What is the best way to travel from Cardiff to Derby?
Looking for a trip? Check and compare all the available Buses and Trains to Derby from Cardiff. Look at different modes of transportation, search for the cheapest tickets, fastest rides and most popular stations, and see all 2 available companies to find your perfect trip!
What is the cheapest way to reach Derby from Cardiff?
You can reach Derby with just £11 by taking a Bus from National Express, but there are many more cheap offers: we have selected the best ones for you for the next few days here.
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National Express8h 0m019:45CardiffCoach Station03:45DerbyRiverlights Coach Station0EconomyA Bus from National Express goes from Coach Station, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 27/03/2026 19:45:00 to Riverlights Coach Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 28/03/2026 03:45:00. 50 Economy ticket for £24 per person are available. Travel duration is 8h 0m
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National Express7h 52m019:53CardiffUniversity03:45DerbyRiverlights Coach Station0EconomyA Bus from National Express goes from University, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 27/03/2026 19:53:00 to Riverlights Coach Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 28/03/2026 03:45:00. 50 Economy ticket for £24 per person are available. Travel duration is 7h 52m
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National Express9h 15m003:15CardiffCoach Station12:30DerbyRiverlights Coach Station0EconomyA Bus from National Express goes from Coach Station, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 27/03/2026 03:15:00 to Riverlights Coach Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 27/03/2026 12:30:00. 50 Economy ticket for £27 per person are available. Travel duration is 9h 15m
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FlixBus10h 5m010:40CardiffKingsway Coach Stop20:45DerbyRiverlights Coach Station0EconomyA Bus from FlixBus goes from Kingsway Coach Stop, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 27/03/2026 10:40:00 to Riverlights Coach Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 27/03/2026 20:45:00. 50 Economy ticket for £28 per person are available. Travel duration is 10h 5m
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FlixBus10h 10m012:40CardiffKingsway Coach Stop22:50DerbyRiverlights Coach Station0EconomyA Bus from FlixBus goes from Kingsway Coach Stop, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 27/03/2026 12:40:00 to Riverlights Coach Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 27/03/2026 22:50:00. 50 Economy ticket for £28 per person are available. Travel duration is 10h 10m
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CrossCountry2h 46m007:45CardiffCentral Station10:31DerbyCentral Station0EconomyA Train from CrossCountry goes from Central Station, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 27/03/2026 07:45:00 to Central Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 27/03/2026 10:31:00. 50 Economy ticket for £51 per person are available. Travel duration is 2h 46m
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CrossCountry2h 46m008:45CardiffCentral Station11:31DerbyCentral Station0EconomyA Train from CrossCountry goes from Central Station, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 27/03/2026 08:45:00 to Central Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 27/03/2026 11:31:00. 50 Economy ticket for £51 per person are available. Travel duration is 2h 46m
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CrossCountry2h 45m010:45CardiffCentral Station13:30DerbyCentral Station0EconomyA Train from CrossCountry goes from Central Station, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 27/03/2026 10:45:00 to Central Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 27/03/2026 13:30:00. 50 Economy ticket for £51 per person are available. Travel duration is 2h 45m
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Great Western Railway (GWR)3h 11m009:19CardiffCentral Station12:30DerbyCentral Station0EconomyA Train from Great Western Railway (GWR) goes from Central Station, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 27/03/2026 09:19:00 to Central Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 27/03/2026 12:30:00. 50 Economy ticket for £59 per person are available. Travel duration is 3h 11m
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Great Western Railway (GWR)2h 52m009:49CardiffCentral Station12:41DerbyCentral Station0EconomyA Train from Great Western Railway (GWR) goes from Central Station, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 27/03/2026 09:49:00 to Central Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 27/03/2026 12:41:00. 50 Economy ticket for £106 per person are available. Travel duration is 2h 52m
