The 8 Best Day Trips from Portsmouth
How far each place is, what to see there, and a plan for the day.
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There are 8 good day trips from Portsmouth, United Kingdom, led by London, Bristol, Reading. The closest is Southampton, about 40 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 8 nearby places, with sights from real traveler trips, on Packy AI. Last updated November 2026 by the Packy AI Travel Team.
Day trips from Portsmouth
- 1
London, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 40 min by car104 km north-east of PortsmouthKnown for Cyberdog.
- 2
Bristol, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr by car128 km north-west of Portsmouth - 3
Reading, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 25 min by car74 km north of Portsmouth - 4
Brighton, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 15 min by car67 km east of Portsmouth - 5
Southampton, United Kingdom
Half-day tripAbout 40 min by car25 km north-west of Portsmouth - 6
Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 10 min by car140 km north of Portsmouth - 7
Luton, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr by car129 km north of Portsmouth - 8
Ilford, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 50 min by car117 km north-east of Portsmouth
A sample day: Portsmouth to London
- 07:30Leave Portsmouth
- 09:10Arrive in London (1 hr 40 min drive)
- 09:25Cyberdog
- 11:25Lunch
- 12:40Explore the old town, markets and cafes of London
- 15:10Head back to Portsmouth
- 16:50Home in Portsmouth
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best day trips from Portsmouth?
- The best day trips from Portsmouth are London, Bristol, Reading, Brighton, Southampton. The closest is Southampton, about 40 min away by car.
- What is the closest day trip from Portsmouth?
- Southampton is the closest, 25 km north-west of Portsmouth, roughly 40 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
- Where can I go within an hour of Portsmouth?
- One place is within about an hour's drive of Portsmouth: Southampton (40 min).
- What is the biggest city near Portsmouth for a day out?
- London is the largest city in day-trip range, 104 km north-east of Portsmouth and about 1 hr 40 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
- Where can I go for a weekend from Portsmouth?
- For a weekend away from Portsmouth, pick the places far enough to be worth a night: Milton Keynes (140 km, 2 hr 10 min), Luton (129 km, 2 hr), Bristol (128 km, 2 hr), Ilford (117 km, 1 hr 50 min). Closer places on this list work better as a single day.
- How far is too far for a day trip from Portsmouth?
- Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Milton Keynes at 140 km, around 2 hr 10 min by car.
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