Okay, so there aren’t any beaches around Birmingham. But because it lies near the ‘geographic centre’ of England, you can pretty much get anywhere in a few hours – in fact, whichever you travel, there’s always something exciting or idyllic to come across. There are some spectacular day trips around Birmingham, from heart-racing thrills to jaw-dropping scenery. So, get your anorak out, put your sandwiches in the car, and treat yourself to one of these wonderful day trips from Birmingham. We know, it’s going to be hard to tear yourself away, but you won’t regret taking a break from the city in one of these places.
1. Warwick Castle, Warwick
An hour’s drive from the centre of Birmingham lies one of the most magnificent castles in the UK. The original frame of Warwick Castle was erected in 1068 by William the Conqueror, so it has seen nearly 1000 years of British history. This is reflected in the architecture, which is diverse in style and character because the castle has been refurbished many times. There are 64 acres of gardens surrounding the castle, designed by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown and landscaped to perfection. Peacocks call the gardens home, adding to the grandiose atmosphere; an atmosphere wholly absent from the dark and spooky dungeons of the castle.
The Great Hall is full of artefacts from the armoury and, when you get peckish, you can either eat in the Undercroft Restaurant or sit by the river Avon and eat your sandwiches. You can get a direct train from Birmingham to Warwick Station, which is around a mile from the entrance to the castle. If you drive, there is a car park, but expect to pay to leave your car there. To get your tickets to Warwick Castle head here.
Warwick Castle, Warwick CV34 4QU
2. Alton Towers, Staffordshire
Everyone in the UK has heard of Alton Towers. It’s been one of our favourite day trips from Birmingham since we were kids. With both a huge theme park and a waterpark, you could spend a few days here, exploring or simply riding Oblivion until you feel sick. There are over 40 rides at Alton Towers theme park and enough slides at the waterpark to keep anyone entertained for a day.
Theme parks are notoriously expensive, but if you bring a packed lunch and buy tickets online in advance, you can save some money. It’s not possible to travel to Alton Towers on public transport from Birmingham, unless you’re up for getting a train and a bus, then walking for quite a while. But it only takes an hour and 20 minutes to drive there.
Alton Towers, Farley Ln, Alton, Stoke-on-Trent ST10 4DB
3. Twycross Zoo, Twycross
Twycross Zoo is just a 40-minute drive from Birmingham and it’s well worth a visit, even if just for the apes. It’s unique in the UK, in that it houses every type of great ape, including bonobos, chimpanzees, orangutans and the king of them all: gorillas. The recent birth of a baby northern white-cheeked gibbon and a black-headed spider monkey is indicative of the huge part the zoo plays in the conservation of critically endangered species. You can also see snow leopards, Sumatran tigers, rhinos and tiny antelopes of the dik-dik variety.
There are places to eat at the zoo and picnic benches dotted around if you’d prefer to bring your own lunch. And be sure to head to the Gruffalo Discovery Land! You can pre-book tickets on the website and save 10% of the cost.
East Midland Zoological Society, Burton Rd, Atherstone CV9 3PX
4. Kinver Edge, Staffordshire
If you thought people stopped living in caves millennia ago, think again. People lived in these quirky rock houses atKinver Edge as recently as the 1950s. There are three separate rocks where people lived, plus an Iron Age hill fort, with the most famous of these homes cut from Holy Austin Rock. Restored to Victorian-style cottages (based on former occupants Mr and Mrs Fletcher), inside you’ll find it just as when people lived here.
The houses at Vale’s Rock aren’t restored but can be seen, while you can climb into the houses at Nanny’s Rock and wander around the empty rooms l make sure to look up the ‘devil’s chimney’. The Rock House walking trail is the best way to take it all in, leading you through a heathland abuzz with wildlife, children’s play areas, two explorable areas of rock houses and atop the hill fort. There’s also a Tea Room run by the National Trust, which is home to the only cave-dwelling, secondhand bookshop in the world, The Book Nook.
Kinver Edge is about an hour’s drive from Birmingham City Centre.
5. Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
Of all the Birmingham day trips, you probably know this one. Stratford-upon-Avon is known worldwide as the birthplace and final resting place of playwright and poet William Shakespeare. Subsequently, it is also home to the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Naturally, the town draws tourists with an interest in Shakespeare from across the globe. There are five houses associated with Shakespeare and his wife Anne Hathaway, so it’s therefore advisable to pay for a ticket covering entrance to all five.
