The 11 Best Day Trips from Cardiff
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 Cardiff, United Kingdom, led by Birmingham, Bristol, Swansea. The closest is Bristol, 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 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 Cardiff
- 1
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Long day or overnightAbout 2 hr 15 min by car142 km north-east of CardiffKnown for Cadbury World.
- 2
Bristol, United Kingdom
Half-day tripAbout 45 min by car41 km east of Cardiff - 3
Swansea, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 5 min by car55 km west of Cardiff - 4
Southampton, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 10 min by car139 km south-east of Cardiff - 5
Plymouth, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 10 min by car141 km south-west of Cardiff - 6
Bournemouth, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 55 min by car124 km south-east of Cardiff - 7
Oxford, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 10 min by car136 km east of Cardiff - 8
Telford, United Kingdom
Long day or overnightAbout 2 hr 15 min by car142 km north of Cardiff - 9
Poole, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 50 min by car119 km south-east of Cardiff - 10
Gloucester, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car78 km north-east of Cardiff - 11
Exeter, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 25 min by car88 km south of Cardiff
A sample day: Cardiff to Birmingham
- 07:30Leave Cardiff
- 09:45Arrive in Birmingham (2 hr 15 min drive)
- 10:00Cadbury World
- 12:00Lunch
- 13:15Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Birmingham
- 15:45Head back to Cardiff
- 18:00Home in Cardiff
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best day trips from Cardiff?
- The best day trips from Cardiff are Birmingham, Bristol, Swansea, Southampton, Plymouth. The closest is Bristol, about 45 min away by car.
- What is the closest day trip from Cardiff?
- Bristol is the closest, 41 km east of Cardiff, roughly 45 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
- Where can I go within an hour of Cardiff?
- One place is within about an hour's drive of Cardiff: Bristol (45 min).
- What is the biggest city near Cardiff for a day out?
- Birmingham is the largest city in day-trip range, 142 km north-east of Cardiff and about 2 hr 15 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
- Where can I go for a weekend from Cardiff?
- For a weekend away from Cardiff, pick the places far enough to be worth a night: Telford (142 km, 2 hr 15 min), Birmingham (142 km, 2 hr 15 min), Plymouth (141 km, 2 hr 10 min), Southampton (139 km, 2 hr 10 min). Closer places on this list work better as a single day.
- How far is too far for a day trip from Cardiff?
- Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Telford at 142 km, around 2 hr 15 min by car, which is better as a long day or an overnight stay.
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