How to travel from Cardiff to Leeds, United Kingdom

The distance between Cardiff and Leeds is around 343km (213 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 35m.

6 routes found

We've found 6 different ways to get from Cardiff to Leeds 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 LeedsCardiff if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
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train
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plane
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Train and Plane

Take the train to Bristol Temple Meads then fly from Bristol (BRS) to Leeds Bradford (LBA).

  • Duration3h 35m
  • Flight time1h 55m
  • Typical cost
    £100($120)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2
train
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train
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Train

Take the train to Bristol Parkway and then to Leeds.

  • Duration3h 50m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £115($140)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

1 similiar route

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

3
bus
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Bristol Bond St and then to Leeds City Centre Kirkgate High Court.

  • Duration5h 35m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    £29($34)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

1 similiar route

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

4
car
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Drive

Drive to Leeds.

  • Duration3h 45m
  • Distance364km (226 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Cardiff and Leeds

There are several options for getting from Cardiff to Leeds by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £23 ($27) and will take around 6h 50m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 3h 35m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £100 ($120).

The distance between Cardiff and Leeds is around 343km (213 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 280km (174 miles)

It takes around 3h 50m to get from Cardiff and Leeds by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3h 45m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Cardiff to Leeds is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 35m and will set you back approx £100 ($120).

The cheapest way to travel between Cardiff and Leeds, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £23 ($27) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Cardiff and Leeds. It typically takes around 3h 50m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Cardiff to Leeds. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Bristol Parkway. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 3h 50m.

Great Western Railway, CrossCountry, Transport for Wales and TransPennine Express Service run train services between Cardiff and Leeds. Trains depart hourly and will take around 3h 50m, 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 Cardiff and Leeds. It typically takes around 5h 35m and departs once daily.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Cardiff and Leeds with no changeovers required. The bus runs every 4 hours and takes 6h 50m.

Megabus UK and FlixBus run regular bus services between Cardiff and Leeds. Buses run once daily and take around 5h 35m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Cardiff to Leeds. We recommend that you take the train to Bristol Temple Meads then fly from Bristol (BRS) to Leeds Bradford (LBA). instead which will take 3h 35m.

The closest major airport to Leeds is Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) (LBA) which is approximately 11km (7 miles) from Leeds. Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) (DSA) and Manchester Airport (MAN) (MAN) 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 Cardiff and Leeds. The distance is around 364km (226 miles) by road and it will take around 3h 45m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Cardiff to Leeds is to take the train which takes, on average, 3h 50m and will usually cost around £115 ($140).

How do I get from Cardiff to Leeds

Compare travel optionsbetween Cardiff and Leeds

Transport options from Cardiff to Leeds
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane
3h 35m
£100($120)
hourly724km (450 miles)
Train + 1 similar
3h 50m
£115($140)
hourly372km (231 miles)
Train via Manchester Piccadilly4h 45m
£115($135)
hourly343km (213 miles)
Bus + 1 similar
5h 35m
£29($34)
once daily397km (246 miles)
Bus to Leeds Bus Station6h 50m
£23($27)
every 4 hours363km (225 miles)
Drive
3h 45m
£41($49)
on demand364km (226 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Cardiff and Leeds

Airlines

Train operators

Airports near Leeds

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

LBA
Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA)
International Airport
Distance
11km (7 miles) from Leeds
DSA
Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA)
International Airport
Distance
50km (31 miles) from Leeds
MAN
Manchester Airport (MAN)
International Airport
Distance
68km (42 miles) from Leeds