Day trips by train: ideas for great days out

Stuck for travel inspiration within the UK? Let Avanti West Coast guide you to some of the best days out.


Popular attractions and events to visit by Train

Explore North Wales, Scotland, London, Birmingham and the Lake District with Avanti West Coast. From a day spent by the ocean to time spent exploring art galleries, museums and historic architecture, there is so much to see by train.

We’ve put together a selection of the best day trips in the UK. Take a look below at our top picks of family, friends and solo day trips:


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Riverside Museum

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Glasgow Science Centre

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Liverpool Victory Parade 2025

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Blackpool zoo

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Bullring Shopping Centre

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Cadbury World

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Liverpool Grand National

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Llandudno Transport Festival

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Coronation Street Tour

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Glasgow Film Festival

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Keswick Film Festival

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Lichfield Literature Festival

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Bangor Music Festival

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Celtic Connections

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Glasgow Comedy Festival

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Birmingham Comedy Festival

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Lancaster Music Festival

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Bramall Hall

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Theatre Royal

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Garth Pier

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Taste Cheshire Food Festival

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Brickfields Pond

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Cemlyn Bay Nature Reserve

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Penrith Castle

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Holyhead Beach

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Holyhead Mountain

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Thinktank Science Museum

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Rhyl Miniature Railway

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South Stack Cliffs Nature Reserve

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Westport Lake

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Birmingham NEC

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Flint Castle

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Helvellyn Mountain

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Day trip to Edinburgh Castle

Visit Edinburgh Castle - the perfect day trip destination

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Day trip to Edinburgh Zoo

Visit Edinburgh Zoo - the perfect day trip destination

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Gulliver's Land Milton Keynes

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Day trip to the Lake District

Visit the Lakes for a great day out on the West Coast.

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Day trip to Buckingham Palace

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Day trip to Keswick Mountain Festival

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Day trip to the Chelsea Flower Show

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Day trip to Birmingham Sea Life Centre

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Day trip to The Shard

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Day trip to Highest Point Festival

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Day trip to the Women's FA Cup Final

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Day trip to the Grand National

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Day trip to Manchester Art Gallery

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Day trip to Edinburgh Christmas markets

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Day trip to Snowdon

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Day trip to Drayton Manor

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Day trip to the London Christmas Markets

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Day trip to the Manchester Christmas Markets

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Day trip to the Tower of London

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Day trip to the National Museum of Scotland

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Day trip to Chester Zoo

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Day trip to Blackpool Pleasure Beach

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Day trip to Birmingham Pride

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Day trip to Wimbledon

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Trains to the London Eye

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Day trip to Liverpool Cathedral

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Day trip to Tate Liverpool

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Day trip to the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III

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Day trip to the Six Nations

The biggest Rugby tournament of the year

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Day trip to Blackpool Sandcastle Waterpark

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At Avanti West Coast we’re passionate about making every journey memorable. Book in advance to secure yourself a comfy seat and visit the onboard shop to get refreshments during your journey. If you upgrade to First Class there is even more to look forward to when travelling by train all for less than you might think.

We love our West Coast Main Line and we know there are some really amazing places to explore along our routes (and even further afar). Have a look at our destination pages for more travel ideas.

Save on your train ticket

Once you’ve decided on a destination, our money saving tips can help you find Avanti West Coast train tickets at the cheapest price. Take a look at some of our ways to save ideas:

  • Book early: the sooner you book your ticket, the cheaper it’ll be, so when you decide to go, buy an Advance Ticket.
  • Travel off-peak: the trains around rush hour in the morning and afternoon are peak hour trains, so if possible, aim for a train that arrives between mid-morning and mid-afternoon.
  • Use this website or the app: when you book through a third-party website you’ll maybe have to pay more and even have to pay booking fees. We never charge you booking fees and that’s just one of the benefits of the Avanti app.
  • Buy a Railcard: if you use the train frequently, or if you are planning just a few big journeys within a year, you will probably save money by getting a Railcard. Depending on your circumstances, it could save you a third or even half off your off-peak travel, all for a small fee.
  • Get a Family Ticket: by booking your family’s travel altogether on one ticket, not only will you be able to sit together, but you’ll also save money. It’s available for groups of 2–5, where one or two of the group are adults: Find out more about Family Tickets.

Want more inspiration?

As our Pendolino trains fly up and down the West Coast of the UK at 125mph, we love to hear about our customers visiting places all across England, Scotland and North Wales. We zip up and down the country dozens of times a day, we’re taking people to all sorts of places for business, entertainment or family events. If you’re still looking for inspiration as you tour England, Scotland and North Wales, keep an eye on our blog.

Explore all day trips and events

Looking for more options? Browse our full A-Z list of UK day trips and events.Whether you're seeking a peaceful escape or an action-packed adventure, we have something for everyone.