How to travel from Canterbury to Barnstaple, United Kingdom

The distance between Canterbury and Barnstaple is around 412km (256 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 4h 25m.

7 routes found

We've found 7 different ways to get from Canterbury to Barnstaple 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 BarnstapleCanterbury if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
3 x train
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Train

Take the train to St Pancras International then Exeter St Davids and then to Barnstaple.

  • Duration4h 25m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £120($140)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

1 similiar route

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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plane
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train
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Train and Plane

Take the train to St Pancras International and then to Gatwick Airport then fly from London Gatwick (LGW) to Exeter (EXT) then take the train to Barnstaple.

  • Duration4h 55m
  • Flight time1h 55m
  • Typical cost
    £470($555)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2 similiar routes

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

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to London Victoria Coach Station and then to Barnstaple.

  • Duration8h 15m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    £16($19)
4
car
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Drive

Drive to Barnstaple.

  • Duration4h 25m
  • Distance412km (256 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Canterbury and Barnstaple

There are several options for getting from Canterbury to Barnstaple by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £16 ($19) and will take around 8h 15m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 4h 25m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £120 ($140).

The distance between Canterbury and Barnstaple is around 412km (256 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 359km (223 miles)

It takes around 4h 25m to get from Canterbury and Barnstaple by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4h 25m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Canterbury to Barnstaple is to take the train which takes around 4h 25m and will set you back approx £120 ($140).

The cheapest way to travel between Canterbury and Barnstaple, 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 Canterbury and Barnstaple. It typically takes around 4h 25m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Canterbury to Barnstaple. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in St Pancras International, King's Cross St. Pancras station, Paddington and Exeter St Davids. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 4h 25m.

South Eastern Trains Service and Great Western Railway run train services between Canterbury and Barnstaple. Trains depart hourly and will take around 4h 25m, 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 Canterbury and Barnstaple. It typically takes around 8h 15m and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Canterbury to Barnstaple. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in London Victoria Coach Station. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 8h 15m.

National Express run regular bus services between Canterbury and Barnstaple. Buses run once daily and take around 8h 15m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Canterbury to Barnstaple. We recommend that you take the train to St Pancras International and then to Gatwick Airport then fly from London Gatwick (LGW) to Exeter (EXT) then take the train to Barnstaple. instead which will take 4h 55m.

The closest major airport to Barnstaple is Exeter Airport (EXT) (EXT) which is approximately 60km (37 miles) from Barnstaple. Cardiff Airport (CWL) (CWL) and Newquay Cornwall Airport (NQY) (NQY) 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 Canterbury and Barnstaple. The distance is around 412km (256 miles) by road and it will take around 4h 25m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Canterbury to Barnstaple is to take the train which takes, on average, 4h 25m and will usually cost around £120 ($140).

How do I get from Canterbury to Barnstaple

Compare travel optionsbetween Canterbury and Barnstaple

Transport options from Canterbury to Barnstaple
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train + 1 similar
4h 25m
£120($140)
hourly457km (284 miles)
Train via London Victoria5h 5m
£110($130)
hourly446km (277 miles)
Train and Plane + 2 similar
4h 55m
£470($555)
hourly646km (402 miles)
Train to St Pancras International, plane5h 35m
£650($770)
hourly1,342km (834 miles)
Train to Stratford International, plane6hrs
£325($385)
hourly1,114km (692 miles)
Bus
8h 15m
£16($19)
once daily459km (285 miles)
Drive
4h 25m
£72($85)
on demand412km (256 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Canterbury and Barnstaple

Airlines

Train operators

Airports near Barnstaple

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

EXT
Exeter Airport (EXT)
International Airport
Distance
60km (37 miles) from Barnstaple
CWL
Cardiff Airport (CWL)
Domestic Airport
Distance
61km (38 miles) from Barnstaple
NQY
Newquay Cornwall Airport (NQY)
Domestic Airport
Distance
97km (60 miles) from Barnstaple