Birmingham is one of the UK’s most underrated cities.
And yet its many attractions – from days out at Cadbury World or Villa Park stadium to the shopping opportunities at the Bullring and the Hippodrome, which hosts a range of events – are often overlooked in lists of the best cities to visit.
That said, it’s nice to venture out of the city from time to time, and one of the biggest benefits of Birmingham is its fantastic transport links.
With that in mind, these are just three ideas for easy day trips you can take from Birmingham, whether you’re planning a family outing, couple’s retreat, stag or hen do – or just want to get away!
- London
With a direct train from Birmingham to London that takes just an hour and a half, locals are well-placed to visit the capital.
Seemingly needing no introduction, tourists in London can visit some of the most significant landmarks of the UK. Amongst them, the historic Houses of Parliament, iconic Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and a wealth of other attractions.
Spitalfields is one of the more neglected corners of London, however, and visitors can check out attractions such as the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s art installation featuring 20 life-sized bronze elephants, Old Spitalfields Market for a vast selection of food (and artwork commemorating the neighbourhood’s silk history, created and displayed in collaboration with Ormiston Wire), or visit a hub of creative salons, including hair specialists and nail technicians.
A day is plenty of time to explore any number of London’s best (and worst) kept secrets.
- Leicester
With trains taking under an hour, Leicester is a fantastic place to visit for a day.
It’s ideal for visiting with kids too – the National Space Centre is one of the city’s top attractions, and features the UK’s largest planetarium, a rocket tower featuring real rockets and galleries filled with satellites and meteorites – a dream day out for any aspiring astronaut.
Visitors can also attend the King Richard III Visitor’s Centre, the site where the King’s remains were found.
And for food and drink, there are plenty of independent pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants as well as beloved chain favourites.
- Manchester
The unofficial capital of the North of England has lots to offer, and is suited to just about any kind of day trip.
Explore a day out at the Museum of Science and Industry with the kids, enjoy a shopping trip at the Arndale or catch the tram to the Trafford Centre, or enjoy a day-drinking trip around the bars of Deansgate and Spinningfields that will have you home for bedtime.
Plus, Manchester’s theatres have a number of shows on – 2026 highlights include Barnum: The Musical, Mamma Mia and multi-award winning sensation Matilda.
Bonus – catch a plane!
With fantastic connections from Birmingham Airport and a number of destinations that can be reached with a short haul flight, why not consider an ‘extreme’ day trip?
In an hour or less travellers can reach Edinburgh, Dublin, Paris and Belfast, while in just over two hours you could be in Barcelona, Palma, or Geneva for the day.
We hope this list helps you plan your next day trip.
Where are you hoping to visit in 2026? Let us know in the comments below!