How to get from Cardiff to Derby

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What is the best way to travel from Cardiff to Derby?

Looking for a trip? Check and compare all the available Buses and Trains to Derby from Cardiff. Look at different modes of transportation, search for the cheapest tickets, fastest rides and most popular stations, and see all 4 available companies to find your perfect trip!
Bus is the cheapest, while Train is the fastest way on this route
Transport type
Travel time
Cheapest price
Average price
Daily departures
Bus
4h 50m
£13
£18
20
Train
2h 49m
£32
£104
13

What is the cheapest way to reach Derby from Cardiff?

You can reach Derby with just £13 by taking a Bus from National Express, but there are many more cheap offers: we have selected the best ones for you for the next few days here.

Sunday
Monday
from £13
Tuesday
from £17
Wednesday
Thursday
from £14
Friday
from £19
Saturday
from £21

    Cheapest Buses Monday

  • National Express
    5h 30m
    0
    13:45
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    19:15
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £13
  • National Express
    6h 25m
    0
    12:50
    Cardiff
    University
    19:15
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £13
  • National Express
    9h 15m
    0
    03:15
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    12:30
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £15
  • National Express
    9h 15m
    0
    05:15
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    14:30
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £15
  • National Express
    9h 15m
    0
    07:30
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    16:45
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £15

    Cheapest Buses Tuesday

  • National Express
    9h 15m
    0
    03:15
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    12:30
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £17
  • National Express
    5h 35m
    0
    13:40
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    19:15
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £17
  • National Express
    8h 40m
    0
    15:45
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    00:25
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £17
  • National Express
    9h 10m
    0
    03:20
    Cardiff
    University
    12:30
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £17
  • National Express
    8h 32m
    0
    15:53
    Cardiff
    University
    00:25
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £17

    Cheapest Buses Thursday

  • National Express
    4h 50m
    0
    08:20
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    13:10
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £14
  • National Express
    5h 35m
    0
    13:40
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    19:15
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £15
  • National Express
    9h 15m
    0
    03:15
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    12:30
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £19
  • National Express
    8h 40m
    0
    15:45
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    00:25
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £19
  • National Express
    8h 5m
    0
    19:15
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    03:20
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £19

    Cheapest Buses Friday

  • National Express
    5h 40m
    0
    13:35
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    19:15
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £19
  • National Express
    9h 15m
    0
    03:15
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    12:30
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £21
  • National Express
    9h 30m
    0
    05:15
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    14:45
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £21
  • National Express
    9h 45m
    0
    07:30
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    17:15
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £21
  • National Express
    9h 5m
    0
    13:45
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    22:50
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £21
  • Cheapest Trains Friday

  • Transport for Wales
    3h 34m
    0
    05:58
    Cardiff
    Taffs Well Train Station
    09:32
    Derby
    Central Station
    0
    Transport for Wales
    Economy
    from £32
  • Transport for Wales
    3h 33m
    0
    07:00
    Cardiff
    Taffs Well Train Station
    10:33
    Derby
    Central Station
    0
    Transport for Wales
    Economy
    from £32
  • Great Western Railway (GWR)
    2h 49m
    0
    05:54
    Cardiff
    Central Station
    08:43
    Derby
    Central Station
    0
    Great Western Railway (GWR)
    Economy
    from £149
  • Great Western Railway (GWR)
    3h 9m
    0
    06:51
    Cardiff
    Central Station
    10:00
    Derby
    Tutbury & Hatton Train Station
    0
    Great Western Railway (GWR)
    Economy
    from £154
  • CrossCountry
    3h 21m
    0
    06:39
    Cardiff
    Central Station
    10:00
    Derby
    Tutbury & Hatton Train Station
    0
    CrossCountry
    Economy
    from £154

    Cheapest Buses Saturday

  • National Express
    9h 10m
    0
    03:20
    Cardiff
    University
    12:30
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £21
  • National Express
    6h 25m
    0
    12:50
    Cardiff
    University
    19:15
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £21
  • National Express
    8h 15m
    0
    16:10
    Cardiff
    University
    00:25
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £21
  • National Express
    8h 27m
    0
    18:53
    Cardiff
    University
    03:20
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £21
  • National Express
    8h 30m
    0
    06:00
    Cardiff
    University
    14:30
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £23

What are the fastest trips from Cardiff to Derby?

