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 Weekend Escapes from London
This lovely old Suffolk coaching inn is renowned for its great food and luxurious rooms
The Bildeston Crown, 104 High St, Bildeston, Suffolk IP7 7EB
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Suffolk
Holidays in Lavenham
Nature-inspired retreats and escapes in the heart of the countryside; all just a hop from London.
Green Farm Kent: Spa, Retreats & Barn, Green Farm, Church Lane, Shadoxhurst, Kent TN26 1LS
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Kent
Holidays in Ashford
Self-catering cottages with a swimming pool and spa in the East Sussex High Weald
Poppinghole Farm Cottages, Poppinghole Farm Cottages, Poppinghole Farm, Poppinghole Lane, Robertsbridge, East Sussex TN32 5BN
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Robertsbridge
Funky boutique B&B in a convenient location in Canterbury.
House of Agnes, 71 St Dunstans Street Canterbury CT2 8BN
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Kent
Holidays in Canterbury
A welcoming gastropub with cracking food and luxurious guestrooms on Essex's heavenly Mersea Island
The White Hart Inn, 1 High Street, West Mersea, Essex CO5 8QD
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Essex
Holidays in Mersea Island
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
This restaurant with rooms on the Suffolk-Norfolk border makes a perfect countryside escape for jaded city-dwellers
The Oaksmere, Rectory Rd, Eye, Suffolk IP23 8AH
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Suffolk
Holidays in Eye
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
A brilliantly updated country pub – plus it's close to London, serves great food and is dog-friendly!
The Fox at Willian, Willian, Hertfordshire SG6 2AE
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hertfordshire
Holidays in Letchworth
Dreamy bespoke woodland cabins in the East Sussex countryside with a wood-fired hot tub and sauna
Architects Holiday, Great Park Farm, Catsfield, East Sussex TN33 9DT
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Battle
A charming Suffolk inn with good food and cosy rooms
Sibton White Horse, Halesworth Rd Sibton Near Saxmundham Suffolk IP17 2JJ
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Suffolk
Holidays in Saxmundham
Woodland cabins in the heart of the Hampshire countryside.
Forest Holidays Blackwood Forest, Larkwhistle Farm Road Micheldever Winchester Hampshire SO21 3BG
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hampshire
Holidays in Winchester
A very homely, yet stylish hotel, restaurant and wedding venue in the heart of the countryside of North Hertfordshire
The Farmhouse at Redcoats, Redcoats Green, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG4 7JR
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hertfordshire
Holidays in Hitchin
A heavenly rural retreat in an idyllic corner of Oxfordshire
The Double Red Duke, Bourton Road, Clanfield, Bampton, Oxfordshire OX18 2RB
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Oxfordshire
Holidays in Faringdon
A luxury log cabin with hot tub that's perfect exploring Canterbury and the North Kent Coast
Honey Tree Lodge, 8 Honey Hill, Blean, Canterbury, Kent CT2 9JP
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Kent
Holidays in Canterbury
A revamped estate pub with rooms dedicated to members of the Guinness family in a lovely, rural part of Suffolk
The Guinness Arms, The Street, Icklingham, Suffolk IP28 6PS
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Suffolk
Holidays in Mildenhall
A romantic glamping hideaway for two close to Canterbury, Whitstable and the North Kent Coast
The Enchanted Faraway Tree, 8 Honey Hill, Blean, Canterbury, Kent CT2 9JP
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Kent
Holidays in Canterbury
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 purpose-built log cabin designed to provide a back-to-nature glamping getaway for jaded city folk.
A Secret Garden, 8 Honey Hill Blean Near Canterbury Kent CT2 9JP
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Kent
Holidays in Canterbury
The perfect eco- and walking-friendly hostel, easily reachable by train and bang on the South Downs Way.
YHA South Downs, Itford Farm, Beddingham. Near Lewes, East Sussex BN8 6JS
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Lewes
High-end Sussex holiday home by the sea overlooking the ruins of a 13th-century abbey
Eagles Nest at Greyfriars, Greyfriars Friars, Road, Winchelsea, East Sussex TN36 4ED
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Rye
High-end two bedroom apartment near the Sussex coast with the ruins of a 13th-century abbey in the grounds
Herons Wood at Greyfriars, Greyfriars Friars, Road, Winchelsea, East Sussex TN36 4ED
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Rye
This comfortable Hampshire pub with rooms is a perfect short break from London and gives the chance to spend time on the huge estate of the Duke of Wellington.
