Rugby to Birmingham drive: Distance, time & best attractions
The distance by car from Rugby to Birmingham is 35 miles, with a 45 minute driving time. The best road trip stops on the Rugby to Birmingham drive are Coventry, Packington Park and the Castle Bromwich Historic Gardens.
Things to do between Rugby and Birmingham
The drive from Rugby to Birmingham takes you from the eastern end of Warwickshire to the hub city of the West Midlands.
Rugby is home to Rugby School is a private school in Rugby, Warwickshire. There are public tours every Saturday at 2pm, which would be mildly interesting if it was just a case of looking at the handsome, historic school buildings.
It’s the playing fields that are truly historic, though. This was where William Webb Ellis picked up the ball during a football match, giving birth to the sport of rugby union.
Top Birmingham experiences include historic gangs walking tours that lean heavily on Peaky Blinders, public art tours, learning new skills at the Bear Grylls Adventure and exploring the Jewellery Quarter.
Rugby to Birmingham distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Rugby to Birmingham is 35 miles. That makes for a driving time of around 45 minutes. The quickest route is along the M6.
The best stops on the Rugby to Birmingham driving route are Coventry, Packington Park and the Castle Bromwich Historic Gardens.
Things to do between Rugby and Birmingham: Coventry
Coventry is a historic city that took an unfortunate battering in the World War II bombing raids. It has a lively pub scene thanks, in part to a sizable student population.
Cathedral is the top attraction in Coventry. Other Coventry experiences include Cathedral Quarter history walks, more in-depth guided walks that look at Coventry’s track record for invention and flying a jet simulator.
Rugby to Birmingham road trip stops: Packington Park
Based around Packington Hall and Packington Old Hall, Packington Park to the west of Coventry is a former deer park dotted with lakes.
It was landscaped by the ubiquitous Capability Brown and it is now a popular spot with birdwatchers. At the last count, there were 212 species of bird that can be seen on the Packington Estate.
Rugby to Birmingham drive: Castle Bromwich Historic Gardens
A 10 acre walled garden is the centrepiece of what was once the Earl of Bradford’s estate. The 350-year-old formal garden is now preserved by a charitable trust.
The interesting aspect of the Castle Bromwich Historic Gardens is that what’s grown there is deliberately chosen to be of the 1680-1760 period. That means plants and fruit varietals that are rarely found elsewhere these days.

More Birmingham road trips
Chesterfield to Birmingham | Coventry to Birmingham | Derby to Birmingham | Doncaster to Birmingham | Loughborough to Birmingham | Milton Keynes to Birmingham | Northampton to Birmingham | Nottingham to Birmingham | Birmingham to Oxford | Sheffield to Birmingham | Birmingham to Shrewsbury | Tamworth to Birmingham | Worcester to Birmingham | Birmingham to York.