Best way to travel from London to Newcastle
Travelling from London to Newcastle
Combining a vibrant culture with historic architecture, Newcastle-upon-Tyne is one of the most unique cities in the UK and the perfect place to spend a few days. From the iconic quayside to the imposing castle, there are plenty of things to see and do in Newcastle!
Planning to travel from London to Newcastle? There are lots of ways to choose from – including train, plane, coach and car. Unsure which mode of transport is the right one for you? We’re here to help you make the right choice!
If you’re travelling from London to Newcastle, you’ll travel over 247 miles, through the heart of the English countryside. When planning your trip from London to Newcastle, there’s a lot of factors to take into consideration, including price, journey time, CO₂ emissions and more.
Whether you decide to travel by train, plane, coach or car, we’re here to help you find the best way to travel from London to Newcastle.
Comparing travel from London to Newcastle
There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing the best way to travel from London to Newcastle. We've put together a guide for each mode of transport to make your decision simpler.
| Transport | Price | Duration | CO₂ emissions | First/last departure time | First Class | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Train | From £19.90** | From 2 hours and 37 minutes | 15.2kg* |
04:45 22:00 | From £76.50 | Free WiFi, power sockets, table, luggage storage, comfortable seating, at-seat ordering, bicycle storage, onboard cafe |
| Coach | From £7.90 | From 7 hours | 10.4kg* |
07:30 23:00 | n/a | Free WiFi, power sockets, air conditioning |
| Car | Depends on petrol prices | Around 5 hours | 50.1kg* | Anytime | n/a | n/a |
| Plane | From £18 | Around 4 hours and 30 minutes, including check-in times and travel to/from the airport | 105.9kg* |
07:10 22:30 |
Depends on operator | Luggage storage |
Surprised by those CO₂ emissions? Find out more about I came by train - a collective movement to help fight climate change. Because switching to train is one of the single best things you can do to lower your CO2 emissions.
Travelling from London to Newcastle by train
If you’re considering a trip from London to Newcastle, why not take the train? Compared to plane and car, the train is a far more sustainable way to travel from London to Newcastle. In fact, a single journey from London to Newcastle by car emits 67% more CO₂ than if you took the same journey by train.
In total, the train journey can take just 2 hours and 37 minutes on the fastest high-speed services. Each day, there are around 45 trains running on this popular route. If you’re travelling on this route, you’ll jump on a train at London Kings Cross station operated by either London North Eastern Railway (LNER) or Lumo.
As soon as you’ve found your seat, you can sit back and make yourself comfortable. Then, you can start to take advantage of all the benefits of train travel. Charge your devices using the power sockets and connect to the free WiFi to catch up on some work, watch your favourite TV show or chat to your friends on social media. Alternatively, you could read a newspaper or book, or simply enjoy the spectacular views of the English countryside.
Unlike travelling by plane, the train allows you to sit back and soak in the picturesque scenery. From Central London, the train will sweep you through the outskirts of the city, through the heart of England and to the northeast. When travelling by train, make sure to get a window seat to take advantage of the views.
Fancy treating yourself? Upgrade to First Class and enjoy all of the onboard amenities of Standard Class, as well as plenty of additional benefits. Upgrade to LNER First Class and you’ll enjoy plenty of legroom, larger tables, reclining seats, power sockets and complimentary food and drink. Also, while you're waiting to board the train, you can relax in the LNER First Class lounge at London Kings Cross station.
Whether you travel with LNER or Lumo, you’ll arrive at Newcastle station. As soon as you’ve exited the station, you’ll find yourself in the hustle and bustle of the city centre. From here, you’re perfectly positioned to start exploring everything Newcastle has to offer!
Flying from London to Newcastle
Although flying is technically the quickest way to travel from London to Newcastle, it’s worth noting that it’s also by far the least environmentally friendly option. In fact, a single journey emits six times more CO₂ than taking the train.
When flying from London to Newcastle, you’ll be travelling with British Airways. On this route, you’ll fly from London Heathrow, so you’ll have to make your way out of Central London to get to the airport. Generally, the flight times from London to Newcastle are usually around 1 hour and 15 minutes. However, you also need to factor in travelling to the airport, as well as the time it takes to go through check-in, security and baggage control. Currently, Heathrow Airport recommend you arrive three hours before your flight. Then, once you’ve landed at Newcastle Airport, you’ll need to travel to the city centre which takes around 15 minutes. Considering all these factors, the total travel time for flying from London to Newcastle is around 4 and a half hours.
Taking a coach from London to Newcastle
Looking for a simple, cost-efficient way to get from London to Newcastle, why not take the coach? Although coach travel is technically the most sustainable mode of transport, it's not the quickest.
Usually, it takes around 7 hours and 40 minutes to get from London to Newcastle by coach, but the fastest services will take you there in just 7 hours. However, it’s worth noting that journey times vary depending on traffic conditions along the route.
On this route, National Express will pick you up from London Victoria Coach Station. You can sit back and relax as you don’t need to worry about making any changes along the way. After 7 hours, your coach will arrive at Newcastle Coach Station, in the heart of the city. Depending on which service you travel on, you might stop at various points along the journey, including Milton Keynes, Sheffield and Leeds. Once you’re on board, you’ll take advantage of amenities such as power sockets, air conditioning, WiFi, luggage storage and toilets.
Driving from London to Newcastle
You can drive from London to Newcastle if you have a car, or plan on hiring one. However, it’s worth noting that driving from London to Newcastle emits three times more CO₂ than taking the train. As you can leave from anywhere at any time, and can stop anywhere along the way, driving gives you a lot of flexibility. Although, you need to consider that the drive from London to Newcastle is around 247 miles, and on a good day without stopping, you’re looking at a 5-hour drive.
Also, as you are driving, you won’t be able to sit back and enjoy the views or enjoy the onboard amenities such as free WiFi or a catering service. In terms of price, you’ll have to factor in petrol prices and parking. London and Newcastle are two of the UK’s busiest cities, therefore driving can be difficult and parking can be expensive.
What is the best way to travel from London to Newcastle?
Hoping to travel from London to Newcastle but want to choose a sustainable option? Train is the way to go!
Travelling by train emits significantly less CO₂ than other modes of transport, like plane and car. In fact, research shows that taking the train to Newcastle emits around 15.2kg in CO₂, whereas the the car emits 50.1kg and the plane emits an enormous 105.9kg in CO₂. Although, coach emits less CO₂ than train, the journey takes over 4 hours longer.
If you are planning a trip from London to Newcastle and want to choose a sustainable option, choose train!
Fact: By choosing to travel from London to Newcastle by train instead of car or plane, you save a whopping 67% and 86% of CO₂ respectively. We think that's pretty amazing!
Things to see and do in Newcastle
Perched on the River Tyne in Northeast England, Newcastle is an excellent place to visit all-year round! Comprising fascinating history, lively nightlife and excellent shops, there’s no shortage of things to see and do in Newcastle.
Frequently Asked Questions
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* CO₂ calculations are based on:
Plane = Domestic flight with radiative forcing 0.24455 kg CO₂/passenger km
Car = average petrol car 0.17363 kg CO₂/km / 1.5 (average loading for cars based on DFT statistical data set for vehicle mileage and occupancy) = 0.1157533 kg CO₂/passenger km
Train = National Rail 0.0351 kg CO₂/passenger km
Conversion factors are all scopes published by the UK Government
**Average savings on fares booked prior to day of travel vs full price fares on day of travel in the UK. Subject to availability. Excludes coach.
Prices and flight times collected from Skycanner and Kayak on 02/08/22