- Must visit
Leicester Museum & Art Gallery
Leicester's flagship museum and gallery, known for dinosaurs, German Expressionism and broad collections for first-time visitors.
Cheapest price
$7
Average price
$9
Fastest journey
50 m
Average duration
1 h
Buses per day
30
Distance
39 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Derby to Leicester is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Derby to Leicester will cost around $9 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $7.
Of the 30 buses that leave Derby for Leicester on Wed, Aug 05, 30 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Wed, Aug 05 the direct buses cover the 39 km distance in an average of 1 h but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 50 m .
On Wed, Aug 05 the slowest buses will take 1 h 5 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.
FlixBus
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NX440
NX440Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Derby to Leicester among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $5. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 26m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.0 - 0.0kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $5, and a train costs an average of $4.
Distance: 24 miles (39 km)
| Bus | Most popular Train | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$8 Average price Cheapest | $16 Average price | $11 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
1h 32m Average total duration 1h 2m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 56m Average total duration Fastest 26m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 48m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.0 - 0.1kg CO2 emissions | 0.0 - 0.0kg 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 Derby to Leicester:
A bus is $8 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Derby to Leicester costing on average $16.
Other travel options to Leicester take longer:
Bus takes on average 1h 2m.
Tickets start at around $8 compared to roughly $11 in fuel and tolls — a saving of about $3. The journey takes 1h 2m versus 48m 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 National Express, Megabus, FlixBus, Kinchbus.
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 12:10AM | Arrival Time 01:35AM | Duration 1h25 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $11 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 12:55AM | Arrival Time 02:20AM | Duration 1h25 | Departure days Tue, Wed | Cheapest price $7 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 12:55AM | Arrival Time 02:20AM | Duration 1h25 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $11 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 01:50AM | Arrival Time 03:35AM | Duration 1h45 | Departure days Tue, Wed | Cheapest price $7 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 02:10AM | Arrival Time 03:00AM | Duration 0h50 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $6 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 02:25AM | Arrival Time 03:50AM | Duration 1h25 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $11 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 02:40AM | Arrival Time 04:10AM | Duration 1h30 | Departure days Tue, Wed | Cheapest price $7 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 03:10AM | Arrival Time 04:00AM | Duration 0h50 | Departure days Tue, Wed | Cheapest price $7 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 04:10AM | Arrival Time 05:45AM | Duration 1h35 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $11 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 04:40AM | Arrival Time 06:20AM | Duration 1h40 | Departure days Tue, Wed | Cheapest price $7 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 05:05AM | Arrival Time 05:55AM | Duration 0h50 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $9 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 05:10AM | Arrival Time 06:10AM | Duration 1h00 | Departure days Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $6 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 05:40AM | Arrival Time 07:15AM | Duration 1h35 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $11 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 06:05AM | Arrival Time 06:55AM | Duration 0h50 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $9 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 06:10AM | Arrival Time 07:15AM | Duration 1h05 | Departure days Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $9 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 06:10AM | Arrival Time 07:30AM | Duration 1h20 | Departure days Tue, Wed | Cheapest price $7 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 06:20AM | Arrival Time 07:35AM | Duration 1h15 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $9 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 06:50AM | Arrival Time 07:35AM | Duration 0h45 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $9 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 07:35AM | Arrival Time 09:10AM | Duration 1h35 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $11 