Travel Vloggers Based in London: Best Day Trips and Weekenders

If you live in London and you’re tired of the same old streets, pubs, and Tube delays, you’re not alone. Thousands of travel vloggers based in the city are packing their bags every weekend-not to fly to Bali or Barcelona-but to explore hidden corners of the UK that most tourists never see. These aren’t fancy influencers with private jets. They’re regular people with cameras, a love for local food, and a knack for finding quiet forests, seaside towns, and historic castles within two hours of the capital.

Why London Vloggers Are Skipping International Travel

In 2024, a survey by the British Travel Vloggers Association found that 68% of London-based creators spent more time exploring the UK than flying abroad. Why? Because it’s cheaper, faster, and often more authentic. A weekend in the Lake District costs less than a single Uber ride from Heathrow to central London. And you don’t need a passport, a visa, or a 12-hour time zone adjustment.

Plus, the UK has changed. Rail upgrades mean you can be in the Welsh mountains by 10 a.m. after leaving your flat at 7 a.m. The National Trust has opened dozens of new properties to the public. Coastal towns like Whitby and St Ives are no longer just summer spots-they’ve got cozy cafés, independent bookshops, and craft breweries open year-round.

Top 5 Day Trips from London (Vlogger Favorites)

Here are the five day trips that show up most often in London vloggers’ YouTube and Instagram feeds-not because they’re trending, but because they deliver real experiences.

• Canterbury - Less than an hour on the Southeastern train, this cathedral city feels like stepping into a medieval film set. Vloggers love the cobbled streets, the Canterbury Tales-inspired walking tours, and the hidden courtyard cafés near the river Stour. Don’t miss the Canterbury Cathedral-it’s been a pilgrimage site since 1170.
• Chichester - A quiet gem in West Sussex. Vloggers film their morning coffee at Chichester Farmers’ Market, then wander the Roman amphitheatre ruins and rent bikes to ride along the South Downs. The Chichester Cathedral has one of the oldest working clocks in Europe.
• Cambridge - Not just for students. Vloggers film punting on the River Cam at sunrise, grab breakfast at The Cambridge Blue, and explore the King’s College Chapel without the midday crowds. The Cambridge University Botanic Garden is free and packed with rare plants.
• St Albans - Just 20 minutes from St Pancras. This Roman town has Britain’s oldest recorded Christian martyrdom site. Vloggers film the St Albans Cathedral, the medieval marketplace, and the Verulamium Park ruins. The St Albans Museum + Gallery has free entry and a fascinating exhibit on Roman Britain.
• Richmond upon Thames - Often overlooked because it’s technically still London. But vloggers treat it like a getaway. The riverside walks, the Richmond Hill view (famously painted by Turner), and the Ham House gardens make it feel like a different country. It’s the perfect place to film a "slow morning" video with no rush.

Weekend Getaways That Feel Like a Different Country

When you’ve got two full days, you can go further-and deeper. Here are three weekend escapes that London vloggers return to again and again.

• The Cotswolds - Think honey-colored stone cottages, sheep-dotted hills, and villages so pretty they look painted. Vloggers love staying in Burford or Stow-on-the-Wold. The Chipping Campden Market Square has artisan cheese stalls and cider tastings. Book a room at The Old Stocks Inn-it’s been operating since 1649.
• The Lake District - Rain or shine, this is the go-to for dramatic landscapes. Vloggers film sunrise over Windermere, hike to Helvellyn, and sip hot chocolate in Grasmere while watching the mist roll off the fells. Don’t skip Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage-it’s where he wrote "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud." The Wordsworth Museum has his original manuscripts.
• Northumberland - Wild, remote, and surprisingly accessible. A direct train from London King’s Cross gets you to Alnwick in under 3 hours. Vloggers film at Alnwick Castle (where Harry Potter’s exterior scenes were shot), explore the Hadrian’s Wall footpath, and stay overnight in a converted 18th-century lighthouse at Amble. The Northumberland National Park is one of the darkest places in Europe-perfect for night sky photography.

What These Vloggers Don’t Tell You (But You Should Know)

Behind the pretty shots, there’s a lot of planning. Most London vloggers follow a simple rule: leave by 7 a.m. to beat the crowds. If you arrive at the Lake District at noon, you’re sharing the trail with 200 other tourists. If you’re there at 8 a.m., you might have the whole path to yourself.

They also know the best spots aren’t always the most popular ones. Instead of filming at the main entrance of Canterbury Cathedral, they go to the St. Martin’s Churchyard across the street-it’s quieter, has better light, and still shows the cathedral in the background.

And they always pack: a light rain jacket (it rains more than you think), a portable charger (phones die fast when filming), and a small notebook. Many say the best moments happen when they stop filming and just sit. A cup of tea in a village pub, listening to locals talk about the weather, the train delays, the new bakery opening next week.

How to Start Your Own London-Based Travel Vlog

You don’t need a fancy camera. A smartphone with a good lens and a $20 tripod works fine. Start small: pick one day trip this weekend. Film for 15 minutes. Don’t worry about editing. Just capture the feeling-the sound of the train wheels, the smell of fresh bread from a bakery, the way the light hits the river at sunset.

Here’s what works:

1. Focus on one place per video. Don’t try to show five towns in 10 minutes.
2. Include local voices. Ask the pub owner what they love most about their town.
3. Use natural light. Shoot in the morning or late afternoon. Avoid midday sun-it flattens everything.
4. Post consistently. Once a week is enough. People notice consistency more than perfection.

One vlogger, Sarah from Hackney, started with just 300 subscribers. Now she has over 80,000. Her secret? She only films in winter. Her videos of snowy villages, steaming mugs, and empty streets feel calming in a world full of noise.

Where to Find These Vloggers (And Their Itineraries)

You don’t need to guess where they go. Many share their full itineraries in video descriptions or on their Instagram bios. Search for:

• #LondonDayTrip - Over 120,000 posts on Instagram
• "Day trip from London" YouTube - Filter by upload date to see the latest
• Travel Vloggers UK - A Facebook group with 45,000 members sharing real-time tips

One popular channel, London to the Lakes, posts a weekly "Hidden Gem of the Week"-a place no guidebook mentions. Last month, it was a 17th-century tea house in the middle of a forest near Ashford, Kent. They got 300,000 views in three days.

Final Tip: Don’t Chase the Perfect Shot

The best travel videos aren’t the ones with the most views. They’re the ones that make someone say, "I didn’t know that was so close."

London is a gateway-not a cage. You don’t need to fly far to feel like you’ve escaped. Sometimes, all you need is a train ticket, a full battery, and the willingness to wander without a plan.

Go this weekend. Just go.

Next time you’re scrolling through travel content, ask yourself: "What’s the closest place I’ve never been?" Then go there. London’s magic isn’t just in its landmarks-it’s in how close the rest of the country is.