How much is the bus ticket from Preston to Carlisle?

The cheapest bus tickets from Preston to Carlisle start from $27. The average price for this route is around $38. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.

How long is the bus ride from Preston to Carlisle?

The average bus travel time from Preston to Carlisle is 2h, covering a distance of 131 km. The quickest bus can get you there in 2h and is operated by Megabus UK .

Which bus companies service the Preston to Carlisle route?

Several major bus companies operate on this route with 1 buses available per day, including services from Megabus UK , National Express , FlixBus .

What are the earliest and latest departure times for the bus from Preston to Carlisle?

The earliest bus departs from Preston to Carlisle at 2:25am. And the latest bus departs at 4:30pm.

What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from Preston to Carlisle?

A bus trip from Preston to Carlisle generates an estimated 3 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and a mode of travel recommended by Busbud.

What is the best bus company from Preston to Carlisle?

According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated bus company on this route is National Express , with an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars based on 29742 reviews.

Which bus company has the best Wi-Fi from Preston to Carlisle?

Based on Busbud reviews, the bus company National Express has the highest Wi-Fi rating with a score of 3.4.

Which bus company has the best on-time performance from Preston to Carlisle?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most punctual bus company on this route is National Express , with a punctuality rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars.

Which bus company has the cleanest buses from Preston to Carlisle?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the bus company with the cleanest buses on this route is National Express , with a cleanliness rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.

Bus Preston to Carlisle from $22 | Refundable Tickets

Next bus departures

Next departures for Preston to Carlisle on December 6
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	4:30pm	Preston City Centre Bus Station	2h	6:30pm	Carlisle Parkhouse Rd	CheapestFastest
Bus	2:25am	Preston City Centre Bus Station	2h 25m	4:50am	Carlisle Bus Station	No tags
Bus	2:25am	Preston City Centre Bus Station	2h 25m	4:50am	Carlisle Bus Station	No tags

Next departures for Preston to Carlisle on December 7
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	4:30pm	Preston City Centre Bus Station	2h	6:30pm	Carlisle Parkhouse Rd	CheapestFastest
Bus	2:25am	Preston City Centre Bus Station	2h 25m	4:50am	Carlisle Bus Station	No tags
Bus	2:25am	Preston City Centre Bus Station	2h 25m	4:50am	Carlisle Bus Station	No tags

Next departures for Preston to Carlisle on December 8
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	4:30pm	Preston City Centre Bus Station	2h	6:30pm	Carlisle Parkhouse Rd	CheapestFastest
Bus	2:25am	Preston City Centre Bus Station	2h 25m	4:50am	Carlisle Bus Station	No tags
Bus	2:25am	Preston City Centre Bus Station	2h 25m	4:50am	Carlisle Bus Station	No tags

Next departures for Preston to Carlisle on December 9
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	4:30pm	Preston City Centre Bus Station	2h	6:30pm	Carlisle Parkhouse Rd	CheapestFastest
Bus	2:25am	Preston City Centre Bus Station	2h 25m	4:50am	Carlisle Bus Station	No tags
Bus	2:25am	Preston City Centre Bus Station	2h 25m	4:50am	Carlisle Bus Station	No tags

Next departures for Preston to Carlisle on December 10
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	4:30pm	Preston City Centre Bus Station	2h	6:30pm	Carlisle Parkhouse Rd	CheapestFastest
Bus	2:25am	Preston City Centre Bus Station	2h 25m	4:50am	Carlisle Bus Station	No tags
Bus	2:25am	Preston City Centre Bus Station	2h 25m	4:50am	Carlisle Bus Station	No tags

Next departures for Preston to Carlisle on December 11
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	4:30pm	Preston City Centre Bus Station	2h	6:30pm	Carlisle Parkhouse Rd	CheapestFastest
Bus	2:25am	Preston City Centre Bus Station	2h 25m	4:50am	Carlisle Bus Station	No tags
Bus	2:25am	Preston City Centre Bus Station	2h 25m	4:50am	Carlisle Bus Station	No tags

Next departures for Preston to Carlisle on December 12
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	4:30pm	Preston City Centre Bus Station	2h	6:30pm	Carlisle Parkhouse Rd	CheapestFastest
Bus	2:25am	Preston City Centre Bus Station	2h 25m	4:50am	Carlisle Bus Station	No tags
Bus	2:25am	Preston City Centre Bus Station	2h 25m	4:50am	Carlisle Bus Station	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Today at 2:36 PM GMT.

