How to travel from Birmingham to Colchester, United Kingdom

The distance between Birmingham and Colchester is around 250km (155 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 2h 35m.

3 routes found

We've found 3 different ways to get from Birmingham 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 ColchesterBirmingham if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
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train
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Train

Take the train to London Euston and then to Colchester.

  • Duration2h 35m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £74($87)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

💰 Cheapest
2
3 x bus
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Bus

Take the bus to London Finchley Road then Stansted Airport London and then to Colchester East Hill/High Street.

  • Duration3h 55m
  • Departsonce a week
  • Typical cost
    £25($30)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

3
car
+

Drive

Drive to Colchester.

  • Duration2h 40m
  • Distance250km (155 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Birmingham and Colchester

There are several options for getting from Birmingham to Colchester by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £25 ($30) and will take around 3h 55m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 2h 35m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £74 ($87).

The distance between Birmingham and Colchester is around 250km (155 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 202km (126 miles)

It takes around 2h 35m to get from Birmingham and Colchester by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 2h 40m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Birmingham to Colchester is to take the train which takes around 2h 35m and will set you back approx £74 ($87).

The cheapest way to travel between Birmingham and Colchester, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £25 ($30) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Birmingham and Colchester. It typically takes around 2h 35m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Birmingham to Colchester. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in London Euston, Moorgate station and London Liverpool Street. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 2h 35m.

Avanti West Coast, London Midland and Greater Anglia run train services between Birmingham and Colchester. Trains depart hourly and will take around 2h 35m, 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 Birmingham and Colchester. It typically takes around 3h 55m and departs once a week.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Birmingham to Colchester. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in London Finchley Road and Stansted Airport London. These services run once a week and will take a minimum of 3h 55m.

Megabus UK and National Express run regular bus services between Birmingham and Colchester. Buses run once a week and take around 3h 55m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Birmingham to Colchester. We recommend that you take the train to London Euston and then to Colchester. instead which will take 2h 35m.

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 Birmingham and Colchester. The distance is around 250km (155 miles) by road and it will take around 2h 40m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Birmingham to Colchester is to take the train which takes, on average, 2h 35m and will usually cost around £74 ($87).

How do I get from Birmingham to Colchester

Compare travel optionsbetween Birmingham and Colchester

Transport options from Birmingham to Colchester
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
2h 35m
£74($87)
hourly268km (167 miles)
Bus
3h 55m
£25($30)
once a week303km (188 miles)
Drive
2h 40m
£44($52)
on demand250km (155 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Birmingham and Colchester

Train operators

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