How to travel from London to Birmingham, United Kingdom

The distance between London and Birmingham is around 181km (112 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 1h 25m.

3 routes found

We've found 3 different ways to get from London to Birmingham 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 BirminghamLondon if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+

Train

Take the train to Birmingham New Street.

  • Duration1h 25m
  • Departsevery 20 mins
  • Typical cost
    £51($60)
Operated byAvanti West Coast+ 2 others
💰 Cheapest
2
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Birmingham Coach Station Digbeth.

  • Duration2h 55m
  • Departsevery 2 hours
  • Typical cost
    £8($10)
3
car
+

Drive

Drive to Birmingham.

  • Duration2hrs
  • Distance186km (115 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between London and Birmingham

There are several options for getting from London to Birmingham by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £8 ($10) and will take around 2h 55m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 1h 25m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £51 ($60).

The distance between London and Birmingham is around 181km (112 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 163km (101 miles)

It takes around 1h 25m to get from London and Birmingham by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 2hrs to drive there.

The quickest way to get from London to Birmingham is to take the train which takes around 1h 25m and will set you back approx £51 ($60).

The cheapest way to travel between London and Birmingham, 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 London and Birmingham. It typically takes around 1h 25m and departs hourly.

Yes there is a direct train service that runs between London and Birmingham with no changeovers required. The train runs hourly and takes 1h 25m.

Avanti West Coast and London Midland run train services between London and Birmingham. Trains depart hourly and will take around 1h 25m, 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 London and Birmingham. It typically takes around 2h 55m and departs every 2 hours.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between London and Birmingham with no changeovers required. The bus runs every 2 hours and takes 2h 55m.

National Express run regular bus services between London and Birmingham. Buses run every 2 hours and take around 2h 55m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from London to Birmingham. We recommend that you take the train to Birmingham New Street. instead which will take 1h 25m.

The closest major airport to Birmingham is Birmingham Airport (BHX) (BHX) which is approximately 12km (7 miles) from Birmingham. East Midlands Airport (EMA) (EMA) and Manchester Airport (MAN) (MAN) 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 London and Birmingham. The distance is around 186km (115 miles) by road and it will take around 2hrs in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from London to Birmingham is to take the train which takes, on average, 1h 25m and will usually cost around £51 ($60).

How do I get from London to Birmingham

Compare travel optionsbetween London and Birmingham

Transport options from London to Birmingham
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
1h 25m
£51($60)
every 20 mins181km (112 miles)
Bus
2h 55m
£8($10)
every 2 hours192km (119 miles)
Drive
2hrs
£32($38)
on demand186km (115 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between London and Birmingham

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Birmingham

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

BHX
Birmingham Airport (BHX)
International Airport
Distance
12km (7 miles) from Birmingham
EMA
East Midlands Airport (EMA)
International Airport
Distance
55km (34 miles) from Birmingham
MAN
Manchester Airport (MAN)
International Airport
Distance
101km (63 miles) from Birmingham