Compare 3 ways to go from Preston to Carlisle

We recommend carpooling

Among the sustainable travel choices, the carpool stands out as a good way to reach Carlisle. The journey takes about 1 hour 30 minutes, and with fares starting at just $26, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

1carpool per day

1h 30mAverage Duration

127 kmDistance

5kgCO₂ emissions

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average Price$27 - $45	Average Duration2h	CO₂ emissions 3kg CO₂e
Train	Average Price$19 - $120	Average Duration1h 10m	CO₂ emissions 3kg CO₂e
Carpool	Average Price$26 - $26	Average Duration1h 30m	CO₂ emissions 5kg CO₂e

Where are the popular stops in Preston and Carlisle?

Stops in Preston

A
Preston City Centre Bus Station
Carlisle St, Preston, Lancashire PR1, UK
Visit page
B
Preston Bus Stop
296 Aqueduct St, Preston PR1, UK

Stops in Carlisle

A
Carlisle Bus Station
15-17 Lonsdale St, Carlisle CA1, UK
B
Court Square
The Griffin, Court Square, Carlisle CA1 1QX, UK

Compare bus companies

Megabus UK

3.5/54,282 reviews

Staff4.4

Timeliness3.4

Cleanliness4.4

Wifi2.6

National Express

4/529,750 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness4

Cleanliness4.7

Wifi3.4

Based on 29750 reviews, the company was rated 4.2 stars on Busbud. Travellers were especially satisfied with the ticket access and the staff but often complained with the WiFi. National Express ticket prices on this trip start at $38

National Express Preston Carlisle recent customer reviews

My experience on National express was a good one. The bus was running late due to storm Ciara and flooding. The driver was friendly and helpful and the staff at Preston were really nice. The coach was comfortable and clean.

Claire G.

February 10, 2020

Only problem I had was not knowing were to go to wait for the bus at Preston Station not enough information, notice for what end to go and bay.

Leigh D.

February 10, 2020

FlixBus

3.5/511,528 reviews

Staff4.2

Timeliness3.9

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.7

GB Bus Companies: FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, ALSA, Greyhound, Intercape, Trenitalia, National Express

Frequently asked questions about travelling from Preston to Carlisle by bus

Please note that schedules, routes, or operator details shown here may be updated or vary at the time of your trip.

How much is the bus ticket from Preston to Carlisle?
The cheapest bus tickets from Preston to Carlisle start from $27. The average price for this route is around $38. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.
How long is the bus ride from Preston to Carlisle?
The average bus travel time from Preston to Carlisle is 2h, covering a distance of 131 km. The quickest bus can get you there in 2h and is operated by Megabus UK.
Which bus companies service the Preston to Carlisle route?
Several major bus companies operate on this route with 1 buses available per day, including services from Megabus UK, National Express, FlixBus.
What are the earliest and latest departure times for the bus from Preston to Carlisle?
The earliest bus departs from Preston to Carlisle at 2:25am. And the latest bus departs at 4:30pm.
What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from Preston to Carlisle?
A bus trip from Preston to Carlisle generates an estimated 3 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and a mode of travel recommended by Busbud.
What is the best bus company from Preston to Carlisle?
According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated bus company on this route is National Express, with an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars based on 29742 reviews.
Which bus company has the best Wi-Fi from Preston to Carlisle?
Based on Busbud reviews, the bus company National Express has the highest Wi-Fi rating with a score of 3.4.
Which bus company has the best on-time performance from Preston to Carlisle?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most punctual bus company on this route is National Express, with a punctuality rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars.
Which bus company has the cleanest buses from Preston to Carlisle?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the bus company with the cleanest buses on this route is National Express, with a cleanliness rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.

Find cheapest prices for buses

Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.

Best price found

12-03

$31

12-04

$31

Today

$33

12-06

$31

12-07

$31

12-08

$29

12-09

$29

12-10

$29

The cheapest trip from Preston to Carlisle was searched and found on Dec 8, 2025 with a price of $29

To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your bus tickets from Preston to Carlisle, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $29 to $46 for a bus ticket from Preston to Carlisle based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $29 which is on 2025-12-08.

Usually National Express will charge you higher prices for tickets closer to the departure date. To find the best prices, you should be flexible on your date of travel.