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 09:00AM | Arrival Time 10:05AM | Duration 1h05 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $5 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 09:15AM | Arrival Time 10:20AM | Duration 1h05 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $9 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 09:40AM | Arrival Time 11:10AM | Duration 1h30 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $11 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 11:45AM | Arrival Time 12:50PM | Duration 1h05 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $9 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 12:05PM | Arrival Time 01:40PM | Duration 1h35 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $11 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 03:10PM | Arrival Time 04:20PM | Duration 1h10 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $9 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 04:40PM | Arrival Time 05:50PM | Duration 1h10 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $9 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 05:40PM | Arrival Time 06:50PM | Duration 1h10 | Departure days Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $9 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 06:05PM | Arrival Time 07:40PM | Duration 1h35 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $9 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 07:20PM | Arrival Time 08:55PM | Duration 1h35 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $10 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 07:40PM | Arrival Time 09:15PM | Duration 1h35 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $9 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 08:30PM | Arrival Time 10:05PM | Duration 1h35 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $9 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 08:55PM | Arrival Time 10:30PM | Duration 1h35 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $9 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 09:10PM | Arrival Time 10:35PM | Duration 1h25 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $12 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 10:10PM | Arrival Time 11:50PM | Duration 1h40 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $6 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 10:10PM | Arrival Time 11:35PM | Duration 1h25 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $11 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 11:05PM | Arrival Time 12:55AM | Duration 1h50 | Departure days Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $6 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 11:10PM | Arrival Time 12:30AM | Duration 1h20 | Departure days Tue, Wed | Cheapest price $7 |
The table below shows live departures for Derby to Leicester buses for today, Tuesday, August 4. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NX196 | 7:40 PM Derby, Bus Station | 1h35 | 9:15 PM Leicester, St.Margaret's Bus Station | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX196 | 8:55 PM Derby, Bus Station | 1h35 | 10:30 PM Leicester, St.Margaret's Bus Station | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX230 | 10:10 PM Derby, Bus Station | 1h25 | 11:35 PM Leicester, St.Margaret's Bus Station | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 11:10 PM Derby, Bus Station | 1h40 | 12:50 AM Leicester, Fosse Park Avenue (Asda) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 11:10 PM Derby, Bus Station | 1h20 | 12:30 AM Leicester, St.Margaret's Bus Station | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX230 | 12:10 AM Derby, Bus Station | 1h25 | 1:35 AM Leicester, St.Margaret's Bus Station | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX230 | 12:55 AM Derby, Bus Station | 1h25 | 2:20 AM Leicester, St.Margaret's Bus Station | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 12:55 AM Derby, Bus Station | 1h25 | 2:20 AM Leicester, St.Margaret's Bus Station | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 12:55 AM Derby, Bus Station | 1h45 | 2:40 AM Leicester, Fosse Park Avenue (Asda) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 1:50 AM Derby, Bus Station | 1h45 | 3:35 AM Leicester, Fosse Park Avenue (Asda) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 1:50 AM Derby, Bus Station | 1h25 | 3:15 AM Leicester, St.Margaret's Bus Station | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX230 | 2:25 AM Derby, Bus Station | 1h25 | 3:50 AM Leicester, St.Margaret's Bus Station | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 2:40 AM Derby, Bus Station | 1h30 | 4:10 AM Leicester, St.Margaret's Bus Station | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 2:40 AM Derby, Bus Station | 1h50 | 4:30 AM Leicester, Fosse Park Avenue (Asda) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 3:10 AM Derby, Bus Station | 0h50 | 4:00 AM Leicester, Fosse Park Avenue (Asda) | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX230 | 4:10 AM Derby, Bus Station | 1h35 | 5:45 AM Leicester, St.Margaret's Bus