Birmingham to Belfast bus with National Express

Buses from Birmingham to Belfast

National Express runs coaches from Birmingham to Belfast. There are 2 buses a day available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while only 1 bus a day makes the journey on Saturdays, Tuesday, Thursday, and Sundays. The total journey from Birmingham to Belfast via bus can take an approximate time of 14h and 35min to 15h and 30min.

Birmingham to Belfast Bus Time: Daily Departures

There are departures on every day of the week from Birmingham to Belfast. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, the buses depart twice daily: once at around 7:30 a.m. and then at around 11:00 p.m. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, a single bus departs from Birmingham at around 7:30 a.m. Finally, on Saturdays and Sundays, a single bus departs from Birmingham at the later time of around 7:45 a.m.

How long is the journey by bus from Birmingham to Belfast?

How long the journey from Birmingham to Belfast usually takes will depend on which day and which time of the day you book your coach. On Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursday, and Fridays, the coach which departs Birmingham at around 7:30 a.m. will take around 14h and 50min to arrive at Belfast at around 10:20 p.m. On Saturday and Sundays, the coach which departs at around 7:45 a.m. will take around 14h and 35min to arrive at Belfast at the same time of around 10:20 p.m.

Finally, the late evening coach which departs Birmingham at around 11:00 p.m. will take around 15h and 30min to arrive at Belfast at around 2:30 p.m. the next day. All the journeys have a change over at Buchanan Bus Station in Glasgow, with a waiting time of 30min for the morning departures, and a longer 1h and 45min for departures at around 11:00 p.m.

What are the departure and arrival stations for buses from Birmingham to Belfast?

Departure bus station: Birmingham Coach Station. The departure bus station will be the Birmingham Coach Station, which is 3.1 miles (5km) from the city centre by car, but only a 0.7 of a mile (1km) and 15min away when walking, and around 9min via bus. The coach station is equipped with the following facilities: automated ticket machines, eateries, toilets, coffee shops, newsagents, charging points, cash machines, a photo booth, and vending machines, as well as free Wi-Fi.

Arrival bus station: Europa Buscentre. The arrival bus station will be the Europa Buscentre in Belfast, which is right in the city centre- simply walk through the Great Northern Mall onto Great Victoria Street. The Europa Buscentre has clean, modern facilities such as toilets, information desk, restaurants, coffee shops, and all that’s available within the Great Northern Mall shopping mall.

Belfast Park. Source: Shutterstock

Which bus companies travel from Birmingham to Belfast?

Headquartered in Birmingham Coach Station, the route from Birmingham to Belfast is provided by National Express, an intercity and inter-regional coach operator providing services throughout Great Britain. In addition to the route from Birmingham to Belfast, National Express links 540 other locations, including 59 of mainland Great Britain's 64 cities.

National Express buses from Birmingham to Belfast

National Express has 2 buses a day available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while only 1 bus a day makes the journey on Saturdays, Tuesday, Thursday, and Sundays. The total journey from Birmingham to Belfast via bus can take an approximate time of 14h and 35min to 15h and 30min, with the first portion of the journey going north to Glasgow, Scotland taking roughly 8h, and the second portion of the journey crossing over into Northern Ireland and then Belfast taking another 6h.

Bus Birmingham to Belfast: Services on Board

National Express coaches from Birmingham to Belfast come in a single class only, but you can rest assured that you will be having a comfortable journey at affordable prices. The comfortable seats boast plenty of legroom and air conditioning controls, and you can also find charging points for your devices at the back of every seat. Free Wi-Fi available, as well as a toilet on board, and advanced safety features. If you do have a preferred seating position in the first five rows of the coach you can reserve your seat for a small fee as well.

For wheelchair users, all National Express coaches have a wheelchair lift to provide access, and designated wheelchair accessible coaches have a larger entrance and a flat floor throughout the coach. Trained assistance dogs are also allowed on board, but evidence of their training is required, and regular dogs and any other animals are not permitted.

Passengers are allocated two types of luggage- hand luggage and hold luggage. Dimensions for the hand luggage must be 45 cm by 35 cm by 20 cm, while the hold luggage can either be 2 medium cases measuring 70 cm x 45 cm x 30 cm, or a single large case measuring 75 cm x 50 cm x 32 cm. Folding pushchairs/buggies will be carried free of charge in addition to the aforementioned luggage. Bicycles may only be carried on board if they are designed to be folded in half by means of a special link in the main frame and are carried in an appropriate case.

How to find cheap bus tickets from Birmingham to Belfast?

There are several things you can do to help you secure better deals on bus tickets to Belfast from Birmingham. First of all, book in advance- the earlier you book, the better your chances are of finding the best deals. National Express advises to search for your journey at least 3 days in advance Be flexible with your travel dates and times- less popular journeys, like ones on less busy days, late or early hours, or with changes or delays, tend to be cheaper. Fridays and the weekends will usually see a higher demand, Our Omio magazine has useful tips to help you discover how to travel.

Belfast City. Source: Shutterstock

To Belfast by bus—travel tips

Belfast is Northern Ireland’s capital, once a powerful ship builder and perhaps most famous as the birthplace of the RMS Titanic. As such, one of the highlights of a visit is the Titanic Quarter. See the Titanic Belfast, a museum about the sunken ship built in the shape of its namesake’s hull, and learn about the city’s rich maritime history as well as see artifacts related to the ship, including letters, brochures, and menus. Close by in central Belfast, catch world class concerts as well as exhibitions at the Waterfront Hall. Also close by is the W5 Interactive Discovery Centre, a science centre that is perfect for families with its 250 interactive exhibits.

For a bit of greenery, visit the Botanic Gardens of Belfast for a variety of tropical plants, such as bromeliads, birds of paradise, bananas and lush hanging baskets. The Botanic Gardens is also yet another place to catch a concert. For something free, go for a guided tour of the iconic Belfast City Hall, which includes an art display and beautiful stained glass windows. For an unlikely location for a bit of history, visit the prison of Crumlin Road Gaol, where guided tours tell of women and children inmates, as well as republicans and loyalists.