Day trips

The 12 Best Day Trips from Leicester

Drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan for every place worth the trip.

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There are 12 good day trips from Leicester, United Kingdom, led by London, Birmingham, Manchester. The closest is Nottingham, about 40 min by car, and 3 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.

Day trips from Leicester at a glance

DestinationDistanceDrive timeBest as
London143 km SE2 hr 15 minLong day or overnight
Birmingham55 km W1 hr 5 minFull-day trip
Manchester119 km NW1 hr 50 minFull-day trip
Sheffield86 km N1 hr 20 minFull-day trip
Leeds132 km N2 hr 5 minFull-day trip
Bradford135 km N2 hr 5 minFull-day trip
Coventry36 km SW40 minHalf-day trip
Nottingham35 km N40 minHalf-day trip
Reading132 km S2 hr 5 minFull-day trip
Kingston upon Hull134 km NE2 hr 5 minFull-day trip
Derby39 km NW45 minHalf-day trip
Stoke-on-Trent82 km NW1 hr 15 minFull-day trip

Drive times are estimates from the distance. Check live traffic before you leave.

The best day trips from Leicester

  1. 1

    London, United Kingdom

    Long day or overnight
    About 2 hr 15 min by car143 km south-east of Leicester4 hr 30 min round trip

    Known for Cyberdog.

    Also nearby: Brent, Islington.

  2. 2

    Birmingham, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 5 min by car55 km west of Leicester2 hr 10 min round trip

    Known for Cadbury World.

    Also nearby: Wolverhampton.

  3. 3

    Manchester, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 50 min by car119 km north-west of Leicester3 hr 40 min round trip
  4. 4

    Sheffield, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 20 min by car86 km north of Leicester2 hr 40 min round trip
  5. 5

    Leeds, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr 5 min by car132 km north of Leicester4 hr 10 min round trip
  6. 6

    Bradford, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr 5 min by car135 km north of Leicester4 hr 10 min round trip
  7. 7

    Coventry, United Kingdom

    Half-day trip
    About 40 min by car36 km south-west of Leicester1 hr 20 min round trip
  8. 8

    Nottingham, United Kingdom

    Half-day trip
    About 40 min by car35 km north of Leicester1 hr 20 min round trip
  9. 9

    Reading, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr 5 min by car132 km south of Leicester4 hr 10 min round trip
  10. 10

    Kingston upon Hull, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr 5 min by car134 km north-east of Leicester4 hr 10 min round trip
  11. 11

    Derby, United Kingdom

    Half-day trip
    About 45 min by car39 km north-west of Leicester1 hr 30 min round trip
  12. 12

    Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 15 min by car82 km north-west of Leicester2 hr 30 min round trip

A sample day trip: Leicester to London

A realistic pace for London, 143 km from Leicester. Packy AI builds this for any place on the list, with a route, opening hours and timings you can edit.

  1. 07:30Leave Leicester
  2. 09:45Arrive in London (2 hr 15 min drive)
  3. 10:00Cyberdog
  4. 12:00Lunch
  5. 13:15Explore the old town, markets and cafes of London
  6. 15:45Head back to Leicester
  7. 18:00Home in Leicester

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What are the best day trips from Leicester?
The best day trips from Leicester are London, Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds. The closest is Nottingham, about 40 min away by car.
What is the closest day trip from Leicester?
Nottingham is the closest, 35 km north of Leicester, roughly 40 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
Where can I go within an hour of Leicester?
3 places are within about an hour's drive of Leicester: Nottingham (40 min), Coventry (40 min), Derby (45 min).
What is the biggest city near Leicester for a day out?
London is the largest city in day-trip range, 143 km south-east of Leicester and about 2 hr 15 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
How far is too far for a day trip from Leicester?
Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is London at 143 km, around 2 hr 15 min by car, which is better as a long day or an overnight stay.

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