London to Cardiff by direct coach
Bus to Cardiff from London by National Express & Megabus
National Express bus from London to Cardiff
Coach services from London to Cardiff are operated by two UKs’ well-known carriers - National Express and Megabus.
National Express and Megabus provide a direct intercity coach service between London and Cardiff. There is no other coach operator, which offers similar shuttle service between these two cities.
National Express offers more than 15 direct services per day, while Megabus has about 10 connections a day.
Some National Express and Megabus services terminate in Cardiff, but most of them are not intended to serve the route from London to Cardiff only, the coaches run on larger distances and Cardiff is only an intermediate stop. National Express service stops at Cardiff University.
The National Express direct coach line between London and Cardiff is 509 and there are few other carriers’ routes passing through Cardiff.
Megabus direct coach from London to Cardiff Useful links to coach timetables & fares
On this page you’ll also find:
- How to buy tickets online
- Carriage of luggage & bikes
- Alternate transportation: trains, car rentals, planes
- Accommodation in London and Cardiff
M7 is the Megabus direct line from London to Cardiff.
Most of the services from Cardiff to London begin their journey at one of the UKs’ south-western cities or towns, however, all terminate at Victoria Coach Station in London (see details below).
National Express & Megabus’ coaches are high-class vehicles, equipped with toilet, air conditioning, reclining seats and radio. Both carriers put the safety and comfort of passengers first, so the vehicles are equipped with a large number of safeguards. The operators are using modern vehicles with large panoramic windows and increased legroom. Some coaches on this route provide free Wi-Fi and can take passengers in wheelchairs on board the bus.
Travelling between London and Cardiff with National Express takes about 3 hours and 3½ hours with Megabus. This is one of the cheapest transport options between Central London and Cardiff.
Go to National Express or Megabus website to check current timetable and prices and book a ticket for your journey.
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Timetables and fares...
Bus to Cardiff from London by National Express
| National Express service number | ▼ | 509 |
509 | 509 | 509 | 509 | 509 | 507 | 509 | 509 | 507 |
| Days of operation | ▼ | Daily | Daily | Daily | Daily | Daily | Fr,Su | Daily | Daily | Fr,Su | Daily |
| Period(s) of operation | ▼ | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | 1 | - |
| LONDON, Victoria Coach Station | Dep. | 8:00 | 9:30 | 10:30 | 11:30 | 12:30 | 13:00 | 13:30 | 14:30 | 15:00 | 15:30 |
| LONDON, (Hammersmith) |
Dep. | - | 9:50 | - | - | 12:50 | - | - | - | - | 15:50n |
| CARDIFF (Gabalfa Interchange) | Arr. | 11:10 | 12:45 | 13:40 | 14:35 | 15:40 | 16:00 | 16:30 | 17:40k | 18:15k | 18:45k |
| CARDIFF, University | Arr. | 11:15 | 12:50 | - | 14:40 |
15:45 | 16:05 | 16:35 |
17:45k | 18:20k | 18:50k |
| CARDIFF, Bus Station |
Arr. | 11:25 | 13:00 | 13:50 | 14:50 | 15:55 | 16:15 | 16:45 | 17:55k | 18:30k | 19:00k |
Bus to Cardiff from London by National Express
| National Express service number | ▼ | 509 | 509 | 509 | 509 | 509 | 509 | 509 | 509 | 322 |
| Days of operation | ▼ | Daily | Daily | Daily | Daily | Daily | Daily | Fr,Su | Daily | Daily |
| Period(s) of operation | ▼ | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| LONDON, Victoria Coach Station | Dep. | 16:30 | 17:30 | 18:30 | 19:00 | 20:00 | 21:00 | 21:30 | 22:00 | 23:30 |
| LONDON, (Hammersmith) | Dep. | - | - |
- |
19:20 | - | - | - | - | - |
| CARDIFF (Gabalfa Interchange) | Arr. | 19:40k | 20:40k |
21:35 | 22:05 | 23:05 | 23:59 | 0:25 | 0:55 | 2:10 |
| CARDIFF, University | Arr. | 19:45k | 20:45k |
21:40 | 22:10 |
23:10 | 0:005 |
0:30 |
1:00 | 2:15 |
| CARDIFF, Bus Station | Arr. | 19:55k | 20:55k | 21:50 | 22:20 | 23:20 | 0:15 |
0:40 | 1:10 | 2:20 |
M = Monday, T= Tuesday, W = Wednesday, Th = Thursday, Fr = Friday, Sa = Saturday, Su = Sunday
1 = Does not operate 24 August, 28 December and k 2 January, but does operate on 25 August
2 = Does not operate 24 and 31 December.
