- Must visit
Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery
Leading city museum and gallery with Roman, Border Reiver, natural history, and art collections in a historic house.
Cheapest price on Oct 30
$27
Average ticket price on Oct 30
$33
Fastest journey on Oct 30
5 h 50 m
Average journey duration on Oct 30
5 h 50 m
Buses on Oct 30
3
Distance
277 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Birmingham to Carlisle is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Birmingham to Carlisle will cost around $33 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $27.
On Fri, Oct 30, we found 3 buses from Birmingham to Carlisle, including 3 direct services.
On Fri, Oct 30 the direct buses cover the 277 km distance in an average of 5 h 50 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 5 h 50 m .
On Fri, Oct 30 the slowest buses will take 5 h 50 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.

|
| ||||||||||||

|
| ||||||||||||

|
| ||||||||||||

|
| ||||||||||||

|
| ||||||||||||

|
| ||||||||||||
Buses from Birmingham to Carlisle run on average 3 times per day, taking around 7h 25m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $16 (€14) if you book in advance.
There are 2 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 00:50, the last at 23:55. The fastest bus covers the 172 miles (277 km) distance in 5h 20m.
Distance 172 miles (277 km) |
Average bus duration 7h 25m |
Cheapest ticket price $16 (€14) |
Buses per day 3 |
Direct buses 2 |
Fastest bus 5h 20m |
First bus 12:50 AM |
Last bus 11:55 PM |
Cheapest Month Jun |
Cheapest Day Wed |
High Season Jul - Sep |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Fri |
Least Busy Day Sat |
Best time to book 21 days |
Use these quick route answers to check fares, travel time, departure options, and direct services before booking from Birmingham to Carlisle.
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator National Express | Departure Time 11:50AM | Arrival Time 05:40PM | Duration 5h50 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat | Cheapest price $17 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 12:50PM | Arrival Time 06:40PM | Duration 5h50 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $17 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 05:55PM | Arrival Time 05:55AM | Duration 12h00 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $34 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 08:00PM | Arrival Time 05:55AM | Duration 9h55 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $30 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 10:00PM | Arrival Time 03:50AM | Duration 5h50 | Departure days Thu, Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $35 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 11:00PM | Arrival Time 04:50AM | Duration 5h50 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $27 |
The table below shows live departures for Birmingham to Carlisle buses for today, Thursday, October 29. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 10:00 PM Birmingham | 5h50 | 3:50 AM Carlisle | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 11:00 PM Birmingham | 5h50 | 4:50 AM Carlisle | 0 transfersDirect | |
| Friday, October 30 | |||||
![]() | 12:50 PM Birmingham | 5h50 | 6:40 PM Carlisle | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Review the details behind your booking, from operators and ticket rules to luggage, onboard amenities, accessibility, and route-specific travel policies.
Discover the best of Carlisle — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Carlisle trip today.
Leading city museum and gallery with Roman, Border Reiver, natural history, and art collections in a historic house.
Major museum inside Carlisle Castle exploring Cumbria's military past, regimental history, and border conflicts.
Hands-on Roman frontier gallery at Tullie House presenting Hadrian's Wall finds and frontier life in Cumbria.
Large central park with historic features, play areas, walks, and frequent events near the city centre.
Popular riverside park with trails, picnic areas, and open green space ideal for walking or relaxing by the Eden.
Attractive riverside walk near the castle and cathedral, offering green views and one of Carlisle's best strolls.
Cumberland Sausage is the area’s signature coiled pork sausage, seasoned with pepper and herbs. It is a protected regional specialty long associated with Cumbria.
A hearty hotpot of lamb or mutton with onions and sliced potatoes, linked to old Cumbrian farm cooking and valued for its simple, filling character.
This traditional Cumbrian soup combines ham broth, split peas and vegetables. It reflects frugal northern cooking and is still a comforting local staple.
Established city-centre restaurant known for polished modern British cooking, tasting menus and a refined but relaxed atmosphere.
Well-regarded independent bistro focused on locally sourced British food, steaks and seasonal specials in a casual setting.
Historic traditional pub serving cask ales and classic British dishes in a characterful setting close to Carlisle Castle.
Moderate for the UK: hotels and dining are usually cheaper than major cities, while local buses and trains are standard regional prices.
Tipping is optional. In restaurants, 10-12.5% is common for good service if not already added. Round up small cafe bills and taxi fares.
Official public transport app
Carlisle Railway Station -> Carlisle City Centre
Get destination-focused answers for the end of your trip, including what to do, when to go, practical entry details, and tips for making the most of your time in Carlisle.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Birmingham to Carlisle by bus. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest bus, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Carlisle, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Birmingham to Carlisle buses use the Birmingham, Coach Station to Carlisle, Bus Station (Lonsdale Street) station pair, with some services arriving at Carlisle. Use this guide to compare Birmingham and Carlisle bus stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like bus station facilities and services.
Birmingham, Coach Station is 1 km from Birmingham city centre. Public transport options include:
Birmingham, Coach Station has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, and Ticket Office.
Food options include: Cafeteria and fast-food options inside the station
Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located near the entrance.
Ticket office support is available at Birmingham, Coach Station.
Available at Birmingham, Coach Station: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Birmingham, Coach Station: Elevators, ramps.
Birmingham, Great Charles Street Queensway has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Shower, and Ticket Office.
Wi-Fi is available at Birmingham, Great Charles Street Queensway. ATMs are available at Birmingham, Great Charles Street Queensway.
Ticket office support is available at Birmingham, Great Charles Street Queensway.
Available at Birmingham, Great Charles Street Queensway: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Birmingham, Great Charles Street Queensway: Bus stops are wheelchair accessible.
Birmingham has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Shower, and Ticket Office.
Food options include: Multiple fast food and cafes inside
Free Wi-Fi available within the station. ATMs are multiple ATMs available inside the station.
Ticket office support is available at Birmingham.
Available at Birmingham: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Birmingham: Wheelchair accessible entrances and facilities.
Carlisle, Bus Station (Lonsdale Street) has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Shower, and Ticket Office.
Wi-Fi is available at Carlisle, Bus Station (Lonsdale Street). ATMs are available at Carlisle, Bus Station (Lonsdale Street).
Ticket office support is available at Carlisle, Bus Station (Lonsdale Street).
Available at Carlisle, Bus Station (Lonsdale Street): Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Carlisle, Bus Station (Lonsdale Street): Wheelchair accessible entrances and paths present.
Carlisle has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Shower, and Ticket Office.
Wi-Fi is available at Carlisle. ATMs are available at Carlisle.
Ticket office support is available at Carlisle.
Available at Carlisle: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Carlisle: Wheelchair accessible entrance and services.
Check bus stations information for Birmingham and Carlisle, including where buses depart and arrive on this route.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need