- Must visit
Leeds City Museum
Major city museum with natural history, archaeology, and global collections. A top all-round cultural stop for first-time visitors to Leeds.
Cheapest price
$26
Average price
$47
Fastest journey
6 h
Average duration
6 h 54 m
Buses per day
13
Distance
280 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Cardiff to Leeds is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Cardiff to Leeds will cost around $47 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $26.
Of the 13 buses that leave Cardiff for Leeds on Wed, Jul 22, 1 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Wed, Jul 22 the direct buses cover the 280 km distance in an average of 6 h 54 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 6 h .
On Wed, Jul 22 the slowest buses will take 7 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.
NX202 · NX100 · NX131
NX202 · NX100 · NX131
NX112 · NX133
FlixBus
FlixBus · FlixBus
NX112 · NX133
FlixBus · FlixBus
FlixBus · FlixBus
FlixBus
FlixBus · FlixBusOmio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Cardiff to Leeds among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $20. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 4h 21m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.3kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $20, and a train costs an average of $51.
Distance: 173 miles (280 km)
| Bus | Most popular Train | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$30 Average price Cheapest | $78 Average price | $79 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
7h 15m Average total duration 6h 45m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 51m Average total duration Fastest 4h 21m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 14m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.3 - 0.7kg CO2 emissions | 0.1 - 0.3kg CO2 emissions Lowest | - CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular train company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
This is compared to other travel options from Cardiff to Leeds:
A bus is $48 (€40) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cardiff to Leeds costing on average $78 (€65).
Other travel options to Leeds take longer:
Bus takes on average 6h 45m.
Tickets start at around $30 (€25) compared to roughly $79 (€65) in fuel and tolls — a saving of about $49 (€40). The journey takes 6h 45m versus 4h 14m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can use the time productively rather than spending it behind the wheel. No parking to sort, no fuel stops, and most coaches have Wi-Fi and power outlets.
Direct services are operated by Megabus, FlixBus.
Driving is worth considering if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), or want the flexibility to stop along the way.
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator National Express | Departure Time 03:15AM | Arrival Time 01:05PM | Duration 9h50 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $57 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 04:30AM | Arrival Time 02:00PM | Duration 9h30 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $24 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 04:45AM | Arrival Time 12:30PM | Duration 7h45 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $24 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 04:50AM | Arrival Time 02:00PM | Duration 9h10 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $46 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 05:15AM | Arrival Time 03:40PM | Duration 10h25 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $55 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 06:10AM | Arrival Time 01:20PM | Duration 7h10 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $24 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 06:25AM | Arrival Time 03:35PM | Duration 9h10 | Departure days Mon, Fri | Cheapest price $31 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 06:40AM | Arrival Time 03:05PM | Duration 8h25 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $27 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 06:45AM | Arrival Time 03:45PM | Duration 9h00 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $33 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 06:45AM | Arrival Time 03:40PM | Duration 8h55 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $85 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 07:10AM | Arrival Time 04:40PM | Duration 9h30 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $40 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 07:30AM | Arrival Time 04:50PM | Duration 9h20 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $85 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 07:45AM | Arrival Time 04:45PM | Duration 9h00 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $32 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 08:00AM | Arrival Time 04:50PM | Duration 8h50 | Departure days Tue, Thu | Cheapest price $85 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 08:30AM | Arrival Time 04:30PM | Duration 8h00 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $40 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 08:40AM | Arrival Time 04:05PM | Duration 7h25 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $28 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 08:55AM | Arrival Time 04:45PM | Duration 7h50 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $34 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 09:35AM | Arrival Time 05:25PM | Duration 7h50 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $30 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 12:10PM | Arrival Time 06:45PM | Duration 6h35 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $46 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 12:15PM | Arrival Time 07:20PM | Duration 7h05 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $25 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 12:25PM | Arrival Time 06:25PM | Duration 6h00 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat | Cheapest price $29 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 12:35PM | Arrival Time 08:50PM | Duration 8h15 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $27 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 01:30PM | Arrival Time 11:30PM | Duration 10h00 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $51 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 01:45PM | Arrival Time 11:30PM | Duration 9h45 | Departure days Mon, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $39 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 03:00PM | Arrival Time 10:00PM | Duration 7h00 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $20 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 04:00PM | Arrival Time 11:00PM | Duration 7h00 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $32 