Getting from London to Inverness by Bus
How to get to Inverness from London with National Express buses
Updated September 2011
You can get from London to Inverness (or Inverness to London) by taking the National Express coaches. The journey is 12 hours and 30 minutes approx for the quickest direct buses. Travelling by National Express is the cheapest way to get from London to Inverness with NX funfare tickets (very cheap tickets) starting at £15 one-way. Also check the London - Inverness flights page for quicker travel. Also see our Megabus and National Express coaches in-depth guide.
Tickets and timetables for London - Inverness coaches.
There are only 2 coaches a day between London Victoria Coach Station (Buckingham Palace Road) and Inverness Bus Station (Farraline Park). There is one direct London - Inverness bus a day (each way) while the other coach is an indirect National Express service via Glasgow (1 change). National Express is the only coach company operating direct services between London and Inverness although you can travel with Megabus (very very cheap coach tickets) from London to Edinburgh/Glasgow and then from Edinburgh/Glasgow to Inverness.
Direct buses from London to Inverness (journey time 12 hours and 20 minutes approx)
| Weekdays | Weekend | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | ||
| London to Inverness (NX588, overnight) (departs at 23:00, arrives at 11:35) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Book bus ticket |
Direct buses from Inverness to London (journey time 12 hours and 20 minutes approx)
| Weekdays | Weekend | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | ||
| Inverness to London (NX588, overnight) (departs at 18:15, arrives at 06:50) |
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 for the latest travel times for getting to London or Inverness.
There is a late evening (overnight) direct coach between London and Inverness (each way). There are no other direct buses other than the National Express services listed above. See below the section on non-direct buses.
Instant fares for cheap flights from Inverness to London.
All Inverness - London buses (National Express) with service times
Direct buses
Daytime coaches
There are no direct daytime buses between London and Inverness.
Overnight coaches
- There is one direct overnight bus from Inverness to London (bus service NX588) which departs Farraline Park Bus Station at 18:15 and arrives at London Victoria Coach Station at approx 06:50 the following day.
- There is one direct overnight bus from London to Inverness (bus service NX588) which departs London Victoria Coach Station at 23:00 and arrives at Farraline Park Bus Station at approx 11:35 the following day.
This is basically the direct London - Glasgow coach service extended to travel to Inverness.
Indirect buses
Daytime coaches
- There is only one indirect daytime coach from Inverness to London (1 change in Glasgow). This is an early morning bus departing Farraline Park Bus Station in Inverness at 06:35 and arriving in London at 20:20 approx.
- There is only one indirect daytime coach from London to Inverness (1 change in Glasgow). This is a morning bus departing Victoria Coach Station in London at 09:00 and arriving in Inverness at 22:30 approx.
Overnight coaches
There are no indirect overnight buses between London and Inverness.
How long does it take to get from London to Inverness by bus
The direct buses take approx 12 hours and 20 minutes (overnight) but the the non-direct London to Inverness bus services to Farraline Park Bus Station or London Victoria Coach Station include waiting times in Glasgow of around 35 mins and take up to 14 hours. Given the choice, always go for the direct coach services.
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How much does the bus ticket from London to Inverness cost
The London - Inverness route is a National Express funfare route with bus fares for one-way journeys starting at £15 (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 Glasgow.
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 London and Inverness
The cheapest National Express tickets for the London coach are NX funfare tickets but you need to book these in advance.
Single fares
- Economy Apex single ticket: £45.00
- Standard single ticket: £45.00
- Best Deal, ideal for budget travellers - funfare ticket: from £15
Return fares
- Economy Apex return ticket: £45.00
- Economy return ticket: £59.50
- Standard advance return ticket: £49.50
- Standard return ticket: £65.50
- Best Deal, ideal for budget travellers - combined single NX funfare tickets (£30 cheapest)
Book London - Inverness 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 London and Inverness stop
Stops for direct buses
You can buy tickets for travel from any of these stops in Scotland or England to London or Inverness.
The direct National Express NX588 bus goes via Glasgow, Perth and Aviemore. Full NX588 itinerary: London (Victoria Coach Station), Milton Keynes, Penrith, Lockerbie, Glasgow (Buchanan Bus Station), Stirling, Perth, Pitlochry, Aviemore, Inverness.
Stops for buses changing in Glasgow
London (Victoria Coach Station), Golders Green Station, Milton Keynes, Carlisle, Hamilton, Glasgow (change at Buchanan Bus Station), Stirling, Perth, Pitlochry, Aviemore, Inverness.
National Express coach services - Web links
Bus Tickets, Timetables and Journey Planner
Use the form to get timetables and tickets for coach trips from London to Inverness or Inverness to London and anywhere else in the UK. Alternatively, you can buy your ticket from Inverness bus station or London Victoria Coach Station. Remember that the cheapest Inverness - London bus tickets (funfare offers) are available ONLY online.
Address of London Victoria Coach Station
Coach Station in London for National Express coaches
164 Buckingham Palace Road
London
Postcode: SW1W 9TP
Tel: +44 (20) 7730 3466
Address of Inverness Bus Station
Bus Station in Inverness for National Express coaches
Farraline Park
Margaret Street
Inverness
Scotland
Postcode: IV1 1NH
Hotels in Inverness or London
Inverness Hotels
Discount Inverness hotels and accommodation in the City Centre.
London Hotels
Discount London hotels and accommodation in Central London.
Comments on Attractions in the Inverness area, Scotland
Loch Ness Boat Cruises
My friends from England came for a break..and as I have been promising myself for many years to go on the LOCHNESS ...we manage it this year.....it was wonderful.....one of my friends lives in a rough inner city in England and has never until this year experienced the countryside...hes 65...and im sure most of us who live here havn't the foggiest idea what this experience for him has been hence the title. So thank you for making this an AWESOME experience for myself and for my friends....
Culloden Battlefield
The most iconic sites are still the gravestones and the memorial cairn, erected in Victorian times. The mass graves of the Jacobite clans are each marked by a small single stone, including the area where my ancestors are at rest. Although the interpretation of the site made in Victorian times has now been revised based on more recent evidence I found this area emotional and moving. The centre interprets the events from the point of view of both sides, which is excellent. The animations, especially of the battle itself, are of the highest quality. I picked up a musket and a pistol and discovered for myself how heavy these weapons were. Unfortunately, not only did the member of staff who served us push National Trust of Scotland membership too hard, but I also overheard him later complain of two troublesome customers: some training required here I think.