How to travel from Preston to Plymouth, United Kingdom

The distance between Preston and Plymouth is around 487km (303 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 4h 30m.

6 routes found

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

🚀 Fastest
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Train and Plane

Take the train to Manchester Airport then fly from Manchester (MAN) to Newquay (NQY) then take the train to Plymouth.

  • Duration4h 30m
  • Flight time1h 15m
  • Typical cost
    £160($190)
Operated by

Multiple operators

1 similiar route

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

2
train
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Train

Take the train to Birmingham New Street and then to Plymouth.

  • Duration5h 20m
  • Departsevery 2 hours
  • Typical cost
    £150($180)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

1 similiar route

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

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Digbeth Hinckley St and then to Plymouth Coach Station Armada Way.

  • Duration9h 45m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    £21($25)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

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car
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Drive

Drive to Plymouth.

  • Duration4h 60m
  • Distance487km (303 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Preston and Plymouth

There are several options for getting from Preston to Plymouth by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £21 ($25) and will take around 9h 45m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 4h 30m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £160 ($190).

The distance between Preston and Plymouth is around 487km (303 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 389km (242 miles)

It takes around 5h 20m to get from Preston and Plymouth by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4h 60m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Preston to Plymouth is to take the train and then fly which takes around 4h 30m and will set you back approx £160 ($190).

The cheapest way to travel between Preston and Plymouth, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £21 ($25) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Preston and Plymouth. It typically takes around 5h 20m and departs every 2 hours.

There are no direct train services that runs from Preston to Plymouth. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Birmingham New Street. These services run every 2 hours and will take a minimum of 5h 20m.

Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, Northern Rail, TransPennine Express Service, Transport for Wales and Great Western Railway run train services between Preston and Plymouth. Trains depart every 2 hours and will take around 5h 20m, 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 Plymouth. It typically takes around 9h 45m and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Preston to Plymouth. 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 9h 45m.

FlixBus and National Express run regular bus services between Preston and Plymouth. Buses run once daily and take around 9h 45m 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 Plymouth. We recommend that you take the train to Manchester Airport then fly from Manchester (MAN) to Newquay (NQY) then take the train to Plymouth. instead which will take 4h 30m.

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 Preston and Plymouth. The distance is around 487km (303 miles) by road and it will take around 4h 60m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Preston to Plymouth is to take the train which takes, on average, 5h 20m and will usually cost around £150 ($180).

How do I get from Preston to Plymouth

Compare travel optionsbetween Preston and Plymouth

Transport options from Preston to Plymouth
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane + 1 similar
4h 30m
£160($190)
every 4 hours537km (334 miles)
Train to Manchester Airport, plane5h 50m
£320($375)
hourly694km (431 miles)
Train + 1 similar
5h 20m
£150($180)
every 2 hours513km (319 miles)
Train via Manchester Piccadilly7h 40m
£170($200)
every 4 hours588km (365 miles)
Bus
9h 45m
£21($25)
once daily539km (335 miles)
Drive
4h 60m
£84($100)
on demand487km (303 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Preston and Plymouth

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