Overnight trip 2 hours max from SE London

[reluctantbrit]

DH and I want a night away beginning to mid-March.

We live in SE London and don't want more than 2 hours drive, it's the first time we leave DD at home alone, so in any emergency we don't want to be up north in Northumberland.

We thought going out on Saturday morning and back on Sunday afternoon.

We like history, bit of walking (if the weather is dry and decent), window shopping, nice restaurants and cafes. Happy to have a town for the Saturday and somewhere else on the Sunday.

Not Kent, we have covered most of it in the last 20 years we live at the SE London/Kent border.
We recently went to Chichester and Winchester when we went to Open Days at the universities so have been there, otherwise Winchester would have been great.

Any ideas?

On the train going to and from Chichester earlier this year I got a lovely view of Arundel and thought that looked like a good place to visit sometime. Not very specific advice - maybe some Arundeludians will spot this thread and tell me if I’m right!

Rye is gorgeous but might be over your 2 hours. Lewes maybe?

Oxford, masses of history, beautiful architecture, plenty of restaurants.

Oxford - is that too far?
Cotswolds is a bit further (two hours maybe?) would tick most of your boxes.

we went to the Pig hotel just outside of Arundel for a similar mini break a few years ago. Arundel is nice, not sure it is a whole day's worth of pottering though - perhaps if the castle is open? Or if in summer a boat on the river? There were quite a few antique shops if that is your thing.

You're selling it @schoolfeeslave! I’m similar to the OP, I enjoying a weekend of walking, some nice cafes (with book), small shop potter also a bit of historical stuff. I’m exceptionally boring when I get a weekend to myself 😆

Salisbury with a visit to Stonehenge or Aylesbury. Or Lymington with a boat trip/walk out to Hurst Castle.

Would second the recommendation for Lewes. We recently stayed at The Star in Alfriston.

I realised we did also quite a lot outside Kent

We did Arundel a couple of times so that’s a no. I actually love it but we were there just two years ago.
Sailsbury maybe an option, itt has been a while
Lewes is utterly unknown so will check it out
Oxford - i wasn’t impressed eons ago
Cotswolds - may have to see how far it is, we have been there before and loved it

Bath? No idea of the driving time from your house but it's only 15 mins from junction 18 on the m4 which takes around 90 mins from the m25, less on a good day

Bristol is about an hour and a half from west London to north Bristol. Bath is similar (although closer) because the last bit of getting into Bath is along A roads.

Bath by train. There's a great walk round the city on the hills, fantastic views.

Star and Garter East Dean.

Chichester.

Rye. Camber sands. The Mermaid Inn or Gallivant. Bath / Bristol can be a nightmare from SE London.

Portsmouth for Historic Dockyard and shopping/restaurants at Gunwharf quays, plus a walk around Old Portsmouth/along seafront.

Bath

Cirencester

Oxford

Cheltenham

Thanks for all your lovely suggestions.

I will look into Lewes and the Cotswolds first.

Bath - it's a bit more than the 2 hours and Bristol even more, the traffic can be bad as well.

Train is not good, to go west we have to take a train into Central London, change to the tube and then to the train. That's easily 45 -60 minutes at least to go to Paddington, maybe 45 minutes to Waterloo before we even go on the actual train. And it's not easy to go home fast if there is any issues.

Was going to suggest this. X

Have you done Richmond/Kew, or is that a bit too near? Lots of history, walking along the Thames, nice restaurants, pubs, shops, Richmond Park, Kew Gardens. Very good train links too.

Lewes is lovely or even Eastbourne ( nice restaurants, gallery, theatres) the shopping is ok the new Beacon is quite nice. Bexhill has the dellaware pavilion which is nice......

Windsor? Portsmouth? Lymington?

I would also vote for Oxford, although Cambridge might be easier for you to get to, especially by train.

Winchester. It's lovely, the right size to do as a one nighter, bags of pubs and restaurants and lots of history.

Cambridge, or Bury St Edmunds.

Rye!
Stay at monastery cottage.

Brunch at the fig.
Potter/ drive to Dungeness beach for a walk.
Dinner at the George hotel.

@kaymay12 Kew or Richmond - too near.

Eastbourne - I had to laught @Neurodiversitydoctor DH is going there next week for work

While trains can be fine, I hate the fact that I need to go into London from home first and then maybe a tube and then the actual train. And even with booking early they are just bloody expensive.

@Bearpawk Rye is lovely but I am just not sure about it in March. It can be sunny and great or we have a cold and wet weekend. If I could move the trip into later the year a sea side town would be my first choice.