Travel Time Calculator

Travel Speed Guide

Realistic Average Speeds

Real-world average speeds include stops, traffic, and route inefficiency. Car on motorway (M25 excluded): 80–90 km/h average including service breaks. Urban driving: 25–35 km/h in cities, 40–55 km/h in towns and suburbs. Intercity trains (Avanti West Coast, LNER): 120–160 km/h average including station stops. Regional trains: 60–90 km/h average. Cycling: 20–25 km/h for a fit commuter, 16–20 km/h for leisure. Walking: 4–5 km/h. These are block-to-block averages — actual journey times depend heavi

Why Trains Beat Cars on Long Distance

On the UK's main intercity routes (London–Manchester, London–Edinburgh, London–Birmingham), trains are consistently faster than cars door-to-door for single travellers. London–Manchester: car 2.5–3.5 hours (traffic and parking dependent) vs Avanti train 2:06 (fastest). London–Edinburgh: car 6–8 hours vs LNER train 4:23 (fastest). The advantage narrows for car journeys with multiple people (door-to-door convenience) and for destinations not well-served by rail.

Cycling Speed Factors

Cycling speed varies significantly with fitness, bike type, terrain, and weather. E-bike: 25–30 km/h average (UK speed limit for electric assist). Road bike / commuter: 20–25 km/h. Mountain bike on road: 18–22 km/h. Cycling is time-competitive with driving for urban journeys under 10km — no parking time, no congestion, and predictable timing. For a 5km urban commute, cycling (15 minutes) frequently beats driving (10–25 minutes including parking) door-to-door.

Flight Time Calculations

Flight travel time should include realistic airport times: arrival at airport (minimum 1.5–2hr for short-haul, 2.5–3hr for long-haul), boarding and taxi (30–45 min), actual flight, landing and taxiing (30 min), baggage reclaim (15–45 min), and transfer to destination. A 1-hour flight London–Amsterdam is realistically 5–6 hours total (door-to-door Eurostar is faster at 3:41). A 7-hour transatlantic flight is approximately 12–13 hours total.