The house in which Shakespeare was born and grew up is an amazing place to visit, as is Mary Arden, Shakespeare’s mother’s, farm, which will take you back in time to the Tudor period. It still functions as a working Tudor farm, and there are plenty of animals to coo over. You can also visit Anne Hathaway’s cottage, which was her childhood home. It’s a quintessential, English Tudor cottage with a beautiful garden to explore and a lovely little café attached.
Shakespeare’s New Place is the site of Shakespeare’s final place of residence. Sadly, the house has been demolished but the gardens are still there and make for a pleasant walk. There is also a little museum to commemorate the importance of the site. The final place of interest is Halls Croft, home to Susanna, Shakespeare’s daughter. Her husband was a physician, so the gardens are filled with plants that have medicinal qualities. Subsequently, the displays are based around Tudor medicine.
If you’re looking to watch one of Shakespeare’s plays then you can always visit the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. You can even participate in a Tudor lesson at Shakespeare’s old school room, if you buy tickets on the website.
You can get the train to Stratford-upon-Avon from Birmingham Moor Street Station.
6. Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire
Kenilworth Castle is one of the most storied royal castles you’ll find in England. Built in the 1120s, the likes of King John, John of Gaunt and Henry V are all associated with it. Most famously, however, Elizabeth I gifted it to her “favourite”, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, in 1563. He is the one to convert the castle into a lavish palace fit for his queen. After the English Civil War, the castle’s fortifications were dismantled, but much of it has remained unchanged ever since Elizabeth I’s reign.
You can spend all day exploring these spectacular ruins – mostly built from local red sandstone – and learn about the castle’s long-associated history with royalty. Better yet, check out the Elizabethan garden – a recreation of the original built by Robert Dudley. Climb towers, discover interactive exhibits and dress-up experiences, and learn about 900 years of history. To get your tickets head here.
Kenilworth Castle is an hour’s drive from Birmingham
7. Cannock Chase, Staffordshire
Some say Cannock Chase is haunted, which might be why this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is so often overlooked. The Chase is teeming with woodlands, parklands, rivers, canals heathlands and more to discover. There’s so much packed into this tiny but varied landscape, meaning your day trips from Birmingham will never grow boring.
The range of wildlife found here is just as varied and impressive – including native fallow deer, all four of Britain’s six reptiles, rare and endangered birds, as well an unusual hybrid between bilberry and cowberry plants, the Cannock Chase berry. There are plenty of activities for kids to do too – like the Gruffalo trail or Go Ape treetop adventure. Take a leisurely stroll, an arduous hike, or even a bike or horse ride through this serene escape in the Midlands.
You can drive to Cannock Chase in 45 minutes, while the closest train station is Hednesford.
8. Malvern Hills, Worcestershire
The Malvern Hills are officially an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The view from these hills is amazing. Malvern is a town once famed for its natural springs, and you can see the important role that water has played in the town’s history with a visit to St. Ann’s Well. The building was erected in 1813 and houses a marble spout and basin, carved beautifully. St. Ann’s Well is also the site of a café, which is perfect for refreshing yourself after a lovely saunter around the hills.
The main walking routes use parts of the Worcestershire Way, which, in its entirety, runs for over 30 miles. However, if you like a walk but you’re not up for a huge trek, there are walks of around a mile or so. Details of the different routes often travelled by visitors to the area can be accessed on this handy website, which also includes maps of the routes. You can wander through the hills and beautiful fields of wildflowers, only an hour from the busy streets of Birmingham.
An hour on the train from Birmingham New Street will get you to the town of Malvern.
9. Ironbridge Gorge, Shropshire
The Iron Bridge that greets you as you drive toward Ironbridge Gorge was the world’s first ever iron bridge, built in 1779. The area was once mined for its valuable contents, including coal, limestone and iron ore. As a result of this, many people flocked to the area, such as blacksmiths, because of the abundance of material needed to craft their wares.
The bridge was built to demonstrate the versatility of and importance of iron. While it was once surrounded by smoke and pollution as mined material crossed the River Severn, it is now a very calm and beautiful place to sit. You can just drive up to the bridge and come and go at your leisure, for free, but a visit to the museum costs £33 if you buy it online.
Coach Rd, Coalbrookdale, Telford TF8 7DQ
10. Clent Hills, Worcestershire
Clent is undeniably one of the prettiest villages near Birmingham. Just 12 miles away, it’s only overshadowed (quite literally) by the National Trust’s Clent Hills. There are three different hills to climb – with panoramic views over the Cotswolds, Shropshire Hills and Welsh borders – but we’d recommend heading to the summit of Clent Hill.
