How to travel from Cardiff to London, United Kingdom

The distance between Cardiff and London is around 232km (144 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 1h 50m.

3 routes found

We've found 3 different ways to get from Cardiff to London 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 LondonCardiff if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+

Train

Take the train to London Paddington.

  • Duration1h 50m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £59($70)
💰 Cheapest
2
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to London Victoria Coach Station.

  • Duration3h 40m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £9($11)
Operated byNational Express+ 1 others
3
car
+

Drive

Drive to London Paddington.

  • Duration2h 35m
  • Distance240km (149 miles)
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Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Cardiff and London

There are several options for getting from Cardiff to London by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £9 ($11) and will take around 3h 40m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 1h 50m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £59 ($70).

The distance between Cardiff and London is around 232km (144 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 211km (131 miles)

It takes around 1h 50m to get from Cardiff and London by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 2h 35m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Cardiff to London is to take the train which takes around 1h 50m and will set you back approx £59 ($70).

The cheapest way to travel between Cardiff and London, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £9 ($11) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Cardiff and London. It typically takes around 1h 50m and departs hourly.

Yes there is a direct train service that runs between Cardiff and London with no changeovers required. The train runs hourly and takes 1h 50m.

Great Western Railway run train services between Cardiff and London. Trains depart hourly and will take around 1h 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 London. It typically takes around 3h 40m and departs hourly.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Cardiff and London with no changeovers required. The bus runs hourly and takes 3h 40m.

National Express run regular bus services between Cardiff and London. Buses run hourly and take around 3h 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 London. We recommend that you take the train to London Paddington. instead which will take 1h 50m.

The closest major airport to London is London City Airport (LCY) (LCY) which is approximately 12km (8 miles) from London. Heathrow Airport (LHR) (LHR) and Gatwick Airport (LGW) (LGW) 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 London. The distance is around 240km (149 miles) by road and it will take around 2h 35m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Cardiff to London is to take the train which takes, on average, 1h 50m and will usually cost around £59 ($70).

How do I get from Cardiff to London

Compare travel optionsbetween Cardiff and London

Transport options from Cardiff to London
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
1h 50m
£59($70)
hourly232km (144 miles)
Bus
3h 40m
£9($11)
hourly243km (151 miles)
Drive
2h 35m
£28($33)
on demand240km (149 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Cardiff and London

Train operators

Airports near London

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

LCY
London City Airport (LCY)
International Airport
Distance
12km (8 miles) from London
LHR
Heathrow Airport (LHR)
International Airport
Distance
23km (14 miles) from London
LGW
Gatwick Airport (LGW)
International Airport
Distance
40km (25 miles) from London