k = operates 15 minutes later Friday.
n = does not call on a Friday.
x = operates 30 minutes later Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays. (also 29 - 31 December and 2 January)
e = operates 10 minutes later Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays. (Also 29 - 31 December and 2 January)
g = operates 15 minutes later Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays. (also 29 - 31 December and 2 January)
Bus to London from Cardiff by National Express
| National Express service number | ▼ | 509 | 509 | 509 | 507 | 509 |
507 |
509 | 507 | 509 |
| Days of operation | ▼ | Daily | Daily | Daily | Daily | Daily | Daily | Daily | Daily | Daily |
| Period(s) of operation | ▼ | - |
- |
- |
- |
- | - | - | - | - |
| CARDIFF, Bus Station | Dep. | 2:45 | 4:10g | 5:30x | 6:30x | 7:30g | 8:15g | 9:15 | 10:00 | 11:00 |
| CARDIFF, University | Dep. | 2:50 | 4:15g |
5:35x | 6:35x |
7:35g | 8:20g |
9:20 | 10:05 |
11:05 |
| CARDIFF (Gabalfa Interchange) | Dep. | 2:55 | 4:20g | 5:40x | 6:40x | 7:40g | 8:25g | 9:25 | 10:10 | 11:10 |
| LONDON, (Hemmersmith) | Arr. | - | - | - | 9:45g | - | - | - | - | - |
| LONDON, Earl's Court | Arr. | 6:10 | 7:35 | 8:50g | - | 11:00 | 11:40 | 12:30 | 13:00 | 14:15 |
| LONDON, Victoria Coach Station | Arr. | 6:20 | 7:50 | 9:20 | 10:20 | 11:15 | 11:55 | 12:45 | 13:20 | 14:30 |
Bus to London from Cardiff by National Express
| National Express service number | ▼ | 507 | 509 | 509 |
509 | 509 | 509 | 509 | 509 | 509 | 509 |
| Days of operation | ▼ | Daily | Daily | Daily | Daily | Daily | Fr,Su | Daily | Fr,Su | Daily | Fr,Su |
| Period(s) of operation | ▼ | - | - | - | - |
- | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| CARDIFF, Bus Station | Dep. | 12:00 | 13:00 | 14:00 | 15:00 | 16:00 | 16:45 | 17:15 | 18:15 | 19:00 | 20:00 |
| CARDIFF, University | Dep. | 12:05 |
13:05 | 14:05 |
- | 16:05 |
16:50 |
17:20 | 18:20 |
19:05 | 20:05 |
| CARDIFF (Gabalfa Interchange) | Dep. | 12:10 | 13:10 | 14:10 | 15:05 | 16:10 | - | 17:25 | 18:25 | 19:10 | 20:10 |
| LONDON, (Hemmersmith) | Arr. | 15:00 |
- | - | - | 19:10k | - | - | - | - | - |
| LONDON, Earl's Court | Arr. | - | 16:15 |
17:15k | 18:20k | - | 19:50 | 20:35 | 21:35 | 22:10 |
23:05 |
| LONDON, Victoria Coach Station | Arr. | 15:20 | 16:30 | 17:30k | 18:35k | 19:35k | 20:05 | 20:50 | 21:45 | 22:20 | 23:15 |
M = Monday, T= Tuesday, W = Wednesday, Th = Thursday, Fr = Friday, Sa = Saturday, Su = Sunday
1 = Does not operate 24 August, 28 December and k 2 January, but does operate on 25 August
2 = Does not operate 24 and 31 December.
