How to travel from Chelmsford to Cardiff, United Kingdom

The distance between Chelmsford and Cardiff is around 287km (178 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 2h 35m.

6 routes found

We've found 6 different ways to get from Chelmsford to Cardiff 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 CardiffChelmsford if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
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train
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Train

Take the train to London Liverpool Street and then to Cardiff Central.

  • Duration2h 35m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £77($90)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

2
train
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plane
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Train to Stratford (London), Fly

Take the train to Stratford (London) then fly from London City (LCY) to Cardiff (CWL).

  • Duration3h 45m
  • Flight time2h 25m
  • Typical cost
    £705($835)
Operated by

Multiple operators

1 similiar route

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

3
train
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bus
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Train and Bus

Take the train to London Liverpool Street then take the bus to Cardiff North Road.

  • Duration4h 30m
  • Departsevery 4 hours
  • Typical cost
    £39($46)
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 Cardiff.

  • Duration3h 20m
  • Distance318km (198 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Chelmsford and Cardiff

There are several options for getting from Chelmsford to Cardiff by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the train and then take the bus 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 35m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £77 ($90).

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

It takes around 2h 35m to get from Chelmsford and Cardiff by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3h 20m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Chelmsford to Cardiff is to take the train which takes around 2h 35m and will set you back approx £77 ($90).

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

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Chelmsford and Cardiff. It typically takes around 2h 35m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Chelmsford to Cardiff. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in London Liverpool Street, Liverpool Street Station and Paddington station. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 2h 35m.

Greater Anglia and Great Western Railway run train services between Chelmsford and Cardiff. Trains depart hourly and will take around 2h 35m, 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 Chelmsford and Cardiff. We recommend that you take the train to London Liverpool Street and then to Cardiff Central. instead which will take 2h 35m.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Chelmsford to Cardiff. We recommend that you take the train to Stratford (London) then fly from London City (LCY) to Bristol (BRS) then take the train to Cardiff Central. instead which will take 4h 25m.

The closest major airport to Cardiff is Cardiff Airport (CWL) (CWL) which is approximately 14km (9 miles) from Cardiff. Bristol Airport (BRS) (BRS) and Exeter Airport (EXT) (EXT) 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 Chelmsford and Cardiff. The distance is around 318km (198 miles) by road and it will take around 3h 20m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Chelmsford to Cardiff is to take the train which takes, on average, 2h 35m and will usually cost around £77 ($90).

How do I get from Chelmsford to Cardiff

Compare travel optionsbetween Chelmsford and Cardiff

Transport options from Chelmsford to Cardiff
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
2h 35m
£77($90)
hourly287km (178 miles)
Train to Stratford (London), Fly + 1 similar
3h 45m
£705($835)
hourly970km (603 miles)
Train and Plane4h 25m
£260($310)
hourly928km (577 miles)
Train and Bus + 1 similar
4h 30m
£39($46)
every 4 hours297km (185 miles)
Train to London Liverpool Street, Bus5hrs
£25($30)
hourly303km (188 miles)
Drive
3h 20m
£56($66)
on demand318km (198 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Chelmsford and Cardiff

Airports near Cardiff

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

CWL
Cardiff Airport (CWL)
Domestic Airport
Distance
14km (9 miles) from Cardiff
BRS
Bristol Airport (BRS)
International Airport
Distance
34km (21 miles) from Cardiff
EXT
Exeter Airport (EXT)
International Airport
Distance
85km (53 miles) from Cardiff