How to travel from Reading to Carlisle, United Kingdom

The distance between Reading and Carlisle is around 467km (290 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 35m.

10 routes found

We've found 10 different ways to get from Reading to Carlisle 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 CarlisleReading if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
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plane
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Train to London Paddington, plane

Take the train to London Paddington then fly from London Heathrow (LHR) to Glasgow (GLA) then take the train to Carlisle.

  • Duration3h 35m
  • Flight time1h 30m
  • Typical cost
    £290($340)
Operated by

Multiple operators

6 similiar routes

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

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train
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Train

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

  • Duration4h 25m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £135($160)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Carlisle.

  • Duration7h 10m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    £13($15)
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car
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Drive

Drive to Carlisle.

  • Duration4h 60m
  • Distance470km (292 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Reading and Carlisle

There are several options for getting from Reading to Carlisle by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £13 ($15) and will take around 7h 10m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 3h 35m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £290 ($340).

The distance between Reading and Carlisle is around 467km (290 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 404km (251 miles)

It takes around 4h 25m to get from Reading and Carlisle by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4h 60m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Reading to Carlisle is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 35m and will set you back approx £290 ($340).

The cheapest way to travel between Reading and Carlisle, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £13 ($15) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Reading and Carlisle. It typically takes around 4h 25m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Reading to Carlisle. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Birmingham New Street. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 4h 25m.

CrossCountry and Avanti West Coast run train services between Reading and Carlisle. Trains depart hourly and will take around 4h 25m, 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 Carlisle. It typically takes around 7h 10m and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Reading to Carlisle. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Heathrow Airport Heathrow Central Bus Stn. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 7h 10m.

National Express run regular bus services between Reading and Carlisle. 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 Reading to Carlisle. We recommend that you take the train to London Paddington then fly from London City (LCY) to Edinburgh (EDI) then take the train to Carlisle. instead which will take 3h 40m.

The closest major airport to Carlisle is Newcastle International Airport (NCL) (NCL) which is approximately 80km (50 miles) from Carlisle. Teesside International Airport (MME) (MME) and Edinburgh Airport (EDI) (EDI) 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 Carlisle. The distance is around 470km (292 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 Reading to Carlisle is to take the train which takes, on average, 4h 25m and will usually cost around £135 ($160).

How do I get from Reading to Carlisle

Compare travel optionsbetween Reading and Carlisle

Transport options from Reading to Carlisle
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train to London Paddington, plane + 6 similar
3h 35m
£290($340)
hourly811km (504 miles)
Train to London Paddington, plane3h 35m
£245($290)
every 2 hours784km (487 miles)
Train and Plane3h 40m
£240($280)
every 2 hours789km (491 miles)
Train to Southampton Airport Parkway, plane3h 40m
£240($285)
once daily633km (393 miles)
Train to London Paddington, plane3h 40m
£310($365)
once daily595km (370 miles)
Train to London Paddington, plane3h 50m
£250($295)
every 4 hours535km (332 miles)
Train to London Paddington, plane4hrs
£185($215)
every 2 hours777km (483 miles)
Train
4h 25m
£135($160)
hourly467km (290 miles)
Bus
7h 10m
£13($15)
once daily545km (339 miles)
Drive
4h 60m
£81($95)
on demand470km (292 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Reading and Carlisle

Train operators

Airports near Carlisle

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

NCL
Newcastle International Airport (NCL)
International Airport
Distance
80km (50 miles) from Carlisle
MME
Teesside International Airport (MME)
Domestic Airport
Distance
105km (66 miles) from Carlisle
EDI
Edinburgh Airport (EDI)
International Airport
Distance
120km (75 miles) from Carlisle