The cheapest and fastest coaches from London to Carlisle
Cheapest price
£22
Average price
£35
Fastest journey
6 h 45 m
Average duration
7 h 43 m
Buses per day
6
Distance
421 km
The best way to find a cheap coach ticket from London to Carlisle is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from London to Carlisle will cost around £35 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap coach tickets today for only £22.
Of the 6 buses that leave London for Carlisle every day 4 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
These direct buses cover the 421 km distance in an average of 7 h 43 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 6 h 45 m .
The slowest buses will take 8 h 50 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
NX595
NX590
NX540 · NX590
NX595
FlixBus
FlixBus
NX540 · NX590
NX540 · NX181Travel Information
Compare train, coach and flight for London to Carlisle
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from London to Carlisle among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the coach with prices starting from £12. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 20m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.4kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £12, and a train costs an average of £33.
Distance: 421 km
Compare bus with
| Coach | Most popular Train | Flight |
|---|---|---|
£23 Average Price Cheapest | £99 Average Price | £74 Average Price |
8h 1m Average total duration 7h 31m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 55m Average total duration 4h 25m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 20m Average total duration Fastest 1h 20m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* |
0.4 - 1.1kg CO2 emissions | 0.1 - 0.4kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 1.3 - 2.5kg CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular airline |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Live departures
London to Carlisle bus times
The table below shows live departures for London to Carlisle coaches for today, Sunday 22 February. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated coach journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NX590 | On time 09:00 London, Victoria Coach Station | 9h10 | 18:10 Carlisle, Bus Station (Lonsdale Street) | 0 changesdirect | |
NX540 · NX590 | Delayed 13:00 09:30London, Victoria Coach Station | 8h40 | 18:10 Carlisle, Bus Station (Lonsdale Street) | 1 change | |
NX540 · NX181 | On time 20:00 London, Victoria Coach Station | 8h50 | 04:50 Carlisle, Bus Station (Lonsdale Street) | 1 change | |
FlixBus | 22:30 London, Victoria Coach Station | 7h25 | 05:55 Carlisle | 0 changesdirect | |
NX595 | 23:00 London, Victoria Coach Station | 6h45 | 05:45 Carlisle, Bus Station (Lonsdale Street) | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 23:00 London, Finchley Road ("Subway" restaurant) | 6h55 | 05:55 Carlisle | 0 changesdirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets London to Carlisle by train, coach or flight
Compare train, coach 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.
23 Feb
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28 Feb
01 Mar
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Why should you book London to Carlisle coaches with Omio?
Why book with Omio vs National Express?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can not only buy tickets for National Express, but also compare tickets for the likes of FlixBus or Megabus to find the best option for your trip from London to Carlisle.
- Designed for International Travelers: Omio is in your language including 24/7 customer service and offers multiple payment options, including PayPal, credit cards, and bank transfer, in your preferred currency.
- Compare all your options: Omio allows you to compare National Express with all available travel options, which are train, bus and flight to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from London to Carlisle.
Why book with Omio over Wanderu or Trainline?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can also compare tickets for the likes of FlixBus or Megabus to find the best option for your trip from London to Carlisle.
- Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including train, bus and flight to find the ideal travel option from London to Carlisle.
Journey information
Overview: Bus from London to Carlisle
Buses from London to Carlisle run on average 6 times per day, taking around 7h 31m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at £12 if you book in advance.
There are 3 coaches per day. The earliest coach runs at 00:05, the last at 23:55. The fastest coach covers the 421 km distance in 6h 45m.
Distance 421 km |
Average bus duration 7h 31m |
Cheapest ticket price £12 |
Buses per day 6 |
Direct buses 3 |
Fastest bus 6h 45m |
First bus 00:05 |
Last bus 23:55 |
Bus providers: National Express, FlixBus, Megabus from London to CarlisleYou can travel by bus between London to Carlisle with National Express, FlixBus, Megabus for as low as £12. When you search for schedules and tickets, Omio will show you the best journey
FlixBus
National Express
Megabus
Coaches from London to Carlisle
The historic city of Carlisle is located just ten miles south of the Scottish border in the north-west district of Cumbria. National Express coaches depart from London's busy Victoria coach station three times daily, covering the 300-mile route in as little as six hours 40 minutes when travelling overnight. Services are available seven days a week, giving passengers access to the historic city. Whenever passengers decide to travel, National Express has a journey to suit their needs.
