The 14 Best Day Trips from Gloucester

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

Free day-by-day itinerary in seconds. No account needed to start.

There are 14 good day trips from Gloucester, United Kingdom, led by Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff. The closest is Bristol, 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 14 nearby places, with sights from real traveler trips, on Packy AI. Last updated November 2026 by the Packy AI Travel Team.

Day trips from Gloucester

  1. 1

    Birmingham, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 25 min by car72 km north of Gloucester

    Known for Cadbury World.

  2. 2

    Bristol, United Kingdom

    Half-day trip
    About 1 hr by car52 km south-west of Gloucester
  3. 3

    Cardiff, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 30 min by car78 km south-west of Gloucester
  4. 4

    Leicester, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 45 min by car114 km north-east of Gloucester
  5. 5

    Coventry, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 30 min by car78 km north-east of Gloucester
  6. 6

    Brent, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr 10 min by car138 km east of Gloucester
  7. 7

    Nottingham, United Kingdom

    Long day or overnight
    About 2 hr 15 min by car142 km north-east of Gloucester
  8. 8

    Reading, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 35 min by car99 km south-east of Gloucester
  9. 9

    Swansea, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 55 min by car120 km west of Gloucester
  10. 10

    Derby, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr by car129 km north-east of Gloucester
  11. 11

    Southampton, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 55 min by car122 km south-east of Gloucester
  12. 12

    Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr by car127 km north of Gloucester
  13. 13

    Milton Keynes, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 40 min by car104 km east of Gloucester
  14. 14

    Northampton, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 35 min by car102 km north-east of Gloucester

A sample day: Gloucester to Birmingham

  1. 08:30Leave Gloucester
  2. 09:55Arrive in Birmingham (1 hr 25 min drive)
  3. 10:10Cadbury World
  4. 12:10Lunch
  5. 13:25Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Birmingham
  6. 15:55Head back to Gloucester
  7. 17:20Home in Gloucester

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What are the best day trips from Gloucester?
The best day trips from Gloucester are Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Leicester, Coventry. The closest is Bristol, about 1 hr away by car.
What is the closest day trip from Gloucester?
Bristol is the closest, 52 km south-west of Gloucester, roughly 1 hr by car. Best as a half-day trip.
Where can I go within an hour of Gloucester?
One place is within about an hour's drive of Gloucester: Bristol (1 hr).
What is the biggest city near Gloucester for a day out?
Birmingham is the largest city in day-trip range, 72 km north of Gloucester and about 1 hr 25 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
Where can I go for a weekend from Gloucester?
For a weekend away from Gloucester, pick the places far enough to be worth a night: Nottingham (142 km, 2 hr 15 min), Brent (138 km, 2 hr 10 min), Derby (129 km, 2 hr), Stoke-on-Trent (127 km, 2 hr). Closer places on this list work better as a single day.
How far is too far for a day trip from Gloucester?
Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Nottingham at 142 km, around 2 hr 15 min by car, which is better as a long day or an overnight stay.

Ready to plan your Gloucester trip?

Free day-by-day itinerary in seconds. No account needed to start.

Keep exploring

Find your next trip

Plan a trip