The interatomic distances and distribution of gadolinium and strontium cations over two positions in the structure of Gd ₂SrAl ₂O ₃ at 1273 K were determined by full-profile X-ray diffraction analysis. A comparative analysis was made of the anisotropy of thermal expansion of the coordination polyhedra in layered perovskite-like structures of the Sr ₃Ti ₂O ₇ and K ₂NiF ₄ types.