The Wellington Arms, Basingstoke Road, Stratfield Turgis, Hampshire RG27 0AS
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hampshire
Holidays in Basingstoke
A relaxed, rural wine retreat with more than a dash of luxury in the rolling Surrey Hills
Denbies Vineyard Hotel, London Road, Dorking, Surrey RH5 6AA
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Surrey
Holidays in Dorking
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
Beautiful Whitstable beachfront B&B with hot tub
Driftwood Beach House, 230 Faversham Rd, Seasalter. Whitstable, Kent CT5 4BL
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Kent
Holidays in Whitstable
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
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
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
An elegant country hotel on the Essex-Hertfordshire border, as seen on the Great British Bake Off!
Down Hall, Matching Road, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire CM22 7AS
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hertfordshire
Holidays in Bishop's Stortford
This contemporary Essex pub is the perfect spot for a night out or weekend away
The Lion Inn, Main Road, Boreham, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 3JA
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Essex
Holidays in Chelmsford
Newmarket's best place to stay – a classy hotel with great facilities and a spa
Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa, Bury Rd Newmarket Suffolk CB8 7BX
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Suffolk
Holidays in Newmarket
A pair of romantic luxury glamping retreats deep in the heart of Sussex
Kenny's Hut and Cleo's Hut, Bull's Lane, Cowfold, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 8AP
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Horsham
A high-end Sussex holiday cottage for 2 right in the middle of the South Downs
The Piggery at John Bulls House, Bull's Lane, Cowfold, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 8AP
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Horsham
A country-house hotel with a cool but relaxed boutique feel.
Milsoms Kesgrave Hall, Hall Road, Kesgrave, Ipswich, Suffolk IP5 2PU
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Suffolk
Holidays in Ipswich
This cool and thoroughly up-to-date coaching inn is the perfect spot for a short break in Bury St Edmunds
The Angel Hotel, 3 Angel Hill Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP33 1LT
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Suffolk
Holidays in Bury St. Edmunds
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
Family-owned Suffolk country hotel that's packed full of facilities, including gym, spa, pool and two championship golf courses
Stoke by Nayland Hotel, Golf & Spa, Keepers Lane, Leavenheath, Near Ipswich, Suffolk CO6 4PZ
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Suffolk
Holidays in Ipswich
This Hampshire pub is as stylish and historic a place for a short break from London as you could wish for.
The Red Lion, Odiham, 102 High Street, Odiham, Hampshire RG29 1LP
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hampshire
Holidays in Odiham
Cool seafront hotel and restaurant offering a chic stay in up-and-coming Eastbourne
Port, 11–12 Royal Eastbourne Parade, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN22 7AR
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Eastbourne
A historic and beautifully renovated restaurant with rooms in the heart of Canterbury
The Corner House, 1 Dover Street, Canterbury, Kent CT1 3HD
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Kent
Holidays in Canterbury
This 14th century Surrey inn is one of England's oldest places to stay, yet boasts plenty of contemporary hospitality
The Crown Inn Chiddingfold, The Green, Petworth Road, Chiddingfold, Surrey GU8 4TX
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Surrey
Holidays in Haslemere
A traditional Buckinghamshire country house hotel with spa not far from the Thames in the Chilterns
Danesfield House, Henley Road, Marlow-On-Thames, Buckinghamshire SL7 2EY
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Buckinghamshire
Holidays in Marlow
Beautiful, contemporary light-filled lodges overlooking the woods and golf course at the Stoke by Nayland Golf and Spa Hotel.
Apple Tree Lodges, Stoke by Nayland Hotel, Keepers Lane, Leavenheath, Near Ipswich, Suffolk CO6 4PZ
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Suffolk
Holidays in Ipswich
St Michaels Manor, Fishpool Street, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL3 4RY
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hertfordshire
Holidays in St. Albans
This honey-stone Oxfordshire inn is a chic Cotswolds haven with 8 stylish rooms and superb food.
The Swan Inn, Ascott-under-Wychwood, Near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire OX7 6AY
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Oxfordshire
Holidays in Chipping Norton
A lovely country-chic weekend escape, serving some of the best food in the West Midlands.
Hampton Manor, Shadowbrook Lane Hampton-in-Arden Solihull Warwickshire B92 0DQ
Holidays in West Midlands
Holidays in Birmingham
An elegant restaurant with rooms situated on a glorious Sussex estate.
Leonardslee House, Brighton Rd, Lower Beeding, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 6PP
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Horsham
