Day Trips From Birmingham By Train In Under 1.5 Hours

Ideas for a day trip from Birmingham that takes about an hour and a half by train. These are ideal places to visit for day trips or as part of a longer staycation. Birmingham is blessed with many rail travel options. I will start the list rolling with destinations I have visited by train from Birmingham and enjoyed. Getting out of the city is often a pleasant treat and does great things for your mood. It is cathartic to see new things.

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Day Trips From Birmingham By Train

Some suggested day trips not too far from Birmingham that are easy to reach by train in about an hour and a half.

Worcester: An Interesting City

The city of Worcester is a historic place in the county of Worcestershire. The train to Worcester takes 40 minutes from New Street station or just under an hour from Snow Hill station. There are over 3 trains per hour to choose from.

Worcester is known for its Tudor and English Civil War history. The city has many historic buildings and museums, and its heritage is well preserved. The key sights are the magnificent cathedral, the River Severn, and a host of museums. There are plenty of independent cafes and restaurants for refreshments while visiting. There are many sports events in the city. The most popular are horse racing at the racecourse or watching rugby.

Visit Stratford-upon-Avon, which is nearby.

Known for its links to Shakespeare’s life, Stratford-upon-Avon is a fantastic day trip from Birmingham. For starters, the town is stunning, with lots of old timber-framed buildings and other fantastic architecture. Visitors have options for museums to visit, including many on William Shakespeare and the Tudors, as well as a science museum.

The Riverside is beautiful for sitting and relaxing, watching the world go by, or taking a pleasant stroll along the bank. The banks are home to All Saints’ Church, theatres, a Ferris wheel and pretty parkland. There is something to do or see for people of all tastes in this fantastic Midlands town. Visiting with a pet is very easy, and there are plenty of dog-friendly things to see and do, including many dining options.

Warwick And Its Impressive Castle

Warwick and, in particular, Warwick Castle, is a fantastic day trip from the city. The city is steeped in history, with plenty to see and do. For those who like to hike, the River Avon in Warwick is a lovely place to stretch those legs. It is only a 30-minute train journey from Snow Hill Station.

Sightseeing in Oxford

If you like historic and beautiful buildings, then Oxford is a great option for a day out. It is 1 hour and 10 minutes by train from New Street Station. It’s also a direct train, so it’s pretty simple. Train fares can be pricey. However, there are some discounted options on Trainline.com.

There are loads of things to see in the city, including Christ Church, the Radcliffe Camera and the Bodleian Library. The River Thames offers boat trips, boat hire, or the option to rent a punt for some fun on the water. We found Oxford to be pretty dog-friendly, including some fantastic pubs. Overall, a great option for a trip from Birmingham.

Cheltenham: A Pleasant Town To Visit

The Regency town of Cheltenham is in Gloucestershire. It is a lovely place to visit. The trains to Cheltenham depart from New Street Station and take up to 45 minutes to reach Cheltenham.

Cheltenham is blessed with lots of Regency architecture from the time of George IV. The town is pretty, especially the areas around Pittville Park and Montpellier. Pittville Park has 2 lakes, including a boating lake. The park is magnificent for walking and is home to the iconic Pittville Pump Room, the last and biggest spa in the town.

Shrewsbury: A Beautiful Place

The Shropshire market town of Shrewsbury is a fantastic place to visit for the day. Getting to Shrewsbury by train takes roughly an hour. There are 2 trains per hour from New Street Station. There are lots of things to do and see in the historic town. This includes visiting some stunning gardens, such as The Dingle, a beautiful place. There are riverside walks and historic sites to visit. Historic sites include a castle, an abbey, many churches and a former prison.

Shrewsbury has many independent shops, so if retail therapy is your cup of tea, this is a great place to visit. For eating out, there are also many options, including independent restaurants and nationwide chains.

Great Malvern And The Nearby Hills

The Malverns are a great day trip from Birmingham by train. The journey takes an hour on a direct train. Great Malvern is also pretty simple to reach from other parts of the country by rail. Great Malvern is a quaint town with many sights, including an impressive priory and other historic sites. The town is in the heart of the Malvern Hills, a great place for a hike in the beautiful countryside.

