The 11 Best Day Trips from Cambridge

How far each place is, what to see there, and a plan for the day.

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There are 11 good day trips from Cambridge, United Kingdom, led by London, Birmingham, Leicester. The closest is Luton, about 1 hr 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 11 nearby places, with sights from real traveler trips, on Packy AI. Last updated November 2026 by the Packy AI Travel Team.

Day trips from Cambridge

  1. 1

    London, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 30 min by car79 km south of Cambridge

    Known for Cyberdog.

  2. 2

    Birmingham, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr 10 min by car141 km west of Cambridge

    Known for Cadbury World.

  3. 3

    Leicester, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 30 min by car98 km north-west of Cambridge
  4. 4

    Coventry, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 45 min by car113 km west of Cambridge
  5. 5

    Nottingham, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 55 min by car120 km north-west of Cambridge
  6. 6

    Reading, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 45 min by car111 km south-west of Cambridge
  7. 7

    Southend-on-Sea, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 20 min by car84 km south-east of Cambridge
  8. 8

    Derby, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr 5 min by car134 km north-west of Cambridge
  9. 9

    Milton Keynes, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 10 min by car62 km west of Cambridge
  10. 10

    Northampton, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 20 min by car68 km west of Cambridge
  11. 11

    Luton, United Kingdom

    Half-day trip
    About 1 hr by car51 km south-west of Cambridge

A sample day: Cambridge to London

  1. 08:30Leave Cambridge
  2. 10:00Arrive in London (1 hr 30 min drive)
  3. 10:15Cyberdog
  4. 12:15Lunch
  5. 13:30Explore the old town, markets and cafes of London
  6. 16:00Head back to Cambridge
  7. 17:30Home in Cambridge

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What are the best day trips from Cambridge?
The best day trips from Cambridge are London, Birmingham, Leicester, Coventry, Nottingham. The closest is Luton, about 1 hr away by car.
What is the closest day trip from Cambridge?
Luton is the closest, 51 km south-west of Cambridge, roughly 1 hr by car. Best as a half-day trip.
Where can I go within an hour of Cambridge?
One place is within about an hour's drive of Cambridge: Luton (1 hr).
What is the biggest city near Cambridge for a day out?
London is the largest city in day-trip range, 79 km south of Cambridge and about 1 hr 30 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
Where can I go for a weekend from Cambridge?
For a weekend away from Cambridge, pick the places far enough to be worth a night: Birmingham (141 km, 2 hr 10 min), Derby (134 km, 2 hr 5 min), Nottingham (120 km, 1 hr 55 min), Coventry (113 km, 1 hr 45 min). Closer places on this list work better as a single day.
How far is too far for a day trip from Cambridge?
Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Birmingham at 141 km, around 2 hr 10 min by car.

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