If you’ve ever lived in London, or stayed there for more than a few weeks, you’ll know that as great as being in London is, it’s often even better to leave the city behind at the weekend and escape. The city is sometimes just too busy, too dirty, too noisy and sometimes you just need to get out for the day. The need for day trips from London hits us all sooner or later.
So when I came home one evening and my boyfriend, whilst slumped on the sofa, said with a sigh; “Hannah. I need to get out of London this weekend. I need some fresh air”, we started searching for fresh air outside of London.
We scoured the internet for green spaces and walks accessible by train and settled on Glynde and Lewes in Sussex. We woke early, jumped on a train bound for Brighton, stopped for a spot of brunch in The Lanes, and then headed back to the train station for a train to Glynde.
I’ve been dying for an excuse to use my new Regatta walking shoes from Hawkshead, and escaping outside London for the day gave me the perfect opportunity! The shoes were comfy, waterproof, and perfect for walking in the British countryside.
Having reached the top of one hill, we continued our walk over to Lewes; a pretty little town which was in the middle of its annual rafting race when we turned up! We walked through sheep-filled fields, spotted birds of prey swooping down to fetch their lunches, and met hardly anyone.
Any country walk must be followed by a good pub lunch, so we headed to The John Harvey Tavern near the river where we could watch the spectators getting blasted with water from the passing rafts while refuelling.
Before I moved to Norfolk, I lived near Hungerford which is great for shopping for antiques. Lewes, it turns out, is also great for this. The Lewes flea market is a huge indoor space with various articles, including some not-so-antique ones. It makes for a great hour or so of browsing, from suits of armour to, bizarrely, Nazi memorabilia.
All in all, Lewes and Glynde make for the perfect places for a countryside escape from London. With beautiful walks, unique flea markets, and charming pubs, these towns provide a delightful day trip option for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
Have you got any recommendations for places to escape to from London?