Station | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 4:40 AM Derby, Bus Station | 1h40 | 6:20 AM Leicester, St.Margaret's Bus Station | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 4:40 AM Derby, Bus Station | 2h00 | 6:40 AM Leicester, Fosse Park Avenue (Asda) | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX230 | 5:40 AM Derby, Bus Station | 1h35 | 7:15 AM Leicester, St.Margaret's Bus Station | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 6:10 AM Derby, Bus Station | 1h20 | 7:30 AM Leicester, Fosse Park Avenue (Asda) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 6:10 AM Derby, Bus Station | 1h00 | 7:10 AM Leicester, St.Margaret's Bus Station | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX440 | 6:20 AM Derby, Bus Station | 1h15 | 7:35 AM Leicester, St.Margaret's Bus Station | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX230 | 7:35 AM Derby, Bus Station | 1h35 | 9:10 AM Leicester, St.Margaret's Bus Station | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 9:00 AM Derby, Bus Station | 1h20 | 10:20 AM Leicester, Fosse Park Avenue (Asda) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 9:00 AM Derby, Bus Station | 1h00 | 10:00 AM Leicester, St.Margaret's Bus Station | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX440 | 9:15 AM Derby, Bus Station | 1h05 | 10:20 AM Leicester, St.Margaret's Bus Station | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX230 | 9:40 AM Derby, Bus Station | 1h30 | 11:10 AM Leicester, St.Margaret's Bus Station | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX440 | 11:45 AM Derby, Bus Station | 1h05 | 12:50 PM Leicester, St.Margaret's Bus Station | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX230 | 12:05 PM Derby, Bus Station | 1h35 | 1:40 PM Leicester, St.Margaret's Bus Station | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX196 | 6:05 PM Derby, Bus Station | 1h35 | 7:40 PM Leicester, St.Margaret's Bus Station | 0 transfersDirect | |
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 Derby to Leicester run on average 20 times per day, taking around 1h 2m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $5 but you can travel from only $4 by train.
There are 20 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 00:03, the last at 23:57. The fastest bus covers the 24 miles (39 km) distance in 45m.
Distance 24 miles (39 km) |
Average bus duration 1h 2m |
Cheapest ticket price $5 |
Buses per day 20 |
Direct buses 20 |
Fastest bus 45m |
First bus 12:03 AM |
Last bus 11:57 PM |
Cheapest Month Mar |
Cheapest Day Thu |
High Season Jan - Mar |
Low Season Oct - Dec |
Busiest Day Fri |
Least Busy Day Wed |
Best time to book 63 days |
Discover the best of Leicester — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Leicester trip today.
Leicester's flagship museum and gallery, known for dinosaurs, German Expressionism and broad collections for first-time visitors.
Dedicated to the 2012 discovery of Richard III, this award-winning museum uses immersive displays to tell a remarkable royal story.
A grand Victorian pumping station with working steam heritage displays, making industrial history surprisingly engaging for all ages.
Revived historic quarter around Leicester Cathedral and the Richard III story, packed with lanes, heritage sites and independent venues.
Leicester's best-known green space, offering formal gardens, boating, sports facilities and a lively urban park atmosphere.
Main civic square framed by key institutions and events, useful as a central meeting point and starting place for exploring.
A flaky pastry pie from nearby Melton Mowbray, traditionally made with uncured pork. It is one of Leicestershire’s best-known foods and widely eaten in Leicester.
A hard, crumbly red cheese from Leicestershire with a nutty, mellow flavour. It is one of England’s oldest named cheeses and a proud regional staple.
A blue-veined Stilton-style cheese made in Leicestershire. Rich and creamy, it is strongly linked to the county’s cheesemaking tradition.
Modern British fine dining with tasting menus in an intimate setting. One of Leicester’s most acclaimed restaurants for special occasions.
Well-known modern Indian restaurant serving refined regional dishes and grills in a smart, contemporary dining room.
Long-established vegetarian Indian restaurant on the Golden Mile, known for Gujarati snacks, thalis and a lively casual atmosphere.
Moderate for the UK. Hotels and dining are usually cheaper than London, while buses and casual meals stay fairly affordable for most visitors.
Tipping is optional. In restaurants, 10-12.5% is common if service is not included. Round up for taxis. Cafe tipping is not expected, but small change is appreciated.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Derby to Leicester 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 Leicester, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Derby to Leicester buses use the Derby, Bus Station to Leicester, St.Margaret's Bus Station station pair, with some services arriving at Leicester, Fosse Park Avenue (Asda). Use this guide to compare Derby and Leicester 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