How to travel from Reading to Inverness, United Kingdom

The distance between Reading and Inverness is around 747km (464 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 50m.

10 routes found

We've found 10 different ways to get from Reading to Inverness by train, plane, bus and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out InvernessReading if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
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plane
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Train and Plane

Take the train to Hayes & Harlington then fly from London Heathrow (LHR) to Inverness (INV).

  • Duration2h 50m
  • Flight time1h 40m
  • Typical cost
    £155($185)
Operated by

Multiple operators

6 similiar routes

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 Inverness.

  • Duration8h 40m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    £110($135)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

💰 Cheapest
3
4 x bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Bristol Bond St, Dunbar Asda Spott Rd then Edinburgh Princes Street and then to Inverness.

  • Duration11h 35m
  • Departstwice a week
  • Typical cost
    £68($81)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

4
car
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Drive

Drive to Inverness.

  • Duration9h 15m
  • Distance863km (536 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Reading and Inverness

There are several options for getting from Reading to Inverness by train, plane, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £68 ($81) and will take around 11h 35m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 2h 50m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £155 ($185).

The distance between Reading and Inverness is around 747km (464 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 702km (436 miles)

It takes around 2h 50m to get from Reading and Inverness by train and plane. If you are travelling by car it will take around 9h 15m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Reading to Inverness is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 50m and will set you back approx £155 ($185).

The cheapest way to travel between Reading and Inverness, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £68 ($81) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Reading and Inverness. It typically takes around 8h 40m and departs once daily.

There are no direct train services that runs from Reading to Inverness. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in London Paddington and King's Cross St. Pancras station. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 8h 40m.

Great Western Railway, Elizabeth Line and LNER run train services between Reading and Inverness. Trains depart once daily and will take around 8h 40m, 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 Inverness. It typically takes around 11h 35m and departs twice a week.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Reading to Inverness. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Bristol Bond St, Dunbar Asda Spott Rd and Edinburgh Princes Street. These services run twice a week and will take a minimum of 11h 35m.

Megabus UK, East Coast Buses and Scottish Citylink run regular bus services between Reading and Inverness. Buses run twice a week and take around 11h 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 Inverness. We recommend that you take the train to Hayes & Harlington then fly from London Heathrow (LHR) to Inverness (INV). instead which will take 2h 50m.

The closest major airport to Inverness is Inverness Airport (INV) (INV) which is approximately 12km (7 miles) from Inverness. Aberdeen Airport (ABZ) (ABZ) and Dundee Airport (DND) (DND) 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 Inverness. The distance is around 863km (536 miles) by road and it will take around 9h 15m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Reading to Inverness is to take the train and then fly which takes, on average, 2h 50m and will usually cost around £155 ($185).

How do I get from Reading to Inverness

Compare travel optionsbetween Reading and Inverness

Transport options from Reading to Inverness
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane + 6 similar
2h 50m
£155($185)
every 2 hours776km (482 miles)
Train to London Paddington, plane3h 15m
£160($185)
every 2 hours802km (499 miles)
Train to Birmingham International, Fly3h 20m
£230($270)
every 2 hours747km (464 miles)
Train to Bristol Temple Meads, Fly3h 30m
£125($145)
every 2 hours851km (529 miles)
Train to Gatwick Airport, Fly3h 40m
£105($120)
every 2 hours853km (530 miles)
Train to Hayes & Harlington, plane4h 35m
£220($260)
every 3 hours856km (532 miles)
Train to Hayes & Harlington, plane6hrs
£205($240)
5 times a day886km (550 miles)
Train
8h 40m
£110($135)
once daily988km (614 miles)
Bus
11h 35m
£68($81)
twice a week1,049km (652 miles)
Drive
9h 15m
£100($115)
on demand863km (536 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Reading and Inverness

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Inverness

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

INV
Inverness Airport (INV)
International Airport
Distance
12km (7 miles) from Inverness
ABZ
Aberdeen Airport (ABZ)
International Airport
Distance
125km (78 miles) from Inverness
DND
Dundee Airport (DND)
Domestic Airport
Distance
136km (84 miles) from Inverness