How to travel from Edinburgh to Carlisle, United Kingdom

The distance between Edinburgh and Carlisle is around 149km (93 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 1h 10m.

3 routes found

We've found 3 different ways to get from Edinburgh to Carlisle 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 CarlisleEdinburgh if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+

Train

Take the train to Carlisle.

  • Duration1h 10m
  • Departsevery 2 hours
  • Typical cost
    £42($50)
Operated byAvanti West Coast+ 2 others
💰 Cheapest
2
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Carlisle.

  • Duration3h 25m
  • Departstwice daily
  • Typical cost
    £8($10)
Operated byNational Express+ 1 others
3
car
+

Drive

Drive to Carlisle.

  • Duration1h 55m
  • Distance149km (93 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Edinburgh and Carlisle

There are several options for getting from Edinburgh to Carlisle by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £8 ($10) and will take around 3h 25m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 1h 10m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £42 ($50).

The distance between Edinburgh and Carlisle is around 149km (93 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 119km (74 miles)

It takes around 1h 10m to get from Edinburgh and Carlisle by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 1h 55m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Edinburgh to Carlisle is to take the train which takes around 1h 10m and will set you back approx £42 ($50).

The cheapest way to travel between Edinburgh and Carlisle, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £8 ($10) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Edinburgh and Carlisle. It typically takes around 1h 10m and departs every 2 hours.

Yes there is a direct train service that runs between Edinburgh and Carlisle with no changeovers required. The train runs every 2 hours and takes 1h 10m.

Avanti West Coast, TransPennine Express Service and LNER run train services between Edinburgh and Carlisle. Trains depart every 2 hours and will take around 1h 10m, 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 Edinburgh and Carlisle. It typically takes around 3h 25m and departs once daily.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Edinburgh and Carlisle with no changeovers required. The bus runs once daily and takes 3h 25m.

National Express run regular bus services between Edinburgh and Carlisle. Buses run once daily and take around 3h 25m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Edinburgh to Carlisle. We recommend that you take the train to Carlisle. instead which will take 1h 10m.

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 Edinburgh and Carlisle. The distance is around 149km (93 miles) by road and it will take around 1h 55m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Edinburgh to Carlisle is to take the train which takes, on average, 1h 10m and will usually cost around £42 ($50).

How do I get from Edinburgh to Carlisle

Compare travel optionsbetween Edinburgh and Carlisle

Transport options from Edinburgh to Carlisle
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
1h 10m
£42($50)
every 2 hours162km (101 miles)
Bus
3h 25m
£8($10)
twice daily233km (145 miles)
Drive
1h 55m
£26($31)
on demand149km (93 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Edinburgh and Carlisle

Bus companies

Airports near Carlisle

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

NCL
Newcastle International Airport (NCL)
International Airport
Distance
80km (50 miles) from Carlisle
MME
Teesside International Airport (MME)
Domestic Airport
Distance
105km (66 miles) from Carlisle
EDI
Edinburgh Airport (EDI)
International Airport
Distance
120km (75 miles) from Carlisle