You can get to Derby from Cardiff in just 2h 49m with a Train from Great Western Railway (GWR). But this is just one option, click on any of the offers below to compare it with the other available modes of transportations.

Sunday
Monday
from 5h 30m
Tuesday
from 5h 35m
Wednesday
Thursday
from 4h 50m
Friday
from 2h 49m
Saturday
from 6h 25m

    Fastest Buses Monday

  • National Express
    5h 30m
    0
    13:45
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    19:15
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £13
  • National Express
    6h 25m
    0
    12:50
    Cardiff
    University
    19:15
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £13
  • National Express
    9h 15m
    0
    03:15
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    12:30
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £15
  • National Express
    9h 15m
    0
    05:15
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    14:30
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £15
  • National Express
    9h 15m
    0
    07:30
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    16:45
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £15

    Fastest Buses Tuesday

  • National Express
    5h 35m
    0
    13:40
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    19:15
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £17
  • National Express
    8h 32m
    0
    15:53
    Cardiff
    University
    00:25
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £17
  • National Express
    8h 40m
    0
    15:45
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    00:25
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £17
  • National Express
    9h 10m
    0
    03:20
    Cardiff
    University
    12:30
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £17
  • National Express
    9h 15m
    0
    03:15
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    12:30
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £17

    Fastest Buses Thursday

  • National Express
    4h 50m
    0
    08:20
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    13:10
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £14
  • National Express
    5h 35m
    0
    13:40
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    19:15
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £15
  • National Express
    8h 5m
    0
    19:15
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    03:20
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £19
  • National Express
    8h 40m
    0
    15:45
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    00:25
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £19
  • National Express
    9h 15m
    0
    03:15
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    12:30
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £19

    Fastest Trains Friday

  • Great Western Railway (GWR)
    2h 49m
    0
    05:54
    Cardiff
    Central Station
    08:43
    Derby
    Central Station
    0
    Great Western Railway (GWR)
    Economy
    from £149
  • Great Western Railway (GWR)
    3h 9m
    0
    06:51
    Cardiff
    Central Station
    10:00
    Derby
    Tutbury & Hatton Train Station
    0
    Great Western Railway (GWR)
    Economy
    from £154
  • CrossCountry
    3h 21m
    0
    06:39
    Cardiff
    Central Station
    10:00
    Derby
    Tutbury & Hatton Train Station
    0
    CrossCountry
    Economy
    from £154
  • Transport for Wales
    3h 33m
    0
    07:00
    Cardiff
    Taffs Well Train Station
    10:33
    Derby
    Central Station
    0
    Transport for Wales
    Economy
    from £32
  • Transport for Wales
    3h 34m
    0
    05:58
    Cardiff
    Taffs Well Train Station
    09:32
    Derby
    Central Station
    0
    Transport for Wales
    Economy
    from £32
  • Fastest Buses Friday

  • National Express
    5h 40m
    0
    13:35
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    19:15
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £19
  • National Express
    9h 5m
    0
    13:45
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    22:50
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £21
  • National Express
    9h 15m
    0
    03:15
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    12:30
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £21
  • National Express
    9h 30m
    0
    05:15
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    14:45
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £21
  • National Express
    9h 45m
    0
    07:30
    Cardiff
    Coach Station
    17:15
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £21

    Fastest Buses Saturday

  • National Express
    6h 25m
    0
    12:50
    Cardiff
    University
    19:15
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £21
  • National Express
    8h 15m
    0
    16:10
    Cardiff
    University
    00:25
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £21
  • National Express
    8h 27m
    0
    18:53
    Cardiff
    University
    03:20
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £21
  • National Express
    8h 30m
    0
    06:00
    Cardiff
    University
    14:30
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £23
  • National Express
    9h 10m
    0
    03:20
    Cardiff
    University
    12:30
    Derby
    Riverlights Coach Station
    0
    National Express
    Economy
    £21
Here you will find all operators and timetables for a Bus from Cardiff to Derby

What are the most popular stations in Cardiff and Derby?

