5 Easy Ways To Get From London To Birmingham

Getting from London to Birmingham is easy! Both cities are blessed with great transportation options and travelling between London and Birmingham is manageable even for a first-time visitor.

You can reach Birmingham from London by bus, train, coach and rental car. The road distance between London and Birmingham is 117.7 miles or 188.3 kilometres while the direct distance is 164 kilometres or 102 miles. It takes about two hours and 30 minutes to travel this distance by car. 

To know the wisest option to go for, I have looked for the fastest way, the cheapest way and possibly the best way to get from London to Birmingham. Factor in your personal considerations and preferences as you go over the options. Then, off you go to explore the beautiful city of Birmingham UK!

How to get from London to Birmingham

OPTION 1: How to get from London to Birmingham by Standard Bus

• Travel Duration: from 2 hours 20 minutes
• Travel Fare: from £6.81

You can easily get to Birmingham from London by standard bus. Megabus is one transport company which services this route. There are two departure areas that you can choose from when you’re travelling with Megabus: London Victoria Coach Station or at London Heathrow Airport (T2 and T3). 

Depending on your booked ticket, you either arrive at Birmingham Brunel Street or Birmingham Airport Bus Station. Make sure to plan ahead of time so you can see which route best works for you.

The buses are equipped with air conditioning, Wifi, charging points, toilet and wheelchair accessibility. It is definitely a cost-efficient way to travel from London to Birmingham.

Here is a sample timetable of the standard bus trips serviced by Megabus. With Bookaway, you can conveniently check for updates online just in case trips are added, dissolved or moved.

Standard bus from London Victoria Coach Station to Birmingham Brunel Street

	ARRIVAL	DEPARTURE	DURATION	FARE
Earliest trip	8:00 am	10:45 am	2 hours 45 minutes	£12.64
Latest trip	11:30 pm	3:40 am	4 hours 10 minutes	£12.43
Cheapest fare	10:00 am	1:55 pm	3 hours 55 minutes	£6.81
Fastest duration	8:00 am	10:45 am	2 hours 45 minutes	£12.64

Standard bus from London Victoria Coach Station to Birmingham Airport Bus Station

	ARRIVAL	DEPARTURE	DURATION	FARE
Daily trip	11:30 pm	3:15 am	3 hours 45 minutes	£17.88

Standard bus from London Heathrow Airport (T2 and T3) to Birmingham Airport Bus Station

	ARRIVAL	DEPARTURE	DURATION	FARE
Daily trip	12:10 am	3:15 am	3 hours 5 minutes	£22.74

Standard bus from London Heathrow Airport (T2 and T3) to Birmingham Brunel Street

	ARRIVAL	DEPARTURE	DURATION	FARE
Earliest trip	12:10 am	3:40 am	3 hours 30 minutes	£23.03
Latest trip	7:40 pm	10:50 pm	3 hours 10 minutes	£17.59
Cheapest fare	3:40 pm	6:00 pm	2 hours 20 minutes	£17.59
Fastest duration	3:40 pm	6:00 pm	2 hours 20 minutes	£17.59

OPTION 2: How to get from London to Birmingham by Train

• Travel Duration: about 2 hours
• Travel Fare: from £6.40

Visitors and locals alike frequent Birmingham from London by train because it’s truly convenient. More than 260 trains travel from London to Birmingham. Some of the train operators that offer this route are Avani West Coast and Chiltern Railways.

In Central London, the train departs from the Marylebone and Euston Stations. In Birmingham, the train arrives at Moor Street and New Street Stations.

Several online websites can help you check out the best ticket option given your travel date. The lowest train fare starts at £6.40 via West Midlands Railway, and the fastest trip can take you to Birmingham from London in more or less two hours. 

If you are travelling with National Rail, make sure to check out these railcard deals for the best prices.

The earliest train you can catch is scheduled at 4:34 am while the last train departs at 11:30 pm. By train, Birmingham is 163 miles or 101 kilometres away from London. 

OPTION 3: How to get from London to Birmingham by Coach

• Travel Duration: about 3 hours
• Travel Fare: from £5.90

You can travel from London to Birmingham by coach. National Express offers numerous trips daily that leave from London Victoria Coach Station and arrive at Birmingham Coach Station.

There are three different types of fares if you’re travelling by coach from London to Birmingham. A restricted fare, which is only available online, is great if you do not think you’ll make changes to your travel itinerary. A standard fare will allow you to make changes with your booking, but you cannot ask for a refund or cancellation. 

A fully flexible fare gives you access to all the benefits that you can get. These include amendments, cancellations and refunds as per terms and conditions.

Coach from London Victoria Coach Station to Birmingham Coach Station

	ARRIVAL	DEPARTURE	DURATION	FARE
Earliest trip	6:00 am	9:10 am	3 hours 10 minutes	£7.90
Latest trip	11:30 pm	2:50 am	3 hours 20 minutes	£20.90
Cheapest fare	8:00 am	11:00 am	3 hours	£5.90
Fastest duration	11:00 pm	1:55 pm	2 hours 55 minutes	£23.9

OPTION 4: How to get from London to Birmingham by Rental Car

• Travel Duration: from 2 hours 30 minutes
• Travel Fare: from £33.73

If you have driven in the UK before, I suggest that you get a rental car and drive on your own from London to Birmingham. Having your own vehicle gives you the freedom to travel at your own pace and make a full itinerary out of your travel between the two destinations – and even beyond!

To travel from London to Birmingham, get on the M1 and M6 motorways and drive for 117.7 miles or 188.3 kilometres. Be ready to drive for at least two hours and 30 minutes, if the traffic and weather are favourable.

Make sure to book in advance if you’re planning to drive from London to Birmingham. There are several vehicles available, and it all depends on how many you are in the group and which type of car you are comfortable driving.

Also, research whether your driver’s licence and insurance are valid on this side of the world. I have written a helpful article which you can read to learn more about UK driving tips.

If you are unsure about driving in the UK, rest assured that you are in good hands with any public transportation which you will choose. Good thing London and Birmingham are well-connected with each other. 

OPTION 5: How to get from London to Birmingham by Boat

• Travel Duration: Custom
• Travel Fare: Custom

London and Birmingham can be reached by riding a narrowboat through the Grand Union Canal. This may not be the fastest way to reach Birmingham, but taking a boat from London is a truly special experience that visitors will highly appreciate.

The total cruise spans 137 miles or 220 kilometres. Obviously, this is not something you can conquer for a day; in fact, an average cruising of eight hours per travel date will have you reaching Birmingham in a matter of nine days!

Don’t let this discourage you, though. Contact a private boat company and let them discuss the options with you. A full itinerary filled with exciting landmarks and restful stops can surely be curated just for you.

More about Birmingham UK

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