How to travel from Belfast to Preston, United Kingdom
The distance between Belfast and Preston is around 295km (183 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly and then take the train which takes around 2h 20m.
9 routes found
We've found 9 different ways to get from Belfast to Preston by ferry, train, bus, car and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Preston → Belfast if you're planning a return trip.
Fly to Liverpool (LPL), train
Fly from Belfast City (BHD) to Liverpool (LPL) then take the train to Warrington Central and then to Preston.
- Duration2h 20m
- Flight time55min
- Typical cost£100($120)
Multiple operators
4 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Ferry and Train
Take a ferry to Isle of Man Douglas and then to Liverpool then take the train to Preston.
- Duration8h 5m
- Departs3 times a week
- Typical cost£89($105)
Multiple operators
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Ferry and Bus
Take a ferry to Cairnryan then take the bus to Buchanan Bus Station and then to Preston Coach Station.
- Duration8h 30m
- Departstwice daily
- Typical cost£42($50)
Multiple operators
Ferry and Car
Take a ferry to Cairnryan then drive to Preston.
- Duration6hrs
- Departsevery 4 hours
- Typical cost£56($66)
Multiple operators
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Belfast and Preston
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Belfast to Preston by ferry, train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take a ferry and then take the bus which costs around £42 ($50) and will take around 8h 30m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and then take the train and arrive in approximately 2h 20m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £100 ($120).
The distance between Belfast and Preston is around 295km (183 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 230km (143 miles)
It takes around 8h 5m to get from Belfast and Preston by ferry and train.
The quickest way to get from Belfast to Preston is to fly and then take the train which takes around 2h 20m and will set you back approx £100 ($120).
The cheapest way to travel between Belfast and Preston is to take a ferry and then take the bus which will typically cost around £42 ($50) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Belfast and Preston. We recommend that you fly from Belfast City (BHD) to Liverpool (LPL) then take the train to Warrington Central and then to Preston. instead which will take 2h 20m.
Bus travel
Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Belfast and Preston. We recommend that you fly from Belfast City (BHD) to Liverpool (LPL) then take the train to Warrington Central and then to Preston. instead which will take 2h 20m.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Belfast to Preston. We recommend that you fly from Belfast City (BHD) to Manchester (MAN) then take the train to Preston. instead which will take 2h 20m.
The closest major airport to Preston is Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL) (LPL) which is approximately 48km (30 miles) from Preston. Manchester Airport (MAN) (MAN) and Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) (LBA) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.
Drive yourself
No, its not really possible or feasible to drive from Belfast to Preston. We recommend that you take a ferry to Isle of Man Douglas and then to Liverpool then take the train to Preston. instead which will take 8h 5m.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Belfast to Preston is to take a ferry and then take the train which takes, on average, 8h 5m and will usually cost around £89 ($105).
Compare travel optionsbetween Belfast and Preston
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fly to Liverpool (LPL), train + 4 similar | 2h 20m | £100($120) | hourly | 317km (197 miles) |
| Plane and Train | 2h 20m | £130($155) | hourly | 344km (214 miles) |
| Fly to Manchester (MAN), Train | 2h 50m | £82($95) | every 30 mins | 393km (244 miles) |
| Fly to Liverpool (LPL), train | 2h 50m | £105($125) | hourly | 365km (227 miles) |
| Fly to Leeds Bradford (LBA), Train | 3h 20m | £150($175) | hourly | 388km (241 miles) |
Ferry and Train + 1 similar | 8h 5m | £89($105) | 3 times a week | 295km (183 miles) |
| Ferry, Bus and Train | 7h 20m | £95($110) | once daily | 530km (329 miles) |
Ferry and Bus | 8h 30m | £42($50) | twice daily | 524km (326 miles) |
Ferry and Car | 6hrs | £56($66) | every 4 hours | 394km (245 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Belfast and Preston
Train operators
First ScotRail Service
East Midlands Railways
Ferry operators
Isle of Man Steam Packet Company
Stena Line
Bus companies
Dodds of Troon
Scottish Citylink
Airlines
Aer Lingus
Airports near Preston
The following major airports near Preston offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United Kingdom and internationally.
Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL)
- Distance
- 48km (30 miles) from Preston
Manchester Airport (MAN)
- Distance
- 52km (32 miles) from Preston
Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA)
- Distance
- 69km (43 miles) from Preston