How to travel from Preston to Luton, United Kingdom

The distance between Preston and Luton is around 303km (188 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 3h 5m.

6 routes found

We've found 6 different ways to get from Preston to Luton 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 LutonPreston if you're planning a return trip.

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train
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plane
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Train to Warrington Bank Quay, Fly

Take the train to Warrington Bank Quay then fly from Liverpool (LPL) to London Luton (LTN).

  • Duration3h 25m
  • Flight time2hrs
  • Typical cost
    £150($180)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2 similiar routes

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

2
4 x train
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Train

Take the train to Manchester Piccadilly, Nottingham then Kettering and then to Luton.

  • Duration4h 15m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £86($100)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Finchley Road Station and then to Luton Station Interchange.

  • Duration7h 10m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    £30($35)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

🚀 Fastest
4
car
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Drive

Drive to Luton.

  • Duration3h 5m
  • Distance303km (188 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Preston and Luton

There are several options for getting from Preston to Luton by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £30 ($35) and will take around 7h 10m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 3h 5m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £52 ($62).

The distance between Preston and Luton is around 303km (188 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 259km (161 miles)

It takes around 4h 15m to get from Preston and Luton by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3h 5m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Preston to Luton is to drive which takes around 3h 5m and will set you back approx £52 ($62).

The cheapest way to travel between Preston and Luton, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £30 ($35) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Preston and Luton. It typically takes around 4h 15m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Preston to Luton. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Manchester Piccadilly, Nottingham and Kettering. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 4h 15m.

Northern Rail, TransPennine Express Service and East Midlands Railways run train services between Preston and Luton. Trains depart hourly and will take around 4h 15m, 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 Luton. It typically takes around 7h 10m and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Preston to Luton. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Finchley Road Station. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 7h 10m.

FlixBus, Arriva UK and Green Line run regular bus services between Preston and Luton. Buses run once daily and take around 7h 10m 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 Luton. We recommend that you take the train to Manchester Airport then fly from Manchester (MAN) to London Heathrow (LHR) then take the train to Luton. instead which will take 3h 30m.

The closest major airport to Luton is London Luton Airport (LTN) (LTN) which is approximately 3km (2 miles) from Luton. Heathrow Airport (LHR) (LHR) and London Stansted Airport (STN) (STN) 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 Luton. The distance is around 303km (188 miles) by road and it will take around 3h 5m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Preston to Luton is to take the train which takes, on average, 4h 15m and will usually cost around £86 ($100).

How do I get from Preston to Luton

Compare travel optionsbetween Preston and Luton

Transport options from Preston to Luton
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train to Warrington Bank Quay, Fly + 2 similar
3h 25m
£150($180)
hourly836km (519 miles)
Train and Plane3h 30m
£255($300)
hourly389km (242 miles)
Train to Haymarket, Fly4h 15m
£185($215)
every 2 hours811km (504 miles)
Train
4h 15m
£86($100)
hourly337km (209 miles)
Bus
7h 10m
£30($35)
once daily437km (272 miles)
Drive
3h 5m
£52($62)
on demand303km (188 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Preston and Luton

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Luton

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

LTN
London Luton Airport (LTN)
International Airport
Distance
3km (2 miles) from Luton
LHR
Heathrow Airport (LHR)
International Airport
Distance
46km (28 miles) from Luton
STN
London Stansted Airport (STN)
International Airport
Distance
47km (29 miles) from Luton