The 12 Best Day Trips from Bristol
How far each place is, what to see there, and a plan for the day.
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There are 12 good day trips from Bristol, United Kingdom, led by Birmingham, Cardiff, Coventry. The closest is Cardiff, about 45 min by car, and 1 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.
Built from 12 nearby places, with sights from real traveler trips, on Packy AI. Last updated November 2026 by the Packy AI Travel Team.
Day trips from Bristol
- 1
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 55 min by car124 km north of BristolKnown for Cadbury World.
- 2
Cardiff, United Kingdom
Half-day tripAbout 45 min by car41 km west of Bristol - 3
Coventry, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr by car129 km north-east of Bristol - 4
Reading, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 45 min by car113 km east of Bristol - 5
Swansea, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car95 km west of Bristol - 6
Southampton, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 35 min by car103 km south-east of Bristol - 7
Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
Long day or overnightAbout 2 hr 15 min by car143 km north-east of Bristol - 8
Northampton, United Kingdom
Long day or overnightAbout 2 hr 20 min by car147 km north-east of Bristol - 9
Portsmouth, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr by car128 km south-east of Bristol - 10
Slough, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 10 min by car139 km east of Bristol - 11
Bournemouth, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car96 km south-east of Bristol - 12
Oxford, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car98 km east of Bristol
A sample day: Bristol to Birmingham
- 07:30Leave Bristol
- 09:25Arrive in Birmingham (1 hr 55 min drive)
- 09:40Cadbury World
- 11:40Lunch
- 12:55Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Birmingham
- 15:25Head back to Bristol
- 17:20Home in Bristol
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best day trips from Bristol?
- The best day trips from Bristol are Birmingham, Cardiff, Coventry, Reading, Swansea. The closest is Cardiff, about 45 min away by car.
- What is the closest day trip from Bristol?
- Cardiff is the closest, 41 km west of Bristol, roughly 45 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
- Where can I go within an hour of Bristol?
- One place is within about an hour's drive of Bristol: Cardiff (45 min).
- What is the biggest city near Bristol for a day out?
- Birmingham is the largest city in day-trip range, 124 km north of Bristol and about 1 hr 55 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
- Where can I go for a weekend from Bristol?
- For a weekend away from Bristol, pick the places far enough to be worth a night: Northampton (147 km, 2 hr 20 min), Milton Keynes (143 km, 2 hr 15 min), Slough (139 km, 2 hr 10 min), Coventry (129 km, 2 hr). Closer places on this list work better as a single day.
- How far is too far for a day trip from Bristol?
- Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Northampton at 147 km, around 2 hr 20 min by car, which is better as a long day or an overnight stay.
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