How to travel from Bristol to Carlisle, United Kingdom

The distance between Bristol and Carlisle is around 443km (275 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly and then take the train which takes around 3hrs.

9 routes found

We've found 9 different ways to get from Bristol 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 CarlisleBristol if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
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plane
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train
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Fly to Glasgow (GLA), Train

Fly from Bristol (BRS) to Glasgow (GLA) then take the train to Carlisle.

  • Duration3hrs
  • Flight time1h 15m
  • Typical cost
    £120($140)
Operated by

Multiple operators

5 similiar routes

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

2
train
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train
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Train

Take the train to Birmingham New Street and then to Carlisle.

  • Duration4h 15m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £125($150)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Birmingham Coach Station Digbeth and then to Carlisle.

  • Duration6h 30m
  • Departstwice daily
  • Typical cost
    £16($19)
4
car
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Drive

Drive to Carlisle.

  • Duration4h 35m
  • Distance443km (275 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Bristol and Carlisle

There are several options for getting from Bristol to Carlisle by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £16 ($19) and will take around 6h 30m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and then take the train and arrive in approximately 3hrs, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £120 ($140).

The distance between Bristol and Carlisle is around 443km (275 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 383km (238 miles)

It takes around 4h 15m to get from Bristol and Carlisle by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4h 35m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Bristol to Carlisle is to fly and then take the train which takes around 3hrs and will set you back approx £120 ($140).

The cheapest way to travel between Bristol and Carlisle, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £16 ($19) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Bristol and Carlisle. It typically takes around 4h 15m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Bristol to Carlisle. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Birmingham New Street. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 4h 15m.

CrossCountry and Avanti West Coast run train services between Bristol and Carlisle. Trains depart hourly and will take around 4h 15m, 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 Bristol and Carlisle. It typically takes around 6h 30m and departs twice daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Bristol to Carlisle. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Birmingham Coach Station Digbeth. These services run twice daily and will take a minimum of 6h 30m.

National Express run regular bus services between Bristol and Carlisle. Buses run twice daily and take around 6h 30m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Bristol to Carlisle. We recommend that you fly from Bristol (BRS) to Edinburgh (EDI) then take the train to Carlisle. instead which will take 3h 5m.

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 Bristol and Carlisle. The distance is around 443km (275 miles) by road and it will take around 4h 35m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Bristol to Carlisle is to take the train which takes, on average, 4h 15m and will usually cost around £125 ($150).

How do I get from Bristol to Carlisle

Compare travel optionsbetween Bristol and Carlisle

Transport options from Bristol to Carlisle
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Fly to Glasgow (GLA), Train + 5 similar
3hrs
£120($140)
hourly699km (435 miles)
Plane and Train3h 5m
£135($160)
every 2 hours692km (430 miles)
Fly to Newcastle (NCL), Train3h 10m
£115($135)
once daily533km (331 miles)
Train to Cardiff Central, plane4h 15m
£240($285)
every 2 hours758km (471 miles)
Train and Plane4h 50m
£235($280)
once daily695km (432 miles)
Train to Southampton Central, plane5h 10m
£255($300)
every 4 hours616km (383 miles)
Train
4h 15m
£125($150)
hourly453km (282 miles)
Bus
6h 30m
£16($19)
twice daily459km (285 miles)
Drive
4h 35m
£77($90)
on demand443km (275 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Bristol and Carlisle

Train operators

Airlines

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