How to travel from Reading to Dover, United Kingdom

The distance between Reading and Dover is around 185km (115 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 1h 45m.

5 routes found

We've found 5 different ways to get from Reading to Dover 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 DoverReading if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
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train
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Train

Take the train to London Paddington and then to Dover Priory.

  • Duration1h 45m
  • Departsevery 3 hours
  • Typical cost
    £61($72)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

2 similiar routes

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

💰 Cheapest
2
bus
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Heathrow Airport Heathrow Central Bus Stn and then to Canterbury.

  • Duration4h 50m
  • Departsevery 3 hours
  • Typical cost
    £21($25)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

3
car
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Drive

Drive to Dover.

  • Duration1h 60m
  • Distance189km (117 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Reading and Dover

There are several options for getting from Reading to Dover by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £21 ($25) and will take around 4h 50m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 1h 45m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £61 ($72).

The distance between Reading and Dover is around 185km (115 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 163km (101 miles)

It takes around 1h 45m to get from Reading and Dover by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 1h 60m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Reading to Dover is to take the train which takes around 1h 45m and will set you back approx £61 ($72).

The cheapest way to travel between Reading and Dover, 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 Reading and Dover. It typically takes around 1h 45m and departs every 3 hours.

There are no direct train services that runs from Reading to Dover. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in London Paddington, King's Cross St. Pancras station and St Pancras International. These services run every 3 hours and will take a minimum of 1h 45m.

Great Western Railway, Elizabeth Line, South Eastern Trains Service and South Western Railway run train services between Reading and Dover. Trains depart every 3 hours and will take around 1h 45m, 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 Dover. It typically takes around 4h 50m and departs every 3 hours.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Reading to Dover. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Heathrow Airport Heathrow Central Bus Stn, London Victoria Coach Station and Canterbury. These services run every 3 hours and will take a minimum of 4h 50m.

First Berkshire & The Thames Valley and National Express run regular bus services between Reading and Dover. Buses run every 3 hours and take around 4h 50m 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 Dover. We recommend that you take the train to London Paddington and then to Dover Priory. instead which will take 1h 45m.

The closest major airport to Dover is London City Airport (LCY) (LCY) which is approximately 97km (61 miles) from Dover. Gatwick Airport (LGW) (LGW) 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 Reading and Dover. The distance is around 189km (117 miles) by road and it will take around 1h 60m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Reading to Dover is to take the train which takes, on average, 1h 45m and will usually cost around £61 ($72).

How do I get from Reading to Dover

Compare travel optionsbetween Reading and Dover

Transport options from Reading to Dover
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train + 2 similar
1h 45m
£61($72)
every 3 hours185km (115 miles)
Train via London Paddington2h 35m
£61($72)
hourly185km (115 miles)
Train via London Waterloo3h 10m
£66($78)
hourly192km (119 miles)
Bus
4h 50m
£21($25)
every 3 hours214km (133 miles)
Drive
1h 60m
£33($39)
on demand189km (117 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Reading and Dover

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Dover

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

LCY
London City Airport (LCY)
International Airport
Distance
97km (61 miles) from Dover
LGW
Gatwick Airport (LGW)
International Airport
Distance
104km (65 miles) from Dover
STN
London Stansted Airport (STN)
International Airport
Distance
112km (69 miles) from Dover