How to travel from Plymouth to Ipswich, United Kingdom

The distance between Plymouth and Ipswich is around 478km (297 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the bus, then fly and then take the train which takes around 3h 10m.

6 routes found

We've found 6 different ways to get from Plymouth to Ipswich 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 IpswichPlymouth if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
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Bus to Exeter Sidmouth Road, plane and train

Take the bus to Exeter Sidmouth Road then fly from Exeter (EXT) to Norwich (NWI) then take the train to Ipswich.

  • Duration3h 10m
  • Flight time1hr
  • Typical cost
    £455($535)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2 similiar routes

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

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Train

Take the train to London Paddington and then to Ipswich.

  • Duration4h 50m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £120($145)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

💰 Cheapest
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Bus

Take the bus to London Victoria Coach Station and then to Ipswich.

  • Duration9hrs
  • Departsevery 20 mins
  • Typical cost
    £17($20)
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Drive

Drive to Ipswich.

  • Duration5h 15m
  • Distance491km (305 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Plymouth and Ipswich

There are several options for getting from Plymouth to Ipswich by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £17 ($20) and will take around 9hrs. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the bus, then fly and then take the train and arrive in approximately 3h 10m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £455 ($535).

The distance between Plymouth and Ipswich is around 478km (297 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 414km (257 miles)

It takes around 4h 50m to get from Plymouth and Ipswich by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 5h 15m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Plymouth to Ipswich is to take the bus, then fly and then take the train which takes around 3h 10m and will set you back approx £455 ($535).

The cheapest way to travel between Plymouth and Ipswich, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £17 ($20) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Plymouth and Ipswich. It typically takes around 4h 50m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Plymouth to Ipswich. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in London Paddington, Liverpool Street Station and London Liverpool Street. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 4h 50m.

Great Western Railway and Greater Anglia run train services between Plymouth and Ipswich. Trains depart hourly and will take around 4h 50m, 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 Plymouth and Ipswich. It typically takes around 9hrs and departs every 20 mins.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Plymouth to Ipswich. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in London Victoria Coach Station. These services run every 20 mins and will take a minimum of 9hrs.

National Express run regular bus services between Plymouth and Ipswich. Buses run every 20 mins and take around 9hrs on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Plymouth to Ipswich. We recommend that you take the bus to Exeter Sidmouth Road then fly from Exeter (EXT) to London Heathrow (LHR) then take the train to Ipswich. instead which will take 6hrs.

The closest major airport to Ipswich is London Stansted Airport (STN) (STN) which is approximately 64km (40 miles) from Ipswich. Norwich International Airport (NWI) (NWI) and Cambridge Airport (CBG) (CBG) 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 Plymouth and Ipswich. The distance is around 491km (305 miles) by road and it will take around 5h 15m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Plymouth to Ipswich is to take the train which takes, on average, 4h 50m and will usually cost around £120 ($145).

How do I get from Plymouth to Ipswich

Compare travel optionsbetween Plymouth and Ipswich

Transport options from Plymouth to Ipswich
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Bus to Exeter Sidmouth Road, plane and train + 2 similar
3h 10m
£455($535)
hourly548km (341 miles)
Bus to Newquay, plane and train5h 5m
£200($235)
twice daily598km (371 miles)
Bus, Plane and Train6hrs
£675($800)
every 30 mins1,348km (837 miles)
Train
4h 50m
£120($145)
hourly478km (297 miles)
Bus
9hrs
£17($20)
every 20 mins497km (309 miles)
Drive
5h 15m
£85($100)
on demand491km (305 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Plymouth and Ipswich

Airlines

Train operators

Airports near Ipswich

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

STN
London Stansted Airport (STN)
International Airport
Distance
64km (40 miles) from Ipswich
NWI
Norwich International Airport (NWI)
International Airport
Distance
69km (43 miles) from Ipswich
CBG
Cambridge Airport (CBG)
Domestic Airport
Distance
69km (43 miles) from Ipswich