- Must visit
Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens
Main city museum covering Sunderland’s history, archaeology, and changing exhibitions. A practical introduction to the city and region.
Cheapest price on 05 Sept
£9
Average ticket price on 05 Sept
£16
Fastest journey on 05 Sept
3 h 5 m
Average journey duration on 05 Sept
3 h 26 m
Buses on 05 Sept
4
Distance
163 km
The best way to find a cheap coach ticket from Edinburgh to Sunderland is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Edinburgh to Sunderland will cost around £16 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap coach tickets today for only £9.
On Sat 05 Sept, we found 4 buses from Edinburgh to Sunderland, including 3 direct services.
These direct buses cover the 163 km distance in an average of 3 h 26 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 3 h 5 m .
The slowest buses will take 4 h 13 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
FlixBus
FlixBus
FlixBus · FlixBus
NX598
FlixBus
NX598
FlixBus
FlixBus · FlixBusOmio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Edinburgh to Sunderland among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the coach, with an average ticket price of £10 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 2h 25m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.0 - 0.1kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £10, while a flight costs an average of £189.
Distance: 163 km
| Coach | Most popular Train | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
£10 Average Price Cheapest | £25 Average Price | £189 Average Price | £66 Average Price (fuel + tolls) |
3h 43m Average total duration 3h 13m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 2h 25m Average total duration Fastest 1h 55m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 10h 28m Average total duration 8h 28m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 2h 54m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.2 - 0.4kg CO2 emissions | 0.0 - 0.1kg CO2 emissions Lowest | - CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
This is compared to other travel options from Edinburgh to Sunderland:
A coach is £15 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Edinburgh to Sunderland costing on average £25.
A coach is £179 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Edinburgh to Sunderland costing on average £189.
Other travel options to Sunderland take longer:
Coach takes on average 3h 13m.
Flight takes on average 8h 28m.
Tickets start at around £10 compared to roughly £66 in fuel and tolls — a saving of about £56. The journey takes 3h 13m versus 2h 54m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can use the time productively rather than spending it behind the wheel. No parking to sort, no fuel stops, and most coaches have Wi-Fi and power outlets.
Direct services are operated by FlixBus.
Driving is worth considering if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), or want the flexibility to stop along the way.
The table below shows live departures for Edinburgh to Sunderland coaches for today, Friday 4 September. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated coach journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FlixBus | 8:55 Edinburgh, Bus Station | 3h35 | 12:30 Sunderland, Interchange | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus · FlixBus | 19:37 Edinburgh, Drum Brae South | 4h13 | 23:50 Sunderland, Interchange | 1 change | |
FlixBus | 20:45 Edinburgh, Bus Station | 3h05 | 23:50 Sunderland, Interchange | 0 changesdirect | |
NX598 | 22:05 Edinburgh, Bus Station | 3h05 | 1:10 Sunderland, Interchange | 0 changesdirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare coach, train and flight prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Buses from Edinburgh to Sunderland run on average 3 times per day, taking around 3h 13m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at £8 if you book in advance.
There are 2 coaches per day. The earliest coach runs at 02:15, the last at 23:40. The fastest coach covers the 163 km distance in 3h 5m.
Distance 163 km |
Average bus duration 3h 13m |
Cheapest ticket price £8 |
Buses per day 3 |
Direct buses 2 |
Fastest bus 3h 5m |
First bus 2:15 |
Last bus 23:40 |
Cheapest Month Oct |
Cheapest Day Thu |
High Season Jul - Sept |
Low Season Apr - Jun |
Busiest Day Thu |
Least Busy Day Tue |
Best time to book 1 day |
Discover the best of Sunderland — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Sunderland trip today.
Main city museum covering Sunderland’s history, archaeology, and changing exhibitions. A practical introduction to the city and region.
Glass-focused museum with exhibitions, demonstrations, and studio activity reflecting Sunderland’s industrial heritage and creative scene.
Volunteer-run museum at the restored station featuring vintage trams, buses, and transport displays. Best for engineering and family visits.
Long sandy seafront with promenade, cafés nearby, and broad views. Popular for walking, sea air, and classic coastal Sunderland scenes.
Seaside area north of Roker with beach, promenade, and open views. A relaxed place for walks and a local feel beyond the city centre.
Historic public park beside the museum and winter gardens. It offers flower beds, monuments, and a central green break in the city.
Panackelty is a North East comfort dish of layered potatoes, onions and corned beef or bacon, slowly baked. It is a long-standing Wearside home staple.
Pease pudding is a thick split-pea savoury paste, often served with ham or stotties. It is a classic staple across Sunderland and the wider North East.
Stottie cake is a dense round North East bread, usually split and filled with ham and pease pudding. It is strongly associated with local working-class food culture.
Popular seafront seafood restaurant at Roker serving fish, shellfish and classic British dishes in a relaxed modern setting.
Well-known city centre Italian restaurant with pizzas, pasta and grilled dishes. Lively, dependable and good for casual meals.
Established Indian restaurant known for curries, tandoori dishes and friendly service. Comfortable setting close to the city centre.
Generally cheaper than London and many UK tourist cities, with lower hotel rates, modest dining prices and reasonably priced local transport.
Tipping is optional. In restaurants, 10-12.5% is common for good service if not already added. Round up taxi fares; cafés usually do not expect tips.
Official public transport app
Sunderland Interchange -> Sunderland Railway Station
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Edinburgh to Sunderland by coach. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest coach, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Sunderland, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Edinburgh to Sunderland buses use the Edinburgh, Bus Station to Sunderland, Interchange station pair. Use this guide to compare Edinburgh and Sunderland bus stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like bus station facilities and services.
Edinburgh, Bus Station has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC and Ticket Office.
Food options include: Café at the Station (in the station), Sandwich Shop (in the station).
Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located near the main entrance.
Ticket office support is available at Edinburgh, Bus Station.
Available at Edinburgh, Bus Station: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Edinburgh, Bus Station: Elevators, ramps.
Edinburgh, Zoo North (Stop 1) is 4 km from Edinburgh city centre. Public transport options include:
Edinburgh, Zoo North (Stop 1) has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Shower and Ticket Office.
Wi-Fi is available at Edinburgh, Zoo North (Stop 1). ATMs are available at Edinburgh, Zoo North (Stop 1).
Ticket office support is available at Edinburgh, Zoo North (Stop 1).
Available at Edinburgh, Zoo North (Stop 1): Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Edinburgh, Zoo North (Stop 1): Bus stop is accessible with a curbside stop.
Sunderland, Interchange has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Shower and Ticket Office.
Food options include: Fast food outlets available.
Free WiFi available in waiting areas. ATMs are located near the main entrance.
Ticket office support is available at Sunderland, Interchange.
Available at Sunderland, Interchange: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Sunderland, Interchange: Step-free access throughout.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need