How to travel from Cardiff to Chelmsford, United Kingdom

The distance between Cardiff and Chelmsford is around 287km (178 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 2h 40m.

5 routes found

We've found 5 different ways to get from Cardiff to Chelmsford 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 ChelmsfordCardiff if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
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train
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Train

Take the train to London Paddington and then to Chelmsford.

  • Duration2h 40m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £77($90)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

2
train
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plane
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Train and Plane

Take the train to Bristol Temple Meads then fly from Bristol (BRS) to London City (LCY) then take the train to Chelmsford.

  • Duration4h 35m
  • Flight time2h 50m
  • Typical cost
    £245($290)
Operated by

Multiple operators

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
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train
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Bus and Train

Take the bus to London Victoria Coach Station then take the train to Chelmsford.

  • Duration5hrs
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £25($30)
Operated by

Multiple operators

1 similiar route

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

4
car
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Drive

Drive to Chelmsford.

  • Duration3h 15m
  • Distance318km (197 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Cardiff and Chelmsford

There are several options for getting from Cardiff to Chelmsford by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus and then take the train which costs around £25 ($30) and will take around 5hrs. 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 £77 ($90).

The distance between Cardiff and Chelmsford is around 287km (178 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 254km (158 miles)

It takes around 2h 40m to get from Cardiff and Chelmsford by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3h 15m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Cardiff to Chelmsford is to take the train which takes around 2h 40m and will set you back approx £77 ($90).

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

Train travel

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

There are no direct train services that runs from Cardiff to Chelmsford. 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 Cardiff and Chelmsford. 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

Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Cardiff and Chelmsford. We recommend that you take the train to London Paddington and then to Chelmsford. instead which will take 2h 40m.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Cardiff to Chelmsford. We recommend that you take the train to Bristol Temple Meads then fly from Bristol (BRS) to London City (LCY) then take the train to Chelmsford. instead which will take 4h 35m.

The closest major airport to Chelmsford is London Stansted Airport (STN) (STN) which is approximately 22km (14 miles) from Chelmsford. London City Airport (LCY) (LCY) and Cambridge Airport (CBG) (CBG) 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 Cardiff and Chelmsford. The distance is around 318km (197 miles) by road and it will take around 3h 15m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Cardiff to Chelmsford is to take the train which takes, on average, 2h 40m and will usually cost around £77 ($90).

How do I get from Cardiff to Chelmsford

Compare travel optionsbetween Cardiff and Chelmsford

Transport options from Cardiff to Chelmsford
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
2h 40m
£77($90)
hourly287km (178 miles)
Train and Plane
4h 35m
£245($290)
hourly928km (576 miles)
Bus and Train + 1 similar
5hrs
£25($30)
hourly299km (186 miles)
Bus to London Victoria Coach Station, Train5h 25m
£35($42)
every 2 hours313km (194 miles)
Drive
3h 15m
£55($65)
on demand318km (197 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Cardiff and Chelmsford

Train operators

Airports near Chelmsford

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

STN
London Stansted Airport (STN)
International Airport
Distance
22km (14 miles) from Chelmsford
LCY
London City Airport (LCY)
International Airport
Distance
39km (24 miles) from Chelmsford
CBG
Cambridge Airport (CBG)
Domestic Airport
Distance
56km (35 miles) from Chelmsford