Reading to Canterbury bus with National Express

Tue 07 Jul
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  • National Express
    19:015h49
    Reading
    0:50Canterbury
    £491One-way
    0 changes

Travel Information

Compare coach and train for Reading to Canterbury

The cheapest option from Reading to Canterbury is train, with an average price of £51. Omio recommends booking the train, as it is the most popular option from Reading to Canterbury among Omio users. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, as it emits only 0.0 - 0.1kg.

Distance: 144 km

Compare bus with

Coach
Most popular
Train

£51

Average Price

Cheapest option

£62

Average Price

4h 30m

Average total duration

4h 0m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

2h 10m

Average total duration

Fastest option

1h 40m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

0.1 - 0.4kg

CO2 emissions

0.0 - 0.1kg

CO2 emissions

Lowest
National Express

Most popular bus company

Southeastern

Most popular train company

Direct Options

Direct Options

Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.

Live departures

Reading to Canterbury bus times

The table below shows live departures for Reading to Canterbury coaches for tomorrow, Tuesday 7 July. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated coach journeys.

Last updated at
ProviderDepartsDurationArrivesChanges
Tickets
National Express19:01 Reading
5h49
0:50 Canterbury0 changesdirect

This is the last bus of the day.

Find all the dates and times for this journey

Compare prices and tickets Reading to Canterbury by coach or train

Compare coach and train 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.

Tue
07 Jul
Wed
08 Jul
Thu
09 Jul
Fri
10 Jul
Sat
11 Jul
Sun
12 Jul
Mon
13 Jul

Why should you book Reading to Canterbury coaches with Omio?

National Express as well as RailAir offer coaches services from Reading to Canterbury.
Omio is an official ticket reseller for all your travel options from Reading to Canterbury.

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 RailAir to find the best option for your trip from Reading to Canterbury.
  • 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 bus and train to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from Reading to Canterbury.

Why book with Omio over Wanderu?

  • Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including bus and train to find the ideal travel option from Reading to Canterbury.

Journey information

Overview: Bus from Reading to Canterbury

United KingdomUnited Kingdom
United KingdomUnited Kingdom
Icon of bus

Typically, there are 19 buses per day from Reading to Canterbury, including direct buses, taking around 4h 0m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at £48 but you can travel from only £38 by train.

The earliest coach runs at 03:20, the last at 21:55. The fastest coach covers the 144 km distance in 5h 49m.

Fares are the lowest economy prices found on Omio. Early booking often means lower prices. Prices change daily and are subject to availability. Discount cards, coach trips, and booking fees are not included.
Price information
Cheapest alternative travel mode
Train from £38
Distance
144 km
Average bus duration
4h 0m
Lowest ticket price
£48
Buses per day
19
Fastest bus
5h 49m
First bus
3:20
Last bus
21:55
Cheapest Month
Feb
Cheapest Day
Fri
High Season
Apr - Jun
Low Season
Jan - Mar
Busiest Day
Fri
Least Busy Day
Fri
Best time to book
35 days
Fares are the lowest economy prices found on Omio. Early booking often means lower prices. Prices change daily and are subject to availability. Discount cards, coach trips, and booking fees are not included.
Price information
Cheapest alternative travel mode
Train from £38

Bus providers: National Express, RailAir from Reading to CanterburyYou can travel by bus between Reading to Canterbury with National Express, RailAir for as low as £38. When you search for schedules and tickets, Omio will show you the best journey

National Express

About
National Express is the UK’s leading long-distance coach company, operating over 550 services per day and serving more than 900 destinations nationwide. It also runs frequent services to major UK airports — including Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, and Bristol — 24 hours a day. All National Express coaches are air-conditioned and offer free Wi-Fi and onboard entertainment. Most vehicles are equipped with seat belts and power outlets at every seat, allowing you to charge your phone or laptop during your journey. Ticket options include Restricted Fare, Standard Fare, and Fully Flexible Fare, with the latter providing maximum flexibility for cancellations or changes.
Luggage & cancellation policy
Average Duration
5h 49m
Cheapest Price
£48
Luggage included
Two medium-sized suitcases up to 20kg each and one small piece of hand luggage.
Additional luggage
10€ per additional bag.
Cancellation Policy
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.
Amenities on board the bus
Wifi
Food sold onboard
Seat reservation
Toilets
USB plugs
Accessibility
Assistance; Priority seating; Accessible toilets.
Bikes
Folding Bikes are allowed; non-folding bikes are not allowed.

