How to travel from Ipswich to Preston, United Kingdom

The distance between Ipswich and Preston is around 373km (232 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 55m.

9 routes found

We've found 9 different ways to get from Ipswich to Preston 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 PrestonIpswich if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
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plane
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train
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Train and Plane

Take the train to London Liverpool Street then fly from London Heathrow (LHR) to Manchester (MAN) then take the train to Preston.

  • Duration3h 55m
  • Flight time1hr
  • Typical cost
    £270($320)
Operated by

Multiple operators

3 similiar routes

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

2
train
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train
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Train

Take the train to London Liverpool Street and then to Preston.

  • Duration4h 35m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £130($155)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

2 similiar routes

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

💰 Cheapest
3
3 x bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Stansted Airport London then London Finchley Road Station and then to Preston Coach Station.

  • Duration9h 15m
  • Departs6 times a week
  • Typical cost
    £34($40)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

4
car
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Drive

Drive to Preston.

  • Duration4h 10m
  • Distance407km (253 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Ipswich and Preston

There are several options for getting from Ipswich to Preston by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £34 ($40) and will take around 9h 15m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 3h 55m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £270 ($320).

The distance between Ipswich and Preston is around 373km (232 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 320km (199 miles)

It takes around 4h 35m to get from Ipswich and Preston by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4h 10m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Ipswich to Preston is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 55m and will set you back approx £270 ($320).

The cheapest way to travel between Ipswich and Preston, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £34 ($40) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Ipswich and Preston. It typically takes around 4h 35m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Ipswich to Preston. 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 35m.

Greater Anglia, Avanti West Coast, LNER, Northern Rail, East Midlands Railways and TransPennine Express Service run train services between Ipswich and Preston. Trains depart hourly and will take around 4h 35m, 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 Ipswich and Preston. It typically takes around 9h 15m and departs 6 times a week.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Ipswich to Preston. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Stansted Airport London and London Finchley Road Station. These services run 6 times a week and will take a minimum of 9h 15m.

National Express, Megabus UK and FlixBus run regular bus services between Ipswich and Preston. Buses run 6 times a week and take around 9h 15m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Ipswich to Preston. We recommend that you take the train to London Liverpool Street then fly from London Heathrow (LHR) to Manchester (MAN) then take the train to Preston. instead which will take 3h 55m.

The closest major airport to Preston is Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL) (LPL) which is approximately 48km (30 miles) from Preston. 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 Ipswich and Preston. The distance is around 407km (253 miles) by road and it will take around 4h 10m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Ipswich to Preston is to take the train which takes, on average, 4h 35m and will usually cost around £130 ($155).

How do I get from Ipswich to Preston

Compare travel optionsbetween Ipswich and Preston

Transport options from Ipswich to Preston
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane + 3 similar
3h 55m
£270($320)
every 30 mins451km (280 miles)
Train to Cambridge, plane3h 55m
£190($225)
hourly373km (232 miles)
Train to London Liverpool Street, plane5h 20m
£140($165)
every 30 mins969km (602 miles)
Train to London Liverpool Street, plane5h 40m
£370($435)
hourly1,179km (732 miles)
Train + 2 similar
4h 35m
£130($155)
hourly461km (287 miles)
Train via Peterborough4h 40m
£84($100)
every 4 hours403km (251 miles)
Train via Peterborough5h 45m
£100($115)
every 4 hours396km (246 miles)
Bus
9h 15m
£34($40)
6 times a week530km (329 miles)
Drive
4h 10m
£71($84)
on demand407km (253 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Ipswich and Preston

Train operators

Airports near Preston

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

LPL
Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL)
International Airport
Distance
48km (30 miles) from Preston
MAN
Manchester Airport (MAN)
International Airport
Distance
52km (32 miles) from Preston
LBA
Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA)
International Airport
Distance
69km (43 miles) from Preston