Glasgow is 405 miles from London, a long way to drive it all at once. Fortunately, there are easier, faster and cheaper ways to travel from the UK capital to the arts capital of hip culture that is Glasgow. These information resources will help you plan a trip that fits your time scale and budget.
By train
Virgin Trains operates services on the West Coast Main Line, Britain’s busiest passenger route, around the clock between the line’s London Euston terminal and Glasgow Central Station, a listed building dating back to 1879. The trip lasts between 4.5 and 5.5 hours.
In May 2017 regular advance round-trip fares started at around £ 70 (when purchased as separate one-way tickets), but if you can be very flexible when traveling, National Rail Inquiries Cheapest Fare Finder you can get even cheaper Tickets. In this way, I reduced another offer in price, but it involved a very limited selection of outlets.
Fans of slow travel can take a night’s sleep, The Sleeping Calendonian. The train leaves Euston Station every night at approximately 11:30 pm, arriving in Glasgow almost eight hours later, at approximately 7:30 am Costs start at £ 40 for the advance booking of a one-way ticket in the reclining seat. First class travel in a single occupancy bunk cabin with breakfast in the carriage costs £ 170 in 2017 for a fixed booking and £ 200 for a flexible ticket. If you plan to use a BritRail pass to get around, you should be aware that you cannot use the pass for the Caledonian Sleeper.
UK Travel Tip The cheapest train fares are designated ‘Advance’: anticipation depends on the journey, as most rail companies offer advance fares on a first-come, first-served basis. Advance tickets are generally sold as one-way or “single” tickets. Whether or not you buy advance tickets, always compare the price of the “single” ticket with the round trip or the “return” price, as it is often cheaper to buy two individual tickets rather than one single ticket. round trip.
By bus
National Express Coaches offer bus services between London and Glasgow. The journey takes between 8 hours and up to 13 hours depending on whether the bus is a direct service or requires a change in Birmingham. Fares range from a 12-pound one-way ticket (purchased in advance) to a standard fare of £ 30 each way. There are three direct trips, between London Victoria Coach Station and Glasgow Buchanan Coach Station, in each direction every day with longer trips stopping first in Birmingham. Bus tickets can be purchased online.
Megabus now also offers frequent services from London to Glasgow, ranging in price from £ 1 to £ 20 each way. Your night service to Glasgow is on an extra long and flexible bus.
UK Travel Tip Most National Express trips between London and Glasgow involve overnight trips or arriving at unsociable hours. Since tickets are sold only one way (only), it can be confusing trying to put together the best combinations of times and fares. It’s much easier to use the company’s low-rate finder. It will show you a selection of what National Express calls “fun rates,” which are the cheapest options available. These generally need to be purchased well in advance and are in limited supply.
London to Glasgow by car
Glasgow is 405 miles north of London on the M1, M6. M42, A74 (M), M73 and M8 motorways. According to the Automobile Association, the trip should take around 7 hours to drive in traffic-free conditions. But keep in mind that any trip using the M1 and M6 will never involve no-traffic conditions. It is much more likely to take 12 to 15 hours or more. Also note that gasoline, called petrol in the UK, is sold by the liter (just over a quart) and the price is usually more than $ 1.50 per quart.
Use the Automobile Association Route Planner to map a route with suggested stopovers and gas stations.
Flights from London to Glasgow
I rarely recommend flying between destinations in the UK mainland because when costs and time to get to and from airports at either end are taken into account, the train is usually a better option. Glasgow is an exception to this rule. Unless you’re sleeping or sightseeing and touring the country for several days, London to Glasgow by car or train is a long and tiring journey.
On the other hand, plan well and cheap flights are available. Regular flights from London to Glasgow Airport depart from Heathrow, Gatwick, London City and Stansted airports throughout the day. The flight takes about 1 1/2 hours. The cheapest and most frequent flights (in 2017) were easyjet from Stansted to Glasgow Prestwick Airport.
