Travel from Birmingham to Glasgow by Coach
How to get to Glasgow from Birmingham with National Express buses
Updated July 2010
You can get from Birmingham to Glasgow (or Glasgow to Birmingham) by taking the National Express coaches. The journey is 6 hours and 10 minutes for the quickest direct buses. Travelling by National Express is the cheapest way to get from Birmingham to Glasgow with NX funfare tickets (very cheap tickets) starting at £10 one-way. Also check the Birmingham to Glasgow flight deals for quicker travel.
Instant fares for cheap flights from Birmingham to Glasgow and Glasgow to Birmingham.
There are up to 5 coaches a day between Birmingham Coach Station (Digbeth) and Buchanan Bus Station in Glasgow. There are four direct Birmingham - Glasgow buses a day (each way) while the other coach is an indirect National Express services via Manchester (1 change). National Express and Megabus are the only coach companies operating services between Birmingham and Glasgow.
Timetables and tickets for Birmingham - Glasgow coaches.
Direct buses from Birmingham to Glasgow (journey time between 6-9 hours)
| Weekdays | Weekend | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | ||
| Birmingham to Glasgow (NX538) (departs at 09:30, arrives at 18:00) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Book bus ticket |
| Birmingham to Glasgow (NX536) (departs at 11:00, arrives at 17:40) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Book bus ticket |
| Birmingham to Glasgow (NX539) (departs at 13:45, arrives at 19:55) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Book bus ticket |
| Birmingham to Glasgow (NX336, overnight) (departs at 22:30, arrives at 06:15) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Book bus ticket |
Direct buses from Glasgow to Birmingham (journey time between 6-9 hours)
| Weekdays | Weekend | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | ||
| Glasgow to Birmingham (NX539) (departs at 08:15, arrives at 14:25) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Book bus ticket |
| Glasgow to Birmingham (NX536) (departs at 11:00, arrives at 17:55) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Book bus ticket |
| Glasgow to Birmingham (NX538) (departs at 11:00, arrives at 19:40) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Book bus ticket |
| Glasgow to Birmingham (NX336, overnight) (departs at 23:00, arrives at 06:45) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Book bus ticket |
NOTE: the schedule of buses may change without notice. Please double check with the National Express and Megabus for the latest travel times for getting to Birmingham or Glasgow.
There are no early morning or late evening direct coaches between Birmingham and Glasgow other than the National Express services listed above. See below the section on non-direct buses.
Instant fares for cheap flights from Birmingham to Glasgow and Glasgow to Birmingham.
All Glasgow - Birmingham buses (National Express) with service times
Direct buses
Daytime coaches
- There are 3 direct daytime buses from Glasgow to Birmingham (bus services NX536, NX538 and NX539) which depart Buchanan Bus Station at 08:15, 11:00 and 11:00 respectively; they arrive at Birmingham Coach Station at approx 14:25, 17:55 and 19:40 respectively.
- There are 3 direct daytime buses from Birmingham to Glasgow (bus services NX536, NX538 and NX539) which depart Birmingham Coach Station at 09:30, 11:00 and 13:45 respectively; they arrive at Buchanan Bus Station at approx 18:00, 17:40 and 19:55 respectively.
Overnight coaches
- There is one direct overnight bus from Glasgow to Birmingham (bus service NX336) which departs Buchanan Bus Station at 23:00 and arrives at Birmingham Coach Station at approx 06:45.
- There is one direct overnight bus from Birmingham to Glasgow (bus service NX336) which departs Birmingham Coach Station at 22:30 and arrives at Buchanan Bus Station at approx 06:15.
Indirect buses
Daytime coaches
- There is 1 indirect daytime coach from Glasgow to Birmingham (1 change in Manchester). It departs Buchanan Bus Station at 15:15 and arrives in Birmingham at 00:10.
- There is 1 indirect daytime bus from Birmingham to Glasgow (1 change in Manchester). It departs Birmingham Coach Station at 04:30 and arrives in Glasgow at 13:55.
Overnight coaches
There are no indirect overnight buses between Birmingham and Glasgow.
How long does it take to get from Birmingham to Glasgow by bus
The direct buses take between 6 hours and 10 minutes and 8 hours and 40 minutes but the the non-direct Birmingham to Glasgow bus services to Buchanan Bus Station or Birmingham Coach Station include waiting times in Manchester of up to 100 mins. Given the choice, always go for the direct coach services.
How much does the bus ticket from Birmingham to Glasgow cost
The Birmingham - Glasgow route is a National Express funfare route with bus fares for one-way journeys starting at £10 (check availability now). These cheap bus tickets (non-refundable) are available only online when you book in advance. Funfare prices are only available on direct bus journeys, all the more reason to avoid the coaches which change in Manchester.
Make sure to book in advance for travel on busy periods like Bank Holidays, Half-Term, Christmas Holidays and New Year's.
National Express bus fares between Birmingham and Glasgow
The cheapest National Express tickets for the Birmingham coach are NX funfare tickets but you need to book these in advance.
Single fares
- Economy Apex single ticket: £50.60
- Standard single ticket: £50.60
- Best Deal, ideal for budget travellers - funfare ticket: from £10
Return fares
- Economy Apex return ticket: £44.80
- Economy return ticket: £55.90
- Standard Advance return ticket: £60.10
- Standard return ticket: £66.50
- Best Deal, ideal for budget travellers - combined single NX funfare tickets (£20 cheapest)
Book Birmingham - Glasgow direct coach tickets
NOTE: Ticket prices may change without notice. Please double check with the National Express for up to date coach fares.
Where does the bus between Birmingham and Glasgow stop
Stops for direct buses
You can buy tickets for travel from any of these stops in Scotland or England to Birmingham or Glasgow.
The direct National Express NX536 bus goes via Wolverhampton, Carlisle and Glasgow. Full NX536 itinerary: Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Carlisle, Glasgow.
The direct National Express NX539 bus goes via Penrith, Carlisle and Glasgow. You can buy tickets for travel from any of these stops in Scotland or England to Birmingham or Glasgow. Full NX539 itinerary: Birmingham, Penrith, Carlisle, Glasgow.
The direct National Express NX538 bus goes via Manchester (Coach Station and Manchester Airport), Preston, Carlisle and Glasgow. You can buy tickets for travel from any of these stops in Scotland or England to Birmingham or Glasgow. Full NX538 itinerary: Birmingham, Hanley, Manchester (Coach Station and Manchester Airport), Preston, Carlisle, Hanilton, Glasgow.
The direct National Express NX336 bus (overnight) goes via Manchester (including Manchester Airport), Preston, Carlisle and Glasgow. Full NX336 itinerary: Birmingham, Hanley, Manchester (including Manchester Airport), Salford, Preston, Lancaster, Carlisle, Glasgow.
Stops for buses changing in Manchester
Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Penkridge, Hanley, Manchester (including Manchester Airport), Bolton, Carlisle, Hamilton, Glasgow.
National Express coach services - Web links
Bus Tickets, Timetables and Journey Planner
Use the form to get timetables and tickets for coach trips from Birmingham to Glasgow or Glasgow to Birmingham and anywhere else in the UK. Alternatively, you can buy your ticket from Buchanan Bus Station or Birmingham coach station. Remember that the cheapest Glasgow - Birmingham bus tickets (funfare offers) are available ONLY online.
Address of Birmingham Coach Station
National Express Coach Station in Birmingham
Mill Lane
Digbeth
Birmingham
Postcode: B5 6DB
Address of Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station
Bus Station in Glasgow for National Express coaches
Killermont Street
Glasgow
Scotland
Postcode: G2 3NP
Tel: +44 (141) 353 2141
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