k = operates 15 minutes later Friday.
n = does not call on a Friday.
x = operates 30 minutes later Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays. (also 29 - 31 December and 2 January)
e = operates 10 minutes later Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays. (Also 29 - 31 December and 2 January)
g = operates 15 minutes later Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays. (also 29 - 31 December and 2 January)
Bus and coach boarding points
| LONDON, Victoria Coach Station, Departure Hall |
| LONDON (Earl's Court), West Cromwell Rd, Stop D, near Tesco (to London only) |
| LONDON, (Hammersmith), Hammersmith Bridge Road, |
| CARDIFF, University, Park Place, Bus Stop, opposite Cathays Rail Station |
| CARDIFF (Gabalfa Interchange), North Road, outside Clinic |
| CARDIFF, Bus Station, Wood Street |
Prices for online tickets
| London to Cardiff by National Express |
Adult | Youth/Senior | Child | Online Booking | |||
| Single | Return | Single | Return | Single | Return | ||
| London to Cardiff (Standard) |
£25.20 | £46.10 | £20.20 | £36.90 | £12.60 | £23.05 |
London to Cardiff |
| Cardiff to London (Standard) | £25.20 | £46.10 | £20.20 | £36.90 | £12.60 | £23.50 | Cardiff to London |
| London to Cardiff (APEX/Funfare) | from £6 one way | from £6 one way | from £6 one way | London to Cardiff | |||
| Cardiff to London (APEX/Funfare) | from £6 one way | from £6 one way | from £6 one way | Cardiff to London | |||
- Age categories: Children: 3-15 years, Seniors: 60+ years. Children aged under 3 travel free.
>>> National Express BUS TO CARDIFF on-line booking <<<
Timetables and fares...
Coach to Cardiff from London by Megabus
| Megabus service number | ▼ | MG | MB7 |
MG | MB7 | MB7 | MB7 | MG | MB7 | MB7 | MB7 | MB7 | MB7 | MG | MB7 | MB7 | MB7 | MB7 |
| Days of operation | ▼ | Daily | Daily | Daily | Daily | Daily | Su | Daily | Daily | Fr,Su | Daily | Fr,Sa,Su | Daily | Daily | Daily | Fr,Su |
Daily | Daily |
| LONDON, Victoria Coach Station | Dep. | 7:30 | 8:30 | 9:30 | 10:00 | 11:30 | 13:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 15:00 | 16:00 | 17:00 | 17:30 | 19:00 | 20:00 | 21:00 | 22:00 | 23:00 |
| CARDIFF, Kingsway |
Arr. | 11:15 | 12:20 | 13:00 | 13:30 | 15:00 | 16:45 | 17:45 | 18:00 | 18:45 | 20:10 | 20:50 | 21:15 | 22:45 | 23:15 | 0:45 | 1:45 | 2:20 |
M = Monday, T= Tuesday, W = Wednesday, Th = Thursday, Fr = Friday, Sa = Saturday, Su = Sunday
Coach to London from Cardiff by Megabus
| Megabus service number | ▼ | MB7 | MB7 | MG | MB7 | MB7 | MB7 | MB7 | MG | MB7 | MB7 | MB7 | MG | MB7 | MG | MB7 |
| Days of operation | ▼ | Daily | Daily | Daily | Daily | Daily | Daily | Fr,Sa,Su | Daily | Daily | Daily | Daily | Daily | Daily | Daily | Fr,Su |
| CARDIFF, Kingsway |
Dep. | 3:30^ | 5:30^ | 6:30 | 7:45 | 9:15 | 10:15 | 11:15 | 11:40 | 12:20 | 13:30 | 15:15* | 16:30 | 17:20 | 18:30+ | 19:40 |
| LONDON, Victoria Coach Station | Arr. | 7:30 | 9:10 | 10:30 | 11:20 | 13:20 | 14:00 | 15:10 | 15:15 | 16:05 | 17:15 | 19:00 | 20:05 | 21:00 | 22:00 | 23:00 |
M = Monday, T= Tuesday, W = Wednesday, Th = Thursday, Fr = Friday, Sa = Saturday, Su = Sunday
^ = Departs 30 mins later Sa & Su
+ = An extra standard double service which departs 10 mins before Fridays & Sundays
* = An extra double service which departs 30 mins later Fridays & Sundays
MG = MegabusGold first class service
Bus and coach boarding points
| LONDON, Victoria Coach Station, Departure Hall |
| CARDIFF, Kingsway, Stop GQ |
Prices for online tickets
| London to Cardiff by Megabus |
