How to travel from Cardiff to Liverpool, United Kingdom

The distance between Cardiff and Liverpool is around 265km (165 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the bus which takes around 2h 40m.

6 routes found

We've found 6 different ways to get from Cardiff to Liverpool by bus, train, car and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

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

🚀 Fastest
💰 Cheapest
1
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Liverpool One.

  • Duration2h 40m
  • Departstwice a week
  • Typical cost
    £21($25)
2
train
+
train
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Train

Take the train to Crewe and then to Liverpool Lime Street.

  • Duration3h 25m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £95($115)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

2 similiar routes

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

3
train
+
plane
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Train and Plane

Take the train to Bristol Temple Meads then fly from Bristol (BRS) to Liverpool (LPL).

  • Duration3h 35m
  • Flight time2hrs
  • Typical cost
    £205($245)
Operated by

Multiple operators

4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Liverpool One.

  • Duration3h 20m
  • Distance320km (199 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Cardiff and Liverpool

There are several options for getting from Cardiff to Liverpool by bus, train, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £21 ($25) and will take around 2h 40m.

The distance between Cardiff and Liverpool is around 265km (165 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 214km (133 miles)

It takes around 2h 40m to get from Cardiff and Liverpool by bus. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3h 20m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Cardiff to Liverpool is to take the bus which takes around 2h 40m and will set you back approx £21 ($25).

The cheapest way to travel between Cardiff and Liverpool, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £21 ($25) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Cardiff and Liverpool. It typically takes around 3h 25m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Cardiff to Liverpool. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Crewe. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 3h 25m.

Transport for Wales, Avanti West Coast, London Midland, Northern Rail and CrossCountry run train services between Cardiff and Liverpool. Trains depart hourly and will take around 3h 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 Cardiff and Liverpool. It typically takes around 2h 40m and departs twice a week.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Cardiff and Liverpool with no changeovers required. The bus runs twice a week and takes 2h 40m.

Megabus UK run regular bus services between Cardiff and Liverpool. Buses run twice a week and take around 2h 40m 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 Liverpool. We recommend that you take the train to Bristol Temple Meads then fly from Bristol (BRS) to Liverpool (LPL). instead which will take 3h 35m.

The closest major airport to Liverpool is Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL) (LPL) which is approximately 12km (7 miles) from Liverpool. 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 Cardiff and Liverpool. The distance is around 320km (199 miles) by road and it will take around 3h 20m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Cardiff to Liverpool is to take the bus which takes, on average, 2h 40m and will usually cost around £21 ($25).

How do I get from Cardiff to Liverpool

Compare travel optionsbetween Cardiff and Liverpool

Transport options from Cardiff to Liverpool
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Bus
2h 40m
£21($25)
twice a week319km (198 miles)
Train + 2 similar
3h 25m
£95($115)
hourly279km (173 miles)
Train via Birmingham New Street3h 40m
£72($85)
hourly314km (195 miles)
Train to Chester3h 50m
£90($105)
every 3 hours265km (165 miles)
Train and Plane
3h 35m
£205($245)
hourly785km (488 miles)
Drive
3h 20m
£36($43)
on demand320km (199 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Cardiff and Liverpool

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Liverpool

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

LPL
Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL)
International Airport
Distance
12km (7 miles) from Liverpool
MAN
Manchester Airport (MAN)
International Airport
Distance
48km (30 miles) from Liverpool
LBA
Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA)
International Airport
Distance
102km (63 miles) from Liverpool