London is an incredible city, but sometimes a quick getaway can be the perfect way to explore more of what the UK offers. Fortunately, there are plenty of charming towns, historic landmarks, and stunning countryside destinations within a short train ride from the capital. Here are some of the best day trips from London that you can reach in under two hours.

Going into my junior year, I knew I wanted to start making the most of my summers. With only two left, it was important for me to find an internship or some sort of career-advancing opportunity. As someone who’s heavily considering staying in Los Angeles after graduation, it was important for me to find said opportunity down here. The only problem was that I’m from Portland, not LA, so staying here over the summer would require more effort than it would if I tried to find a job back home.