Adult | Youth/Senior | Child | Online booking |
|||
| Single | Return | Single | Return | Single | Return | ||
| London to Cardiff |
from £1+50p one way | from £1+50p one way | from £1+50p one way | London to Cardiff |
|||
| Cardiff to London | from £1+50p one way | from £1+50p one way | from £1+50p one way | Cardiff to London |
|||
- Age categories: Children: 3-15 years, Seniors: 60+ years. Children aged under 3 travel free.
>>> Megabus BUS TO CARDIFF on-line booking <<<
How to buy tickets online for travel from London to Cardiff?
To purchase tickets online for National Express routes you can do it directly at the Europebus home page using a journey planner provided. You can also do it on the National Express website. For Megabus connections visit Megabus website. Simply fill out all fields in the journey planner and follow the instructions to buy a ticket. Discounted tickets are also available for youths, children and seniors. If you book early and your travel dates and times are flexible, you may get ticket with a discount. Early booking is highly recommended, because services between London and Cardiff are very popular and the coaches are fully booked on some days.
Carriage of luggage and bikes
Luggage policy for the National Express bus to Cardiff: The National Express’ coach driver will load and unload customers’ luggage but customers are responsible for seeing their own luggage onto and off the coach on which they are travelling.
Each customer has a free luggage allowance of two medium sized suitcases, weighing no more than 20 kilograms each and 1 piece of hand luggage, which must be located on the shelf above your head or under the passenger seat. >>> NX's BUS TO CARDIFF on-line booking <<<
Luggage policy for the Megabus bus to Cardiff: Megabus doesn’t check luggage or provide receipts for luggage transported on the bus by the passenger. Passengers are advised that Megabus will accept up to one piece of luggage per passenger. For guidance this should be no more than the size of a standard suitcase and should not weigh more than 20kg. Passengers can also take on board one small piece of luggage that must fit either on your lap or under the seat in front of you. >>> Megabus BUS TO CARDIFF on-line booking <<<
Of course you can take a bike but... In a bike bag as carry-on luggage, semi-dismantled, free of charge. You can take a bicycle with you as carry-on luggage free of charge on any coach, if you put it in a zip-up 'bike bag', with wheels and pedals removed and handlebars turned. Bike bags are available from most cycle shops, for example www.wiggle.co.uk
Overview of alternative transports between London and Cardiff. Trains & airlines services within the UK.
If our information is insufficient for you to convince you to travel by coach, or simply you don’t like this transportation arrangement then we encourage you to take advantage of rail or in some cases flight services. If you want to travel for example from London to Cardiff or vice versa by train we suggest you to visit the Train Line website, while good flights between British cities are recommend on the Budget Air’s website
Rail services in the UK are fast, frequent and convenient. Tickets can be bought in advance easily via a train reservation service available at the Train Line website
Regular air links to distant cities in Britain can be checked and booked at www.budgetair.co.uk. Flights connections are available to various destinations in the UK, Europe and worldwide.
Car Rental
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