Cheapest Buses Friday
Cheapest Trains Friday
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FlixBus10h 5m010:40CardiffKingsway Coach Stop20:45DerbyRiverlights Coach Station0EconomyA Bus from FlixBus goes from Kingsway Coach Stop, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 29/03/2026 10:40:00 to Riverlights Coach Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 29/03/2026 20:45:00. 50 Economy ticket for £17 per person are available. Travel duration is 10h 5m
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FlixBus10h 10m012:40CardiffKingsway Coach Stop22:50DerbyRiverlights Coach Station0EconomyA Bus from FlixBus goes from Kingsway Coach Stop, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 29/03/2026 12:40:00 to Riverlights Coach Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 29/03/2026 22:50:00. 50 Economy ticket for £17 per person are available. Travel duration is 10h 10m
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FlixBus9h 50m002:00CardiffKingsway Coach Stop11:50DerbyRiverlights Coach Station0EconomyA Bus from FlixBus goes from Kingsway Coach Stop, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 29/03/2026 02:00:00 to Riverlights Coach Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 29/03/2026 11:50:00. 50 Economy ticket for £18 per person are available. Travel duration is 9h 50m
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National Express9h 15m003:15CardiffCoach Station12:30DerbyRiverlights Coach Station0EconomyA Bus from National Express goes from Coach Station, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 29/03/2026 03:15:00 to Riverlights Coach Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 29/03/2026 12:30:00. 50 Economy ticket for £21 per person are available. Travel duration is 9h 15m
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National Express8h 35m005:55CardiffCoach Station14:30DerbyRiverlights Coach Station0EconomyA Bus from National Express goes from Coach Station, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 29/03/2026 05:55:00 to Riverlights Coach Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 29/03/2026 14:30:00. 50 Economy ticket for £21 per person are available. Travel duration is 8h 35m
Cheapest Buses Sunday
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National Express6h 20m008:20CardiffCoach Station14:40DerbyRiverlights Coach Station0EconomyA Bus from National Express goes from Coach Station, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 01/04/2026 08:20:00 to Riverlights Coach Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 01/04/2026 14:40:00. 50 Economy ticket for £11 per person are available. Travel duration is 6h 20m
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National Express9h 15m003:15CardiffCoach Station12:30DerbyRiverlights Coach Station0EconomyA Bus from National Express goes from Coach Station, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 01/04/2026 03:15:00 to Riverlights Coach Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 01/04/2026 12:30:00. 50 Economy ticket for £15 per person are available. Travel duration is 9h 15m
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National Express9h 15m005:15CardiffCoach Station14:30DerbyRiverlights Coach Station0EconomyA Bus from National Express goes from Coach Station, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 01/04/2026 05:15:00 to Riverlights Coach Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 01/04/2026 14:30:00. 50 Economy ticket for £15 per person are available. Travel duration is 9h 15m
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National Express8h 40m015:45CardiffCoach Station00:25DerbyRiverlights Coach Station0EconomyA Bus from National Express goes from Coach Station, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 01/04/2026 15:45:00 to Riverlights Coach Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 02/04/2026 00:25:00. 50 Economy ticket for £15 per person are available. Travel duration is 8h 40m
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National Express9h 10m003:20CardiffUniversity12:30DerbyRiverlights Coach Station0EconomyA Bus from National Express goes from University, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 01/04/2026 03:20:00 to Riverlights Coach Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 01/04/2026 12:30:00. 50 Economy ticket for £15 per person are available. Travel duration is 9h 10m
Cheapest Buses Wednesday
What are the fastest trips from Cardiff to Derby?
You can get to Derby from Cardiff in just 2h 45m with a Train from CrossCountry. But this is just one option, click on any of the offers below to compare it with the other available modes of transportations.
