How to travel from Leicester to Sunderland, United Kingdom

The distance between Leicester and Sunderland is around 288km (179 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 2h 60m.

6 routes found

We've found 6 different ways to get from Leicester to Sunderland 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 SunderlandLeicester if you're planning a return trip.

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train
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train
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Train

Take the train to Sheffield and then to Newcastle.

  • Duration3h 30m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £100($120)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

2
train
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plane
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Train to London St Pancras International, Fly

Take the train to London St Pancras International then fly from London Heathrow (LHR) to Newcastle (NCL).

  • Duration3h 45m
  • Flight time1h 15m
  • Typical cost
    £300($355)
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

Take the bus to Sunderland.

  • Duration4h 55m
  • Departstwice daily
  • Typical cost
    £14($16)

1 similiar route

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

🚀 Fastest
4
car
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Drive

Drive to Sunderland.

  • Duration2h 60m
  • Distance288km (179 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Leicester and Sunderland

There are several options for getting from Leicester to Sunderland by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £14 ($16) and will take around 4h 55m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 2h 60m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £50 ($59).

The distance between Leicester and Sunderland is around 288km (179 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 253km (157 miles)

It takes around 3h 30m to get from Leicester and Sunderland by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 2h 60m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Leicester to Sunderland is to drive which takes around 2h 60m and will set you back approx £50 ($59).

The cheapest way to travel between Leicester and Sunderland, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £14 ($16) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Leicester and Sunderland. It typically takes around 3h 30m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Leicester to Sunderland. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Sheffield and Newcastle. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 3h 30m.

East Midlands Railways and CrossCountry run train services between Leicester and Sunderland. Trains depart hourly and will take around 3h 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 Leicester and Sunderland. It typically takes around 4h 55m and departs twice daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Leicester to Sunderland. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Nottingham Station Street. These services run twice daily and will take a minimum of 4h 55m.

National Express and Megabus UK run regular bus services between Leicester and Sunderland. Buses run twice daily and take around 4h 55m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Leicester to Sunderland. We recommend that you take the train to Birmingham New Street then fly from Birmingham (BHX) to Newcastle (NCL). instead which will take 4hrs.

The closest major airport to Sunderland is Newcastle International Airport (NCL) (NCL) which is approximately 26km (16 miles) from Sunderland. Teesside International Airport (MME) (MME) 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 Leicester and Sunderland. The distance is around 288km (179 miles) by road and it will take around 2h 60m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Leicester to Sunderland is to take the train which takes, on average, 3h 30m and will usually cost around £100 ($120).

How do I get from Leicester to Sunderland

Compare travel optionsbetween Leicester and Sunderland

Transport options from Leicester to Sunderland
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
3h 30m
£100($120)
hourly352km (219 miles)
Train to London St Pancras International, Fly + 1 similar
3h 45m
£300($355)
once daily623km (387 miles)
Train and Plane4hrs
£165($195)
once daily785km (488 miles)
Bus + 1 similar
4h 55m
£14($16)
twice daily309km (192 miles)
Bus to Sunderland Park Lane Interchange5h 35m
£20($24)
twice daily311km (193 miles)
Drive
2h 60m
£50($59)
on demand288km (179 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Leicester and Sunderland

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Sunderland

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

NCL
Newcastle International Airport (NCL)
International Airport
Distance
26km (16 miles) from Sunderland
MME
Teesside International Airport (MME)
Domestic Airport
Distance
44km (27 miles) from Sunderland
LBA
Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA)
International Airport
Distance
117km (72 miles) from Sunderland