The best day trip from London for: an under-the-radar getaway
How to get there from London: The fast train from St Pancras International takes 1 hour 22 minutes
Just an hour and a half away from the chaos of the capital, you’ll find the sleepy seaside haven of Deal. While Broadstairs offers Victorian charm and literary heritage, and Margate offers a buzzy Old Town beloved by younger staycationers, Deal, by comparison, feels like a seafront secret that in-the-know day-trippers daren’t whisper. Wedged between Dover and Ramsgate, this town offers Georgian elegance, creative flair, and a salt-washed calm that collectively make it one of the best day trips from London. Start your day along Beach Street, feeling the salty breeze brush off the English Channel onto pastel townhouses. Pick up coffee from Popup Cafe, or, should you arrive early enough to initiate a food tour of the locale, stick around for classic brunch dishes, such as the sourdough brunch sandwich packed with garlic mushrooms, halloumi, and harissa. Clutch a steaming flat white and watch as dog walkers make the most of the morning serenity, waggy golden retrievers aplenty bopping down the promenade from first light.
An amble down Deal Pier is worth an extension to the exploration, but don’t expect the retro entertainment or rides offered in places like Brighton or Blackpool. The last remaining fully intact leisure pier in Kent is the third iteration and opened in 1957; gaze upon Kent’s coast from the end or settle into Deal Pier Kitchen at the end for lunch with ocean vistas. Lunch could also mean pints and fish tacos at The Rose – a former pub turned effortlessly stylish boutique hotel – or a plate of local crab at 81 Beach Street. Once satiated, it’s time to explore Deal Castle, the English Heritage site built during the reign of Henry VIII. If you fancy extending a visit, join history buffs on a castle-hopping journey from Deal to Walmer.
If you decide to stay over: The Rose is reason enough to spend a leisurely weekend by the seaside. The boutique hotel houses a handful of tastefully designed bedrooms ideal for romantic stays, while the acclaimed restaurant is the place to be, and be seen, while tucking into grown-up fare – think toasted crumpets topped with delicate smoked salmon of a morning and fish fillets finished with sea herbs come evening. A short skip away, you’ll find The Pelican Rooms, where expert hands work on tired muscles in chic treatment rooms.