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CrossCountry2h 45m010:45CardiffCentral Station13:30DerbyCentral Station0EconomyA Train from CrossCountry goes from Central Station, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 27/03/2026 10:45:00 to Central Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 27/03/2026 13:30:00. 50 Economy ticket for £51 per person are available. Travel duration is 2h 45m
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CrossCountry2h 46m007:45CardiffCentral Station10:31DerbyCentral Station0EconomyA Train from CrossCountry goes from Central Station, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 27/03/2026 07:45:00 to Central Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 27/03/2026 10:31:00. 50 Economy ticket for £51 per person are available. Travel duration is 2h 46m
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CrossCountry2h 46m008:45CardiffCentral Station11:31DerbyCentral Station0EconomyA Train from CrossCountry goes from Central Station, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 27/03/2026 08:45:00 to Central Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 27/03/2026 11:31:00. 50 Economy ticket for £51 per person are available. Travel duration is 2h 46m
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Great Western Railway (GWR)2h 52m009:49CardiffCentral Station12:41DerbyCentral Station0EconomyA Train from Great Western Railway (GWR) goes from Central Station, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 27/03/2026 09:49:00 to Central Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 27/03/2026 12:41:00. 50 Economy ticket for £106 per person are available. Travel duration is 2h 52m
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Great Western Railway (GWR)3h 11m009:19CardiffCentral Station12:30DerbyCentral Station0EconomyA Train from Great Western Railway (GWR) goes from Central Station, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 27/03/2026 09:19:00 to Central Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 27/03/2026 12:30:00. 50 Economy ticket for £59 per person are available. Travel duration is 3h 11m
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National Express7h 52m019:53CardiffUniversity03:45DerbyRiverlights Coach Station0EconomyA Bus from National Express goes from University, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 27/03/2026 19:53:00 to Riverlights Coach Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 28/03/2026 03:45:00. 50 Economy ticket for £24 per person are available. Travel duration is 7h 52m
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National Express8h 0m019:45CardiffCoach Station03:45DerbyRiverlights Coach Station0EconomyA Bus from National Express goes from Coach Station, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 27/03/2026 19:45:00 to Riverlights Coach Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 28/03/2026 03:45:00. 50 Economy ticket for £24 per person are available. Travel duration is 8h 0m
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National Express9h 15m003:15CardiffCoach Station12:30DerbyRiverlights Coach Station0EconomyA Bus from National Express goes from Coach Station, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 27/03/2026 03:15:00 to Riverlights Coach Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 27/03/2026 12:30:00. 50 Economy ticket for £27 per person are available. Travel duration is 9h 15m
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FlixBus10h 5m010:40CardiffKingsway Coach Stop20:45DerbyRiverlights Coach Station0EconomyA Bus from FlixBus goes from Kingsway Coach Stop, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 27/03/2026 10:40:00 to Riverlights Coach Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 27/03/2026 20:45:00. 50 Economy ticket for £28 per person are available. Travel duration is 10h 5m
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FlixBus10h 10m012:40CardiffKingsway Coach Stop22:50DerbyRiverlights Coach Station0EconomyA Bus from FlixBus goes from Kingsway Coach Stop, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 27/03/2026 12:40:00 to Riverlights Coach Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 27/03/2026 22:50:00. 50 Economy ticket for £28 per person are available. Travel duration is 10h 10m
Fastest Trains Friday
Fastest Buses Friday
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National Express8h 35m005:55CardiffCoach Station14:30DerbyRiverlights Coach Station0EconomyA Bus from National Express goes from Coach Station, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 29/03/2026 05:55:00 to Riverlights Coach Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 29/03/2026 14:30:00. 50 Economy ticket for £21 per person are available. Travel duration is 8h 35m
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National Express9h 15m003:15CardiffCoach Station12:30DerbyRiverlights Coach Station0EconomyA Bus from National Express goes from Coach Station, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 29/03/2026 03:15:00 to Riverlights Coach Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 29/03/2026 12:30:00. 50 Economy ticket for £21 per person are available. Travel duration is 9h 15m
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FlixBus9h 50m002:00CardiffKingsway Coach Stop11:50DerbyRiverlights Coach Station0EconomyA Bus from FlixBus goes from Kingsway Coach Stop, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 29/03/2026 02:00:00 to Riverlights Coach Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 29/03/2026 11:50:00. 50 Economy ticket for £18 per person are available. Travel duration is 9h 50m
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FlixBus10h 5m010:40CardiffKingsway Coach Stop20:45DerbyRiverlights Coach Station0EconomyA Bus from FlixBus goes from Kingsway Coach Stop, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 29/03/2026 10:40:00 to Riverlights Coach Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 29/03/2026 20:45:00. 50 Economy ticket for £17 per person are available. Travel duration is 10h 5m
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FlixBus10h 10m012:40CardiffKingsway Coach Stop22:50DerbyRiverlights Coach Station0EconomyA Bus from FlixBus goes from Kingsway Coach Stop, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 29/03/2026 12:40:00 to Riverlights Coach Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 29/03/2026 22:50:00. 50 Economy ticket for £17 per person are available. Travel duration is 10h 10m
Fastest Buses Sunday
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National Express6h 20m008:20CardiffCoach Station14:40DerbyRiverlights Coach Station0EconomyA Bus from National Express goes from Coach Station, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 01/04/2026 08:20:00 to Riverlights Coach Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 01/04/2026 14:40:00. 50 Economy ticket for £11 per person are available. Travel duration is 6h 20m
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National Express8h 40m015:45CardiffCoach Station00:25DerbyRiverlights Coach Station0EconomyA Bus from National Express goes from Coach Station, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 01/04/2026 15:45:00 to Riverlights Coach Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 02/04/2026 00:25:00. 50 Economy ticket for £15 per person are available. Travel duration is 8h 40m
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National Express9h 10m003:20CardiffUniversity12:30DerbyRiverlights Coach Station0EconomyA Bus from National Express goes from University, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 01/04/2026 03:20:00 to Riverlights Coach Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 01/04/2026 12:30:00. 50 Economy ticket for £15 per person are available. Travel duration is 9h 10m
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National Express9h 15m003:15CardiffCoach Station12:30DerbyRiverlights Coach Station0EconomyA Bus from National Express goes from Coach Station, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 01/04/2026 03:15:00 to Riverlights Coach Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 01/04/2026 12:30:00. 50 Economy ticket for £15 per person are available. Travel duration is 9h 15m
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National Express9h 15m005:15CardiffCoach Station14:30DerbyRiverlights Coach Station0EconomyA Bus from National Express goes from Coach Station, Cardiff (United Kingdom) at 01/04/2026 05:15:00 to Riverlights Coach Station, Derby (United Kingdom) arriving at 01/04/2026 14:30:00. 50 Economy ticket for £15 per person are available. Travel duration is 9h 15m
Fastest Buses Wednesday
Here you will find all operators and timetables for a
Bus from Cardiff to Derby
What are the most popular stations in Cardiff and Derby?
In Cardiff, you will usually depart from Central Station, Dingle Road Train Station or Penarth Train Station, while in Derby you will be arriving at Central Station, Peartree Station or Tutbury & Hatton Train Station, but there are many more stops to explore in both locations.
How do I decide? Some tips and tricks from our experience
Are you having trouble deciding on how to get to Derby from Cardiff? With 6 connections between 2 Train and Bus operators, it can be difficult to find the one ride that will make you happy. But we have some tips that can help you make the best informed decision. First of all, the best trip is always the one that meets all your needs, so make a list of all the things that you want from this journey and look for something that will satisfy all of them. Here we will go through some of the factors mostly commonly taken into consideration.
