How to travel from Birmingham to Carlisle, United Kingdom

The distance between Birmingham and Carlisle is around 309km (192 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 2h 55m.

6 routes found

We've found 6 different ways to get from Birmingham to Carlisle by 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 CarlisleBirmingham if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+

Train

Take the train to Carlisle.

  • Duration2h 55m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £76($90)

1 similiar route

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

2
plane
+
train
+

Fly to Glasgow (GLA), Train

Fly from Birmingham (BHX) to Glasgow (GLA) then take the train to Carlisle.

  • Duration3hrs
  • Flight time1h 20m
  • Typical cost
    £110($130)
Operated by

Multiple operators

1 similiar route

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Carlisle.

  • Duration4h 35m
  • Departsevery 20 mins
  • Typical cost
    £9($11)
4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Carlisle.

  • Duration3h 15m
  • Distance313km (194 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Birmingham and Carlisle

There are several options for getting from Birmingham to Carlisle by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £9 ($11) and will take around 4h 35m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 2h 55m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £76 ($90).

The distance between Birmingham and Carlisle is around 309km (192 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 277km (172 miles)

It takes around 2h 55m to get from Birmingham and Carlisle by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3h 15m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Birmingham to Carlisle is to take the train which takes around 2h 55m and will set you back approx £76 ($90).

The cheapest way to travel between Birmingham and Carlisle, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £9 ($11) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Birmingham and Carlisle. It typically takes around 2h 55m and departs hourly.

Yes there is a direct train service that runs between Birmingham and Carlisle with no changeovers required. The train runs hourly and takes 2h 55m.

Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, Transport for Wales and TransPennine Express Service run train services between Birmingham and Carlisle. Trains depart hourly and will take around 2h 55m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Birmingham and Carlisle. It typically takes around 4h 35m and departs twice daily.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Birmingham and Carlisle with no changeovers required. The bus runs twice daily and takes 4h 35m.

National Express run regular bus services between Birmingham and Carlisle. Buses run twice daily and take around 4h 35m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Birmingham to Carlisle. We recommend that you fly from Birmingham (BHX) to Edinburgh (EDI) then take the train to Carlisle. instead which will take 3hrs.

The closest major airport to Carlisle is Newcastle International Airport (NCL) (NCL) which is approximately 80km (50 miles) from Carlisle. Teesside International Airport (MME) (MME) and Edinburgh Airport (EDI) (EDI) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Birmingham and Carlisle. The distance is around 313km (194 miles) by road and it will take around 3h 15m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Birmingham to Carlisle is to take the train which takes, on average, 2h 55m and will usually cost around £76 ($90).

How do I get from Birmingham to Carlisle

Compare travel optionsbetween Birmingham and Carlisle

Transport options from Birmingham to Carlisle
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train + 1 similar
2h 55m
£76($90)
hourly309km (192 miles)
Train via Manchester Piccadilly3h 20m
£65($77)
every 3 hours325km (202 miles)
Fly to Glasgow (GLA), Train + 1 similar
3hrs
£110($130)
hourly608km (378 miles)
Plane and Train3hrs
£110($130)
every 2 hours587km (365 miles)
Bus
4h 35m
£9($11)
every 20 mins317km (197 miles)
Drive
3h 15m
£54($64)
on demand313km (194 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Birmingham and Carlisle

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Carlisle

The following major airports near Carlisle offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United Kingdom and internationally.

NCL
Newcastle International Airport (NCL)
International Airport
Distance
80km (50 miles) from Carlisle
MME
Teesside International Airport (MME)
Domestic Airport
Distance
105km (66 miles) from Carlisle
EDI
Edinburgh Airport (EDI)
International Airport
Distance
120km (75 miles) from Carlisle