Day trips

The 13 Best Day Trips from Luton

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

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There are 13 good day trips from Luton, United Kingdom, led by London, Birmingham, Leicester. The closest is Milton Keynes, about 45 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 Luton at a glance

DestinationDistanceDrive timeBest as
London46 km SE55 minHalf-day trip
Birmingham121 km NW1 hr 55 minFull-day trip
Leicester97 km NW1 hr 30 minFull-day trip
Coventry95 km NW1 hr 30 minFull-day trip
Brent37 km S45 minHalf-day trip
Nottingham129 km N2 hrFull-day trip
Reading61 km SW1 hr 10 minFull-day trip
Southend-on-Sea87 km SE1 hr 20 minFull-day trip
Brighton118 km S1 hr 50 minFull-day trip
Derby136 km NW2 hr 10 minFull-day trip
Southampton128 km SW2 hrFull-day trip
Wolverhampton140 km NW2 hr 10 minFull-day trip
Milton Keynes29 km NW45 minHalf-day trip

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

The best day trips from Luton

  1. 1

    London, United Kingdom

    Half-day trip
    About 55 min by car46 km south-east of Luton1 hr 50 min round trip

    Known for Cyberdog.

    Also nearby: Islington, City of Westminster.

  2. 2

    Birmingham, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 55 min by car121 km north-west of Luton3 hr 50 min round trip

    Known for Cadbury World.

  3. 3

    Leicester, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 30 min by car97 km north-west of Luton3 hr round trip
  4. 4

    Coventry, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 30 min by car95 km north-west of Luton3 hr round trip
  5. 5

    Brent, United Kingdom

    Half-day trip
    About 45 min by car37 km south of Luton1 hr 30 min round trip
  6. 6

    Nottingham, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr by car129 km north of Luton4 hr round trip
  7. 7

    Reading, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 10 min by car61 km south-west of Luton2 hr 20 min round trip
  8. 8

    Southend-on-Sea, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 20 min by car87 km south-east of Luton2 hr 40 min round trip
  9. 9

    Brighton, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 50 min by car118 km south of Luton3 hr 40 min round trip
  10. 10

    Derby, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr 10 min by car136 km north-west of Luton4 hr 20 min round trip
  11. 11

    Southampton, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr by car128 km south-west of Luton4 hr round trip
  12. 12

    Wolverhampton, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr 10 min by car140 km north-west of Luton4 hr 20 min round trip
  13. 13

    Milton Keynes, United Kingdom

    Half-day trip
    About 45 min by car29 km north-west of Luton1 hr 30 min round trip

A sample day trip: Luton to London

A realistic pace for London, 46 km from Luton. Packy AI builds this for any place on the list, with a route, opening hours and timings you can edit.

  1. 08:30Leave Luton
  2. 09:25Arrive in London (55 min drive)
  3. 09:40Cyberdog
  4. 11:40Lunch
  5. 12:55Explore the old town, markets and cafes of London
  6. 15:25Head back to Luton
  7. 16:20Home in Luton

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What are the best day trips from Luton?
The best day trips from Luton are London, Birmingham, Leicester, Coventry, Brent. The closest is Milton Keynes, about 45 min away by car.
What is the closest day trip from Luton?
Milton Keynes is the closest, 29 km north-west of Luton, roughly 45 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
Where can I go within an hour of Luton?
3 places are within about an hour's drive of Luton: Milton Keynes (45 min), Brent (45 min), London (55 min).
What is the biggest city near Luton for a day out?
London is the largest city in day-trip range, 46 km south-east of Luton and about 55 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
How far is too far for a day trip from Luton?
Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Wolverhampton at 140 km, around 2 hr 10 min by car.

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