Those who choose London as a destination often stay close to the city. We, by contrast, invite you to venture beyond the capital, because within just a couple of hours’ drive lie the expansive reaches of the English countryside, dotted with villages, castles, and landscapes that take on a distinctive charm in autumn and winter.
Getting there is straightforward: Vueling operates flights from Rome Fiumicino to London Gatwick and, until October 11, 2026, offers discounted fares starting from 53 euros for trips planned between November 1, 2026 and February 28, 2027.
Which destinations are most enchanting to reach during this period, whether you rent a car or hop on a train? Here are three we recommend!
The Cotswolds
Once you land in London, rent a car and, about two hours’ drive west, you’ll arrive at the breathtaking scenery of the Cotswolds. Here you’ll be welcomed by rolling hills, patchwork fields, and dry-stone walls dotted with golden-hued villages that seem to have stepped straight out of a fairy tale.
The best way to explore is to move from one village to the next. In Bourton-on-the-Water, the 18th‑century bridges cross the Windrush River; Lower Slaughter preserves an old mill perched above the canals; and Castle Combe has long been a backdrop for period films and series, from Stardust to Bridgerton.
In winter, with a bit of luck, these landscapes can be dusted with snow. Even so, the day ends perfectly in one of the many rural pubs, by the fire, savoring a Sunday roast—the classic Sunday meal.
Warwick Castle and Surroundings
If you’d rather not rent a car, a train from London Marylebone will have you in Warwick in about 1 hour and a half. The town is dominated by one of England’s most renowned medieval castles, erected in 1068 under William the Conqueror on the site of an earlier Anglo-Saxon fortified settlement. Over the centuries the fortress was expanded and transformed until the nineteenth century, when it was already drawing visitors.
Today you can explore towers, walkways along the walls, and historic rooms, as well as get up close to the trebuchet: standing nearly 18 meters tall, it is the largest functioning siege engine in the country. Between late November and early January the castle is dressed for the holidays with Christmas at the Castle, featuring decorations and themed performances. For those driving, a combined stop in Stratford-upon-Avon, about twenty minutes away, offers a glimpse of Shakespeare’s birthplace.
The New Forest
Finally, about two hours by car from London or just over an hour and a half by train from London Waterloo, the New Forest National Park unfolds—a mosaic of ancient woodlands, heathlands, and a coastline where ponies, donkeys, and cattle graze freely. From late autumn into early winter you may even encounter the pigs of pannage, an age-old practice that allows them to roam the forest and feast on acorns, which can be toxic to other animals.
To wander among beech and oak trees, the Bolderwood trails and the Blackwater Tall Trees Trail are among the most scenic. If you prefer the sea, you can head to the coast at Milford on Sea or to Lymington.
