How to travel from Carlisle to Derby, United Kingdom

The distance between Carlisle and Derby is around 298km (185 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 3hrs.

6 routes found

We've found 6 different ways to get from Carlisle to Derby 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 DerbyCarlisle if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
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Train

Take the train to Crewe and then to Derby.

  • Duration3hrs
  • Departsevery 3 hours
  • Typical cost
    £75($89)
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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plane
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Train to Glasgow Central, plane

Take the train to Glasgow Central then fly from Glasgow (GLA) to Birmingham (BHX) then take the train to Derby.

  • Duration3h 35m
  • Flight time1h 10m
  • Typical cost
    £135($160)
Operated by

Multiple operators

1 similiar route

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 Manchester Coach Station Chorlton St and then to Derby Bus Station.

  • Duration5h 25m
  • Departs4 times a week
  • Typical cost
    £20($24)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

4
car
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Drive

Drive to Derby.

  • Duration3h 10m
  • Distance301km (187 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Carlisle and Derby

There are several options for getting from Carlisle to Derby by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £20 ($24) and will take around 5h 25m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 3hrs, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £75 ($89).

The distance between Carlisle and Derby is around 298km (185 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 239km (149 miles)

It takes around 3hrs to get from Carlisle and Derby by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3h 10m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Carlisle to Derby is to take the train which takes around 3hrs and will set you back approx £75 ($89).

The cheapest way to travel between Carlisle and Derby, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £20 ($24) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Carlisle and Derby. It typically takes around 3hrs and departs every 3 hours.

There are no direct train services that runs from Carlisle to Derby. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Crewe. These services run every 3 hours and will take a minimum of 3hrs.

Avanti West Coast, East Midlands Railways, Northern Rail, West Coast Railways and CrossCountry run train services between Carlisle and Derby. Trains depart every 3 hours and will take around 3hrs, 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 Derby. It typically takes around 5h 25m and departs 4 times a week.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Carlisle to Derby. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Manchester Coach Station Chorlton St and Shudehill Interchange. These services run 4 times a week and will take a minimum of 5h 25m.

National Express and Megabus UK run regular bus services between Carlisle and Derby. Buses run 4 times a week and take around 5h 25m 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 Derby. We recommend that you take the train to Haymarket then fly from Edinburgh (EDI) to Birmingham (BHX) then take the train to Derby. instead which will take 3h 45m.

The closest major airport to Derby is East Midlands Airport (EMA) (EMA) which is approximately 14km (9 miles) from Derby. Birmingham Airport (BHX) (BHX) and Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) (DSA) 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 Derby. The distance is around 301km (187 miles) by road and it will take around 3h 10m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Carlisle to Derby is to take the train which takes, on average, 3hrs and will usually cost around £75 ($89).

How do I get from Carlisle to Derby

Compare travel optionsbetween Carlisle and Derby

Transport options from Carlisle to Derby
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train + 1 similar
3hrs
£75($89)
every 3 hours307km (191 miles)
Train via Leeds3h 60m
£84($100)
every 4 hours298km (185 miles)
Train to Glasgow Central, plane + 1 similar
3h 35m
£135($160)
hourly675km (419 miles)
Train and Plane3h 45m
£140($165)
every 3 hours653km (406 miles)
Bus
5h 25m
£20($24)
4 times a week328km (204 miles)
Drive
3h 10m
£52($62)
on demand301km (187 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Carlisle and Derby

Train operators

Airports near Derby

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

EMA
East Midlands Airport (EMA)
International Airport
Distance
14km (9 miles) from Derby
BHX
Birmingham Airport (BHX)
International Airport
Distance
55km (34 miles) from Derby
DSA
Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA)
International Airport
Distance
70km (43 miles) from Derby