London to Cologne bus: 1.8 a day, fastest 12h10

1.8 a dayfastest 12h10☾ 6 overnight busesFlixBus🇬🇧 United Kingdom → 🇩🇪 Germany

Direct buses · no change

LondonDoverCalaisLilleBrusselsDüsseldorfCologne· 497 km as the crow flies

08:00 → 22:40
FlixBus N280
London Victoria Coach Station → Cologne Airport CGN (Terminal 2) · via Dover, Calais, Lille, Brussels…
13h405 stops
Runs: Mon, Tue, Wed, Sat, Sun (some weeks)Book on FlixBus ↗
21:00 → 11:25⁺¹
FlixBus N870 ☾ Overnight
London Victoria Coach Station → Cologne Airport CGN (Terminal 2) · via Dover, Calais, Lille, Brussels…
13h255 stops
Runs: Only Sun 8 Novthe open data has only these datesBook on FlixBus ↗
21:30 → 11:55⁺¹
FlixBus N870 ☾ Overnight
London Victoria Coach Station → Cologne Airport CGN (Terminal 2) · via Dover, Dunkerque, Lille, Brussels…
13h255 stops
Runs: Mon to ThuBook on FlixBus ↗
22:00 → 11:10⁺¹
FlixBus N870 ☾ Overnight
London Victoria Coach Station → Cologne Airport CGN (Terminal 2) · via Folkestone, Calais, Lille, Brussels…
12h105 stops
Runs: Only Fri 6 Novthe open data has only these datesBook on FlixBus ↗
22:30 → 11:48⁺¹
FlixBus N870 ☾ Overnight
London Victoria Coach Station → Cologne Airport CGN (Terminal 2) · via Folkestone, Calais, Lille, Brussels…
12h185 stops
Runs: Only Sat 7 Nov, Sat 14 Novthe open data has only these datesBook on FlixBus ↗
22:30 → 11:55⁺¹
FlixBus N870 ☾ Overnight
London Victoria Coach Station → Cologne Airport CGN (Terminal 2) · via Dover, Dunkerque, Lille, Brussels…
13h255 stops
Runs: Only Sat 24 Octthe open data has only these datesBook on FlixBus ↗
23:00 → 13:15⁺¹
FlixBus N870 ☾ Overnight
London Victoria Coach Station → Cologne Airport CGN (Terminal 2) · via Dover, Calais, Lille, Brussels…
13h155 stops
Runs: Fri, Sun (some weeks)Book on FlixBus ↗

Local times at each stop. Times from official open data: FlixBus (file of 11 Oct 2026) and FlixBus UK (file of 11 Oct 2026). Checked Sun 18 Oct 2026; they cover 18 Oct to 14 Nov 2026. Timetables change, so check with the operator before you travel. Contains FlixBus timetable data (FlixMobility, transport.data.gouv.fr), ODbL 1.0. How we build this.

Bus, train or plane

☾ Overnight: leave 22:00, arrive 11:10

The plane is 7h39 quicker door to door, but the night bus spends your night on the road instead of a day.

Bus · fastest direct13h19

To London Victoria Coach Station15 min
At the stop before departure15 min
FlixBus N87012h10
From Cologne Airport CGN (Terminal 2)39 min

Plane · nonstop LGW to CGN5h40

To Gatwick (LGW)55 min
Check-in & security2h00
Flight LGW to CGN1h25
Landing to exit35 min
From CGN45 min

City centre to city centre. Getting to stops, stations and airports: typical public-transport times (estimates). Bus: be at the stop 15 min before. Plane: check-in and security 2h before, then getting out after landing; flight time typical for the distance.

Train instead?

No direct train from London to Cologne in pickthetrain's timetables: the bus is the no-change way.

Where London goes by direct train ↗

Flying instead?

5 airlines fly London to Cologne nonstop. Book on the airline's own site:

British Airways from 2026-11-23LHR→CGN · LHR→DUSBook direct ↗
EurowingsLHR→DUS · LGW→CGNBook direct ↗
Jet2.com from 2026-11-26LGW→CGNBook direct ↗
TUI Airways seasonalLGW→DUSBook direct ↗
easyJetLGW→DUSBook direct ↗

Compare on picktheflight ↗

Quick answers

Is there a direct bus from London to Cologne?

Yes. 1.8 a day on average, with FlixBus, no change of bus (18 Oct to 14 Nov 2026).

How long is the bus from London to Cologne?

The fastest takes 12h10; the slowest 13h40, for 497 km as the crow flies.

When do the buses leave?

The earliest leaves at 08:00 and the latest at 23:00, local time in London. Not every bus runs every day: pick a date above.

Is there a night bus from London to Cologne?

Yes: 6 overnight departures in the timetable, for example 21:00 arriving 11:25 the next morning.

London ▸ Cologne

Direct buses · no change

Quick answers

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