How to travel from Carlisle to Plymouth, United Kingdom

The distance between Carlisle and Plymouth is around 629km (391 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train, then fly and then take the bus which takes around 4h 20m.

9 routes found

We've found 9 different ways to get from Carlisle to Plymouth 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 PlymouthCarlisle if you're planning a return trip.

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Train to Haymarket, plane

Take the train to Haymarket then fly from Edinburgh (EDI) to Newquay (NQY) then take the train to Plymouth.

  • Duration5hrs
  • Flight time1h 30m
  • Typical cost
    £325($385)
Operated by

Multiple operators

4 similiar routes

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

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Train

Take the train to Birmingham New Street and then to Plymouth.

  • Duration6h 30m
  • Departsevery 2 hours
  • Typical cost
    £175($210)
Operated by

Multiple train 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

Take the bus to Heathrow Airport London T23 and then to Plymouth Coach Station Armada Way.

  • Duration10h 15m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    £22($26)
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Drive

Drive to Plymouth.

  • Duration6h 25m
  • Distance629km (391 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Carlisle and Plymouth

There are several options for getting from Carlisle to Plymouth by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £22 ($26) and will take around 10h 15m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train, then fly and then take the bus and arrive in approximately 4h 20m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £315 ($370).

The distance between Carlisle and Plymouth is around 629km (391 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 510km (317 miles)

It takes around 6h 30m to get from Carlisle and Plymouth by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 6h 25m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Carlisle to Plymouth is to take the train, then fly and then take the bus which takes around 4h 20m and will set you back approx £315 ($370).

The cheapest way to travel between Carlisle and Plymouth, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £22 ($26) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Carlisle and Plymouth. It typically takes around 6h 30m and departs every 2 hours.

There are no direct train services that runs from Carlisle to Plymouth. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Birmingham New Street. These services run every 2 hours and will take a minimum of 6h 30m.

Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, TransPennine Express Service, Transport for Wales and Great Western Railway run train services between Carlisle and Plymouth. Trains depart every 2 hours and will take around 6h 30m, 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 Plymouth. It typically takes around 10h 15m and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Carlisle to Plymouth. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Heathrow Airport London T23. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 10h 15m.

National Express, Megabus UK and FlixBus run regular bus services between Carlisle and Plymouth. Buses run once daily and take around 10h 15m 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 Plymouth. We recommend that you take the train to Haymarket then fly from Edinburgh (EDI) to Exeter (EXT) then take the bus to Plymouth Armada Bus Station. instead which will take 4h 20m.

The closest major airport to Plymouth is Newquay Cornwall Airport (NQY) (NQY) which is approximately 61km (38 miles) from Plymouth. Exeter Airport (EXT) (EXT) and Cardiff Airport (CWL) (CWL) 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 Plymouth. The distance is around 629km (391 miles) by road and it will take around 6h 25m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Carlisle to Plymouth is to take the train which takes, on average, 6h 30m and will usually cost around £175 ($210).

How do I get from Carlisle to Plymouth

Compare travel optionsbetween Carlisle and Plymouth

Transport options from Carlisle to Plymouth
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train to Haymarket, plane + 4 similar
5hrs
£325($385)
every 4 hours887km (551 miles)
Train and Plane5h 10m
£180($210)
twice a week738km (459 miles)
Train to Manchester Airport, plane5h 25m
£165($195)
every 4 hours681km (423 miles)
Train, Plane and Bus4h 20m
£315($370)
5 times a week829km (515 miles)
Train to Newcastle, plane and bus4h 25m
£200($235)
twice a week681km (423 miles)
Train + 1 similar
6h 30m
£175($210)
every 2 hours657km (408 miles)
Train via Manchester Piccadilly8h 35m
£175($205)
every 4 hours732km (455 miles)
Bus
10h 15m
£22($26)
once daily822km (511 miles)
Drive
6h 25m
£110($130)
on demand629km (391 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Carlisle and Plymouth

Train operators

Airports near Plymouth

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

NQY
Newquay Cornwall Airport (NQY)
Domestic Airport
Distance
61km (38 miles) from Plymouth
EXT
Exeter Airport (EXT)
International Airport
Distance
65km (41 miles) from Plymouth
CWL
Cardiff Airport (CWL)
Domestic Airport
Distance
127km (79 miles) from Plymouth