Castles & Palaces
Leeds Castle
A castle on islands in a lake formed by the River Len in Kent, often called the loveliest castle in the world.
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Road trip route · United Kingdom · France · Belgium · Netherlands
London to Amsterdam drive time, distance, costs & the best stops
- Drive time
- 6 hr 33 min
- Distance
- 531 km
- Fuel (est.)
- €69
- Tolls (est.)
- €9
The London to Amsterdam drive
The drive from London to Amsterdam covers 330 miles (531 km) and takes about 6 hr 33 min without stops, including the 35-minute Eurotunnel shuttle from Folkestone to Calais. That's a long day, but doable in one go with a couple of proper breaks. If you'd rather split it, Brugge is about halfway.
It's split between the E40, the A27 and the A2, with no single road carrying more than 17% of it. On the way you go past Bexley, Maidstone and Folkestone, and you'll be near Brugge roughly 3 h 24 min in. It crosses 3 borders: United Kingdom to France near Calais, France to Belgium near Brugge and Belgium to Netherlands near Breda.
Expect gentle hills rather than climbs. The high point is around 156 m near Maidstone.
Expect fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) to cost around €69 one-way plus roughly €9 in motorway tolls. Prices shift monthly, so treat these as ballpark figures.
At 330 miles this is longer than 83% of the 144 routes covered here, so it is worth treating as a trip in itself rather than a transfer. Split across 2 days it works out at about 3.3 hours behind the wheel each day, which leaves most of the daylight for the places in between.
The road, kilometre by kilometre
Towns within a few kilometres of the fastest route, with the time it takes to reach them without stopping, plus where you cross the border.
- StartLondon
- 25 kmBexley18 min in
- 62 kmMaidstone45 min in
- 114 kmFolkestone1 h 23 min in
- 145 kmInto France
- 176 kmCalais2 h 8 min ingood place to stop
- 217 kmCoudekerque-Branche2 h 38 min in
- 249 kmInto Belgium
- 281 kmBrugge3 h 24 min in
- 324 kmGent3 h 56 min ingood place to stop
- 374 kmAntwerpen4 h 32 min in
- 406 kmInto Netherlands
- 438 kmBreda5 h 19 min in
- 469 kmGorinchem5 h 41 min in
- 503 kmUtrecht6 h 6 min ingood place to stop
- 531 kmAmsterdam
How high it goes
Roads you'll be on
- E4091 km · 17%
- A2773 km · 14%
- A264 km · 12%
- A1660 km · 11%
Best stops between London and Amsterdam
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
Castles & Palaces
Bodiam Castle
A 14th-century moated castle in East Sussex, renowned for its picturesque setting and well-preserved exterior.
Castles & Palaces
Hever Castle
Romantic 13th-century double-moated castle that was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, set within award-winning gardens and a 38-acre lake.
Landmarks
Nausicaá – National Sea Centre
Europe's largest aquarium in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France with a stunning open-ocean tank and conservation mission.
Landmarks
Ghent
Vibrant medieval Flemish city with stunning canal-side architecture, the Gravensteen castle, and the famous Ghent Altarpiece.
Landmarks
Efteling
Enchanting Dutch fairy-tale theme park with immersive storytelling, dark rides, and world-class roller coasters.
Racetracks
Brands Hatch Circuit
Legendary undulating British racing circuit in Kent hosting major motorsport events and offering car racing experiences.
Scenic Viewpoints
Cap Blanc-Nez
Dazzling white chalk cliffs on the Opal Coast with views across the Channel to England on clear days.
Scenic Viewpoints
Cap Gris-Nez
The closest point in France to England, a windswept headland of cliffs, lighthouse and migrating birds.
What you need for this drive
Rules for each country on the route, in the order you meet them.
United Kingdom
- Motorway
- 112 km/h · 48 in town
- Tolls
- Individual tolled crossings (Dart Charge, M6 Toll)
- Drives on
- the left
Low-emission zones: London ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone).
France
- Motorway
- 130 km/h · 50 in town
- Tolls
- Autoroute à péage
- Must carry
- warning triangle, hi-vis vest
- Winter tyres
- 1 November - 31 March
Low-emission zones: ZFE (Zones à Faibles Émissions) — needs a Crit'Air (Certificat qualité de l'air).
Belgium
- Motorway
- 120 km/h · 50 in town
- Tolls
- No motorway tolls
- Must carry
- warning triangle, hi-vis vest
Low-emission zones: Antwerp LEZ (2017) and Ghent LEZ (2020).
Netherlands
- Motorway
- 100 km/h · 50 in town
- Tolls
- No motorway tolls
Low-emission zones: Milieuzone (about 11 municipalities).
Checked against national road authorities and the ECB reference rates. Rules change — confirm before you travel.
Famous drives in United Kingdom and France and Belgium and Netherlands
Legendary routes you could bolt onto this trip, with real distances and stop counts.
Verdon Gorge: Route des Crêtes
Europe's deepest canyon, turquoise water 700m below, and a clifftop road with no barriers
104 km · 3h driving · 5 stops · 2 days
Snake Pass + Peak District
Cobblestone villages, Bronte-novel moors, and the moodiest 14 miles of road in England
104 km · 2h driving · 7 stops · 3 days
Atlantic Highway A39: North Cornwall
Cornish surf beaches, smuggler's coves, and the Westcountry pasty trail
139 km · 2.5h driving · 7 stops · 4 days
Causeway Coastal Route
Belfast to Derry along Northern Ireland's cliff-edge coast, via Game of Thrones country
200 km · 3.3h driving · 7 stops · 3 days
London to Amsterdam FAQs
How long is the drive from London to Amsterdam?
Driving from London to Amsterdam takes about 6 hr 33 min nonstop, covering 330 miles (531 km), including the 35-minute Eurotunnel shuttle crossing. Add time for breaks: most drivers stop every 2 hours.
How much does it cost to drive from London to Amsterdam?
Fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) costs roughly €69 one-way. Expect around €9 in motorway tolls. Estimates are indicative: prices change monthly.
Can I drive from London to Amsterdam in one day?
Yes, though it's a long day: about 6 hr 33 min of driving. Plenty of people do it in one go with two or three proper breaks; if you'd rather split it, Brugge is about halfway.
Which roads do you take from London to Amsterdam?
The fastest route uses the E40 (about 91 km), the A27 (about 73 km), the A2 (about 64 km), the A16 (about 60 km). It passes Bexley, Maidstone, Folkestone, Calais.
Where should I stop on the way from London to Amsterdam?
If you stop every couple of hours, Calais comes up about 2 h in, and Gent comes up about 4 h in, and Utrecht comes up about 6 h in. All are just off the main road.
What other drives can I plan on Plan Your Road Trips?
We publish drive times, distances and fuel estimates for 144 routes across Europe and beyond, including 57 other drives in the same country. Browse them all on the routes index.
What are the best stops between London and Amsterdam?
Top-rated stops in the drive corridor include Leeds Castle, Bodiam Castle, Hever Castle: see the full list of 9 stops on this page.
More drives from London & Amsterdam
Amsterdam → BrugesAmsterdam → BrusselsBerlin → AmsterdamCologne → AmsterdamLondon → AberdeenLondon → BarcelonaLondon → BathLondon → BirminghamLondon → BrightonLondon → Bristol
Planning a bigger trip? Try the free United Kingdom road trip planner, browse every destination we cover or the Netherlands planner, take it with you on the road, or read the driving in Netherlands guide.