How to get from Reading to London
- 61 km as the crow flies
- Fastest: bus, 40m
- 40 train departures a day with South Western Railway
Compare the train, bus and flight options. Then check them for your own date.
At a glance
Fastest
40m
direct
Bus
€5
Calculated by Routavio, refreshed 8 Oct 2026
Start with the whole journey.
We compared the ways to travel from Reading to London. The most useful door-to-door route takes 40m by bus with no transfer. The two cities are about 61 km apart in a straight line. The price and operators below come from a real route search.
This is the lowest fare we have recorded for this route in the last 14 days.
61 km
Which way suits you?
| Transport | Observed fare | Duration and scope | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train | €7Omio catalogue, Oct 10 | 1h 03mdirect | See Train details |
| Bus | €38Omio catalogue, Oct 10 | 40mdirect | See Bus details |
- Train€7Omio catalogue, Oct 101h 03m · directSee Train details
- Bus€38Omio catalogue, Oct 1040m · directSee Bus details
These figures were observed on different days. This table is not a live price ranking for your date.
Reading to London: cheapest or fastest?
All from the same recent search. Pick a tab: the legs, the timing and the difference from the others all change with it.
- 1Reading → London Heathrowbus
FlixBus·40m
The best balance of price and time we found on this route.
Which date should you go?
The amounts on each day are fares seen earlier, not live offers. A day with no figure is one we have not priced, not one without a service.
Departures from Reading to London
South Western Railway runs 40 scheduled departures a day, the first at 04:59 and the last at 11:14.
| Operator | Departures a day | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Western Railwaytrain | 40 | 04:59 | 11:14 |
| FlixBusbus | 9 | 03:55 | 20:40 |
| Airport shuttle busbus | 48 | — | — |
| Local busbus | 48 | — | — |
All departuresSouth Western Railway
- 04:59
- 05:44
- 05:45
- 05:57
- 06:14
- 06:24
- 06:30
- 06:44
- 06:54
- 07:01
- 07:13
- 07:14
- 07:24
- 07:37
- 07:44
- 07:45
- 07:54
- 08:02
- 08:13
- 08:14
- 08:24
- 08:32
- 08:44
- 08:45
- 08:58
- 09:01
- 09:14
- 09:16
- 09:28
- 09:31
- 09:44
- 09:58
- 10:01
- 10:14
- 10:29
- 10:31
- 10:44
- 10:59
- 11:01
- 11:14
All departuresFlixBus
- 03:55
- 04:55
- 05:10
- 13:10
- 14:10
- 14:55
- 15:55
- 19:40
- 20:40
Departure times come from operator timetables and are local time at the origin. Where a row shows no times, the frequency is the operator's own and the timetable is not published to us. Times can change on holidays and at short notice; confirm with the operator before you travel.
Departure and arrival
Ticket prices on this route
What each way of travelling costs, as the operator publishes it. These describe the route rather than a date you pick, and they refresh once a day. Booking opens at our partner Omio.
Omio last refreshed these on Sat, Oct 10
Operators seen on these journeys
On this route you travel with FlixBus, South Western Railway; Routavio does not add a booking fee.
How the trip from Reading to London works
Start with a FlixBus bus from Reading to London Heathrow, about 40 min. In total it's roughly €5 over 40 min, direct, no transfers.
Reading to London: common questions
How long does it take to get from Reading to London?
The most useful route takes about 40m by bus, with no transfer.
When is the first train from Reading to London?
The first train with South Western Railway leaves at 04:59 and the last at 11:14, according to the published timetable.
How many train departures a day are there from Reading to London?
40 a day with South Western Railway, between 04:59 and 11:14.
When is the first bus from Reading to London?
The first bus with FlixBus leaves at 03:55 and the last at 20:40, according to the published timetable.
How many bus departures a day are there from Reading to London?
9 a day with FlixBus, between 03:55 and 20:40.
How far is London from Reading?
About 61 km in a straight line. The real route on the ground or in the air is longer.
How much does Reading to London cost?
Our latest search put the route we recommend at €5. Other options on this page can cost less, and the exact fare depends on your travel date.
Which operators run Reading to London?
On this route you travel with FlixBus, South Western Railway.
Can you get from Reading to London without flying?
Yes. A ground route by train takes about 23m.
What is the cheapest way to get from Reading to London?
Usually a flexible date, or leaving from a nearby airport. A live search puts every option for your dates side by side.
Can I book directly?
Yes. Routavio sends you straight to the operator or an independent third-party provider. We never add a booking fee. The final fare and availability are confirmed by that provider.
Other ways people search Reading to London
- how to get from Reading to London
- Reading to London travel time
- Reading to London distance
- cheapest way from Reading to London
- Reading to London by bus
Sources and method
Routes are calculated by Routavio's multimodal engine from operator timetables and flight data. Durations come from timetables, and prices are the most recent observation, not a guarantee.
Operators: FlixBus
Route calculated: 8 Oct 2026