Landmarks
Glastonbury Tor
Mystical terraced hill crowned by St Michael's Tower, steeped in Arthurian and early Christian legends with panoramic Somerset views.
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Road trip route · United Kingdom
London to Plymouth drive time, distance, costs & the best stops
- Drive time
- 4 hr 25 min
- Distance
- 216 mi
- Fuel (est.)
- £36
- Tolls (est.)
- None
The London to Plymouth drive
The drive from London to Plymouth covers 216 miles (348 km) and takes about 4 hr 25 min without stops. That makes it a comfortable one-day drive. Leave in the morning and you'll arrive with the day ahead of you.
Expect fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) to cost around £36 one-way with no significant motorway tolls on the way. Prices shift monthly, so treat these as ballpark figures.
Best stops between London and Plymouth
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
Natural Wonders
Jurassic Coast
UNESCO World Heritage coastline stretching 95 miles from Devon to Dorset, exposing 185 million years of geological history in its dramatic cliffs.
National Parks
Dartmoor National Park
Wild and ancient moorland dotted with granite tors, Bronze Age settlements and roaming Dartmoor ponies across 368 square miles of Devon.
Ancient Ruins
Avebury Stone Circle
Largest prehistoric stone circle in the world, enclosing an entire village and considered by many to be more atmospheric than Stonehenge.
Racetracks
Thruxton Circuit
The fastest circuit in the UK, a former airfield in Hampshire with high-speed sweeping corners that test car and driver to the limit.
Museums
Brooklands Museum
The birthplace of British motorsport and aviation, featuring the world's first purpose-built motor racing circuit from 1907.
Museums
Haynes International Motor Museum
The UK's largest collection of classic and vintage cars and motorcycles, with over 400 vehicles on display.
Cathedrals & Temples
Exeter Cathedral
Magnificent Gothic cathedral boasting the longest uninterrupted vaulted ceiling in England, dating back to the 12th century.
Cathedrals & Temples
Salisbury Cathedral
Masterpiece of Early English Gothic architecture boasting Britain's tallest spire at 123 metres and housing the finest surviving Magna Carta.
London to Plymouth FAQs
How long is the drive from London to Plymouth?
Driving from London to Plymouth takes about 4 hr 25 min nonstop, covering 216 miles (348 km). Add time for breaks: most drivers stop every 2 hours.
How much does it cost to drive from London to Plymouth?
Fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) costs roughly £36 one-way. There are no significant motorway tolls on this route. Estimates are indicative: prices change monthly.
Can I drive from London to Plymouth in one day?
Yes, at about 4 hr 25 min of driving, London to Plymouth is a comfortable one-day drive with a couple of breaks.
What are the best stops between London and Plymouth?
Top-rated stops in the drive corridor include Glastonbury Tor, Jurassic Coast, Dartmoor National Park: see the full list of 9 stops on this page.
More drives from London & Plymouth
Bristol → PlymouthLondon → AberdeenLondon → AmsterdamLondon → BarcelonaLondon → BathLondon → BirminghamLondon → BrightonLondon → BristolLondon → BrugesLondon → Brussels
Planning a bigger trip? Try the free United Kingdom road trip planner, or read the driving in United Kingdom guide.