Here you’ll find the sham megalithic site, The Four Stones, which were created in the eighteenth century by Lord Lyttleton. Fancy somewhere a bit less busy? Go up Walton Hill for some wistful wildlife spotting! And no Birmingham day trips are complete without a walk to the pub – the country pub, The Fountain, serves real ales and proper pub food.
You can be in Clent in 30 minutes by car, while the closest train station is in Hagley.
11. Peak District
The Peak District is absolutely huge, sprawling out into South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Cheshire, Staffordshire and Greater Manchester. There is a year’s worth of day trips contained within this area. The Peaks are the perfect place to unwind and have fun with your friends in the lovely, fresh, countryside air – with repeat day trips from Birmingham a must.
The town of Bakewell is a brilliant place to start exploring the Peaks. It is the home of the Bakewell tart! If you’ve never eaten a proper Bakewell tart before then prepare yourself for something entirely different to the shop-bought variety. There are loads of little tea rooms to sit in and shops are selling the kinds of things you’d expect to find in the countryside – artisan jams and lovely old books.
Walking to the top of Mam Tor won’t take you long and the view from up there is astonishingly beautiful. Or you could take a stroll along Stanage Edge and gaze out toward the stunning Derbyshire countryside. Alternatively, venture underneath Peveril Castle into Peak Cavern, more commonly known as The Devil’s Arse.
Peak District is an hour and a half to drive to the Peak District from central Birmingham.
12. The Cotswolds
The Cotswolds cover 787 square miles, so there’s definitely a lot to do there! And this really should be many day trips from Birmingham. One great place to visit in the Cotswolds is Chedworth Roman Villa. The villa was uncovered during the Victorian period and it has been preserved so that it’s possible to view Roman mosaic floors and some remnants of the baths. A café serves as a nice pit stop before you take a stroll around the grounds and take in the idyllic Cotswold hills.
To see the characteristic, Cotswolds stone cottages, visit Chipping Campden, from which you can walk to the stunning Broadway Tower. Broadway Tower is striking, standing tall atop the site of an ancient beacon. The view from the top of the tower is outstanding and there is also a little café onsite.
Driving to the Cotswolds will take you around an hour.
13. Trentham Monkey Forest, Stoke-on-Trent
Not content with your monkey fix at Twycross Zoo, you can head to Trentham Monkey Forest, where you can walk freely with Barbary macaques. Follow a mile-long woodland trail through the heart of Trentham Estate and immerse yourself in the everyday antics of these creatures. Watch as they swing from trees and play with their pals — and be prepared to share the path. (Primates have the right of way, of course.)
It’s a bit tricky to get to Trentham Estate via public transport, as it involves a train and two buses, so not one of the best day trips from Birmingham if you don’t own a car. However, if you do drive, it only takes around an hour. Tickets are available online, and you can save 10% if you book via their website.
Trentham Estate, Stone Rd, Tittensor, Stoke-on-Trent ST12 9HR
14. Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
What a spectacularly, lovely town Royal Leamington Spa is. Well-loved for its gleaming Regency architecture, flourishing green spaces, and sophisticated high-street shopping, there’s never a bad time for a trip to the Midlands answer to Bath. Check out the famous Royal Pump Rooms – home to Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum – take a stroll around the Victorian, beautifully landscaped Jephson Gardens, and dine out at the town’s seemingly endless supply of incredible and independent cafes/bars/restaurants – as day trips from Birmingham go, this is the height of class.
You can take a direct train to Royal Leamington Spa from all three of Birmingham City Centre’s train stations, all taking less than an hour.
15. Waterfall Country, Wales
Okay, so this one’s going to take a little bit longer than two hours (closer to three by car), but it’s one of the best day trips from Birmingham you’ll ever experience. Waterfall Country is situated on the south-westerly edge of the Brecon Beacons (or Bannau Brycheiniog, as we should be calling it), the Vale of Neath in South Wales is well known for its unusually high number of waterfalls. There are far too many to name them all, but you’ll find three of the grandest, most gorgeous and closest on the Afon Mellte.
Sgwd Clun Gwyn (the ‘fall of the white meadow’), Sgwd Isaf Clun-gwyn (the ‘lower fall of the white meadow’) and Sgwd y Pannwr (the ‘fall of the woollen washer’) will keep you mesmerised for hours. Meanwhile, Sgwd Yr Eira (‘falls of snow’) on the Afon Hepste is very famous as you can actually walk behind them! If you want a Hollywood-level famous waterfall, however, you’ll have to visit Henrhyd Falls. These falls were used in scenes for Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises as Batman’s iconic hideout, the Batcave.
It takes 2.5 hours to drive to Waterfall Country from Birmingham.