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Routes & road trips

Best weekend drives from Birmingham by car — 7 routes under 90 minutes

From the Peak District's Snake Pass to the Malvern Hills — seven scenic drives you can do in a day, with rental tips for each.
DC
David Chen
22 April 2026 · 8 min read

Birmingham sits almost exactly in the middle of England. In 90 minutes you can be on a moor, in a spa town, or on a Welsh mountain pass.

1. Snake Pass · 84 miles

The A57 through the Dark Peak is properly dramatic: sharp bends, grit-stone edges, long sight-lines. Pack the car the night before and be away by 8am.

  • Best car: Audi A4 or 3-series
  • Fuel stop: Shell at Glossop
  • Lunch: Cheshire Cheese, Hope
“One renter did all seven in one weekend in a Kia Niro EV. Total charge cost: £14.80.”
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