How to travel from Colchester to Carlisle, United Kingdom
The distance between Colchester and Carlisle is around 510km (317 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 45m.
11 routes found
We've found 11 different ways to get from Colchester to Carlisle 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 Carlisle → Colchester if you're planning a return trip.
Train and Plane
Take the train to Stratford (London) then fly from London City (LCY) to Edinburgh (EDI) then take the train to Carlisle.
- Duration3h 45m
- Flight time1h 15m
- Typical cost£240($285)
Multiple operators
5 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Train
Take the train to London Liverpool Street and then to Carlisle.
- Duration4h 20m
- Departshourly
- Typical cost£145($170)
Multiple train operators
2 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Bus
Take the bus to Heathrow Airport London T23 and then to Carlisle.
- Duration8h 20m
- Departsonce daily
- Typical cost£19($23)
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Colchester and Carlisle
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Colchester to Carlisle by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £19 ($23) and will take around 8h 20m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 3h 45m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £240 ($285).
The distance between Colchester and Carlisle is around 510km (317 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 420km (261 miles)
It takes around 4h 20m to get from Colchester and Carlisle by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 5h 20m to drive there.
The quickest way to get from Colchester to Carlisle is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 45m and will set you back approx £240 ($285).
The cheapest way to travel between Colchester and Carlisle, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £19 ($23) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
Yes there is a train service that runs between Colchester and Carlisle. It typically takes around 4h 20m and departs hourly.
There are no direct train services that runs from Colchester to Carlisle. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in London Liverpool Street, Moorgate station and Euston station. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 4h 20m.
Greater Anglia, Avanti West Coast, LNER, East Midlands Railways and TransPennine Express Service run train services between Colchester and Carlisle. Trains depart hourly and will take around 4h 20m, 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 Colchester and Carlisle. It typically takes around 8h 20m and departs once daily.
There are no direct bus services that runs from Colchester to Carlisle. 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 8h 20m.
National Express run regular bus services between Colchester and Carlisle. Buses run once daily and take around 8h 20m on average but will vary depending on you book with.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Colchester to Carlisle. We recommend that you take the bus to Stansted Airport London then fly from London Stansted (STN) to Edinburgh (EDI) then take the train to Carlisle. instead which will take 3h 45m.
The closest major airport to Carlisle is Newcastle International Airport (NCL) (NCL) which is approximately 80km (50 miles) from Carlisle. Teesside International Airport (MME) (MME) and Edinburgh Airport (EDI) (EDI) 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 Colchester and Carlisle. The distance is around 510km (317 miles) by road and it will take around 5h 20m in normal traffic conditons.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Colchester to Carlisle is to take the train which takes, on average, 4h 20m and will usually cost around £145 ($170).
Compare travel optionsbetween Colchester and Carlisle
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Train and Plane + 5 similar | 3h 45m | £240($285) | every 2 hours | 795km (494 miles) |
| Train to London Liverpool Street, plane | 4h 20m | £320($380) | once daily | 628km (390 miles) |
| Train to London Liverpool Street, plane | 4h 30m | £185($215) | every 2 hours | 798km (496 miles) |
| Train to London Liverpool Street, plane | 4h 35m | £260($310) | every 4 hours | 568km (353 miles) |
| Bus to Stansted Airport London, plane and train | 3h 45m | £140($165) | once daily | 769km (478 miles) |
| Bus, Plane and Train | 3h 45m | £130($155) | once daily | 734km (456 miles) |
Train + 2 similar | 4h 20m | £145($170) | hourly | 566km (352 miles) |
| Train via Peterborough | 6hrs | £84($100) | once daily | 563km (350 miles) |
| Train via Ely | 6h 50m | £100($115) | once daily | 567km (352 miles) |
Bus | 8h 20m | £19($23) | once daily | 650km (404 miles) |
Drive | 5h 20m | £89($105) | on demand | 510km (317 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Colchester and Carlisle
Train operators
Greater Anglia
LNER
East Midlands Railways
Airlines
Loganair
Bus companies
Airports near Carlisle
The following major airports near Carlisle offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United Kingdom and internationally.
Newcastle International Airport (NCL)
- Distance
- 80km (50 miles) from Carlisle
Teesside International Airport (MME)
- Distance
- 105km (66 miles) from Carlisle
Edinburgh Airport (EDI)
- Distance
- 120km (75 miles) from Carlisle