Written by Graham Smith, Hannah McKinsey, Jake Evans, Karen Price, Sandra Frank
26/08/2025
Nicole X, Pexels
Durham, England, is well-connected through its central railway station, a modern bus station, and two nearby international airports, making it accessible for various travel preferences.
By Train:
Direct trains from London King's Cross to Durham take approximately 2 hours 33 minutes to just under 3 hours, with advance tickets starting around £17.00 and average fares at £31.68.
Journeys from Edinburgh typically last 90 minutes to 2 hours.
From Newcastle, the train journey is around 15 minutes, with one-way adult fares costing just over £3.
Regular services also connect Durham to major cities such as Birmingham (around 3 hours), Manchester (2.5 to 3 hours), Leeds, Liverpool (3 hours), and York (around 1 hour).
By Bus/Coach:
National coach services offer daily routes from London and other key cities, with average travel times from London around 6 hours and tickets typically costing about $38 (approximately £30).
Local bus services, operated by Arriva and Go North East, provide extensive coverage within the county. Single fares generally range from £1 to £2.50, while an all-day ticket for unlimited travel within the Durham District zone costs about £5.
The Cathedral Bus offers a convenient link from the train station and coach park to the city centre for £1 per journey.
By Air:
Newcastle International Airport (NCL): is the nearest airport, offering both domestic and European flights.
From NCL, take the Metro to Newcastle Central Station (24-28 minutes), then a 15-minute train ride to Durham, with a total journey of approximately 1 hour.
Taxis or Uber from NCL to Durham take about 30-35 minutes and cost £30-£40.
Teesside International Airport (MME): is another nearby option, from which you can take a bus to Darlington town centre and then connect to Durham by bus or train.
By Car:
Durham is easily accessible via the A1/A1(M) motorway. The city centre is a short two-mile drive from Junction 62 of the A1(M) using the A690.
While driving offers flexibility, parking in the city centre is limited. It is highly recommended to use the Park & Ride facilities, which cost £2.20 per person for a day of unlimited bus travel into the city.
At TFA Travel we believe in travel for all. Our mission is to enable people to explore the world as easily as possible without having to pay a travel agent a huge commission.
Our typical audience are those that want to see something new and get involved with authentic experiences of a country. Whether you are a backpacker, solo traveller, solo female traveller, straight or LGBTQ+ couple, family, you will find local and authentic experiences here.
