How to travel from Sunderland to Leicester, United Kingdom

The distance between Sunderland and Leicester is around 287km (178 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 2h 60m.

4 routes found

We've found 4 different ways to get from Sunderland to Leicester 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 LeicesterSunderland if you're planning a return trip.

1
train
+
train
+

Train

Take the train to Sheffield and then to Leicester.

  • Duration3h 10m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £95($115)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

💰 Cheapest
2
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Nottingham Station Street.

  • Duration4h 55m
  • Departstwice daily
  • Typical cost
    £14($16)
3
plane
+

Fly

Fly from Newcastle (NCL) to East Midlands (EMA).

  • Duration6h 25m
  • Flight time5hrs
  • Typical cost
    £110($130)
Operated byRyanair+ 2 others
🚀 Fastest
4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Leicester.

  • Duration2h 60m
  • Distance287km (178 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Sunderland and Leicester

There are several options for getting from Sunderland to Leicester by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £14 ($16) and will take around 4h 55m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 2h 60m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £50 ($59).

The distance between Sunderland and Leicester is around 287km (178 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 253km (157 miles)

It takes around 3h 10m to get from Sunderland and Leicester by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 2h 60m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Sunderland to Leicester is to drive which takes around 2h 60m and will set you back approx £50 ($59).

The cheapest way to travel between Sunderland and Leicester, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £14 ($16) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Sunderland and Leicester. It typically takes around 3h 10m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Sunderland to Leicester. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Newcastle and Sheffield. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 3h 10m.

CrossCountry and East Midlands Railways run train services between Sunderland and Leicester. Trains depart hourly and will take around 3h 10m, 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 Leicester. It typically takes around 4h 55m and departs twice daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Sunderland to Leicester. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Nottingham Station Street. These services run twice daily and will take a minimum of 4h 55m.

National Express run regular bus services between Sunderland and Leicester. Buses run twice daily and take around 4h 55m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

Yes you can fly from Sunderland and Leicester. Flights depart from Newcastle (NCL) and arrive at East Midlands (EMA) - via Riga (RIX). The flight takes around 5hrs.

There is no direct flight from Sunderland to Leicester. There is however a flight that goes via Riga (RIX). This services will take at least 6h 25m (not including layover time).

The flight from Sunderland to Leicester typically takes around 5hrs. Flights depart from Newcastle (NCL) and and arrive into East Midlands (EMA).

The closest major airport to Leicester is East Midlands Airport (EMA) (EMA) which is approximately 25km (15 miles) from Leicester. Birmingham Airport (BHX) (BHX) and Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) (DSA) 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 Leicester. The distance is around 287km (178 miles) by road and it will take around 2h 60m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Sunderland to Leicester is to take the train which takes, on average, 3h 10m and will usually cost around £95 ($115).

How do I get from Sunderland to Leicester

Compare travel optionsbetween Sunderland and Leicester

Transport options from Sunderland to Leicester
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
3h 10m
£95($115)
hourly333km (207 miles)
Bus
4h 55m
£14($16)
twice daily310km (193 miles)
Fly
6h 25m
£110($130)
twice a week3,345km (2,078 miles)
Drive
2h 60m
£50($59)
on demand287km (178 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Sunderland and Leicester

Train operators

Airports near Leicester

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

EMA
East Midlands Airport (EMA)
International Airport
Distance
25km (15 miles) from Leicester
BHX
Birmingham Airport (BHX)
International Airport
Distance
45km (28 miles) from Leicester
DSA
Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA)
International Airport
Distance
94km (59 miles) from Leicester