How to get from London to Nottingham: Train, coach or car?

Quickest way from London to Nottingham: Train

Cheapest way from London to Nottingham: Coach

Our recommendation: We consider the train to be the best way to travel from London to Nottingham. Balancing speed, comfort and affordability, the London to Nottingham train cuts an hour off travel time by bus and a half hour off driving times, while remaining competitive in terms of price and allowing you to sit back and relax in a comfortable environment.

Taking the train from London to Nottingham is one of the fastest ways to travel this route, and can also be quite affordable – especially if you make the most of our train travel money-saving tips. The route is served by several train operators, with trains running from various stations around London to accommodate your precise needs.

Direct trains from London St Pancras to Nottingham trains - East Midlands Railway

Direct trains from London to Nottingham are operated by East Midlands Railway and depart from London St Pancras International Station, located on Euston road in Camden. The fastest trains take about 1 hr 32 min, with an average duration of 1 hr 46 min. These direct trains depart every half an hour and tickets usually cost £29 to £54, although prices see considerable hikes when booked last minute, with fares upwards of £100.

East Midlands Railways trains offer free Wi-Fi, comfy seats, plug sockets and, on First Class carriages, free food and drink plus extra spacious seats. St Pancras International station is a highly convenient station to set out from thanks to its excellent connectivity – its central location offers handy links to London’s transport network, and it is adjacent to Kings Cross station for access to six of the Underground lines. As such, it’s quite easy to reach this station, no matter where your journey starts.

London Kings Cross to Nottingham – LNER and Hull Trains

Some routes from London to Nottingham start from London Kings Cross station, but these journeys generally include a change along the way. Trains from Kings Cross are operated by either LNER or Hull Trains, and usually make a stop at Grantham station. These journeys take a bit longer than the direct routes, usually taking about 2 hr.

As Kings Cross station is located just across from St Pancras International, the main draw for taking a train from here instead would be if you prefer the service offered by LNER or Hull Trains, as prices do not differ significantly. 

LNER offers a modern fleet with a more extensive First Class service as well as dedicated quiet coaches compared to EMR. Hull Trains, on the other hand, are praised for their generous seat size, both in Standard and First Class, so if this is important to you, this may be the route for you.

Whichever station or operator you choose for your London to Nottingham train, you can save money on your ticket by implementing our money-saving tips:

• Book in advance: Advance tickets are released 12 weeks before date of travel, and offer significant savings. Act fast, as Advance tickets are only released in limited supply.
• Travel off-peak: Off Peak tickets can get you great deals on your train tickets. Off-peak hours are usually from 9:00/9:30 to 16:00 and after 19:00 Monday to Friday and weekends, although this can vary by operator.
• Use a Railcard: If you’re a student travelling from London to Nottingham for university, applying your 16–25 Railcard discount via Trip.com can get you a 1/3 discount on most fares. If you’re not a student, you’ll also find Railcards for other age brackets and group or family travel – check them out here.

If your main priority for travel is keeping costs down, then the London to Nottingham bus is the right option for you. Just make sure you have a bit more time to spare, as this mode of transport is not as efficient as the train.

Direct coaches from London to Nottingham are operated by National Express and Flixbus, with services running from London Golders Green, London Victoria Coach Station, London Finchley Road to Nottingham Broad Marsh Bus Station, University of Nottingham, Nottingham Phoenix Park P + R and Nottingham Mansfield Road. The cheapest tickets can be found for £7.70, which fares rising to over £20, depending on travel time and operator.

Buses from London to Nottingham are quite frequent, with departures running roughly every 30 minutes. You’ll usually find Wi-Fi, charging points, toilets and reclining seats on board. Although this mode of transport offers less comfort and efficiency than the train, it is ideal for students, backpackers and anyone looking for cheap travel from London to Nottingham. 

Top tips: Bring headphones and a neck pillow, and book early via Trip.com for a more comfortable journey while maximising savings.

For full control of your journey, driving from London to Nottingham is the way to go. This option allows you to leave whenever suits you best, choose your own route and avoid crowds – but it also comes with traffic, a higher cost and longer travel times.

Actual journey times will vary depending on where in London you’re leaving from, but you can expect the drive to take around 2 hr 20 min. To get to Nottingham city centre from Central London, you can take the following route:

• Join the M1
• Follow the M1 to Remembrance Way (A453) in Leicestershire. Take exit 24.
• Continue on A453. Take Queens Dr to Upper Parliament Street (A6008) in Nottingham.

Fuel costs for travelling from London to Nottingham by car will set you back around £20 to £30 round trip depending on your car, fuel type and route, with costs varying further depending on congestion zone or toll charges incurred.

Nottingham city offers both bus and tram Park & Rides and Park & Rides services, with south/south-west options allowing you to avoid driving through the city. Our top picks for drivers coming from London include Toton Lane (tram), Queens Drive (bus) and Clifton (tram). Park & Ride bus sites cost just £6.50 per car, while the tram P&R sites are free with a valid tram ticket.