How to travel from London to Leicester, United Kingdom

The distance between London and Leicester is around 158km (98 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 1h 5m.

3 routes found

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

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+

Train

Take the train to Leicester.

  • Duration1h 5m
  • Departsevery 20 mins
  • Typical cost
    £34($40)
Operated by

East Midlands Railways

💰 Cheapest
2
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Leicester St Margarets Bus Station.

  • Duration2h 45m
  • Departsevery 2 hours
  • Typical cost
    £8($9)
Operated byNational Express+ 1 others
3
car
+

Drive

Drive to Leicester.

  • Duration1h 45m
  • Distance160km (100 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between London and Leicester

There are several options for getting from London to Leicester by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £8 ($9) and will take around 2h 45m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 1h 5m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £34 ($40).

The distance between London and Leicester is around 158km (98 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 143km (89 miles)

It takes around 1h 5m to get from London and Leicester by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 1h 45m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from London to Leicester is to take the train which takes around 1h 5m and will set you back approx £34 ($40).

The cheapest way to travel between London and Leicester, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £8 ($9) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between London and Leicester. It typically takes around 1h 5m and departs every 20 mins.

Yes there is a direct train service that runs between London and Leicester with no changeovers required. The train runs every 20 mins and takes 1h 5m.

East Midlands Railways run train services between London and Leicester. Trains depart every 20 mins and will take around 1h 5m, 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 Leicester. It typically takes around 2h 45m and departs every 2 hours.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between London and Leicester with no changeovers required. The bus runs every 2 hours and takes 2h 45m.

National Express and FlixBus run regular bus services between London and Leicester. Buses run every 2 hours and take around 2h 45m 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 Leicester. We recommend that you take the train to Leicester. instead which will take 1h 5m.

The closest major airport to Leicester is East Midlands Airport (EMA) (EMA) which is approximately 25km (15 miles) from Leicester. Birmingham Airport (BHX) (BHX) and Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) (DSA) 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 Leicester. The distance is around 160km (100 miles) by road and it will take around 1h 45m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from London to Leicester is to take the train which takes, on average, 1h 5m and will usually cost around £34 ($40).

How do I get from London to Leicester

Compare travel optionsbetween London and Leicester

Transport options from London to Leicester
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
1h 5m
£34($40)
every 20 mins158km (98 miles)
Bus
2h 45m
£8($9)
every 2 hours164km (102 miles)
Drive
1h 45m
£28($33)
on demand160km (100 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between London and Leicester

Train operators

Airports near Leicester

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

EMA
East Midlands Airport (EMA)
International Airport
Distance
25km (15 miles) from Leicester
BHX
Birmingham Airport (BHX)
International Airport
Distance
45km (28 miles) from Leicester
DSA
Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA)
International Airport
Distance
94km (59 miles) from Leicester