In Cardiff, you will usually depart from Central Station, Bus Interchange or National Museum, while in Derby you will be arriving at Central Station, Tutbury & Hatton Train Station or Peartree Station, but there are many more stops to explore in both locations.

How do I decide? Some tips and tricks from our experience

Are you having trouble deciding on how to get to Derby from Cardiff? With 6 connections between 4 Bus and Train operators, it can be difficult to find the one ride that will make you happy. But we have some tips that can help you make the best informed decision. First of all, the best trip is always the one that meets all your needs, so make a list of all the things that you want from this journey and look for something that will satisfy all of them. Here we will go through some of the factors mostly commonly taken into consideration.

Look for the lowest price

Ticket price is usually the main concern: even if you can afford to pay more, why do it if there are cheaper options? Saving on the trip means that you can spend more on the vacation itself! Between Cardiff and Derby, you can pay as low as £13 with a Bus from National Express.

Travel duration

Time is also an important factor. An earlier departure may allow you to see a beautiful sunset or relax before an important event. And remember, time is money, so paying more for a shorter trip may be well worth it. For longer distances, flights are without doubt the best options, but be mindful of airport times and possible delays: a high-speed train may end up cheaper and faster! Here the quicker option is definitely the Train from Great Western Railway (GWR): you will get to Derby in just 2h 49m.

Comfort makes all the difference

You should always take into account what your personal travelling preferences are. Is one hand luggage enough, or are you trasporting more? Would you like to have a snack during the journey? Can you relax in a busy compartment, or do you need space for yourself? Even among the same mode of transportation, different companies will offer you varying levels of comfort and amenities. The main operators connecting Cardiff and Derby are National Express, Transport for Wales and Great Western Railway (GWR), but be sure to check what they have to offer!

Save money with deals, and always compare

One last tip? Even if you live in Cardiff and Derby is your only destination, it may be wise to check the offers from and to nearby cities or, if you are flyng, nearby airports. Check the trips from Newlyn or to Little Eaton, and look at flights from Cardiff Airport, and landing at East Midlands Airport. Comparing different routes may allow you to find deals or promotions you were not aware of. Consider also signing up to CheckMyBus to see even more exclusive promotions!

Which companies offer a trip from Cardiff to Derby?

The most popular companies between Cardiff and Derby, are National Express, Transport for Wales and Great Western Railway (GWR). Be sure to check their seat class offers and the amenities that they provide.

Bus companies: National Express

Train companies: Transport for Wales, Great Western Railway (GWR) and CrossCountry

All you need to know when you travel from Cardiff to Derby

Check all information on comfort and services on all modes of transports from Cardiff to Derby. See which seat classes are available, and what amenities are other advantages offered by the operators on your journey.

FAQs about the trip from Cardiff to Derby

How can I reach Derby from Cardiff?

Every day, there are on average 6 connections between Bus and Train, with which you can get to Derby from Cardiff.

How far is Derby from Cardiff?

The distance between Cardiff and Derby is 197.9 km.

What is the most ecofriendly mode of transport between Cardiff and Derby?

Trains and buses are by far the greenest options, with trains surpassing buses on longer routes. Planes will always be the worst polluters, especially in shorter flights, were the emissions from the takeoff and landing are less offset by the distance. On this particular route, a bus will emit, per person, a total of 5 kgs of CO2, a train 7 kgs, a car 34 kgs, and a flight 49 kgs.

What is the cheapest mode of transport from Cardiff to Derby?

You can get to Derby with just £13 by taking a Bus from National Express.

What is the fastest way to get from Cardiff to Derby?

While a plane is travelling fastest boarding and transfer to airport consumes a lot of time. Usually, high speed trains are better than flights if pure train travel time is below 4 hours. For this particular route, you can get to Derby in just 2h 49m with a Train from Great Western Railway (GWR).

More routes to Cardiff and to Derby

Looking for more options? Here you can see the most popular routes to Cardiff and to Derby. Simply click on a connection, and you’ll find all the details about the route!

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