How to travel from Reading to Liverpool, United Kingdom

The distance between Reading and Liverpool is around 298km (185 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 3h 5m.

8 routes found

We've found 8 different ways to get from Reading to Liverpool 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 LiverpoolReading if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
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Train

Take the train to Stafford and then to Liverpool Lime Street.

  • Duration3h 5m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £95($115)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

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train
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plane
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Train to Hayes & Harlington, plane

Take the train to Hayes & Harlington then fly from London Heathrow (LHR) to Manchester (MAN) then take the train to Liverpool Lime Street.

  • Duration3h 10m
  • Flight time1hr
  • Typical cost
    £145($170)
Operated by

Multiple operators

3 similiar routes

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

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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Birmingham Navigation Street and then to Liverpool.

  • Duration4h 45m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    £25($30)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

1 similiar route

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

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car
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Drive

Drive to Liverpool One.

  • Duration3h 25m
  • Distance316km (196 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Reading and Liverpool

There are several options for getting from Reading to Liverpool by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £22 ($26) and will take around 5h 40m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 3h 5m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £95 ($115).

The distance between Reading and Liverpool is around 298km (185 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 257km (159 miles)

It takes around 3h 5m to get from Reading and Liverpool by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3h 25m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Reading to Liverpool is to take the train which takes around 3h 5m and will set you back approx £95 ($115).

The cheapest way to travel between Reading and Liverpool, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £22 ($26) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Reading and Liverpool. It typically takes around 3h 5m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Reading to Liverpool. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Stafford. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 3h 5m.

CrossCountry, Avanti West Coast and London Midland run train services between Reading and Liverpool. Trains depart hourly and will take around 3h 5m, 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 Liverpool. It typically takes around 4h 45m and departs once daily.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Reading and Liverpool with no changeovers required. The bus runs twice daily and takes 5h 40m.

Megabus UK and FlixBus run regular bus services between Reading and Liverpool. Buses run once daily and take around 4h 45m 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 Liverpool. We recommend that you take the train to Hayes & Harlington then fly from London Heathrow (LHR) to Liverpool (LPL). instead which will take 3h 10m.

The closest major airport to Liverpool is Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL) (LPL) which is approximately 12km (7 miles) from Liverpool. Manchester Airport (MAN) (MAN) and Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) (LBA) 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 Liverpool. The distance is around 316km (196 miles) by road and it will take around 3h 25m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Reading to Liverpool is to take the train which takes, on average, 3h 5m and will usually cost around £95 ($115).

How do I get from Reading to Liverpool

Compare travel optionsbetween Reading and Liverpool

Transport options from Reading to Liverpool
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
3h 5m
£95($115)
hourly298km (185 miles)
Train to Hayes & Harlington, plane + 3 similar
3h 10m
£145($170)
hourly357km (222 miles)
Train and Plane3h 10m
£270($320)
hourly608km (378 miles)
Train to Southampton Airport Parkway, plane3h 20m
£265($310)
every 3 hours411km (256 miles)
Train to Gatwick Airport, plane4hrs
£170($200)
hourly435km (270 miles)
Bus + 1 similar
4h 45m
£25($30)
once daily312km (194 miles)
Bus to Liverpool One5h 40m
£22($26)
twice daily340km (211 miles)
Drive
3h 25m
£36($43)
on demand316km (196 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Reading and Liverpool

Airlines

Train operators

Airports near Liverpool

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

LPL
Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL)
International Airport
Distance
12km (7 miles) from Liverpool
MAN
Manchester Airport (MAN)
International Airport
Distance
48km (30 miles) from Liverpool
LBA
Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA)
International Airport
Distance
102km (63 miles) from Liverpool