How to travel from Bath to Colchester, United Kingdom

The distance between Bath and Colchester is around 261km (162 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 2h 40m.

3 routes found

We've found 3 different ways to get from Bath to Colchester by train, bus and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out ColchesterBath if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
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train
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train
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Train

Take the train to London Paddington and then to Colchester.

  • Duration2h 40m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £69($82)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

💰 Cheapest
2
bus
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to London Victoria Coach Station and then to Colchester East Hill/High Street.

  • Duration5h 55m
  • Departsevery 20 mins
  • Typical cost
    £14($16)
3
car
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Drive

Drive to Colchester.

  • Duration3h 10m
  • Distance299km (186 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Bath and Colchester

There are several options for getting from Bath to Colchester by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £14 ($16) and will take around 5h 55m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 2h 40m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £69 ($82).

The distance between Bath and Colchester is around 261km (162 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 232km (144 miles)

It takes around 2h 40m to get from Bath and Colchester by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3h 10m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Bath to Colchester is to take the train which takes around 2h 40m and will set you back approx £69 ($82).

The cheapest way to travel between Bath and Colchester, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £14 ($16) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Bath and Colchester. It typically takes around 2h 40m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Bath to Colchester. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in London Paddington, Liverpool Street Station and London Liverpool Street. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 2h 40m.

Great Western Railway and Greater Anglia run train services between Bath and Colchester. Trains depart hourly and will take around 2h 40m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Bath and Colchester. It typically takes around 5h 55m and departs every 20 mins.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Bath to Colchester. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in London Victoria Coach Station. These services run every 20 mins and will take a minimum of 5h 55m.

National Express run regular bus services between Bath and Colchester. Buses run every 20 mins and take around 5h 55m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Bath to Colchester. We recommend that you take the train to London Paddington and then to Colchester. instead which will take 2h 40m.

The closest major airport to Colchester is London Stansted Airport (STN) (STN) which is approximately 44km (27 miles) from Colchester. Cambridge Airport (CBG) (CBG) and London City Airport (LCY) (LCY) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Bath and Colchester. The distance is around 299km (186 miles) by road and it will take around 3h 10m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Bath to Colchester is to take the train which takes, on average, 2h 40m and will usually cost around £69 ($82).

How do I get from Bath to Colchester

Compare travel optionsbetween Bath and Colchester

Transport options from Bath to Colchester
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
2h 40m
£69($82)
hourly261km (162 miles)
Bus
5h 55m
£14($16)
every 20 mins304km (189 miles)
Drive
3h 10m
£52($62)
on demand299km (186 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Bath and Colchester

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Colchester

The following major airports near Colchester offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United Kingdom and internationally.

STN
London Stansted Airport (STN)
International Airport
Distance
44km (27 miles) from Colchester
CBG
Cambridge Airport (CBG)
Domestic Airport
Distance
61km (38 miles) from Colchester
LCY
London City Airport (LCY)
International Airport
Distance
73km (45 miles) from Colchester