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 04:25PM | Arrival Time 11:20PM | Duration 6h55 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $30 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 04:30PM | Arrival Time 02:50AM | Duration 10h20 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $58 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 04:40PM | Arrival Time 11:20PM | Duration 6h40 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $26 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 04:40PM | Arrival Time 11:00PM | Duration 6h20 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $33 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 06:45PM | Arrival Time 05:35AM | Duration 10h50 | Departure days Mon, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $35 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 07:15PM | Arrival Time 05:35AM | Duration 10h20 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $48 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 07:45PM | Arrival Time 06:10AM | Duration 10h25 | Departure days Mon, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $40 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 09:10PM | Arrival Time 08:25AM | Duration 11h15 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $36 |
The table below shows live departures for Cardiff to Leeds buses for today, Tuesday, July 21. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NX509 · NX591 | 3:15 AM Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 9h50 | 1:05 PM Leeds, Coach Station | 1 transfer | |
NX202 · NX100 · NX131 | 4:30 AM Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 9h30 | 2:00 PM Leeds, Coach Station | 2 transfers | |
NX507 · NX561 | 5:15 AM Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 10h25 | 3:40 PM Leeds, Coach Station | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus · FlixBus | 6:45 AM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 6h35 | 1:20 PM Leeds, Coach Station | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus · FlixBus | 7:10 AM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 9h30 | 4:40 PM Leeds, Coach Station | 1 transfer | |
NX507 · NX426 | 8:00 AM Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 8h50 | 4:50 PM Leeds, Coach Station | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus · FlixBus | 8:55 AM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 7h50 | 4:45 PM Leeds, Coach Station | 1 transfer | |
NX111 · NX131 | 9:35 AM Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 7h50 | 5:25 PM Leeds, Coach Station | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus | 12:15 PM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 7h05 | 7:20 PM Leeds, Coach Station | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX112 · NX133 | 12:25 PM Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 6h00 | 6:25 PM Leeds, Coach Station | 1 transfer | |
NX202 · NX100 · NX131 | 12:35 PM Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 8h15 | 8:50 PM Leeds, Coach Station | 2 transfers | |
NX509 · NX561 | 1:30 PM Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 10h00 | 11:30 PM Leeds, Coach Station | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus · FlixBus | 4:00 PM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 7h00 | 11:00 PM Leeds, Coach Station | 1 transfer | |
NX509 · NX465 | 7:15 PM Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 10h20 | 5:35 AM Leeds, Coach Station | 1 transfer | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train and bus prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Buses from Cardiff to Leeds run on average 15 times per day, taking around 6h 45m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $20 (€16) if you book in advance.
There are 1 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 00:30, the last at 23:55. The fastest bus covers the 173 miles (280 km) distance in 6h 0m.
Distance 173 miles (280 km) |
Average bus duration 6h 45m |
Cheapest ticket price $20 (€16) |
Buses per day 15 |
Direct buses 1 |
Fastest bus 6h 0m |
First bus 12:30 AM |
Last bus 11:55 PM |
Cheapest Month Apr |
Cheapest Day Wed |
High Season Jul - Sep |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Fri |
Least Busy Day Mon |
Best time to book 21 days |
Discover the best of Leeds — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Leeds trip today.
Major city museum with natural history, archaeology, and global collections. A top all-round cultural stop for first-time visitors to Leeds.
National museum on medicine and surgery with remarkable instruments and pathology displays. Unique, thought-provoking, and one of Leeds’ standout specialist museums.
Important gallery spanning historic and modern art in a handsome city-centre building. A core Leeds cultural venue with strong permanent displays.
Grand Victorian shopping and strolling street lined with arcades and landmarks. A classic first stop for architecture, retail, and city-centre atmosphere.
Major urban park with avenues, lakes, and events space. A local favorite for relaxing, walking, and seeing one of Leeds’ best-loved green spaces.
Canalside regeneration district with waterside paths, independent venues, and modern city views. Popular for walking and seeing contemporary Leeds at work and play.
A Yorkshire staple of batter baked until crisp and airy, traditionally served with roast beef and gravy at Sunday lunch.
A hearty pork sausage from nearby West Yorkshire, usually seasoned with herbs and served with mash or in breakfasts.
A rich fruit loaf packed with currants and citrus peel, strongly linked to Yorkshire baking and often served sliced with tea.
Stylish modern British restaurant serving seasonal dishes and cocktails in an elegant but relaxed city-centre setting.
Popular Indian vegetarian institution celebrated for South Indian snacks, street food, and casual family-friendly dining.
Refined fine dining restaurant known for modern British tasting menus, polished service, and a special-occasion atmosphere.
Moderate for UK city breaks. Hotels, dining, and transit are usually cheaper than London, but central stays and upscale dining can raise daily costs.
Restaurants may add a service charge; if not, 10-12.5% is common for good service. Taxis are often rounded up. Cafes usually do not require tips, but small change is appreciated.
Official public transport app
Leeds Coach Station -> Leeds Station
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Cardiff to Leeds 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 Leeds, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Cardiff to Leeds buses use the Cardiff, Sophia Gardens to Leeds, Coach Station station pair, with some services arriving at Leeds, York Street (Travel Centre). Use this guide to compare Cardiff and Leeds bus stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like bus station facilities and services.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need