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London’s a brilliant city. There’s always stuff going on, but even we get tired of the hustle and bustle every so often. Occasionally, even the most dedicated city dwellers need an escape into nature, and that’s why we created a guide to the very best day trips from London.
From magical forests to seaside villages to historic towns to coastal hubs, we found something for absolutely everyone, including those who want to disappear to a gorgeous island for the day. For you, may we present: Mersea.
This little stronghold sits off the coast of Essex, and is actually the nation’s easternmost inhabited island. You can only access it via a road during high tide, which gives it the impression of being ‘properly remote’ at times throughout the day.
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Our experts chose it specifically for local restaurant The Company Shed which serves freshly caught seafood so good it ‘pulls in crowds from all over the country every weekend’. You do have to bring your own drinks – and your own bread – but with oysters this good you won’t care about the minor inconvenience for very long.
If you’re not in the mood to eat some crab, you can go and catch them from the rock pools instead – just make sure to release them when you go. Alternatively, just enjoy a day by the shore, listening to the waves crashing against the rocks and thinking about how much more peaceful this is than the tube. There are also cool shops, cafés, and a little museum to keep you busy.
Mersea is only a two hour drive away from the capital, or a one hour train from Liverpool Street to Colchester and then a bus ride to the island. Just make sure you time your visit right – the tides wait for no man, and they certainly won’t wait for you to make the final bus back home.
Not your sort of day? Don’t worry. Our travel team is great at keeping things varied, and also suggests cities like Southampton and Oxford, towns like Guildford and Lewes, and beaches like Margate for your next day trip.
Read our complete guide to the very best day trips from London here.
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