How to travel from Birmingham to Preston, United Kingdom

The distance between Birmingham and Preston is around 166km (103 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 1h 40m.

3 routes found

We've found 3 different ways to get from Birmingham to Preston by train, bus and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out PrestonBirmingham if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+

Train

Take the train to Preston.

  • Duration1h 40m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £42($50)
💰 Cheapest
2
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Preston City Centre Bus Station.

  • Duration3h 25m
  • Departs5 times a day
  • Typical cost
    £17($20)
Operated byMegabus UK+ 2 others
3
car
+

Drive

Drive to Preston.

  • Duration1h 50m
  • Distance173km (108 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Birmingham and Preston

There are several options for getting from Birmingham to Preston by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £17 ($20) and will take around 3h 25m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 1h 40m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £42 ($50).

The distance between Birmingham and Preston is around 166km (103 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 152km (94 miles)

It takes around 1h 40m to get from Birmingham and Preston by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 1h 50m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Birmingham to Preston is to take the train which takes around 1h 40m and will set you back approx £42 ($50).

The cheapest way to travel between Birmingham and Preston, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £17 ($20) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Birmingham and Preston. It typically takes around 1h 40m and departs hourly.

Yes there is a direct train service that runs between Birmingham and Preston with no changeovers required. The train runs hourly and takes 1h 40m.

Avanti West Coast run train services between Birmingham and Preston. Trains depart hourly and will take around 1h 40m, 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 Preston. It typically takes around 3h 25m and departs once daily.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Birmingham and Preston with no changeovers required. The bus runs once daily and takes 3h 25m.

Megabus UK run regular bus services between Birmingham and Preston. Buses run once daily and take around 3h 25m 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 Preston. We recommend that you take the train to Preston. instead which will take 1h 40m.

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

Yes it is possible to drive from Birmingham and Preston. The distance is around 173km (108 miles) by road and it will take around 1h 50m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Birmingham to Preston is to take the train which takes, on average, 1h 40m and will usually cost around £42 ($50).

How do I get from Birmingham to Preston

Compare travel optionsbetween Birmingham and Preston

Transport options from Birmingham to Preston
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
1h 40m
£42($50)
hourly166km (103 miles)
Bus
3h 25m
£17($20)
5 times a day202km (125 miles)
Drive
1h 50m
£30($36)
on demand173km (108 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Birmingham and Preston

Train operators

Airports near Preston

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

LPL
Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL)
International Airport
Distance
48km (30 miles) from Preston
MAN
Manchester Airport (MAN)
International Airport
Distance
52km (32 miles) from Preston
LBA
Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA)
International Airport
Distance
69km (43 miles) from Preston