How to get to Darlington from Reading

Fri 13 Nov
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London North Eastern Railway
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London North Eastern Railway
National Express
FlixBus
Avanti West Coast
Great Western Railway
1,000+ more
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Travel Information

Compare train for Reading to Darlington

Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Reading to Darlington among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the coach, with an average ticket price of £71 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 3h 43m. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £71, while a train costs an average of £110.

Distance: 343 km

Compare train with

Most popular
Train
Coach
Driving

£110

Average Price

£71

Average Price

Cheapest

£66

Average Price

(fuel + tolls)

3h 43m

Average total duration

Fastest

3h 13m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

8h 35m

Average total duration

8h 5m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

4h 42m

Average total duration

(door-to-door)

London North Eastern Railway

Most popular train company

National Express

Most popular bus company

Your own car or car rental

Direct Options

Direct Options

Direct Options

Compare ways to travel from Reading to Darlington

Compare the available ways to get from Reading to Darlington, with the key details around price, speed, convenience, and direct service.

The cheapest way to travel from Reading to Darlington is a coach with an average price of £71.

This is compared to other travel options from Reading to Darlington:

A coach is £40 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Reading to Darlington costing on average £110.

The fastest way to travel from Reading to Darlington is by train with an average journey time of 3h 43m.

Other travel options to Darlington take longer:

Coach takes on average 8h 35m.

Yes, you can take a train between Reading and Darlington.
Take the train. It's meaningfully faster than driving, and the time saved usually justifies the price.

You'll arrive about 1h 29m sooner (3h 13m by train vs 4h 42m by car). Tickets start at around £110 compared to roughly £66 in fuel and tolls — so you're paying a bit more, but getting hours of your day back, a city-centre arrival, and the freedom to work or relax instead of drive.

Driving makes more sense if you're travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), want to stop along the way, or need a car once you arrive.

Travel options
from Reading to Darlington

How to get to Darlington from Reading by train, bus, flight or ferry.

Our recommendation

bus

The best way to travel from Reading to Darlington is by taking a coach because it’s the best combination of price and speed.

  • National Express
    0 changes

Cheapest

  • National Express
    0 changes

Fastest

  • National Express
    0 changes

Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .

Compare prices and tickets Prices for trains, coaches, flights and ferries

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Train
Coach

Best day trips from Darlington by train

The most popular day trips by train from Darlington are York, Durham, Leeds, Middlesbrough and Edinburgh. Find out what you can do in these day trip destinations and how to book your train from Darlington on Omio.

A view of York

Day trip from Darlington to York by train

Why visit York for the day?

York is known for its Roman and Viking heritage, medieval streets and the imposing York Minster. Its compact centre, old walls and busy mix of shops, pubs and museums make it easy to grasp the city's historic character.

A view of Durham

Day trip from Darlington to Durham by train

Why visit Durham for the day?

Durham is best known for its Norman cathedral and castle above the River Wear. The city feels historic and compact, with old streets and a lively university atmosphere.

A view of Leeds

Day trip from Darlington to Leeds by train

Why visit Leeds for the day?

Leeds is a major West Yorkshire city known for Victorian arcades, shopping and a lively music scene. Its industrial heritage, regenerated waterfront and large student population give it an energetic but down-to-earth character.

A view of Middlesbrough

Day trip from Darlington to Middlesbrough by train

Why visit Middlesbrough for the day?

Middlesbrough is a Teesside town known for its industrial roots, especially steelmaking and the Transporter Bridge. Its Victorian centre and MIMA gallery give it a practical, cultural character with easy access to nearby moorland.

A view of Edinburgh

Day trip from Darlington to Edinburgh by train

Why visit Edinburgh for the day?

Edinburgh is Scotland’s capital, known for its medieval Old Town and graceful Georgian streets. Historic landmarks, literary roots and a strong festival culture give the city a distinct, atmospheric character.

More than 1,000 travel companies trust us to sell their tickets all in one place.

Trenitalia
Easyjet
Deutsche Bahn
SNCF

FAQs: Reading to Darlington

Travel to Darlington easily. Whether you want fast, cheap or something entirely different, our travel experts have collected everything you need to know so you can find the best option from Reading to Darlington.

FAQs
You can travel between Reading and Darlington by train.
The cheapest way to travel from Reading to Darlington is a coach with an average price of £71.

This is compared to other travel options from Reading to Darlington:

A coach is £40 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Reading to Darlington costing on average £110.

The fastest way to travel from Reading to Darlington is by train with an average journey time of 3h 43m.

Other travel options to Darlington take longer:

Coach takes on average 8h 35m.

The Reading to Darlington distance is approximately 343 km.
The average frequency per day from Reading to Darlington is:
  • Around 6 trains per day.
  • Around 2 coaches per day.

However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Reading and Darlington as scheduled services by train can vary by season or day of the week.

These are the most popular departure and arrival points from Reading to Darlington:
  • Trains mostly depart from Reading station (RDG) and arrive in Darlington station (DAR).
  • Coaches mostly depart from Reading, Blagrave Street and arrive in Darlington, Feethams (Dolphin Centre).
If finding a good deal is your main consideration for your trip from Reading to Darlington, then we'll help you find the best value travel companies for you:
  • Travel with National Express to go to Darlington by coach.
  • Travel with London North Eastern Railway to go to Darlington by train.
Omio customers who travel from Reading to Darlington often also extend their vacation to go to Newcastle, London, Amsterdam, Manchester, Middlesbrough. Omio can help you plan your trip by finding the best connections between Darlington and these popular destinations at a great price.
To travel from Reading to Darlington, you can take a train.
Two to three days in Darlington should be sufficient to explore its key attractions, including the Head of Steam Railway Museum, South Park, and the Darlington Hippodrome, while also enjoying the local dining and shopping experiences.

Travelling from Reading to Darlington: related information

Here are some other resources that might have the information you need

HomeTravelTravel to United KingdomTravel to DarlingtonHow to get to Darlington from Reading

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