- Must visit
Hopetown Darlington
Railway museum celebrating the Stockton and Darlington Railway with locomotives, carriages and stories of early rail travel.
Cheapest price on 18 Sept
£141
Average ticket price on 18 Sept
£141
Fastest journey on 18 Sept
4 h 53 m
Average journey duration on 18 Sept
4 h 57 m
Trains on 18 Sept
2
Distance
348 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Bristol to Darlington is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Bristol to Darlington will cost around £141 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £141.
On Fri 18 Sept, we found 2 trains from Bristol to Darlington, including 2 direct services.
These direct trains cover the 348 km distance in an average of 4 h 57 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 4 h 53 m .
The slowest trains will take 5 h 1 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.




Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Bristol to Darlington among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the coach, with an average ticket price of £21 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 3h 5m. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £21, while a train costs an average of £90.
Distance: 348 km
Most popular Train | Flight | Coach | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
£90 Average Price | £60 Average Price | £21 Average Price Cheapest | £78 Average Price (fuel + tolls) |
5h 3m Average total duration 4h 33m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 5m Average total duration Fastest 1h 5m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 8h 34m Average total duration 8h 4m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 25m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular airline | ![]() Most popular bus company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Bristol to Darlington:
A coach is £39 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Bristol to Darlington costing on average £60.
A coach is £69 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Bristol to Darlington costing on average £90.
Other travel options to Darlington take longer:
Train takes on average 4h 33m.
Coach takes on average 8h 4m.
Tickets start at around £90 compared to roughly £78 in fuel and tolls — a saving of about £-11.27. The journey takes 4h 33m versus 4h 25m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can work, read, or sleep along the way rather than spending the time behind the wheel. You'll also save the hassle of parking at the other end.
Driving is worth it if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group, or want to stop somewhere en route.
The table below shows live departures for Bristol to Darlington trains for today, Thursday 17 September. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 8:00 Bristol | 5h02 | 13:02 Darlington | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 8:33 Bristol | 4h33 | 13:06 Darlington | 0 changesdirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
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.
Trains from Bristol to Darlington run on average 6 times per day, taking around 4h 33m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £40 but you can travel from only £16 by coach.
There are 2 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 04:45, the last at 19:35. The fastest train covers the 348 km distance in 4h 33m.
Distance 348 km |
Average train duration 4h 33m |
Cheapest ticket price £40 |
Trains per day 6 |
Direct trains 2 |
Fastest train 4h 33m |
First train 4:45 |
Last train 19:35 |
Cheapest Month Jul |
Cheapest Day Thu |
High Season Jul - Sept |
Low Season Oct - Dec |
Busiest Day Thu |
Least Busy Day Thu |
Best time to book 6 days |
Discover the best of Darlington — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Darlington trip today.
Railway museum celebrating the Stockton and Darlington Railway with locomotives, carriages and stories of early rail travel.
Historic country house with art, furnishings and estate collections, offering a museum-style visit alongside parkland walks.
Local arts centre with changing exhibitions, performances and creative events in a restored Victorian building.
Large public park with bandstand, aviary, café-free green space, sports areas and pleasant paths close to the town centre.
Historic market square surrounded by civic buildings and shops, useful for seeing the town centre's layout and daily life.
Popular woodland and lakeside park on the edge of Darlington with walking trails, sculpture and open green views.
A classic North-East pease pudding spread in a bread bun, often with ham. It is a long-standing local lunch tied to Teesside and County Durham.
Slow-cooked split peas seasoned into a thick savoury paste. It is a regional staple traditionally served with ham or pork pies.
A large round flat loaf with a soft crumb, common across North-East England. It is traditionally used for hearty sandwiches and local fillings.
Refined dining in a country house setting, known for modern British cooking and polished service. Best for a special meal near Darlington.
Stylish restaurant serving Indian small plates and grilled dishes in an upbeat modern setting. A popular choice for groups and evening meals.
Smart casual steakhouse focused on quality beef, burgers and hearty mains. Relaxed atmosphere suited to an easy dinner in town.
Moderate for the UK. Hotels and dining are usually cheaper than London, while local buses and everyday costs are fairly reasonable for visitors.
Tipping is modest. In restaurants, 10-12.5% is usual if service is not included. Round up taxi fares. Cafés do not require tips, but small change is appreciated.
Official public transport app
Darlington Railway Station -> Darlington Town Centre
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Bristol to Darlington by train. 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 train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Darlington, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Bristol to Darlington trains use the Bristol Temple Meads to Darlington station pair. Use this guide to compare Bristol and Darlington train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Bristol Temple Meads has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental and Information Desk.
Food options include: The Pasty Shop, Starbucks, Upper Crust, Pumpkin Café, Hart's Bakery
Free Wi-Fi in the station. ATMs are located near Platform 3.
The ticket office is open Mon - Sat: 05:30 - 21:30, Sun: 06:45 - 21:30. Information desks are located near the main entrance.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Bristol Temple Meads: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Bristol Temple Meads: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Bristol Temple Meads: Wheelchair access, elevators, escalators. .
Nearby hotels include Holiday Inn Express Bristol City Center, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Bristol City Center, Hilton Garden Inn Bristol City Center.
Darlington has practical services for this route, including Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking and Car Rental.
Food and drink options are available at Darlington.
ATMs are available at Darlington.
Ticket office support is available at Darlington.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Darlington: Parking, WC.
Available at Darlington: Bike Parking, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Darlington: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Accessible car park equipment: Wheelchair users may require assistance using car park equipment at this station, Accessible public telephones: text phones are available and staff are on hand to assist as required due to no low level phones, Accessible taxis: Generally available but advance booking recommended, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: Yes, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: Yes.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need