the best-preserved examples of Tudor architecture and have been used as the backdrop for scores of film and TV shoots (including Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows). Take a walking tour of the gorgeous Guildhall, Wool Hall and enormous church before settling in for a spread of cakes and scones at a sweet teahouse.

Journey time: An hour by car

A long, bracing country walk is a popular British pastime and no patch of land is as pretty for it as Box Hill, an area of traversable countryside in the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Trails ranges from the demanding 12-kilometre Box Hill Hike to the gentler Box Hill Bluebell Walk that weaves through the abundant lilac blooms during spring.