The cheapest and fastest buses from Cardiff to Birmingham
Cheapest price
€10
Average price
€21
Fastest journey
2 h 40 m
Average duration
2 h 46 m
Buses per day
14
Distance
142 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Cardiff to Birmingham is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Cardiff to Birmingham will cost around €21 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only €10.
Of the 14 buses that leave Cardiff for Birmingham on Thu, May 21, 8 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Thu, May 21 the direct buses cover the 142 km distance in an average of 2 h 46 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 2 h 40 m .
On Thu, May 21 the slowest buses will take 2 h 50 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
FlixBus6:20 PM2h50Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens)9:10 PMBirmingham, Great Charles Street Queensway€101One-way0 transfers
FlixBus6:10 AM3h45Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens)9:55 AMBirmingham, Great Charles Street Queensway€101One-way0 transfers
FlixBus4:00 PM4h15Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens)8:15 PMBirmingham, Great Charles Street Queensway€101One-way0 transfers
FlixBus12:15 PM3h30Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens)3:45 PMBirmingham, Great Charles Street Queensway€111One-way0 transfers
NX1115:10 PM2h50Cardiff, Sophia Gardens8:00 PMBirmingham, Coach Station€231One-way0 transfers
NX1118:20 AM2h40Cardiff, Sophia Gardens11:00 AMBirmingham, Coach Station€251One-way0 transfers
NX11211:20 AM2h40Cardiff, Sophia Gardens2:00 PMBirmingham, Coach Station€291One-way0 transfers
NX1111:40 PM2h50Cardiff, Sophia Gardens4:30 PMBirmingham, Coach Station€251One-way0 transfers
NX1115:10 PM2h50Cardiff, Sophia Gardens8:00 PMBirmingham, Coach Station€231One-way0 transfers
FlixBus6:20 PM2h50Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens)9:10 PMBirmingham, Great Charles Street Queensway€101One-way0 transfers
Travel Information
Compare train and bus for Cardiff to Birmingham
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Cardiff to Birmingham among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from €10. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 2h 14m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.0 - 0.1kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €10, and a train costs an average of €15.
Distance: 142 km
Compare bus with
| Bus | Most popular Train |
|---|---|
€13 Average price Cheapest | €44 Average price |
3h 49m Average total duration 3h 19m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 2h 44m Average total duration Fastest 2h 14m Onboard + 30m Additional time* |
0.1 - 0.4kg CO2 emissions | 0.0 - 0.1kg CO2 emissions Lowest |
![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular train company |
Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Live departures
Cardiff to Birmingham bus times
The table below shows live departures for Cardiff to Birmingham buses for tomorrow, Thursday, May 21. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NX202 · NX106 | 2:35 AM Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 5h20 | 7:55 AM Birmingham, Coach Station | 1 transfer | |
NX202 · NX100 | On time 4:30 AM Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 5h00 | 9:30 AM Birmingham, Coach Station | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus | 6:10 AM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 3h45 | 9:55 AM Birmingham, Great Charles Street Queensway | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX111 | On time 8:20 AM Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 2h40 | 11:00 AM Birmingham, Coach Station | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX202 · NX100 | On time 8:30 AM Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 4h30 | 1:00 PM Birmingham, Coach Station | 1 transfer | |
NX112 | 11:20 AM Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 2h40 | 2:00 PM Birmingham, Coach Station | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 12:15 PM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 3h30 | 3:45 PM Birmingham, Great Charles Street Queensway | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX111 | On time 1:40 PM Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 2h50 | 4:30 PM Birmingham, Coach Station | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX202 · NX100 | On time 2:55 PM Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 4h20 | 7:15 PM Birmingham, Coach Station | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus | 4:00 PM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 4h15 | 8:15 PM Birmingham, Great Charles Street Queensway | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX111 | On time 5:10 PM Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 2h50 | 8:00 PM Birmingham, Coach Station | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX216 · NX100 | On time 6:05 PM Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 5h50 | 11:55 PM Birmingham, Coach Station | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus | 6:20 PM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 2h50 | 9:10 PM Birmingham, Great Charles Street Queensway | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX216 · NX100 | On time 10:10 PM Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 5h25 | 3:35 AM Birmingham, Coach Station | 1 transfer | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Cardiff to Birmingham by train or bus
Compare train and bus prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
May 21
May 22
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May 24
May 25
May 26
May 27
May 28
May 29
May 30
May 31
Jun 01
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Jun 10
Why should you book Cardiff to Birmingham buses with Omio?
