How to get from London to Cardiff
On Routavio you can compare the ways from London to Cardiff by price and travel time.
- 223 km as the crow flies
- Fastest: bus, 3h 10m
- 101 bus departures a day with FlixBus
Compare the train, bus and flight options. Then check them for your own date.
At a glance
Fastest
3h 10m
direct
Bus
€14
Calculated by Routavio, refreshed 19 Oct 2026
Start with the whole journey.
We compared the ways to travel from London to Cardiff. The most useful door-to-door route takes 3h 10m by bus with no transfer. The two cities are about 223 km apart in a straight line. The price and operators below come from a real route search.
The lowest we recorded in the last 14 days was €9, on Sat, Oct 17.
223 km
Which way suits you?
| Transport | Observed fare | Duration and scope | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train | €65Reading date not recorded | 4h2 transfers | See Train details |
| Bus | €8Omio catalogue, Oct 20 | 3h 10mdirect | See Bus details |
- Train€65Reading date not recorded4h · 2 transfersSee Train details
- Bus€8Omio catalogue, Oct 203h 10m · directSee Bus details
These figures were observed on different days. This table is not a live price ranking for your date.
London to Cardiff: cheapest or fastest?
All from the same recent search. Pick a tab: the legs, the timing and the difference from the others all change with it.
- 1London Heathrow → Cardiff Castlebus
FlixBus·3h 10m
The best balance of price and time we found on this route.
Which date should you go?
The amounts on each day are fares seen earlier, not live offers. A day with no figure is one we have not priced, not one without a service.
Departures from London to Cardiff
FlixBus runs 101 scheduled departures a day, the first at 00:15 and the last at 23:55.
| Operator | Departures a day | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlixBusbus | 101 | 00:15 | 23:55 |
All departures
- 00:15
- 00:20
- 00:30
- 00:40
- 01:15
- 01:20
- 01:40
- 05:45
- 06:05
- 06:30
- 06:45
- 07:05
- 07:10
- 07:30
- 07:45
- 08:05
- 08:10
- 08:30
- 08:40
- 09:00
- 09:10
- 09:30
- 09:40
- 10:00
- 10:30
- 10:40
- 11:00
- 11:15
- 11:30
- 11:35
- 12:15
- 12:30
- 12:35
- 13:15
- 13:25
- 13:30
- 13:35
- 13:45
- 14:00
- 14:25
- 14:45
- 15:00
- 15:25
- 15:30
- 15:45
- 15:50
- 16:00
- 16:25
- 16:30
- 16:45
- 16:50
- 17:00
- 17:25
- 17:30
- 17:45
- 17:50
- 18:00
- 18:25
- 18:30
- 18:45
- 18:50
- 19:00
- 19:25
- 19:30
- 19:40
- 19:45
- 19:50
- 20:00
- 20:30
- 20:40
- 20:50
- 21:00
- 21:30
- 21:35
- 21:40
- 21:55
- 22:00
- 22:30
- 22:35
- 22:40
- 22:55
- 23:00
- 23:15
- 23:20
- 23:30
- 23:35
- 23:40
- 23:55
Departure times come from operator timetables and are local time at the origin. Where a row shows no times, the frequency is the operator's own and the timetable is not published to us. Times can change on holidays and at short notice; confirm with the operator before you travel.
Departure and arrival
Ticket prices on this route
What each way of travelling costs, as the operator publishes it. These describe the route rather than a date you pick, and they refresh once a day. Booking opens at our partner Omio.
Omio last refreshed these on Tue, Oct 20
Operators seen on these journeys
FlixBusLondon Heathrow-Cardiff CastleBook →Great Western RailwayLondon-BathBook →Airport shuttle busBath-Bristol Airport, Bristol Airport-CardiffBook →On this route you travel with FlixBus, Great Western Railway, Airport shuttle bus; Routavio does not add a booking fee.
How the trip from London to Cardiff works
Start with a FlixBus bus from London Heathrow to Cardiff Castle, about 3h 10m. In total it's roughly €14 over 3h 10m, direct, no transfers.
London to Cardiff: common questions
How long does it take to get from London to Cardiff?
The most useful route takes about 3h 10m by bus, with no transfer.
When is the first bus from London to Cardiff?
The first bus with FlixBus leaves at 00:15 and the last at 23:55, from London Heathrow, according to the published timetable.
How many bus departures a day are there from London to Cardiff?
101 a day with FlixBus, between 00:15 and 23:55.
Which station does the bus from London to Cardiff leave from?
London Heathrow with FlixBus, according to the published timetable.
How far is Cardiff from London?
About 223 km in a straight line. The real route on the ground or in the air is longer.
How much does London to Cardiff cost?
On the upcoming dates we checked, the cheapest fare ranged from €9 to €16. Run a live search for your own date to see today's price.
Which operators run London to Cardiff?
On this route you travel with FlixBus, Great Western Railway, Airport shuttle bus.
Can you get from London to Cardiff without flying?
Yes. A ground route by train takes about 1h 44m.
What is the cheapest way to get from London to Cardiff?
Usually a flexible date, or leaving from a nearby airport. A live search puts every option for your dates side by side.
Can I book directly?
Yes. Routavio sends you straight to the operator or an independent third-party provider. We never add a booking fee. The final fare and availability are confirmed by that provider.
Other ways people search London to Cardiff
- how to get from London to Cardiff
- London to Cardiff travel time
- London to Cardiff distance
- cheapest way from London to Cardiff
- London to Cardiff by bus
Sources and method
Routes are calculated by Routavio's multimodal engine from operator timetables and flight data. Durations come from timetables, and prices are the most recent observation, not a guarantee.
Operators: FlixBus
Route calculated: 19 Oct 2026