Five affordable day trips you can go on from the UK that are less than 1hr30 away
IF YOU only have one day to spare for a trip, then it is still possible to squeeze in some foreign travel.
Indeed, there are many destinations to head abroad to from the UK for exploration in the space of 24 hours.
These include the breathtaking Danish islands a flight away from Scotland as well as the cute French city that you take a train ride to in just 90 minutes.
We’ve rounded up the speediest ways to enjoy a foreign jaunt – just don’t forget your passport…
Paris
One of the most iconic day trips from the UK to abroad has to be the revered French capital.
While you can get there by Eurostar, a faster route is flying which is just 1hr15 from London.
Some of the earliest flights leave at 7am (arriving just after 9am) with departures as late as 9pm.
This gives you a cool 12 hours to explore the stunning city, including its iconic sights.
This includes the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe and Notre-Dame.
It is easy to walk between many of the main attractions, or to use the metro to reach the rest.
To see more of the city in one go, you can also do a boat tour on the stunning River Seine or the hop-on , hop-off Batobus.
The Sun’s Travel Reporter Alice Penwill recently tried a Paris day trip – here’s what she thought.
Dublin
The Irish capital makes a lesser known UK day trip abroad.
A flight is just 1hr20 from London, with the cost as low as £30 return with the likes of Ryanair.
Once you’ve landed, it is then possible to get a 30-minute bus from the airport to the city centre, which operate between 04:05 and 00:35.
It is then very possible to see the walkable city’s main attractions in the space of just a day.
These include the stunning university Trinity College, which is home to the famous Book of Kells in the Old Library.
You can then walk along the bustling Grafton Street and grab a pint in the Temple Bar area.
There’s also Dublin Castle within close proximity, which has available a self-guided tour that takes 30 minutes on average.
It is also possible – and smart – to explore Dublin via a hop-on, hop-off bus which will take you past all the main spots.
The Guinness Storehouse – a brewery dedicated to the famous drink – recommends allowing 90 minutes to visit, however the self-guided tour means you can go at your own pace.
Here’s what it’s like to visit the city of Dublin.
Lille
Another Eurostar destination is Lille, a city in northern France that’s close to the border with Belgium.
Unlike Paris, it takes just one hour 22 minutes to get to Lille and tickets start from £39.
This means that you needn’t have too early a start in order to be there for mid-morning.
The quaint spot, with its strong Flemish influences, is also very possible to experience in a just a day.
Fuel up on coffee and waffles, before exploring the old town, packed with restaurants and shops.
There’s also 17th-century brick town houses, cobbled streets and a large central square called the Grand Place.
The latter – along with La Vieille Bourse – is only a few hundred metres from the Lille-Flandres and Lille-Europe train stations.
Head to the top of the town hall’s belfry and you’ll get a view of Lille in its entirety.
Additionally, the ‘city pass’ gives you access to 40 sites, starting from €20 (£17) for 24 hours.
A particularly good time to visit is the first weekend of September when there is a famous street market on the Braderie de Lille.
The Sun’s Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey visited Lille for a quick weekend trip – here are her top tips.
Faroe Islands
The Danish archipelago is actually closer to the UK, even though it lies 200 miles north of Scotland.
You can fly to the Faroe Islands directly from Edinburgh, from just over £100, and it takes less than 1hr30 to reach Vágar Airport.
The islands are home to stunning rugged coastline, dramatic waterfalls and mountainous landscapes.
The main island is Streymoy, which makes up 24 per cent of the total land area and half of the entire population.
However, there are 17 other islands to explore, many of which are easily connected by tunnels and ferries.
Booking on a day tour will ensure you can explore as much as possible in a time-efficient manner.
This includes the Súðuroy Island Day Tour by ferry ride, which includes a visit to the ancient coal mines in Hvalba.
There is also a seven-hour ‘see it all’ islands tour that begins in Tórshavn and takes in the iconic Vágar island.
Given its northern location, the ideal time to visit would be between June and August when temperatures are a more pleasant 12-14°C.
Here’s our top tips on visiting the Faroe Islands.
Calais
You can reach the northern French port city in just 35 minutes by Eurotunnel’s LeShuttle from Folkestone, Kent.
The railway shuttle service, which runs beneath the sea, is faster than the 90-minute Dover to Calais ferry crossing.
There are up to four departures every hour, 365 days a year, and tickets start from £59 for up to nine people travelling in one vehicle.
Because you’ll already have your car with you the other end, you’ll be able to get exploring faster.
This includes taking a trip to the Calais Lighthouse, built in 1848, which has panoramic views of the quay – and sometimes the White Cliffs of Dover.
Le Beffroi de Calais, the city’s historic town hall, holds guided tours which take you up to the top of its tower.
Fancy stretching your legs? Drive to the Sentier des Balcons d’Escalles, which is a beautiful coastal path just west of the city.
If it’s a nice day, then it could also be worth heading to the seaside spots of Blériot-Plage and Plage de Calais.
There’s likewise the Musée Mémoire, which documents the location’s important role in the Second World War.
On your return, make the most of UK residents being able to shop tax-free, and pick up items like cosmetics, technology or food on your shopping list.