How to travel from Canterbury to Chester, United Kingdom

The distance between Canterbury and Chester is around 400km (249 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 3hrs.

10 routes found

We've found 10 different ways to get from Canterbury to Chester by train, bus, car and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

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

🚀 Fastest
1
train
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train
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Train

Take the train to St Pancras International and then to Crewe.

  • Duration3hrs
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £125($150)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

2 similiar routes

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

2
train
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plane
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train
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Train and Plane

Take the train to St Pancras International then fly from London Heathrow (LHR) to Manchester (MAN) then take the train to Chester.

  • Duration3h 50m
  • Flight time1hr
  • Typical cost
    £205($245)
Operated by

Multiple operators

4 similiar routes

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

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to London Victoria Coach Station and then to Chester Bus Interchange.

  • Duration7hrs
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    £28($33)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

4
car
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Drive

Drive to Chester.

  • Duration4h 25m
  • Distance416km (258 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Canterbury and Chester

There are several options for getting from Canterbury to Chester by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £28 ($33) and will take around 7hrs. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 3hrs, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £125 ($150).

The distance between Canterbury and Chester is around 400km (249 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 344km (214 miles)

It takes around 3hrs to get from Canterbury and Chester by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4h 25m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Canterbury to Chester is to take the train which takes around 3hrs and will set you back approx £125 ($150).

The cheapest way to travel between Canterbury and Chester, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £28 ($33) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Canterbury and Chester. It typically takes around 3hrs and departs hourly.

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

South Eastern Trains Service, Avanti West Coast, London Midland and Transport for Wales run train services between Canterbury and Chester. Trains depart hourly and will take around 3hrs, 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 Canterbury and Chester. It typically takes around 7hrs and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Canterbury to Chester. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in London Victoria Coach Station and London Finchley Road. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 7hrs.

National Express and FlixBus run regular bus services between Canterbury and Chester. Buses run once daily and take around 7hrs on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Canterbury to Chester. We recommend that you take the train to St Pancras International then fly from London Heathrow (LHR) to Manchester (MAN) then take the train to Chester. instead which will take 3h 50m.

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 Canterbury and Chester. The distance is around 416km (258 miles) by road and it will take around 4h 25m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Canterbury to Chester is to take the train which takes, on average, 3hrs and will usually cost around £125 ($150).

How do I get from Canterbury to Chester

Compare travel optionsbetween Canterbury and Chester

Transport options from Canterbury to Chester
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train + 2 similar
3hrs
£125($150)
hourly400km (249 miles)
Train via St Pancras International3h 5m
£120($140)
every 4 hours400km (249 miles)
Train via St Pancras International5h 10m
£110($130)
every 4 hours434km (270 miles)
Train and Plane + 4 similar
3h 50m
£205($245)
hourly465km (289 miles)
Train to St Pancras International, plane4h 10m
£215($255)
hourly524km (326 miles)
Train to St Pancras International, plane4h 35m
£135($160)
hourly908km (564 miles)
Train to St Pancras International, plane4h 55m
£325($385)
hourly593km (369 miles)
Train, Bus and Plane4h 55m
£320($380)
hourly1,132km (703 miles)
Bus
7hrs
£28($33)
once daily431km (268 miles)
Drive
4h 25m
£47($56)
on demand416km (258 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Canterbury and Chester

Airlines

Train operators

Bus companies

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