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
Luxurious safari lodges near London in the stunning Chilterns
Shillingridge Glamping, Shillingridge Stables, Frieth Road, Marlow, Buckinghamshire SL7 2HP
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Buckinghamshire
Holidays in Marlow
A luxury lodge built for total immersion in a tranquil East Sussex woodland
Looking Glass Lodge, Grangewood, Battery Hill, Fairlight, Hastings, East Sussex TN35 4AL
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Hastings
A romantic treehouse hideaway for two close to Canterbury and the North Kent coast
Tree House Hideaway, 8 Honey Hill, Blean, Canterbury Kent CT2 9JP
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Kent
Holidays in Canterbury
A lovely New Forest country retreat with several eating areas serving first-rate British plates
The Montagu Arms, Beaulieu New Forest Hampshire SO42 7ZL
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hampshire
Holidays in Beaulieu
Stylish self-catering for groups on a 17-acre West Sussex estate with a swimming pool, tennis courts and more
Honeybridge Estate, Honeybridge Lane, Ashurst, West Sussex BN44 3AW
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Ashurst
Glamping at Swallowtail Farm is as it good as it gets.
Swallowtail Hill Glamping, Swallowtail Hill Farm, Hobbs Lane, Beckley, East Sussex TN31 6TT
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Rye
A comfortable country house hotel in the New Forest – with a fabulous spa thrown in
Careys Manor Hotel, Lyndhurst Road Brockenhurst Hampshire SO42 7RH
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hampshire
Holidays in Brockenhurst
A luxurious woodland lodge retreat for two with hot tub in the heart of Thetford Forest
Foxtail Lodge, Glebe Cottage, West Tofts Road, Mundford, Thetford, Norfolk IP26 5EJ
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Norfolk
Holidays in Thetford
Secluded, peaceful glamping on the western edge of the New Forest, ideal for a romantic getaway.
Fernwood Glamping, Fernwood, Ringwood, New Forest, Hampshire BH24 3JN
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hampshire
Holidays in Ringwood
A proper village pub with comfy rooms and top-quality food on the edge of the Berkshire Downs.
The Greyhound Inn, Main Street, Letcombe Regis, Wantage, Oxfordshire OX12 9JY
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Oxfordshire
Holidays in Wantage
A unique and very comfortable West Sussex barn conversion that's perhaps the county's best eco-friendly – and car-free – rural retreat.
Upper Barn, High Titten, Amberley, West Sussex BN18 9LY
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Amberley
Extraordinary dog-friendly country cottage on the Norfolk-Suffolk borders.
Half Moon Lane Cottage, Redgrave, Suffolk IP22 1RU
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Suffolk
A venerable yet contemporary Suffolk coaching inn with a busy bar, excellent restaurant and boutique rooms
The Bell Hotel Saxmundham, 31 High Street, Saxmundham, Suffolk IP17 1AF
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Suffolk
Holidays in Saxmundham
These three Hertfordshire country retreats provide the ultimate venue for a luxury chill-out weekend.
Bethnal & Bec, Nottinghams, Cottered, Hertfordshire SG9 9PU
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hertfordshire
Holidays in Stevenage
A cosy and luxurious shepherds hut for two on a beautiful farm in the Wessex Downs.
Little Fleece at Folly Farm, Folly Farm, Bury Lane, West Ilsley, Newbury, Berkshire RG20 7AZ
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Berkshire
Holidays in Newbury
The food, rooms and peaceful location of this terrific pub keep its many fans coming back again and again.
The Ship at Dunwich, St James Street, Dunwich, Suffolk IP17 3DT
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Suffolk
Holidays in Dunwich
With great food, local ales and comfortable boutique rooms, this Sussex village pub is hard to beat.
The Crown Inn, Dial Post, Worthing Rd, Dial Post, Near Horsham, West Sussex RH13 8NH
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Horsham
Relaxed glamping and camping in a gorgeous location in a beautiful part of Norfolk
Wardley Hill Glamping & Camping, Wardley Hill Road, Kirby Cane, Bungay, NR35 2PQ
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Norfolk
Holidays in Beccles
A properly up-to-date country inn with excellent food and stylish rooms – well-placed for Newmarket, Suffolk and Cambridge.
The Packhorse Inn, Bridge St, Moulton, Near Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 8SP
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Suffolk
Holidays in Newmarket
Two restored railway carriages for year-round glamping on the Norfolk-Suffolk border.
