The 13 Best Day Trips from Luton
Drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan for every place worth the trip.
Start planning
Planning day trips from Luton?
Packy AI builds your full Luton itinerary - routes, timing, and the day trips below - in one tap. Free to start.
Joined by 50,000+ travelers planning with Packy.
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
| Destination | Distance | Drive time | Best as |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | 46 km SE | 55 min | Half-day trip |
| Birmingham | 121 km NW | 1 hr 55 min | Full-day trip |
| Leicester | 97 km NW | 1 hr 30 min | Full-day trip |
| Coventry | 95 km NW | 1 hr 30 min | Full-day trip |
| Brent | 37 km S | 45 min | Half-day trip |
| Nottingham | 129 km N | 2 hr | Full-day trip |
| Reading | 61 km SW | 1 hr 10 min | Full-day trip |
| Southend-on-Sea | 87 km SE | 1 hr 20 min | Full-day trip |
| Brighton | 118 km S | 1 hr 50 min | Full-day trip |
| Derby | 136 km NW | 2 hr 10 min | Full-day trip |
| Southampton | 128 km SW | 2 hr | Full-day trip |
| Wolverhampton | 140 km NW | 2 hr 10 min | Full-day trip |
| Milton Keynes | 29 km NW | 45 min | Half-day trip |
Drive times are estimates from the distance. Check live traffic before you leave.
The best day trips from Luton
- 1
London, United Kingdom
Half-day tripAbout 55 min by car46 km south-east of Luton1 hr 50 min round tripKnown for Cyberdog.
Also nearby: Islington, City of Westminster.
- 2
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 55 min by car121 km north-west of Luton3 hr 50 min round tripKnown for Cadbury World.
- 3
Leicester, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car97 km north-west of Luton3 hr round trip - 4
Coventry, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car95 km north-west of Luton3 hr round trip - 5
Brent, United Kingdom
Half-day tripAbout 45 min by car37 km south of Luton1 hr 30 min round trip - 6
Nottingham, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr by car129 km north of Luton4 hr round trip - 7
Reading, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 10 min by car61 km south-west of Luton2 hr 20 min round trip - 8
Southend-on-Sea, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 20 min by car87 km south-east of Luton2 hr 40 min round trip - 9
Brighton, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 50 min by car118 km south of Luton3 hr 40 min round trip - 10
Derby, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 10 min by car136 km north-west of Luton4 hr 20 min round trip - 11
Southampton, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr by car128 km south-west of Luton4 hr round trip - 12
Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 10 min by car140 km north-west of Luton4 hr 20 min round trip - 13
Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
Half-day tripAbout 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.
- 08:30Leave Luton
- 09:25Arrive in London (55 min drive)
- 09:40Cyberdog
- 11:40Lunch
- 12:55Explore the old town, markets and cafes of London
- 15:25Head back to Luton
- 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.
Keep exploring