How to travel from Bournemouth to Canterbury, United Kingdom

The distance between Bournemouth and Canterbury is around 263km (164 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 2h 45m.

3 routes found

We've found 3 different ways to get from Bournemouth to Canterbury 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 CanterburyBournemouth if you're planning a return trip.

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train
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Train

Take the train to London Waterloo and then to Canterbury West.

  • Duration3h 5m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £95($115)
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 Canterbury.

  • Duration5hrs
  • Departsevery 3 hours
  • Typical cost
    £14($17)
🚀 Fastest
3
car
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Drive

Drive to Canterbury.

  • Duration2h 45m
  • Distance263km (164 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Bournemouth and Canterbury

There are several options for getting from Bournemouth to Canterbury by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £14 ($17) and will take around 5hrs. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 2h 45m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £30 ($36).

The distance between Bournemouth and Canterbury is around 263km (164 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 216km (134 miles)

It takes around 3h 5m to get from Bournemouth and Canterbury by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 2h 45m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Bournemouth to Canterbury is to drive which takes around 2h 45m and will set you back approx £30 ($36).

The cheapest way to travel between Bournemouth and Canterbury, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £14 ($17) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Bournemouth and Canterbury. It typically takes around 3h 5m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Bournemouth to Canterbury. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in London Waterloo, Euston station and St Pancras International. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 3h 5m.

South Western Railway and South Eastern Trains Service run train services between Bournemouth and Canterbury. Trains depart hourly and will take around 3h 5m, 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 Bournemouth and Canterbury. It typically takes around 5hrs and departs every 3 hours.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Bournemouth to Canterbury. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in London Victoria Coach Station. These services run every 3 hours and will take a minimum of 5hrs.

National Express run regular bus services between Bournemouth and Canterbury. Buses run every 3 hours and take around 5hrs on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Bournemouth to Canterbury. We recommend that you take the train to London Waterloo and then to Canterbury West. instead which will take 3h 5m.

The closest major airport to Canterbury is London City Airport (LCY) (LCY) which is approximately 76km (47 miles) from Canterbury. London Stansted Airport (STN) (STN) and Gatwick Airport (LGW) (LGW) 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 Bournemouth and Canterbury. The distance is around 263km (164 miles) by road and it will take around 2h 45m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Bournemouth to Canterbury is to take the train which takes, on average, 3h 5m and will usually cost around £95 ($115).

How do I get from Bournemouth to Canterbury

Compare travel optionsbetween Bournemouth and Canterbury

Transport options from Bournemouth to Canterbury
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
3h 5m
£95($115)
hourly290km (180 miles)
Bus
5hrs
£14($17)
every 3 hours275km (171 miles)
Drive
2h 45m
£30($36)
on demand263km (164 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Bournemouth and Canterbury

Train operators

Airports near Canterbury

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

LCY
London City Airport (LCY)
International Airport
Distance
76km (47 miles) from Canterbury
STN
London Stansted Airport (STN)
International Airport
Distance
88km (55 miles) from Canterbury
LGW
Gatwick Airport (LGW)
International Airport
Distance
89km (55 miles) from Canterbury