With monetary pressures rising, many travellers are looking for ways to explore the UK without the financial strain.
Train travel in particular has become a focus for those seeking lower-cost alternatives to long-distance holidays.
Yet despite rising fares, new analysis suggests that a single £20 note can still stretch remarkably far.
Research from Split My Fare, a platform specialising in split-ticketing technology, shows that several long-distance day trips remain accessible for under £20 return.
This offers a surprisingly rich range of destinations for those travelling from Britain’s major cities.
Pete Walls, co-founder of Split My Fare, says the findings highlight a growing appetite for more mindful, local exploration.
‘People are increasingly interested in affordable day trips and slower forms of travel,’ he explains.
‘With the right booking approach, it’s still possible to reach historic towns, cultural centres and coastal locations without spending more than £20.’
Travelling from London, you can get pretty far for under £20
Using real ticket data, the analysis mapped the furthest destinations that can be reached for under £20 return from key cities.
From London, the furthest option is Stoke-on-Trent (217 miles, £18 return).
Other lengthy distances from the capital include Norwich (158 miles, £15.90 return), Stratford-upon-Avon (133 miles, £11.60 return) and, the cheapest on the list, Oxford (82 miles, £8.60 return).
Meanwhile, cheap travel spots from Manchester are available.
You could head to Stoke-on-Trent for £7.15 return (53 miles from Manchester).
Other cheap options include Harrogate (72 miles, £14 return), Leeds (57 miles, £13.55 return) and Sheffield (52 miles, £16.12 return).
From Birmingham, the furthest sub-£20 destination you could head to is London 163 miles away, for £13.60 return.
You can also get to Banbury (60 miles, £16.40 return), Stoke-on-Trent (60 miles, £14.70 return) and Great Malvern (50 miles, £14 return).
From London, the furthest destination is Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire
The furthest you can get from Leeds under this budget is Manchester – 57 miles, for £8.75 return.
For less than £20 from Glasgow, the furthest is Edinburgh, 67 miles away for £11.15 return.
And from Cardiff to Llanelli is 71 miles (£19.90 return).
The findings also revealed several unexpected routes from smaller or regional stations that offer particularly good value.
This includes Nottingham to Hebden Bridge, £4 return, and Sheffield to Filey for the same price.
The approach hinges on split-ticketing, which divides a journey into smaller, separate fares while remaining on the same train.
The technique has grown sharply in popularity over the past decade.
For many, these journeys also tap into a broader trend towards slow, experiential travel.
Other lengthy distances from the capital include the city of Norwich
Rather than booking city breaks abroad, travellers are increasingly choosing nearby destinations reachable within two hours.
In particular, they opt for those with distinctive cultural, historical or natural features.
Pete says: ‘Split-ticketing is no longer just a commuter hack.
‘It’s becoming a practical way for people to plan meaningful leisure travel at a lower cost.’
