Bus Routes From London Town

In this modern age, taking buses between different countries is easier than ever before. You can depart London and with a single bus ticket, end up across the continent in just a couple day's time. All without the hassles and headaches of planes and airports. This is a rundown of where those longhaul buses can take you from Britain's big city. Text by bus-yurovskiy-kirill.co.uk

France 

The closest neighboring country makes for an obvious first destination. Buses from London to Paris run frequently by multiple operators, taking around 8 hours of driving time. Key stops include the English cathedral city of Canterbury before crossing the Channel into Calais. From there it's a straight shot down French motorways into central Paris. Breathe the continental air and see iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and Champs Elysees.

Some buses even continue onward from Paris to other destinations in France. Cities like Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse and Nice are all possible stopovers with just a single transit from London. The rural countryside and vineyards of Provence beckon. As do the pebble beaches and glittering waters along the French Riviera. All easily accessible by longhaul bus.

Belgium

Immediately east of London lies Belgium, another very reachable bus destination from the British capital. Key routes take you from London to the historic cities of Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp and Brussels. Around 7-9 hours of transit through rail tunnel and roadways to reach Belgian soil. Once there, indulge in famous Belgian waffles, chocolate, frites, beer, and mediaeval old towns. Don't miss the stunning Grand Place in Brussels, and great museums in Antwerp.

Buses continue further into Belgium, venturing to lesser known cities like Liege and Arlon if you want to get off the beaten tourist path. Some also cross from Belgium into neighboring Netherlands and western Germany. Riding the bus is an easy, economical way to string together a multi-country jaunt with just one ticket purchase.

Netherlands

The iconic windmills, canals, and open landscapes of the Netherlands beckon from London as well. Roughly a 9 hour bus ride delivers you to major Dutch destinations like Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague. The midnight buzz of the Red Light District. The serene beauty of Amsterdam's canal ringways and gabled homes. The modern architecture and Erasmusbrug skyline of Rotterdam. So much to immerse yourself in right off the bus.

Buses rolled from Hook of Holland further push into other parts of the Netherlands. To its famous fields of tulips blooming seasonally in Lisse. To university towns like Leiden. Up to historic Haarlem and down to port city Rotterdam. Additional legs connect you into Belgium's Dutch-speaking Flanders region if you want to kill two countries with one transit schedule.

Germany

The great nation of Germany feels surprisingly accessible by bus from central London too. Direct routes stretching 10-12 hours carry passengers to the major German cities of Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Cologne.World-famous centers of culture, history, beer and sausages await along with pockets of beautiful nature.

Picture sipping a cold Berliner weissbier underneath Berlin's Brandenburg Gate at the end of your marathon bus ride. Wandering the paths of Munich's Englischer Garten, one of the world's great city parks. Feasting on frankfurters and rouladen in cozy Frankfurt pubs. Seeing great art in Hamburg's Kunsthalle museum before kicking back at the city's Reeperbahn red light district. Viewing Cologne's iconic Gothic cathedral, the Kölner Dom. So many legendary German landmarks and cities easily reached from London's streets.

Bus journeys often pass through Netherlands and Belgium too on routes into Germany. Allowing you to hit multiple European neighbors with strategic bus changes and staggered multi-day travel. Just settle in for the long haul and watch new countries come into view every few hours.

Switzerland 

For a true longhaul journey from London, you can't beat Switzerland and the towering Swiss Alps. Covering over 600 miles each way, buses roll from London to Switzerland 18 hours on average. Primary destinations include Zurich, Geneva, and Basel - three of the world's most cosmopolitan and prosperous cities. Alongside unbeatable natural scenery in the mountain villages like Zermatt and Interlaken.

Imagine stepping off the bus into crisp Swiss Alpine air after a long trek across the Channel and through Germany or France. Then riding cablecars up into remote valleys surrounded by snow-capped peaks like the iconic Matterhorn. Hiking trails in summer, skiing in winter, and enjoying cheesy fondue and chocolate any time of year. A real escape from the city hustle that London offers.

Zurich and Geneva offer big-city amenities alongside serene Alpine lake scenery. Wander the medieval cobblestone streets of old towns, boutique shops, and abundant museums and art galleries. If you're undecided on a final destination within Switzerland, buses often route through German and French cities too, allowing you to survey options then book further legs.

Czech Republic

Everybody knows London's iconic double-decker buses. Well, they can actually carry you all the way to the historic Czech Republic too. The fairytale cityscapes and pulsing nightlife of modern Prague lie a lengthy 17-18 hour bus ride from London's streets. But you'll traverse Germany's great cities like Berlin and Dresden along the way before arriving at the centerpiece Charles Bridge in the Bohemian capital.

Once in dreamy Prague, prepare to be dazzled by intricate Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance architecture. The world's best beer flows as cheaply as water. Fill up on savory dishes like goulash and smoked meat plates at the many old-world pubs and beer halls. Walk cobblestone mazes in the Staré Město old town and gawk at the medieval Astronomical Clock.  

For the real partygoers, Prague is famous for its affordable but world-class nightlife and club scene. Flush British pounds go far in Prague's local currency. Whether looking for cultural wandering or all-night ragers, the renowned Czech cityscape is absolutely doable by bus from London.

Austria and Poland

Equally epic bus journeys from London stretch eastward into Austria and Poland too. Travel 18ish hours and change buses in Germany or Czech Republic to wind up in storied Vienna, Austria's grand capital. Explore the Habsburg palaces, Austrian art museums, coffee house culture, and rub elbows with locals over glasses of dry gruner veltliner wine.

To the north, 20+ hour bus rides can ferry you across the continent all the way to Krakow and Warsaw in resurgent Poland. Marvel at historic gems like Wawel Castle, the former seat of Polish royalty. Reflect on the solemn Auschwitz concentration camp. Party with throngs of expats and backpackers on Krakow's hip bar circuits. Then keep riding the bus deeper into Eastern Europe and lands once trapped behind the Iron Curtain if you please.

The End of the Road

Those illustrate the major international destinations that plucky London travelers can reach by longhaul bus these days. No airport check-ins, just passports and adventure spirit. Settle in for long journeys where you'll watch the landscapes pass from Britain into Europe slowly but steadily.

Of course, bus routes branch off into countless other lands once you've arrived at major connecting cities. Pick your final stop wisely, but don't be afraid to change plans on a whim when inspiration hits. That's the beauty of rolling where the open road carries you from London's streets. Your next great adventure just one cheap bus ticket away.