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Integrating Bleisure into Your Business Trips

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South Western Railway January 19, 2026 7 min read

In this article, you'll learn the following:

What is bleisure travel?
Why travel with SWR for business trips in the UK?
Top bleisure destinations in the South West
Tips for planning a bleisure trip
Travel with SWR on your next business trip

Integrating Bleisure into Your Business Trips

With the importance of work-life balance for business travellers being more apparent than ever, many companies are combining business and leisure on work trips. Whether factoring in free time for employees or planning team building activities outside the boardroom, there are plenty of ways to strike the balance between work and play. Our guide is here to help you discover the benefits of business travel with SWR to integrate bleisure into your future trips.

man catch the train

What is bleisure travel?

Bleisure refers to the growing trend for combining business and leisure, which can improve wellbeing and productivity. By giving employees downtime during work trips, they are less likely to feel burned out and have a positive experience overall.

Why travel with SWR for business trips in the UK?

South Western Railway business travel is the go-to choice for work trips in the UK for several reasons, including:

Easy to reach top business destinations. Our network connects you to many of the UK’s top business hubs, like London, Reading, Guildford and Southampton.

On-board amenities designed for business travel. All our trains have free Wi-Fi, convenient charging points, ample luggage storage, comfortable seating, quiet zones and First Class carriages.

Flexible ticketing options with Business Direct. Our corporate train travel platform lets you book, plan and manage business journeys, whether you’re hoping to save money, reduce your carbon footprint, or improve the travel experience for your employees.

Explore more of the benefits of travelling with SWR for business in our guide.

Top bleisure destinations in the South West

Discover the best destinations for business and leisure across the South West to plan your next work trip.

London

As the UK’s bustling capital, London is also the country’s primary business hub. Catch a train to London Waterloo, Vauxhall or Clapham Junction – all conveniently located near the city’s main business districts like the City of London, Canary Wharf and Waterloo.

Once you’ve finished work, enjoy some downtime by exploring London’s leisure highlights:

West End theatre shows – SWR Rewards customers can save on theatre tickets with our exclusive offers.

Museums and galleries – our customers can get discounted entry to London attractions with SWR Rewards.

Dine at London’s most popular restaurants – you could save on food and drink with SWR Rewards offers.

Boat trips – SWR Rewards customers can get 25% hop-on-hop-off tickets for Uber Boat by Thames Clippers.

For more inspiration, check out our guide to spending 48 hours in London.

Reading

Reading is a prominent business hub in the South West, and is just a short train journey from London. With excellent transport links between the capital and various destinations in the South West, including Basingstoke, Exeter and B ournemouth, Reading is a fantastic location for a bleisure trip.

Plus, there’s plenty to see and do here outside of working hours, including:

Thames Lido – the recently renovated Edwardian swimming baths are the perfect place to unwind after work.

Reading Museum – learn about the town’s history, from the Anglo-Saxon and Roman periods to the present day.

Thames River Cruise – see the sights of Reading from the water on a relaxing boat trip.

Guildford

Home to a thriving tech and corporate sector, Guildford is another top business destination in the South West. With regular services connecting Guildford to London, Reading and Portsmouth, it’s easy to get there by train if you’re travelling for work.

During your free time, check out these sights and attractions in Guildford:

Surrey Hills – Guildford is surrounded by beautiful nature, and what better way to take a break from work than going on a peaceful walk?

Guildford Castle – this Norman castle dates back to the 11th century, and is thought to have been built by William the Conqueror.

Watts Gallery Artists’ Village – venture out of the town centre to this Edwardian gallery, dedicated to the paintings of George Frederic Watts.

Winchester

Visiting Hampshire-based businesses on your next work trip? Be sure to stop in Winchester to slow down and enjoy the city’s rich history. Plus, it’s easy to get there from London, Basingstoke and Southampton on our network.

After your meetings, discover these historic attractions in Winchester:

Winchester Cathedral – one of England’s oldest cathedrals and an impressive piece of architectural history.

Wolvesey Castle – this medieval ruin was once the palace of the Bishops of Winchester.

The Great Hall – home to King Arthur’s Round Table and one of the finest surviving examples of a medieval hall.

Looking for more things to do here? Check out our guide to spending 48 hours in Winchester.

Southampton

If you’re heading to Southampton on business, there’s plenty of opportunity for a bleisure trip. Getting there is easy on our network, with regular services from London, Winchester, Bournemouth and Weymouth.

Spend your free time exploring the best attractions in Southampton, including:

SeaCity Museum – discover the Titanic’s history and its connections to Southampton in this interactive exhibit. SWR Rewards customers can get 10% off tickets.

Southampton City Art Gallery – one of the finest art collections in the south of England, including Renaissance paintings and contemporary art.

Tudor House and Garden – uncover 800 years of history at one of the city’s most important buildings. SWR Rewards customers can get 10% discount on entry.

Bournemouth

Bournemouth International Centre has transformed this seaside town into a business hub, with conferences and corporate events taking place here year-round. Hop on a train to Bournemouth from London, Weymouth, Poole or Basingstoke.

Take some time out at Bournemouth’s most popular attractions, such as:

Sorted Surf School – book surfing or paddle boarding lessons if you need some alone time or are looking for team building activities.

PierZip at RockReef – this exhilarating zip line at Bournemouth Pier is another fun team building option that will take your mind off work! Plus, SWR Rewards customers can get 15% off this experience.

Hire a bike – go for a leisurely ride along the seafront to take in Bournemouth’s sights. SWR Rewards customers get 25% off Beryl Bikes.

Explore our guide to spending 48 hours in Bournemouth for more bleisure travel inspiration.

Tips for planning a bleisure trip

Bleisure can be interpreted however you like, and you can make it work for your business and employees. Our top tip would be to factor in free time on the schedule for any work trip, letting your employees explore a new place and see the sights that interest them most. Alternatively, you could offer opportunities to socialise with colleagues outside of meetings, from team building activities to dinner at a local restaurant.

Travel with SWR on your next business trip

Make the most of your upcoming business trips when you travel with South Western Railway. Alongside our Business Direct platform, which is free to sign up for, we offer a range of cheap train tickets for every journey. Advance tickets are one of the best options, while Semi-Flex Return tickets give you extra flexibility if a meeting runs over or plans change.

If you’re travelling for work frequently, consider purchasing a Season Ticket to save on your commute. And don’t forget to check your eligibility for a Railcard to get an even better discount on bleisure train travel!

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