Birmingham to London Distance
Birmingham is approximately 101 miles (163 km) from London as the crow flies. By road, the journey is around 120 miles (193 km), mainly via the M40 or M1/M6, taking roughly 2 hours 15 minutes to 2.5 hours to drive. The fastest direct trains between Birmingham New Street and London Euston take about 1 hour 20 minutes. Use the calculator above to check the exact distance between any specific locations in the two cities.
Straight-Line Distance
~101 miles (163 km) measured directly between central Birmingham and central London.
Driving Distance
~120 miles (193 km) via the M40 or M1/M6, taking around 2h15min to 2.5 hours.
Train Journey Time
The fastest direct trains take about 1 hour 20 minutes, with most services running 1h20min to 2h.
Time Zone
Birmingham and London are in the same time zone (GMT/BST), so there is no time difference.
How to Calculate the Distance Between Birmingham and London
The exact distance depends on which parts of each city and which route you use. Check any specific starting point in seconds:
Type Birmingham, or a specific area like New Street, in the "From" field.
Type London, or a specific area like Euston or Heathrow, in the "To" field.
See the exact straight-line distance and full map for your specific locations.
Train vs Driving: Which Is Faster?
Frequent, fast direct trains make rail the quickest way to cover this route between city centres:
Train (Recommended)
- ~1h20min to 2h city-centre to city-centre
- Direct services from Birmingham New Street to London Euston
- Departures roughly every 15 minutes throughout the day
Driving
- ~2h15min to 2.5 hours in normal traffic
- Route mainly via the M40 or M1/M6 motorways
- More flexibility if stopping en route, e.g. the Cotswolds
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Birmingham from London?
Birmingham is approximately 101 miles (163 km) from London as the crow flies. By road the distance is closer to 120 miles (193 km), depending on the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Birmingham to London?
Driving takes around 2 hours 15 minutes to 2.5 hours in normal conditions via the M40 or M1/M6 motorways. Rush-hour traffic can extend this to 3 hours or more.
How long is the train from Birmingham to London?
The fastest direct trains take about 1 hour 20 minutes, with most Avanti West Coast services between Birmingham New Street and London Euston running 1h20min to 2 hours.
Is there a time difference between Birmingham and London?
No. Both cities are in the UK and use the same time zone (GMT in winter, BST in summer), so there is no time difference between them.
Can you fly from Birmingham to London?
Direct flights are uncommon on this route, and by the time airport travel, check-in and security are factored in, flying rarely beats the roughly 1.5-hour direct train.
Planning Your Birmingham to London Trip
Train Planning
Book Avanti West Coast tickets in advance for the cheapest fares on the roughly 80-minute New Street–Euston route.
Road Trip Planning
Factor in around 2.5 hours of driving, plus extra time if you stop off in the Cotswolds or Oxford along the way.
Business Travel
With trains around 1.5 hours, a same-day return trip for meetings is straightforward.
Shipping & Freight
Businesses use the ~120-mile road distance to estimate delivery timelines between the two cities.
Other Popular UK Distances
Planning more UK travel? Check our UK distance calculator for routes between other British cities.