London to Cornwall by car is one of the longest journeys we are asked to do in a day, and one of the easiest to get wrong if you drive it yourself after a week at work. We take you from your front door in London to your hotel, holiday cottage or station in Cornwall, in a car that suits the size of your group.
How far is London to Cornwall by car?
To Truro, the drive is 263 miles (423 km), about 5 h 15 min in free-flowing traffic. That figure assumes no stops and an empty road, and it is a realistic one only outside the busy periods. Most people ask us for the drive on a Friday, a Saturday or the start of a school holiday, which are exactly the days the M3, A303 and A30 slow down.
Cornwall is also long and thin. Truro is roughly the middle, so St Ives, Padstow, Falmouth, Penzance or Fowey each add or save a different amount. Tell us the exact address and we will plan the time from there. You can see the route on Google Maps to get a feel for it.
London to Cornwall by car or by train?
The train is a good option and we say so. Trains for Cornwall leave from London Paddington, and you can check times, changes and advance fares on National Rail. An advance ticket is usually far cheaper than a walk-up fare, and for one person with a rucksack it is hard to beat on price.
The picture changes with a family, a group or heavy luggage. Surfboards, prams, golf bags, a dog and four suitcases do not enjoy a change at Plymouth. In the car you leave when you want, stop where you want and arrive at the door, not at a station that is still a taxi ride from your accommodation.
| Private driver | Train from Paddington | |
|---|---|---|
| Starts at | Your London address | Paddington station |
| Ends at | Your Cornwall address | A Cornwall station |
| Luggage | Boot space of the car you choose | What you can carry |
| Stops on the way | Whenever you ask | Fixed timetable |
| Cost | Fixed quote for the whole car | Per ticket, cheapest in advance |
Where do you stop on a London to Cornwall road trip?
The drive is long enough that a proper stop makes the day better, and a driver who does not have to concentrate on the road is happy to plan one with you. Common choices are Stonehenge, Salisbury, the New Forest edge, Exeter and the Devon coast. Tell us what you would like and we will build it into the day.
If a stop is a visit, such as Stonehenge, remember that English Heritage uses timed tickets and you should book them ahead. We can take you to Stonehenge as a day trip on its own, and the same stop works as a halfway break on the way west. An hourly booking for the day includes the driver waiting while you look round; outside the M25 the hourly rate is in our price list.
Which car for the Cornwall run?
Pick the car for the people and the luggage, not for the badge.
- Mercedes E-Class or BMW 5 Series: up to 3 passengers, the sensible choice for a couple or a small family.
- Mercedes S-Class or BMW 7 Series: up to 3 passengers, with more rear legroom for a long day.
- Mercedes V-Class or VW Transporter: up to 8 passengers, the one for families with luggage or two couples.
- Range Rover: up to 4 passengers, well suited to Cornish lanes and a winter arrival.
- Mercedes Sprinter minibus: up to 16 passengers, for wedding parties and large groups.
For a larger group, our minibus and coach hire page has the details, and a wedding in Cornwall is a common reason to book. Our wedding car hire page covers that side.
What does London to Cornwall cost with a private driver?
Cornwall is a long-distance journey, so it is quoted on request rather than from a fixed table. We do not publish a made-up figure. You send the pick-up, the destination, the date, the number of passengers and whether you want a one-way transfer or a car and driver for the stay, and we reply with a fixed price. VAT is included, and the price is agreed before you book.
If you want the driver for the days after arriving, hourly hire outside London has a 4-hour minimum, and the rates for each car are in the private driver prices table. For a simple one-way transfer we quote the whole journey as one figure.
How to book your London to Cornwall transfer
- Use the quote form below, or go to contact, and give the pick-up address, the Cornwall destination, the date and time and the number of passengers and bags.
- Tell us about any stops, a return date or a second leg, such as a pick-up in Cornwall a week later.
- We send a fixed price with VAT included and the car we suggest.
- You confirm, and your driver collects you at the agreed time.
What is the journey like on the day?
Most Cornwall bookings leave London early, so the main part of the drive is done before lunch. The route runs out through the M25 and M3, then west on the A303 past Stonehenge and on to Exeter and the A30 into Cornwall. The last stretch is slower, with narrower roads and more junctions, particularly in summer.
Because the driver is concentrating on the road and you are not, the time in the back can be used. Families sleep, work on a laptop or read, and nobody has to find a petrol station or argue about the satnav. If you are heading to an area with tight lanes, such as the Roseland or the far west, tell us the exact address and we will check the approach.
Arriving, leaving and the journey back
A one-way transfer is the simplest. We drop you at the door and return, and you pay for the one journey. If you want a pick-up at the end of the holiday, we can quote the return at the same time, so both dates are fixed and nothing is left to arrange from a Cornish holiday cottage.
Some guests keep the driver for the stay. Hourly hire outside the M25 has a 4-hour minimum, which suits a day on the coast or a tour of several villages. Ask for it in the same message as the transfer.
How many days do you need in Cornwall?
Cornwall is not a day trip from London. With more than five hours each way you would spend the whole day in the car. Two nights is the least that makes the drive worthwhile, and most people who ask us for a transfer are staying a week or more. Visit Cornwall has ideas and itineraries if you are still choosing where to base yourself, and we can take you to whichever town you pick.
If you are looking for something closer to London for a single day, our best day trips by car guide lists the ones that fit between breakfast and dinner.
Last updated 20 October 2026.