RailAir

Luggage & cancellation policy
Average Duration
4h 5m
Cheapest Price
£73
RailAir frequency
8 a day

FAQs: Reading to Canterbury coach

Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Reading to Canterbury 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 Canterbury, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

FAQs
The earliest coach from Reading to Canterbury leaves at 3:20. Plan your trip with the Journey Planner from Omio.
The latest coach from Reading to Canterbury leaves at 21:55.
There are 19 coaches a day from Reading to Canterbury which require at least one change with National Express, RailAir. Schedules can vary on holidays or weekends with fewer coaches.
When taking a coach from Reading to Canterbury, you can count on National Express, RailAir for the best way to get you to Canterbury. You can also check all possible coach companies who offer a service between Reading and Canterbury and compare the amenities they offer before buying a coach ticket.
The cheapest month for a coach from Reading to Canterbury is February.
It's helpful to compare your options as there are 2 ways to travel between Reading and Canterbury including taking a coach and train.
Yes, the following accessibility options are available when taking the coach from Reading to Canterbury:
  • National Express
    • Assistance
    • Priority seating
    • Accessible toilets.
Yes, there are bathrooms on board the coach from Reading to Canterbury for coach company National Express.
Whether you can cancel your coach ticket from Reading to Canterbury depends on the coach companies:
  • 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.
Yes, bikes are allowed on board the coach with coach company National Express.
Tickets are often cheaper when booked early. Traveling during off-peak hours or on weekdays can help you save money. Sort results by price to quickly identify the most affordable options. Check for promotions or discounts available on our website and app.
No, there is no food available to purchase on board the coach from Reading to Canterbury.
Yes, the following luggage options are included when booking a coach ticket from Reading to Canterbury:
  • National Express
    • Two medium-sized suitcases up to 20kg each and one small piece of hand luggage.
Yes, the following additional luggage options are available when booking a coach ticket from Reading to Canterbury:
  • National Express
    • 10€ per additional bag.
Unfortunately, pets are not allowed on the coach from Reading to Canterbury.
You can reserve your seat on the coach from Reading to Canterbury with the following coach company: National Express
Yes, there are USB plugs on board the coach from Reading to Canterbury with the following coach company: National Express.
Yes, there is Wifi on board the coach from Reading to Canterbury with the following coach company: National Express.

popular bus stations

Important Stations and Airports in Reading and Canterbury

Most Reading to Canterbury buses use the Reading, Blagrave Street to Canterbury, St. Georges Lane station pair, with some services arriving at Canterbury, University Of Kent. Use this guide to compare Reading and Canterbury bus stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like bus station facilities and services.

Departure bus stations in Reading
Arrival bus stations in Canterbury

Which Reading station do buses to Canterbury leave from?

Buses from Reading to Canterbury leave from Reading, Blagrave Street. The station is from Reading city centre at Reading RG1 1PZ, UK.
Reading, Blagrave StreetReading RG1 1PZ, UKAccessibility
City-centre transport

Getting to Reading, Blagrave Street from Reading city centre

Bus19a, 19c · 1h 21m · £2

Reading, Blagrave Street bus station facilities and services

Reading, Blagrave Street has practical services for this route, including Accessibility.

Accessibility

Accessibility facilities are available at Reading, Blagrave Street: The place has an entrance that is wheelchair-accessible.

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