The cheapest and fastest buses from Luton to Preston
Cheapest price
$36
Average price
$40
Fastest journey
8 h 40 m
Average duration
9 h 53 m
Buses per day
2
Distance
261 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Luton to Preston is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Luton to Preston will cost around $40 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $36.
Of the 2 buses that leave Luton for Preston on Sat, Jun 20, 2 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Sat, Jun 20 the direct buses cover the 261 km distance in an average of 9 h 53 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 8 h 40 m .
On Sat, Jun 20 the slowest buses will take 11 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.
5:05 AM11h05Luton4:10 PMPreston$361One-way0 transfers
8:30 AM8h40Luton5:10 PMPreston$441One-way0 transfers
8:30 AM8h40Luton5:10 PMPreston$441One-way0 transfers
5:05 AM11h05Luton4:10 PMPreston$361One-way0 transfers
Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for Luton to Preston
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Luton to Preston among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $17. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 5m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $17, and a flight costs an average of $73.
Distance: 162 miles (261 km)
Compare bus with
| Bus | Most popular Train | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$40 Average price Cheapest | $110 Average price | $180 Average price | $84 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
7h 9m Average total duration 6h 39m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 42m Average total duration 3h 12m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 5m Average total duration Fastest 1h 5m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 3h 27m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular airline | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Luton to Preston:
A bus is $70 (€58) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Luton to Preston costing on average $110 (€90).
A bus is $141 (€116) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Luton to Preston costing on average $180 (€148).
Other travel options to Preston take longer:
Train takes on average 3h 12m.
Bus takes on average 6h 39m.
You'll arrive about {timeSavings} sooner ({durationInMinutes} by bus vs {drivingDurationInMinutes} by car) and save roughly {savingsAmount} compared to fuel and tolls ({cheapestPrice} vs {drivingPriceInCents}). You also skip the drive itself — no traffic stress, no parking, and you can use the time to work, nap, or catch up on a series with the onboard Wi-Fi.
Direct coaches are operated by {directProviders}.
Driving is still worth considering if you're travelling with bulky luggage, need flexibility on departure times, or plan to stop along the way.
Luton to Preston Bus Timetables
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator National Express | Departure Time 12:20AM | Arrival Time 07:10AM | Duration 6h50 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $81 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 05:05AM | Arrival Time 04:10PM | Duration 11h05 | Departure days Mon, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $36 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 07:30AM | Arrival Time 04:10PM | Duration 8h40 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $20 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 07:50AM | Arrival Time 05:10PM | Duration 9h20 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $17 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 08:30AM | Arrival Time 05:10PM | Duration 8h40 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $29 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 10:10PM | Arrival Time 07:10AM | Duration 9h00 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $128 |
Live departures
Luton to Preston bus times
The table below shows live departures for Luton to Preston buses for today, Friday, June 19. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 7:30 AM Luton | 8h40 | 4:10 PM Preston | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 7:50 AM Luton | 9h20 | 5:10 PM Preston | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 8:30 AM Luton | 8h40 | 5:10 PM Preston | 0 transfersDirect | |
| Saturday, June 20 | |||||
![]() | 5:05 AM Luton | 11h05 | 4:10 PM Preston | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Luton to Preston by train, bus, or flight
Compare train, bus, and flight 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.
Jun 20
Jun 21
Jun 22
Jun 23
Jun 24
Jun 25
Jun 26
Why should you book Luton to Preston buses with Omio?
Why book with Omio vs National Express?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can not only buy tickets for National Express, but also compare tickets for the likes of Arriva UK to find the best option for your trip from Luton to Preston.
- Designed for International Travelers: Omio is in your language including 24/7 customer service and offers multiple payment options, including PayPal, credit cards, and bank transfer, in your preferred currency.
- Compare all your options: Omio allows you to compare National Express with all available travel options, which are train, bus and flight to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from Luton to Preston.
Why book with Omio over Wanderu?
- Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including train, bus and flight to find the ideal travel option from Luton to Preston.
Journey information
Overview: Bus from Luton to Preston
Buses from Luton to Preston run on average 5 times per day, taking around 6h 39m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $17 (€14) if you book in advance.
The earliest bus runs at 00:05, the last at 23:55. The fastest bus covers the 162 miles (261 km) distance in 6h 50m.
Distance 162 miles (261 km) |
Average bus duration 6h 39m |
Cheapest ticket price $17 (€14) |
Buses per day 5 |
Fastest bus 6h 50m |
First bus 12:05 AM |
Last bus 11:55 PM |
Cheapest Month May |
Cheapest Day Thu |
High Season Jan - Mar |
Low Season Oct - Dec |
Busiest Day Sat |
Least Busy Day Sat |
Best time to book 63 days |
Bus providers: National Express, Arriva UK from Luton to PrestonYou can travel by bus between Luton to Preston with National Express, Arriva UK for as low as $17 (€14). When you search for schedules and tickets, Omio will show you the best journey
National Express
Arriva UK
FAQs: Bus from Luton to Preston
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Luton to Preston 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 Preston, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

- National Express
- Assistance
- Priority seating
- Accessible toilets.
- National Express
- You can cancel your ticket up to 24 hours before departure for a refund minus a cancellation fee. Changes can be up to 24 hours before departure for a fee.
- National Express
- Two medium-sized suitcases up to 20kg each and one small piece of hand luggage.
- National Express
- 10€ per additional bag.
popular bus stations
Popular bus stations from Luton to Preston
Most Luton to Preston buses use the Luton, London Luton Airport Bus Station to Preston, Bus Station station pair. Use this guide to compare Luton and Preston bus stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like bus station facilities and services.
Which Luton station do buses to Preston leave from?
Getting to Luton, Station Interchange from Luton city centre
Getting to Luton, Dunstable Road (Challney) from Luton city centre
Getting to Preston, Bus Station from Preston city centre
Most popular bus connections from Luton
More options for your journey from Luton to Preston
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need



