To an extent, I can understand vehelpfulguy's initial reaction - coming as it did before the explanation why someone would want to escape London for a day, to anywhere (this I do understand fully), even though that someone living in London may not be a Londoner (when does one start to "belong"). The other answers also correctly indicate that it is a long way to travel only to wish you had longer because there is so much to see and do (even if you don't enter a single pub - a pub is a pub, surely, just like you wouldn't go there just for a hotel). My recommendation is that you should try if at all possible to have several days in and around each city. If you and your friend are young enough to be reasonably fit after a long bus journey then the cheapest way to travel may be on Megabus overnight - air travel involves both time and money before you ever get to the departure gate. The cheapest overnight accommodation at your destination may not be prohibitive in the end - try "couchsurfing" sites on the net.