How to travel from Bristol to Chester, United Kingdom

The distance between Bristol and Chester is around 260km (161 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 2h 40m.

4 routes found

We've found 4 different ways to get from Bristol to Chester 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 ChesterBristol if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
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train
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Train

Take the train to Birmingham New Street and then to Crewe.

  • Duration2h 40m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £100($115)

1 similiar route

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

💰 Cheapest
2
bus
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Birmingham Coach Station Digbeth and then to Chester Bus Interchange.

  • Duration3h 55m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    £17($20)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

3
car
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Drive

Drive to Chester.

  • Duration2h 50m
  • Distance260km (161 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Bristol and Chester

There are several options for getting from Bristol to Chester by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £17 ($20) and will take around 3h 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 £100 ($115).

The distance between Bristol and Chester is around 260km (161 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 194km (121 miles)

It takes around 2h 40m to get from Bristol and Chester by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 2h 50m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Bristol to Chester is to take the train which takes around 2h 40m and will set you back approx £100 ($115).

The cheapest way to travel between Bristol and Chester, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £17 ($20) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

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

There are no direct train services that runs from Bristol to Chester. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Birmingham New Street and Crewe. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 2h 40m.

CrossCountry, Avanti West Coast, London Midland, Transport for Wales and Great Western Railway run train services between Bristol and Chester. 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 Bristol and Chester. It typically takes around 3h 55m and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Bristol to Chester. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Birmingham Coach Station Digbeth and Birmingham New Street Station. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 3h 55m.

National Express and FlixBus run regular bus services between Bristol and Chester. Buses run once daily 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 Bristol to Chester. We recommend that you take the train to Birmingham New Street and then to Crewe. instead which will take 2h 40m.

The closest major airport to Chester is Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL) (LPL) which is approximately 16km (10 miles) from Chester. Manchester Airport (MAN) (MAN) and Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) (LBA) 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 Bristol and Chester. The distance is around 260km (161 miles) by road and it will take around 2h 50m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Bristol to Chester is to take the train which takes, on average, 2h 40m and will usually cost around £100 ($115).

How do I get from Bristol to Chester

Compare travel optionsbetween Bristol and Chester

Transport options from Bristol to Chester
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train + 1 similar
2h 40m
£100($115)
hourly261km (162 miles)
Train via Newport (S Wales)3h 25m
£95($110)
every 3 hours261km (162 miles)
Bus
3h 55m
£17($20)
once daily272km (169 miles)
Drive
2h 50m
£30($35)
on demand260km (161 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Bristol and Chester

Train operators

Airports near Chester

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

LPL
Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL)
International Airport
Distance
16km (10 miles) from Chester
MAN
Manchester Airport (MAN)
International Airport
Distance
45km (28 miles) from Chester
LBA
Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA)
International Airport
Distance
111km (69 miles) from Chester