Best family-friendly weekend trips from London

There’s so much for families to do in London, but if you're looking for a break from the bustle, we've got the lowdown on the best destinations for a weekend getaway with the kids.

We’ve kept our roundup to locations within a two-hour drive or train ride from central London so you can get the most out of your precious time away. Mumsnetters are on hand with their top picks for trips that’ll have you back in time for the Monday school run. From Windsor to Whitstable, we've got recommendations for beach breaks, culture-packed weekends and country escapes.

We've also got handy family hotel guides to destinations that Mumsnetters love, including the Cotswolds, the New Forest, Kent, Norfolk, Northumberland, the Lake District and more, all featuring top recommendations from parents.

At a glance: best weekend trips from London

• Best rural getaway: The Cotswolds

• Best for nature: The New Forest

• Best for a regal escape: Windsor

• Best beach break: West Wittering

• Best for seaside fun: Hastings

• Best budget break: Portsmouth

• Best coastal escape: Whitstable

1. Best rural getaway: The Cotswolds

Cotswolds hotels on Booking.com | Cotswolds hotels on Hotels.com

What Mumsnet users say

"Aside from the usual villages - Broadway, Bibury, Bourton-on-the-Water - which are all lovely for a wander around/stop for lunch etc, Batsford Arboretum is worth a visit. Or a walk up to Broadway Tower is good for views." budgiegirl

Our verdict

Packed with chocolate-box villages and picturesque countryside, the Cotswolds is a quintessential English holiday destination. Covering a huge 800 square miles, the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty runs through five counties and you’ll find everything you need for a family getaway.

Staying near the Roman city of Cirencester is a great choice for lots to see and do with children. The city itself has plenty of history with a museum, an amphitheatre and a Roman villa open to visitors. A little outside the city you’ll find Cotswolds Water Park and Cotswolds Country Park and Beach. If you’re looking for opulent homes to wander around, be sure not to miss Sudeley Castle and Blenheim Palace.

For a more free-range holiday, Bourton-on-the-Water is a Mumsnet favourite spot for the most beautiful country walks and views in the Cotswolds.

Distance from London: 73 miles

2. Best for nature: The New Forest

New Forest hotels on Booking.com | New Forest hotels on Hotels.com

What Mumsnet users say

"The new forest wildlife park is great. Lots of lovely walks - the ambling path linked above has tonnes of great ones. Furzey Gardens is lovely too with all the fairy doors." Familiaritybreedscontemptso

Our verdict

The New Forest boasts beaches, wildlife and of course wild ponies. Aside from its natural beauty, you’ll also find Peppa Pig World for little ones and the New Forest Water Park for older and more adventurous kids.

Mumsnetters recommend staying somewhere rural, like the hilariously named Sandy Balls Holiday Village, or Beaulieu for a picturesque village location.

Naturally, the forest itself is the main draw for this area, and bringing or hiring bikes is highly recommended. A weekend can easily be spent simply exploring the idyllic woodland, clifftop walks and open moors.

Distance from London: 88 miles

Read next: The best family hotels in the New Forest, according to parents

3. Best for a regal escape: Windsor

Windsor hotels on Booking.com | Windsor hotels on Hotels.com

What Mumsnet users say

"Stay in Windsor! Gorgeous area, castle, The Long Walk, so many beautiful parks and grounds. We frequently stay in Windsor. We used to stay in an AirBnB but now we just stay in a Travel Lodge or a Premier Inn. The Travel Lodge is right in the centre so perfect for mooching and the train station is a five minute walk so can be in central London in 40 minutes." LancashireSquirrel

Our verdict

Just a short jaunt from London, Windsor is a charming town soaked in royal history. Windsor Castle is the town’s most famous landmark, and it’s open to visitors all year round.

In Windsor’s old town you’ll find cobbled streets, plenty of places to eat and medieval sights to see. The Thames runs through the town and cruises or rowing boats are available for hire. With Legoland and Thorpe Park just down the road, it’s a lovely place to make a weekend of it after a hectic kid-focused day out at a theme park.

Distance from London: 25 miles

Read next: The best budget hotels in London for a family escape

4. Best for a beach break: West Wittering

West Wittering hotels on Booking.com | West Wittering hotels on Hotels.com

What Mumsnet users say

"West Wittering is a lovely family oriented beach." Icanthinkformyselfthanks

Our verdict

A 15-minute drive from the Roman city of Chichester you’ll find West Wittering. The sandy beach has clean, shallow water, sand dunes and a cafe serving posh grub. If the weather’s on your side, you and the family can while away a weekend very happily playing in the sand. If you want to explore a bit further, head to Chichester for culture and history, Bognor Regis for traditional seaside fun or Bosham for an ice cream by the water.