Choo Choo Moo, Low Ditch Road, Alburgh, Harleston, Norfolk IP20 0BX
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Norfolk
Holidays in Harleston
Boutique rooms and excellent pub food midway between Cambridge and Newmarket
The Carpenters Arms, 10 High St, Great Wilbraham, Cambridgeshire CB21 5JD
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Cambridgeshire
Holidays in Cambridge
This pioneering Essex village gastropub with rooms is entering a new era – visit now and see for yourself.
The Cricketers, Clavering, Essex CB11 4QT
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Essex
Holidays in Saffron Walden
A stylish holiday home by the Brighton seafront
Regency Stables , Regency Stables, Queensbury Mews, Brighton East Sussex BN1 2FE
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Brighton
A historic West Sussex farmhouse with room for 10, a heated swimming pool, and hot tub!
Marble Bridge Farm, Marble Bridge Farm, Chichester Road, Chichester, West Sussex, PO20 7PY
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Chichester
Just outside Lewes, this is a classic Sussex Downs pub with stylish rooms and terrific food.
The Jolly Sportsman, Chapel Lane, East Chiltington, East Sussex BN7 3BA
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Lewes
Woodland cabins in the heart of Thetford Forest in Norfolk.
Forest Holidays Thorpe Forest, Shadwell Thetford Norfolk IP24 2RX
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Norfolk
Holidays in Thetford
A very cool and contemporary boutique hotel at the heart of Ipswich's resurgent Waterfront district
Salthouse Harbour Hotel, Neptune Quay, Ipswich, Suffolk IP4 1AX
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Suffolk
Holidays in Ipswich
Modern hotel rooms in the very heart of royal Windsor
Goswell House, Goswell Hill, 135 Peascod Street, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 1DS
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Berkshire
Holidays in Windsor
A quirky hotel with individually designed rooms and a wonderfully informal atmosphere
Artist Residence Brighton, 34 Regency Square, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 2FJ
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Brighton
An elegant boutique country house hotel in Suffolk that is a bit staying in the home of your poshest friend
Rectory Manor Hotel, Great Waldingfield, Near Lavenham, Suffolk CO10 0TL.
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Suffolk
Holidays in Lavenham
Unique glamping in a beautiful location not far from Dover in the downlands of southeastern Kent.
Greenhill Glamping, Greenhill Glamping, Alkham Court, Meggett Lane, South Alkham, Dover, Kent CT15 7DG
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Kent
Holidays in Dover
A family-friendly country house B&B in the heart of the Norfolk Broads, with spectacular grounds, a tennis court, and a heated swimming pool
The Old Rectory Catfield, The Old Rectory, Catfield, Norfolk, NR29 5DA
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Norfolk
Holidays in Horning
An elegant restaurant with sumptuous rooms in a historic Kent mansion
Boys Hall, Boys Hall Road, Ashford, Kent TN24 0LA
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Kent
Holidays in Ashford
Cosy, romantic shepherds' huts in the heart of the Sussex countryside
The Original Hut Company Ltd, Quarry Farm, Bodiam, East Sussex TN32 5RA
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Bodiam
Good food and stylish rooms at this classic Surrey riverside pub.
The Stag on the River, Lower Eashing Lane, Eashing, Surrey GU7 2QG
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Surrey
Holidays in Godalming
Hotel-style luxury glamping on a beautiful Norfolk farm halfway between Thetford and Norwich
Glamp and Tipple, Rookery Farm, Watton Road, Great Ellingham, Norfolk NR17 1LB
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Norfolk
Holidays in Attleborough
Cabin, shepherd's hut and bell tent glamping near London in rural Kent
Kits Coty Glamping, 84 Collingwood Road, Kits Coty Estate, Aylesford, Kent ME20 7ER
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Kent
Holidays in Aylesford
A unique and romantic countryside retreat for two– just an hour from London!
The Hobbity Treehouse, 8 Honey Hill, Blean, Near Canterbury, Kent CT2 9JP
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Kent
Holidays in Canterbury
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
Luxury glamping in a glorious Essex seaside location
Lee Wick Farm Glamping, Lee Wick Farm, Lee Wick Lane, St Osyth, Essex CP16 8ES
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Essex
Holidays in Brightlingsea
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
The Red Lion, Odiham, 102 High Street, Odiham, Hampshire RG29 1LP
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hampshire
Holidays in Odiham
Self-catering lodge stays within the Blenheim Palace estate
Blenheim Palace Lodge Retreat , Bladon Rd, Bladon, Woodstock OX20 1PT
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Oxfordshire
Holidays in Woodstock
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 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
Award-winning seaside maisonette with style, substance and flair in the heart of St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex
Gensing Lodge, Gensing Road, St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex TN38 0HE
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Hastings
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
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
