How to travel from Carlisle to Chester, United Kingdom

The distance between Carlisle and Chester is around 216km (134 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 1h 60m.

5 routes found

We've found 5 different ways to get from Carlisle to Chester 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 ChesterCarlisle if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+

Train

Take the train to Warrington Bank Quay.

  • Duration1h 60m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £55($65)
Operated byAvanti West Coast+ 1 others

2 similiar routes

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

2
bus
+
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Manchester Coach Station Chorlton St and then to Chester.

  • Duration4h 30m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    £13($15)
3
car
+

Drive

Drive to Chester.

  • Duration2h 25m
  • Distance233km (145 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Carlisle and Chester

There are several options for getting from Carlisle to Chester by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the train which costs around and will take around 5h 10m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 1h 60m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £55 ($65).

The distance between Carlisle and Chester is around 216km (134 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 189km (118 miles)

It takes around 1h 60m to get from Carlisle and Chester by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 2h 25m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Carlisle to Chester is to take the train which takes around 1h 60m and will set you back approx £55 ($65).

The cheapest way to travel between Carlisle and Chester, if you exclude driving, is to take the train which will typically cost around for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Carlisle and Chester. It typically takes around 1h 60m and departs hourly.

Yes there is a direct train service that runs between Carlisle and Chester with no changeovers required. The train runs once a week and takes 5h 10m.

Avanti West Coast, West Coast Railways, TransPennine Express Service, Transport for Wales and Northern Rail run train services between Carlisle and Chester. Trains depart hourly and will take around 1h 60m, 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 Carlisle and Chester. It typically takes around 4h 30m and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Carlisle to Chester. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Manchester Coach Station Chorlton St. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 4h 30m.

National Express run regular bus services between Carlisle and Chester. Buses run once daily and take around 4h 30m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Carlisle to Chester. We recommend that you take the train to Warrington Bank Quay. instead which will take 1h 60m.

The closest major airport to Chester is Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL) (LPL) which is approximately 16km (10 miles) from Chester. 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 Carlisle and Chester. The distance is around 233km (145 miles) by road and it will take around 2h 25m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Carlisle to Chester is to take the train which takes, on average, 1h 60m and will usually cost around £55 ($65).

How do I get from Carlisle to Chester

Compare travel optionsbetween Carlisle and Chester

Transport options from Carlisle to Chester
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train + 2 similar
1h 60m
£55($65)
hourly216km (134 miles)
Train via Manchester Piccadilly2h 60m
£48($57)
every 2 hours258km (160 miles)
Train to Chester5h 10m
once a week216km (134 miles)
Bus
4h 30m
£13($15)
once daily265km (165 miles)
Drive
2h 25m
£41($48)
on demand233km (145 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Carlisle and Chester

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Chester

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

LPL
Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL)
International Airport
Distance
16km (10 miles) from Chester
MAN
Manchester Airport (MAN)
International Airport
Distance
45km (28 miles) from Chester
LBA
Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA)
International Airport
Distance
111km (69 miles) from Chester