How to travel from Cardiff to Ely, United Kingdom

The distance between Cardiff and Ely is around 320km (199 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 3h 10m.

8 routes found

We've found 8 different ways to get from Cardiff to Ely 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 ElyCardiff 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 Paddington and then to Ely.

  • Duration3h 10m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £87($105)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

2 similiar routes

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

2
plane
+
train
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Plane and Train

Fly from Cardiff (CWL) to London Stansted (STN) then take the train to Ely.

  • Duration3h 35m
  • Flight time2h 10m
  • Typical cost
    £130($155)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2 similiar routes

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

💰 Cheapest
3
3 x bus
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Bus

Take the bus to London Heathrow Airport T2 and T3 then Cambridge Parkside and then to Ely Market Street.

  • Duration7hrs
  • Departs5 times a day
  • Typical cost
    £24($28)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

4
car
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Drive

Drive to Ely.

  • Duration3h 35m
  • Distance320km (199 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Cardiff and Ely

There are several options for getting from Cardiff to Ely by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £24 ($28) and will take around 7hrs. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 3h 10m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £87 ($105).

The distance between Cardiff and Ely is around 320km (199 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 257km (160 miles)

It takes around 3h 10m to get from Cardiff and Ely by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3h 35m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Cardiff to Ely is to take the train which takes around 3h 10m and will set you back approx £87 ($105).

The cheapest way to travel between Cardiff and Ely, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £24 ($28) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Cardiff and Ely. It typically takes around 3h 10m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Cardiff to Ely. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in London Paddington and King's Cross St. Pancras station. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 3h 10m.

Great Western Railway, Great Northern, CrossCountry, Transport for Wales and London Midland run train services between Cardiff and Ely. Trains depart hourly and will take around 3h 10m, 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 Cardiff and Ely. It typically takes around 7hrs and departs 5 times a day.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Cardiff to Ely. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in London Heathrow Airport T2 and T3, Cambridge Parkside and Drummer St Bus Station. These services run 5 times a day and will take a minimum of 7hrs.

Megabus UK, National Express and Stagecoach East run regular bus services between Cardiff and Ely. Buses run 5 times a day 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 Cardiff to Ely. We recommend that you take the train to Bristol Temple Meads then fly from Bristol (BRS) to London Stansted (STN) then take the train to Ely. instead which will take 4h 5m.

The closest major airport to Ely is Cambridge Airport (CBG) (CBG) which is approximately 22km (14 miles) from Ely. London Stansted Airport (STN) (STN) and London Luton Airport (LTN) (LTN) 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 Ely. The distance is around 320km (199 miles) by road and it will take around 3h 35m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Cardiff to Ely is to take the train which takes, on average, 3h 10m and will usually cost around £87 ($105).

How do I get from Cardiff to Ely

Compare travel optionsbetween Cardiff and Ely

Transport options from Cardiff to Ely
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train + 2 similar
3h 10m
£87($105)
hourly353km (219 miles)
Train via Birmingham New Street4h 25m
£125($150)
hourly370km (230 miles)
Train via Hereford4h 55m
£110($135)
hourly372km (231 miles)
Plane and Train + 2 similar
3h 35m
£130($155)
every 2 hours854km (531 miles)
Fly to Norwich (NWI), Train3h 55m
£515($610)
hourly919km (571 miles)
Train and Plane4h 5m
£120($140)
every 2 hours937km (582 miles)
Bus
7hrs
£24($28)
5 times a day421km (262 miles)
Drive
3h 35m
£56($66)
on demand320km (199 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Cardiff and Ely

Train operators

Airlines

Bus companies

Airports near Ely

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

CBG
Cambridge Airport (CBG)
Domestic Airport
Distance
22km (14 miles) from Ely
STN
London Stansted Airport (STN)
International Airport
Distance
57km (35 miles) from Ely
LTN
London Luton Airport (LTN)
International Airport
Distance
72km (45 miles) from Ely