Which coach companies travel from London to Carlisle?
There is only one company that offers coaches from London to Carlisle. National Express, the leading provider of coach travel across the whole of the UK, has three direct departures per day. The onboard services across their fleet include free WiFi, spacious seating with good legroom and personal air conditioning controls for each passenger.
How long is the coach from London to Carlisle?
The journey times advertised vary significantly, taking into consideration traffic congestion during peak travel time. The fastest journey leaves London Victoria at around 11:00 p.m., travelling overnight and arriving in Carlisle six hours 40 minutes later. The longest journey takes closer to nine hours ten minutes to cover the 300 miles between the two cities.
How many coaches are there from London to Carlisle?
National Express consistently offers three services per day. The schedule includes one morning departure, with two evening departures travelling throughout the night and arriving in Carlisle the following morning. All services are direct and require no changes, allowing passengers to relax on their journey.
What are the departure and arrival stations for coaches from London to Carlisle?
Departure bus station: London Victoria, where all coaches from London to Carlisle begin their journey, is found in central London, in the borough of Westminster. The station is easily accessible thanks to the nearby Victoria train station, which has London Underground links, several local bus routes and extensive train connections. Station facilities include toilets, numerous cafes and restaurants as well as newsagents and shops where passengers can purchase travel essentials.
Arrival bus station: All services terminate at Carlisle Lonsdale Street Station. Found directly in the centre of Carlisle, the train station is less than half a mile away, making onward travel easy to organise. Station facilities are basic, but the close proximity to The Lanes shopping centre gives passengers access to high-street shops to purchase anything they may require.
FAQs: London to Carlisle coach
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from London to Carlisle 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 Carlisle, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

- Megabus
- Megabus is ADA-compliant and provides assistance to customers with disabilities, including those using wheelchairs or mobility scooters, and those with service animals.
- National Express
- Assistance
- Priority seating
- Accessible toilets.
- FlixBus
- Assistance
- Priority boarding
- Wheelchair-accessible buses.
- Megabus
- Megabus reservations cannot be canceled or refunded, but they can be traded in for another journey up to 3 hours before your original scheduled departure for a fee.
- National Express
- You can cancel your ticket up to 24 hours before departure for a refund minus a cancellation fee. Changes can be up to 24 hours before departure for a fee.
- FlixBus
- You can cancel your ticket up to 15 minutes before departure and receive a voucher for future travel. Refund requests for delays over 120 minutes are possible.
- Megabus
- One piece of luggage is included per passenger reservation. For guidance, a piece of luggage must not exceed 62 inches (length + width + height) and should not weigh more than 50 pounds (23kg).
- National Express
- Two medium-sized suitcases up to 20kg each and one small piece of hand luggage.
- FlixBus
- One carry-on bag up to 7kg (42x30x18 cm) and one checked bag up to 20kg (80x50x30 cm).
- Megabus
- Additional luggage can be purchased by buying an additional travel ticket in advance or by adding up to two additional pieces when booking for a fee.
- National Express
- 10€ per additional bag.
- FlixBus
- Additional luggage can be purchased for a fee.
- FlixBus
- Small pets in carriers allowed
- guide dogs travel for free.
popular bus stations
Important Stations and Airports in London and Carlisle
- 06:00-23:00
- Free Wi-Fi
- Pret a Manger (in the station)
- Starbucks (in the station).
- Available outside the station on Buckingham Palace Road.
- Elevators, ramps
- Available in the station.
- Bus: 11, 44, 170, 211, C1, C10 Metro: Victoria Train: Southern, Gatwick Express
- The place has an entrance that is wheelchair-accessible
More options for your journey from London to Carlisle
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need


