2 nights from London
 

My daughter and boyfriend (age 18) need a short weekend getaway from East Sussex, UK area-there for school from Canada. Their university is much closer to Gatwick than Heathrow so that's their departure preference. They are not 'partiers'..more into just wandering -so cute/quaint places definitely would fit the bill. We are looking at Ghent, Bruges or Vienna at this stage-would love some opinions on these 3 options! This is the first time travelling on their own really- so hoping for something that is easily accessible from the closest airport/train station (whichever is easier). Once at the destination-having many sights, resteraunts within walking distance of the centre would be best considering the short time frame. They have expressed that they don't want to depend a lot of time and energy commuting around (other than foot) once they are there. A cool hostel would also be an added bonus.
Thanks for any suggestions!

No one can decide for them. Just about any city on the Continent would be accessible from either LGW or LHR either directly or with a short train ride after landing. And almost all of those cities would tick all the boxes you list. And of course there is the EuroStar train from the UK to Paris and Brussels - though last minute fares can be quite high.

There are many destinations that would be just as easy or easier than Ghent/Bruges/Vienna (are there specific things they want to see/do in those three? ) Have they considered Paris or Amsterdam?

Plus there are many great cities/towns right in the UK with easy train connections. Have they been to Edinburgh or York or Liverpool or Glasgow? Or Dublin . . .

Weren't there any usable ideas in the 53 responses to your other thread?

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...rom-london.cfm

yes there were tons of ideas and that s how we arrived at the 3 destinations above. they have been to paris and amsterdam. really looking to wight the 3 options. thanks!

I loved Vienna and it felt like some place my own teens would have enjoyed too (they weren't with me on that trip).

This article is a few years old but might help you more...

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/2012...-cities-vienna