How to travel from London to Leeds, United Kingdom

The distance between London and Leeds is around 298km (185 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 2h 10m.

4 routes found

We've found 4 different ways to get from London to Leeds 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 LeedsLondon if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+

Train

Take the train to Leeds.

  • Duration2h 10m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £30($35)
Operated by

LNER

1 similiar route

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

💰 Cheapest
2
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Leeds City Centre Bus Stn stand 1.

  • Duration4h 40m
  • Departsevery 4 hours
  • Typical cost
    £23($27)
Operated byMegabus UK+ 2 others
3
car
+

Drive

Drive to Leeds Coach Station.

  • Duration3h 15m
  • Distance311km (193 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between London and Leeds

There are several options for getting from London to Leeds by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £23 ($27) and will take around 4h 40m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 2h 10m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £30 ($35).

The distance between London and Leeds is around 298km (185 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 272km (169 miles)

It takes around 2h 10m to get from London and Leeds by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3h 15m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from London to Leeds is to take the train which takes around 2h 10m and will set you back approx £30 ($35).

The cheapest way to travel between London and Leeds, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £23 ($27) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between London and Leeds. It typically takes around 2h 10m and departs hourly.

Yes there is a direct train service that runs between London and Leeds with no changeovers required. The train runs hourly and takes 2h 10m.

LNER, East Midlands Railways, CrossCountry and Northern Rail run train services between London and Leeds. Trains depart hourly and will take around 2h 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 London and Leeds. It typically takes around 4h 40m and departs every 4 hours.

There are no direct bus services that runs from London to Leeds. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in South Hampstead Finchley Road O2 Centre. These services run every 4 hours and will take a minimum of 4h 40m.

Megabus UK, National Express and FlixBus run regular bus services between London and Leeds. Buses run every 4 hours and take around 4h 40m 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 Leeds. We recommend that you take the train to Leeds. instead which will take 2h 10m.

The closest major airport to Leeds is Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) (LBA) which is approximately 11km (7 miles) from Leeds. Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) (DSA) 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 Leeds. The distance is around 311km (193 miles) by road and it will take around 3h 15m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from London to Leeds is to take the train which takes, on average, 2h 10m and will usually cost around £30 ($35).

How do I get from London to Leeds

Compare travel optionsbetween London and Leeds

Transport options from London to Leeds
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train + 1 similar
2h 10m
£30($35)
hourly298km (185 miles)
Train via Sheffield2h 50m
£84($100)
hourly324km (201 miles)
Bus
4h 40m
£23($27)
every 4 hours317km (197 miles)
Drive
3h 15m
£35($42)
on demand311km (193 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between London and Leeds

Train operators

Airports near Leeds

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

LBA
Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA)
International Airport
Distance
11km (7 miles) from Leeds
DSA
Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA)
International Airport
Distance
50km (31 miles) from Leeds
MAN
Manchester Airport (MAN)
International Airport
Distance
68km (42 miles) from Leeds