How to travel from London to Plymouth, United Kingdom

The distance between London and Plymouth is around 346km (215 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 3h 10m.

5 routes found

We've found 5 different ways to get from London to Plymouth 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 PlymouthLondon if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+

Train

Take the train to Plymouth.

  • Duration3h 10m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £95($110)

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 Plymouth Coach Station Armada Way.

  • Duration5h 25m
  • Departsevery 20 mins
  • Typical cost
    £11($13)
Operated byNational Express+ 2 others
3
train
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plane
+
train
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Train and Plane

Take the train to Gatwick Airport then fly from London Gatwick (LGW) to Exeter (EXT) then take the train to Plymouth.

  • Duration6h 60m
  • Flight time4h 45m
  • Typical cost
    £170($205)
Operated by

Multiple operators

4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Plymouth.

  • Duration3h 50m
  • Distance346km (215 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between London and Plymouth

There are several options for getting from London to Plymouth by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £11 ($13) and will take around 5h 25m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 3h 10m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £95 ($110).

The distance between London and Plymouth is around 346km (215 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 308km (192 miles)

It takes around 3h 10m to get from London and Plymouth by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3h 50m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from London to Plymouth is to take the train which takes around 3h 10m and will set you back approx £95 ($110).

The cheapest way to travel between London and Plymouth, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £11 ($13) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between London and Plymouth. It typically takes around 3h 10m and departs hourly.

Yes there is a direct train service that runs between London and Plymouth with no changeovers required. The train runs hourly and takes 3h 10m.

Great Western Railway, South Western Railway and CrossCountry run train services between London and Plymouth. Trains depart hourly and will take around 3h 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 Plymouth. It typically takes around 5h 25m and departs every 20 mins.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between London and Plymouth with no changeovers required. The bus runs every 20 mins and takes 5h 25m.

National Express, Megabus UK and FlixBus run regular bus services between London and Plymouth. Buses run every 20 mins and take around 5h 25m 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 Plymouth. We recommend that you take the train to Gatwick Airport then fly from London Gatwick (LGW) to Exeter (EXT) then take the train to Plymouth. instead which will take 6h 60m.

The closest major airport to Plymouth is Newquay Cornwall Airport (NQY) (NQY) which is approximately 61km (38 miles) from Plymouth. Exeter Airport (EXT) (EXT) and Cardiff Airport (CWL) (CWL) 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 Plymouth. The distance is around 346km (215 miles) by road and it will take around 3h 50m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from London to Plymouth is to take the train which takes, on average, 3h 10m and will usually cost around £95 ($110).

How do I get from London to Plymouth

Compare travel optionsbetween London and Plymouth

Transport options from London to Plymouth
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train + 1 similar
3h 10m
£95($110)
hourly361km (224 miles)
Train via Exeter St Davids4h 30m
£115($135)
hourly359km (223 miles)
Bus
5h 25m
£11($13)
every 20 mins359km (223 miles)
Train and Plane
6h 60m
£170($205)
hourly2,971km (1,846 miles)
Drive
3h 50m
£40($47)
on demand346km (215 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between London and Plymouth

Airlines

Train operators

Airports near Plymouth

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

NQY
Newquay Cornwall Airport (NQY)
Domestic Airport
Distance
61km (38 miles) from Plymouth
EXT
Exeter Airport (EXT)
International Airport
Distance
65km (41 miles) from Plymouth
CWL
Cardiff Airport (CWL)
Domestic Airport
Distance
127km (79 miles) from Plymouth