How to travel from Preston to Leicester, United Kingdom

The distance between Preston and Leicester is around 203km (126 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 Preston 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 LeicesterPreston if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
3 x train
+

Train

Take the train to Crewe then Nuneaton and then to Leicester.

  • Duration2h 10m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £52($62)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

1 similiar route

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

💰 Cheapest
2
bus
+
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Digbeth Hinckley St and then to Leicester St Margarets Bus Station.

  • Duration5hrs
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    £17($20)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

3
car
+

Drive

Drive to Leicester.

  • Duration2h 10m
  • Distance203km (126 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Preston and Leicester

There are several options for getting from Preston to Leicester by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £17 ($20) and will take around 5hrs. 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 £52 ($62).

The distance between Preston and Leicester is around 203km (126 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 163km (101 miles)

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

The quickest way to get from Preston to Leicester is to take the train which takes around 2h 10m and will set you back approx £52 ($62).

The cheapest way to travel between Preston and Leicester, 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 Preston and Leicester. It typically takes around 2h 10m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Preston to Leicester. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Crewe and Nuneaton. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 2h 10m.

Avanti West Coast, London Midland, CrossCountry, Northern Rail, TransPennine Express Service and East Midlands Railways run train services between Preston and Leicester. 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 Preston and Leicester. It typically takes around 5hrs and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Preston to Leicester. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Digbeth Hinckley St and Birmingham Coach Station Digbeth. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 5hrs.

FlixBus and National Express run regular bus services between Preston and Leicester. Buses run once daily and take around 5hrs on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Preston to Leicester. We recommend that you take the train to Crewe then Nuneaton and then to Leicester. instead which will take 2h 10m.

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 Preston and Leicester. The distance is around 203km (126 miles) by road and it will take around 2h 10m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Preston to Leicester is to take the train which takes, on average, 2h 10m and will usually cost around £52 ($62).

How do I get from Preston to Leicester

Compare travel optionsbetween Preston and Leicester

Transport options from Preston to Leicester
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train + 1 similar
2h 10m
£52($62)
hourly209km (130 miles)
Train via Manchester Piccadilly2h 50m
£51($60)
hourly223km (139 miles)
Bus
5hrs
£17($20)
once daily268km (166 miles)
Drive
2h 10m
£35($42)
on demand203km (126 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Preston 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