Getting from London to Newcastle (and return)
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city in north east England known for its music, arts , sports and nightlife. It is a gateway for those who plan to explore the Northumberland coast and Hadrian’s Wall. It is definitely one of the trendiest cities in the UK.
Since London is very well served by a variety of low cost European carriers and you can also grab good deals from the USA, most travelers prefer to arrive here and then plan to travel by land to other cities in the UK.
Quick summary
Traveling by train from London to Newcastle upon Tyne not only means you’ll pay £12.30 for a single ticket (if you book slightly in advance), but also means you don’t need to worry about traveling from the airport to the city centers. Coaches cost slightly less (from £11.50) but take twice as long (from 6 ½ h).
Flights from London to Newcastle
Newcastle International Airport (NCL) is located about 6 miles from the city center. It is the 11th busiest airport in the UK and is not hub for any airline.
Direct flights from Newcastle to London are operated by: British Airways (Heathrow) and Flybe (Gatwick).
Should you plan to fly from London to Newcastle during the shoulder season (November 2011), expect to pay from £62 one way on British Airways (departure from London Heathrow). If you want to travel during the winter holidays, the single airfare starts at £60 on flybe (departure from London Gatwick – LGW). The flight time is 1h 25 min.
Read more about:
>>Flights to London Heathrow
>>Flights to London Gatwick
Trains from London to Newcastle
Trains to Newcastle upon Tyne leave from London King’s Cross station and arrive at Newcastle Station. The journey takes between 3 h and 3 ½ h, depending on the type of train.
East Coast Trains run between the two cities every half an hour. Web only single fares start at £12.30 and are valid only on the chosen train. You can also buy a day ticket valid on off peak trains for £54.85.
>>read more about the Railway Stations in London
Buses from London to Newcastle
Coaches to Newcastle upon Tyne Coach Station depart from London Victoria Coach Station and are operated by National Express . The travel time is between 6 ½ h and 1 1/2 h, depending on the traffic. There are five departures per day from London.
Depending on the time of departure, expect to pay from £11.50 for a single ticket. When looking for departures and the fares, you’ll be offered the lowest possible fare available at the moment you choose the time you want to travel, so these may sell out and you’ll pay a more expensive fare.
Driving from London to Newcastle
There are three possible routes to get from London to Newcastle upon Tyne by car:
- A1 (M) and A1: 277 miles, about 5 ½ h
- M1 and A1 (M): 283 miles, about 5 h
- A1 (M) : 315 miles, about 5 ½ h
The map shows the M1 and A1 (M) route: