What is the best way to travel from Preston to Reading?
Looking for a trip? Check and compare all the available Trains, Carpool and Buses to Reading from Preston. 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 Reading from Preston?
You can reach Reading with just £21 by taking a Bus from FlixBus, 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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Avanti West Coast3h 52m009:19PrestonCentral Station13:11ReadingCentral Station0EconomyA Train from Avanti West Coast goes from Central Station, Preston (United Kingdom) at 02/02/2026 09:19:00 to Central Station, Reading (United Kingdom) arriving at 02/02/2026 13:11:00. 50 Economy ticket for £106 per person are available. Travel duration is 3h 52m
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Avanti West Coast3h 24m010:00PrestonCentral Station13:24ReadingCentral Station0EconomyA Train from Avanti West Coast goes from Central Station, Preston (United Kingdom) at 02/02/2026 10:00:00 to Central Station, Reading (United Kingdom) arriving at 02/02/2026 13:24:00. 50 Economy ticket for £106 per person are available. Travel duration is 3h 24m
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Avanti West Coast3h 53m010:18PrestonCentral Station14:11ReadingCentral Station0EconomyA Train from Avanti West Coast goes from Central Station, Preston (United Kingdom) at 02/02/2026 10:18:00 to Central Station, Reading (United Kingdom) arriving at 02/02/2026 14:11:00. 50 Economy ticket for £106 per person are available. Travel duration is 3h 53m
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Avanti West Coast3h 22m008:01PrestonCentral Station11:23ReadingCentral Station0EconomyA Train from Avanti West Coast goes from Central Station, Preston (United Kingdom) at 02/02/2026 08:01:00 to Central Station, Reading (United Kingdom) arriving at 02/02/2026 11:23:00. 50 Economy ticket for £247 per person are available. Travel duration is 3h 22m
Cheapest Trains Monday
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FlixBus11h 10m014:15PrestonCoach Station01:25ReadingMereoak Park & Ride0EconomyA Bus from FlixBus goes from Coach Station, Preston (United Kingdom) at 03/02/2026 14:15:00 to Mereoak Park & Ride, Reading (United Kingdom) arriving at 04/02/2026 01:25:00. 50 Economy ticket for £21 per person are available. Travel duration is 11h 10m
Cheapest Buses Tuesday
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Avanti West Coast3h 52m009:19PrestonCentral Station13:11ReadingCentral Station0EconomyA Train from Avanti West Coast goes from Central Station, Preston (United Kingdom) at 04/02/2026 09:19:00 to Central Station, Reading (United Kingdom) arriving at 04/02/2026 13:11:00. 50 Economy ticket for £106 per person are available. Travel duration is 3h 52m
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Avanti West Coast3h 24m010:00PrestonCentral Station13:24ReadingCentral Station0EconomyA Train from Avanti West Coast goes from Central Station, Preston (United Kingdom) at 04/02/2026 10:00:00 to Central Station, Reading (United Kingdom) arriving at 04/02/2026 13:24:00. 50 Economy ticket for £106 per person are available. Travel duration is 3h 24m
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Avanti West Coast3h 53m010:18PrestonCentral Station14:11ReadingCentral Station0EconomyA Train from Avanti West Coast goes from Central Station, Preston (United Kingdom) at 04/02/2026 10:18:00 to Central Station, Reading (United Kingdom) arriving at 04/02/2026 14:11:00. 50 Economy ticket for £106 per person are available. Travel duration is 3h 53m
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Avanti West Coast3h 22m008:01PrestonCentral Station11:23ReadingCentral Station0EconomyA Train from Avanti West Coast goes from Central Station, Preston (United Kingdom) at 04/02/2026 08:01:00 to Central Station, Reading (United Kingdom) arriving at 04/02/2026 11:23:00. 50 Economy ticket for £247 per person are available. Travel duration is 3h 22m
Cheapest Trains Wednesday
What are the fastest trips from Preston to Reading?
You can get to Reading from Preston in just 3h 22m with a Train from Avanti West Coast. 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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Avanti West Coast3h 22m008:01PrestonCentral Station11:23ReadingCentral Station0EconomyA Train from Avanti West Coast goes from Central Station, Preston (United Kingdom) at 02/02/2026 08:01:00 to Central Station, Reading (United Kingdom) arriving at 02/02/2026 11:23:00. 50 Economy ticket for £247 per person are available. Travel duration is 3h 22m
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Avanti West Coast3h 24m010:00PrestonCentral Station13:24ReadingCentral Station0EconomyA Train from Avanti West Coast goes from Central Station, Preston (United Kingdom) at 02/02/2026 10:00:00 to Central Station, Reading (United Kingdom) arriving at 02/02/2026 13:24:00. 50 Economy ticket for £106 per person are available. Travel duration is 3h 24m
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Avanti West Coast3h 52m009:19PrestonCentral Station13:11ReadingCentral Station0EconomyA Train from Avanti West Coast goes from Central Station, Preston (United Kingdom) at 02/02/2026 09:19:00 to Central Station, Reading (United Kingdom) arriving at 02/02/2026 13:11:00. 50 Economy ticket for £106 per person are available. Travel duration is 3h 52m
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Avanti West Coast3h 53m010:18PrestonCentral Station14:11ReadingCentral Station0EconomyA Train from Avanti West Coast goes from Central Station, Preston (United Kingdom) at 02/02/2026 10:18:00 to Central Station, Reading (United Kingdom) arriving at 02/02/2026 14:11:00. 50 Economy ticket for £106 per person are available. Travel duration is 3h 53m
Fastest Trains Monday
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FlixBus11h 10m014:15PrestonCoach Station01:25ReadingMereoak Park & Ride0EconomyA Bus from FlixBus goes from Coach Station, Preston (United Kingdom) at 03/02/2026 14:15:00 to Mereoak Park & Ride, Reading (United Kingdom) arriving at 04/02/2026 01:25:00. 50 Economy ticket for £21 per person are available. Travel duration is 11h 10m
Fastest Buses Tuesday
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Avanti West Coast3h 22m008:01PrestonCentral Station11:23ReadingCentral Station0EconomyA Train from Avanti West Coast goes from Central Station, Preston (United Kingdom) at 04/02/2026 08:01:00 to Central Station, Reading (United Kingdom) arriving at 04/02/2026 11:23:00. 50 Economy ticket for £247 per person are available. Travel duration is 3h 22m
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Avanti West Coast3h 24m010:00PrestonCentral Station13:24ReadingCentral Station0EconomyA Train from Avanti West Coast goes from Central Station, Preston (United Kingdom) at 04/02/2026 10:00:00 to Central Station, Reading (United Kingdom) arriving at 04/02/2026 13:24:00. 50 Economy ticket for £106 per person are available. Travel duration is 3h 24m
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Avanti West Coast3h 52m009:19PrestonCentral Station13:11ReadingCentral Station0EconomyA Train from Avanti West Coast goes from Central Station, Preston (United Kingdom) at 04/02/2026 09:19:00 to Central Station, Reading (United Kingdom) arriving at 04/02/2026 13:11:00. 50 Economy ticket for £106 per person are available. Travel duration is 3h 52m
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Avanti West Coast3h 53m010:18PrestonCentral Station14:11ReadingCentral Station0EconomyA Train from Avanti West Coast goes from Central Station, Preston (United Kingdom) at 04/02/2026 10:18:00 to Central Station, Reading (United Kingdom) arriving at 04/02/2026 14:11:00. 50 Economy ticket for £106 per person are available. Travel duration is 3h 53m
Fastest Trains Wednesday
Here you will find all operators and timetables for a
Bus from Preston to Reading
What are the most popular stations in Preston and Reading?
In Preston, you will usually depart from Central Station, Wyre Street Bus Stop or Coach Station, while in Reading you will be arriving at Central Station, West or Station North Interchange, 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 Reading from Preston? With 3 connections between 2 Bus, Carpool and Train 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 Preston and Reading, you can pay as low as £21 with a Bus from FlixBus.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 Avanti West Coast: you will get to Reading in just 3h 22m.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 Preston and Reading are Avanti West Coast and FlixBus, 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 Preston and Reading 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 Bamber Bridge or to Lower Earley, and look at flights from Blackpool Airport, and landing at Farnborough 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 Preston to Reading?
The most popular companies between Preston and Reading, are Avanti West Coast and FlixBus. Be sure to check their seat class offers and the amenities that they provide.
Bus companies: FlixBus
Train companies: Avanti West Coast
All you need to know when you travel from Preston to Reading
Check all information on comfort and services on all modes of transports from Preston to Reading. See which seat classes are available, and what amenities are other advantages offered by the operators on your journey.
FAQs about the trip from Preston to Reading
How can I reach Reading from Preston?
Every day, there are on average 3 connections between Bus, Carpool and Train, with which you can get to Reading from Preston.
How far is Reading from Preston?
The distance between Preston and Reading is 281.7 km.
What is the most ecofriendly mode of transport between Preston and Reading?
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 8 kgs of CO2, a train 10 kgs, a car 48 kgs, and a flight 69 kgs.
What is the cheapest mode of transport from Preston to Reading?
You can get to Reading with just £21 by taking a Bus from FlixBus.
What is the fastest way to get from Preston to Reading?
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 Reading in just 3h 22m with a Train from Avanti West Coast.
More routes to Preston and to Reading
Looking for more options? Here you can see the most popular routes to Preston and to Reading. Simply click on a connection, and you’ll find all the details about the route!
