The 9 Best Day Trips from Southampton
How far each place is, what to see there, and a plan for the day.
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There are 9 good day trips from Southampton, United Kingdom, led by London, Bristol, Cardiff. The closest is Portsmouth, 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 9 nearby places, with sights from real traveler trips, on Packy AI. Last updated November 2026 by the Packy AI Travel Team.
Day trips from Southampton
- 1
London, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 45 min by car112 km north-east of SouthamptonKnown for Cyberdog.
- 2
Bristol, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 35 min by car103 km north-west of Southampton - 3
Cardiff, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 10 min by car139 km north-west of Southampton - 4
Reading, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 20 min by car68 km north-east of Southampton - 5
Brighton, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 25 min by car89 km east of Southampton - 6
Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 5 min by car134 km north of Southampton - 7
Luton, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr by car128 km north-east of Southampton - 8
Barking, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 55 min by car125 km north-east of Southampton - 9
Portsmouth, United Kingdom
Half-day tripAbout 40 min by car25 km south-east of Southampton
A sample day: Southampton to London
- 07:30Leave Southampton
- 09:15Arrive in London (1 hr 45 min drive)
- 09:30Cyberdog
- 11:30Lunch
- 12:45Explore the old town, markets and cafes of London
- 15:15Head back to Southampton
- 17:00Home in Southampton
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best day trips from Southampton?
- The best day trips from Southampton are London, Bristol, Cardiff, Reading, Brighton. The closest is Portsmouth, about 40 min away by car.
- What is the closest day trip from Southampton?
- Portsmouth is the closest, 25 km south-east of Southampton, roughly 40 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
- Where can I go within an hour of Southampton?
- One place is within about an hour's drive of Southampton: Portsmouth (40 min).
- What is the biggest city near Southampton for a day out?
- London is the largest city in day-trip range, 112 km north-east of Southampton and about 1 hr 45 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
- Where can I go for a weekend from Southampton?
- For a weekend away from Southampton, pick the places far enough to be worth a night: Cardiff (139 km, 2 hr 10 min), Milton Keynes (134 km, 2 hr 5 min), Luton (128 km, 2 hr), Barking (125 km, 1 hr 55 min). Closer places on this list work better as a single day.
- How far is too far for a day trip from Southampton?
- Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Cardiff at 139 km, around 2 hr 10 min by car.
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