Look for the lowest price
Ticket price is usually the main concern: even if you can afford to pay more, why do it if there are cheaper options? Saving on the trip means that you can spend more on the vacation itself! Between Cardiff and Derby, you can pay as low as £11 with a Bus from National Express.Travel duration
Time is also an important factor. An earlier departure may allow you to see a beautiful sunset or relax before an important event. And remember, time is money, so paying more for a shorter trip may be well worth it. For longer distances, flights are without doubt the best options, but be mindful of airport times and possible delays: a high-speed train may end up cheaper and faster! Here the quicker option is definitely the Train from CrossCountry: you will get to Derby in just 2h 45m.Comfort makes all the difference
You should always take into account what your personal travelling preferences are. Is one hand luggage enough, or are you trasporting more? Would you like to have a snack during the journey? Can you relax in a busy compartment, or do you need space for yourself? Even among the same mode of transportation, different companies will offer you varying levels of comfort and amenities. The main operators connecting Cardiff and Derby are National Express, FlixBus and CrossCountry, but be sure to check what they have to offer!Save money with deals, and always compare
One last tip? Even if you live in Cardiff and Derby is your only destination, it may be wise to check the offers from and to nearby cities or, if you are flyng, nearby airports. Check the trips from Newlyn or to Little Eaton, and look at flights from Cardiff Airport, and landing at East Midlands Airport. Comparing different routes may allow you to find deals or promotions you were not aware of. Consider also signing up to CheckMyBus to see even more exclusive promotions!Which companies offer a trip from Cardiff to Derby?
The most popular companies between Cardiff and Derby, are National Express, FlixBus and CrossCountry. Be sure to check their seat class offers and the amenities that they provide.
Bus companies: National Express and FlixBus
Train companies: CrossCountry and Great Western Railway (GWR)
All you need to know when you travel from Cardiff to Derby
Check all information on comfort and services on all modes of transports from Cardiff to Derby. See which seat classes are available, and what amenities are other advantages offered by the operators on your journey.
FAQs about the trip from Cardiff to Derby
How can I reach Derby from Cardiff?
Every day, there are on average 6 connections between Train and Bus, with which you can get to Derby from Cardiff.
How far is Derby from Cardiff?
The distance between Cardiff and Derby is 197.9 km.
What is the most ecofriendly mode of transport between Cardiff and Derby?
Trains and buses are by far the greenest options, with trains surpassing buses on longer routes. Planes will always be the worst polluters, especially in shorter flights, were the emissions from the takeoff and landing are less offset by the distance.
On this particular route, a bus will emit, per person, a total of 5 kgs of CO2, a train 7 kgs, a car 34 kgs, and a flight 49 kgs.
What is the cheapest mode of transport from Cardiff to Derby?
You can get to Derby with just £11 by taking a Bus from National Express.
What is the fastest way to get from Cardiff to Derby?
While a plane is travelling fastest boarding and transfer to airport consumes a lot of time. Usually, high speed trains are better than flights if pure train travel time is below 4 hours. For this particular route, you can get to Derby in just 2h 45m with a Train from CrossCountry.
More routes to Cardiff and to Derby
Looking for more options? Here you can see the most popular routes to Cardiff and to Derby. Simply click on a connection, and you’ll find all the details about the route!
- Trips to Cardiff
- Aberdeen to Cardiff
- Amsterdam to Cardiff
- Bath to Cardiff
- Birmingham to Cardiff
- Bristol Airport to Cardiff
- Bristol to Cardiff
- Edinburgh to Cardiff
- Exeter to Cardiff
- Glasgow to Cardiff
- Leicester to Cardiff
- Liverpool to Cardiff
- London Heathrow Airport to Cardiff
- London Stansted Airport to Cardiff
- London to Cardiff
- Manchester to Cardiff
- Newcastle upon Tyne to Cardiff
- Newquay to Cardiff
- Norwich to Cardiff
- Nottingham to Cardiff
- Paris to Cardiff
- Reading to Cardiff
- Sheffield to Cardiff
- Sunderland to Cardiff
- Swansea to Cardiff
- Trips to Derby
- Birmingham Airport to Derby
- Birmingham to Derby
- Chesterfield to Derby
- Glasgow to Derby
- Inverness to Derby
- Leeds to Derby
- Leicester to Derby
- Liverpool to Derby
- London Heathrow Airport to Derby
- London to Derby
- Luton to Derby
- Manchester Airport to Derby
- Manchester to Derby
- Nottingham to Derby
- Preston to Derby
- Sheffield to Derby
- Sunderland to Derby
