How to travel from Sunderland to Holyhead, United Kingdom

The distance between Sunderland and Holyhead is around 411km (255 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 4h 15m.

6 routes found

We've found 6 different ways to get from Sunderland to Holyhead by train, bus, car, plane and ferry. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

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

1
plane
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train
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Fly to Liverpool (LPL), Train

Fly from Newcastle (NCL) to Liverpool (LPL) then take the train to Holyhead.

  • Duration5h 15m
  • Flight time1h 45m
  • Typical cost
    £215($255)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2 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 Newton-le-Willows and then to Holyhead.

  • Duration5h 25m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £90($105)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

💰 Cheapest
3
3 x bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Manchester Coach Station Chorlton St then Bangor Gwynedd and then to Holyhead Clock.

  • Duration8h 35m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    £19($22)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

🚀 Fastest
4
car
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Drive

Drive to Holyhead.

  • Duration4h 15m
  • Distance411km (255 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Sunderland and Holyhead

There are several options for getting from Sunderland to Holyhead by train, bus, car, plane and ferry. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £19 ($22) and will take around 8h 35m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 4h 15m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £71 ($84).

The distance between Sunderland and Holyhead is around 411km (255 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 276km (172 miles)

It takes around 5h 25m to get from Sunderland and Holyhead by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4h 15m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Sunderland to Holyhead is to drive which takes around 4h 15m and will set you back approx £71 ($84).

The cheapest way to travel between Sunderland and Holyhead, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £19 ($22) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Sunderland and Holyhead. It typically takes around 5h 25m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Sunderland to Holyhead. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Newcastle, Newton-le-Willows and Chester. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 5h 25m.

TransPennine Express Service, Transport for Wales and Avanti West Coast run train services between Sunderland and Holyhead. Trains depart hourly and will take around 5h 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 Sunderland and Holyhead. It typically takes around 8h 35m and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Sunderland to Holyhead. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Manchester Coach Station Chorlton St and Bangor Gwynedd. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 8h 35m.

National Express and Arriva Cymru run regular bus services between Sunderland and Holyhead. Buses run once daily and take around 8h 35m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Sunderland to Holyhead. We recommend that you fly from Newcastle (NCL) to Manchester (MAN) then take the train to Chester and then to Holyhead. instead which will take 6hrs.

The closest major airport to Holyhead is Isle of Man Airport (IOM) (IOM) which is approximately 86km (54 miles) from Holyhead. Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL) (LPL) and Manchester Airport (MAN) (MAN) 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 Sunderland and Holyhead. The distance is around 411km (255 miles) by road and it will take around 4h 15m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Sunderland to Holyhead is to take the train which takes, on average, 5h 25m and will usually cost around £90 ($105).

How do I get from Sunderland to Holyhead

Compare travel optionsbetween Sunderland and Holyhead

Transport options from Sunderland to Holyhead
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Fly to Liverpool (LPL), Train + 2 similar
5h 15m
£215($255)
twice a week763km (474 miles)
Plane and Ferry5h 45m
£180($215)
twice a week503km (313 miles)
Plane and Train6hrs
£140($165)
twice a week856km (532 miles)
Train
5h 25m
£90($105)
hourly454km (282 miles)
Bus
8h 35m
£19($22)
once daily452km (281 miles)
Drive
4h 15m
£71($84)
on demand411km (255 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Sunderland and Holyhead

Bus companies

Train operators

Ferry operators

Airports near Holyhead

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

IOM
Isle of Man Airport (IOM)
Domestic Airport
Distance
86km (54 miles) from Holyhead
LPL
Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL)
International Airport
Distance
118km (73 miles) from Holyhead
MAN
Manchester Airport (MAN)
International Airport
Distance
157km (97 miles) from Holyhead