West Wittering beach is very popular, so leave plenty of time to get there, and be sure to book your parking in advance.

Distance from London: 86 miles

Read next: The UK's best beaches, according to families

5. Best for seaside fun: Hastings

Search for hotels in Hastings

What Mumsnet users say

"My kids love Rock-a-nore for crazy golf, museums, fish and chips and the 2p machines in the amusements. The aquarium is small but they do a combined ticket with smugglers cave and the funicular railway.
Knockhatch is well worth the drive and money and will easily fill a day." Junobug

Our verdict

Hastings is a charming and quirky seaside town with an artsy feel and plenty of history. Kids will love exploring the smugglers caves or ogling sealife at the aquarium. Be sure to take a trip down the cliffs on the town’s famous Victorian funicular railways. West Hill lift runs between traffic-free George Street and the top of West Hill and offers amazing views over East Sussex and the channel. The East Hill lift takes you from Rock-a-Nore in the old town up to Hastings Country Park, which is perfect for an afternoon exploring with kids.

Distance from London: 70 miles

Read next: The best family hotels in Brighton for a fun-filled stay

6. Best for a budget break: Portsmouth

Search for hotels in Portsmouth

What Mumsnet users say

"We love the dock yards and fort Nelson and indeed Fishbourne palace. There's a d day museum and a little aquarium with cute otters in Southsea plus the fort bit/tunnels/ arcades." Fearfulsaints

Our verdict

This vibrant coastal city has lots to offer visiting families. Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is home to the wreck of the Mary Rose, as well as Nelson’s Victory, which is open for visitors to explore. Take a trip up the Spinnaker Tower or catch the hovercraft for a day on the Isle of Wight. If you’re looking for a more low-key weekend, there are plenty of great playgrounds and places to grab a cup of tea and a bag of chips. Stay on Portsea Island for the best of the city, or use the park and ride to explore on public transport.

Distance from London: 75 miles

7. Best for museums: Birmingham

Search for hotels in Birmingham

What Mumsnet users say

"For things to do: Thinktank and the attached science gardens, Birmingham botanical gardens, Legoland discovery place (in brindley place by the canals), Birmingham museum and art gallery (check this as they have been renovating), Cadbury world, Sea life centre." showmethegin

Our verdict

Less than two hours by train from London Euston, Birmingham has something for everybody. The vibrant city centre has ultra-modern science museum Thinktank, National Trust-restored industrial workers’ houses, plus the stunning Botanical Gardens with glasshouses, an adventure playground and a children’s discovery garden. Chocoholics won’t want to miss Cadbury World, and further afield you’ll find plenty of green spaces and historic buildings to visit, including Shakespeare’s birthplace, Cannock Chase Forest and Sandwell Valley Country Park.

Distance from London: 119 miles

Read next: The best family hotels in Birmingham, according to Mumsnetters

8. Best for a coastal escape: Whitstable

Search for hotels in Whitstable

Our verdict

Head over to Whitstable for a retro weekend by the sea. There’s a shingle beach which is brilliant for crabbing, paddling and of course fish and chips. Browse the quirky independent shops on Harbour Street and sample the town’s famous oysters at Wheeler’s Oyster Bar. Venture out of Whitstable and you’ll find Margate’s and Broadstairs’ sandy beaches, the rich history of Canterbury and Blean Woods nature reserve. Pick a place to stay by the beach, or head inland for the beautiful Kent countryside.

Distance from London: 59 miles

Read next: Where to stay in Kent, according to families

Read next: The best UK holiday parks, as rated by parents

Where should I go within two hours of London?

There are lots of options for a getaway within two hours of London. If you’re looking for a country break, the Cotswolds has stunning scenery and a 102-mile walking trail. Head to Birmingham or Portsmouth for a city break, and Whitstable or West Wittering for some sea air.

Read next: The best packing cubes to keep the family organised on your next trip

Where’s nice for a weekend break from London?

Quirk, history-filled locations like Hastings and Colchester are great bases for a weekend away from London. Soak in the small-town charm and venture out to seaside resorts for a paddle and an ice cream.

What’s the best family-friendly destination for a weekend trip from London?

The Cotswolds is the best destination for a family-friendly weekend trip from London. Recharge your batteries in this charming Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, one of Mumsnetters’ favourite parts of the UK.

How we chose our recommendations

Because we know that there's nothing like a real recommendation, we first headed to the Mumsnet forums to find out which destinations within easy reach of London were being recommended for families.

We then did some online research, looking at which locations for family-friendly weekends away had won accolades or been featured in 'best choice' lists, and what customer reviews said about them. Having collated all that information, we then narrowed our list down to the best family-friendly weekend trips from London.

Read next: The best hand luggage to buy for your next weekend escape

Why you should trust us

We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.