How to travel from Reading to Bradford, United Kingdom

The distance between Reading and Bradford is around 324km (201 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3hrs.

6 routes found

We've found 6 different ways to get from Reading to Bradford 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 BradfordReading if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
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train
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plane
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Train and Plane

Take the train to London Paddington then fly from London Heathrow (LHR) to Manchester (MAN) then take the train to Bradford Interchange.

  • Duration3hrs
  • Flight time1hr
  • Typical cost
    £260($305)
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
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Train

Take the train to London Paddington and then to Leeds.

  • Duration3hrs
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £53($63)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

3
bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Bradford Interchange station.

  • Duration6h 35m
  • Departsonce a week
  • Typical cost
    £22($26)

1 similiar route

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

4
car
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Drive

Drive to Bradford.

  • Duration3h 30m
  • Distance324km (201 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Reading and Bradford

There are several options for getting from Reading to Bradford by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £17 ($20) and will take around 6h 50m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 3hrs, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £260 ($305).

The distance between Reading and Bradford is around 324km (201 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 265km (165 miles)

It takes around 3hrs to get from Reading and Bradford by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3h 30m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Reading to Bradford is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3hrs and will set you back approx £260 ($305).

The cheapest way to travel between Reading and Bradford, 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 Reading and Bradford. It typically takes around 3hrs and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Reading to Bradford. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in London Paddington, King's Cross St. Pancras station and Leeds. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 3hrs.

Great Western Railway, Elizabeth Line and LNER run train services between Reading and Bradford. Trains depart hourly and will take around 3hrs, 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 Reading and Bradford. It typically takes around 6h 35m and departs once a week.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Reading and Bradford with no changeovers required. The bus runs once a week and takes 6h 35m.

Megabus UK and FlixBus run regular bus services between Reading and Bradford. Buses run once a week and take around 6h 35m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Reading to Bradford. We recommend that you take the train to London Paddington then fly from London Heathrow (LHR) to Manchester (MAN) then take the train to Bradford Interchange. instead which will take 3hrs.

The closest major airport to Bradford is Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) (LBA) which is approximately 10km (6 miles) from Bradford. Manchester Airport (MAN) (MAN) 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 Reading and Bradford. The distance is around 324km (201 miles) by road and it will take around 3h 30m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Reading to Bradford is to take the train which takes, on average, 3hrs and will usually cost around £53 ($63).

How do I get from Reading to Bradford

Compare travel optionsbetween Reading and Bradford

Transport options from Reading to Bradford
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane + 1 similar
3hrs
£260($305)
hourly409km (254 miles)
Train to Southampton Airport Parkway, plane3h 10m
£265($310)
every 2 hours428km (266 miles)
Train
3hrs
£53($63)
hourly374km (232 miles)
Bus + 1 similar
6h 35m
£22($26)
once a week379km (236 miles)
Bus to Bradford - Bridge Street6h 50m
£17($20)
once daily399km (248 miles)
Drive
3h 30m
£57($67)
on demand324km (201 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Reading and Bradford

Train operators

Airlines

Airports near Bradford

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

LBA
Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA)
International Airport
Distance
10km (6 miles) from Bradford
MAN
Manchester Airport (MAN)
International Airport
Distance
59km (37 miles) from Bradford
DSA
Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA)
International Airport
Distance
60km (37 miles) from Bradford