Why book with Omio vs National Express?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can not only buy tickets for National Express, but also compare tickets for the likes of Megabus, FlixBus or Cardiff Bus to find the best option for your trip from Cardiff to Birmingham.
- Designed for International Travelers: Omio is in your language including 24/7 customer service and offers multiple payment options, including PayPal, credit cards, and bank transfer, in your preferred currency.
- Compare all your options: Omio allows you to compare National Express with all available travel options, which are train and bus to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from Cardiff to Birmingham.
Why book with Omio over Wanderu or Trainline?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can also compare tickets for the likes of Megabus, FlixBus or Cardiff Bus to find the best option for your trip from Cardiff to Birmingham.
- Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including train and bus to find the ideal travel option from Cardiff to Birmingham.
Journey information
Overview: Bus from Cardiff to Birmingham
Buses from Cardiff to Birmingham run on average 12 times per day, taking around 3h 19m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at €10 if you book in advance.
There are 7 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 00:45, the last at 23:55. The fastest bus covers the 142 km distance in 2h 35m.
Distance 142 km |
Average bus duration 3h 19m |
Cheapest ticket price €10 |
Buses per day 12 |
Direct buses 7 |
Fastest bus 2h 35m |
First bus 12:45 AM |
Last bus 11:55 PM |
Cheapest Month Sep |
Cheapest Day Tue |
High Season Jul - Sep |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Thu |
Least Busy Day Tue |
Best time to book 4 days |
Bus providers: National Express, Megabus, FlixBus, Cardiff Bus from Cardiff to BirminghamYou can travel by bus between Cardiff to Birmingham with National Express, Megabus, FlixBus, Cardiff Bus for as low as €10. When you search for schedules and tickets, Omio will show you the best journey
FlixBus
National Express
Megabus
Cardiff Bus
FAQs: Bus from Cardiff to Birmingham
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Cardiff to Birmingham by bus. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest bus, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Birmingham, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

- Megabus
- Megabus is ADA-compliant and provides assistance to customers with disabilities, including those using wheelchairs or mobility scooters, and those with service animals.
- National Express
- Assistance
- Priority seating
- Accessible toilets.
- FlixBus
- Assistance
- Priority boarding
- Wheelchair-accessible buses.
- Megabus
- Megabus reservations cannot be canceled or refunded, but they can be traded in for another journey up to 3 hours before your original scheduled departure for a fee.
- National Express
- You can cancel your ticket up to 24 hours before departure for a refund minus a cancellation fee. Changes can be up to 24 hours before departure for a fee.
- FlixBus
- You can cancel your ticket up to 15 minutes before departure and receive a voucher for future travel. Refund requests for delays over 120 minutes are possible.
- Megabus
- One piece of luggage is included per passenger reservation. For guidance, a piece of luggage must not exceed 62 inches (length + width + height) and should not weigh more than 50 pounds (23kg).
- National Express
- Two medium-sized suitcases up to 20kg each and one small piece of hand luggage.
- FlixBus
- One carry-on bag up to 7kg (42x30x18 cm) and one checked bag up to 20kg (80x50x30 cm).
- Megabus
- Additional luggage can be purchased by buying an additional travel ticket in advance or by adding up to two additional pieces when booking for a fee.
- National Express
- 10€ per additional bag.
- FlixBus
- Additional luggage can be purchased for a fee.
- FlixBus
- Small pets in carriers allowed
- guide dogs travel for free.
popular bus stations
Popular bus stations from Cardiff to Birmingham
- 06:00-23:00
- Free Wi-Fi
- Cafeteria and fast-food options inside the station
- Available outside the main entrance.
- Elevators, ramps
- Available in the station.
- Bus: 97, 97A, X1, X2 Train: Birmingham New Street
Most popular bus connections from Cardiff
More options for your journey from Cardiff to Birmingham
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need