Leamington Spa: A Pretty Town

The West Midlands town of Leamington Spa is beautiful and a delight to wander around. Leamington Spa is easy to reach by train from Snow Hill or Moor Street stations. The journey time is between 45 and 50 minutes, depending on the train you catch.

Royal Leamington Spa is a very picturesque town with some very nice gardens to visit. Many of these gardens are along the River Leam; there are watersports opportunities to enjoy here too. The town is best known for its Regency architecture and pump rooms, much like those in Cheltenham Spa. Leamington has options for shopping. As a bonus, there are many nice pubs and cafes to enhance a day trip.

Explore Cannock Chase National Landscape

Cannock Chase National Landscape is a stunning area of the countryside in Staffordshire. It is a great place for hiking, mountain biking or a pleasant picnic in the countryside. There are many pleasant parts, including lakes, campsites and picnic areas for visitors. The easiest way to get there is by train from New Street Station to Hednesford. The train journey from Birmingham takes about 40 minutes.

Gloucester: A Historic City

The historic city of Gloucester is also just under an hour away travelling by rail. You could join a day trip to Gloucester and visit Cheltenham as well, so you can see both places. Gloucester is a historic city, and the jewel in its crown is the cathedral, which has over 1,000 years of history. The docks are not so old but are a fascinating blend of Victorian warehouses. This is a great place for you to eat out.

There are options for museums. For starters, the Museum of Gloucester covers history dating back to Roman times. The Waterways Museum in Gloucester Docks covers canals and docks from across the UK. There are many options for restaurants in Gloucester, including some with waterfront views.

Henley-in-Arden: A Small Beautiful Place

Henley-in-Arden is on the same train line as its big neighbour, Stratford-upon-Avon. The train to Henley departs from Snow Hill station and takes less than 40 minutes to complete the journey.

Henley-in-Arden is best known for its variety of historic buildings. Some of these buildings date back to medieval times. The town has a wide variety of preserved architectural styles, so much so that it has been designated a conservation area.

Kenilworth And Its Historic Castle

The lovely town of Kenilworth is an ideal place to visit for a day trip from Birmingham. You need to take the train to Coventry, then the X11 bus straight into town. The principal attraction is Kenilworth Castle, an English Heritage property that is rather impressive. The town has pleasant parks and old buildings and has some independent shops. There are also some lovely places to dine out in the town.

Lichfield: For Parks & An Epic Cathedral

Lichfield is a lovely city in Staffordshire. It is a 35-minute train journey from Birmingham. This is a great option for a day trip by train. Lichfield is a very dog-friendly city with plenty to see and do. The centrepiece is its stunning three-spired cathedral. We also enjoyed some of the best fish and chips in the region on our day out in Lichfield.

Coventry

Coventry is another city in the West Midlands region and is a quick train ride from New Street Station. It is the capital of culture for 2021; thus, many events are taking place. There are other things to see and do, including its famous bombed-out cathedral. We found it had options for places with refreshments and some interesting museums, too.

Dean Forest Railway

If you enjoy steam trains or spending time in beautiful countryside, a day out at Dean Forest Railway is a good idea. It is a heritage railway line in the Forest of Dean and an enjoyable place to spend time. There are museums, pubs and other fun things to see when visiting. It is pretty straightforward to reach by train, and it takes just under an hour and a half to Lydney station, near the entrance.

Ideas for places For Day Trips By Train from Birmingham

Some day trip ideas that are reasonably close to Birmingham by train.

Drayton Manor Park and Zoo.
Ledbury, a small market town in the Malverns.
The Black Country Living Museum.
Tamworth and its castle.
Nottingham, a lovely city.

Train Travel From Birmingham

There are many local stations throughout the city and 3 mainline stations. The mainline train stations include New Street, Snow Hill, and Moor Street. These all cover different destinations on different train lines.

I recommend using National Rail Enquiries or Trainline to book and arrange rail travel.