How to travel from Chester to Colchester, United Kingdom

The distance between Chester and Colchester is around 370km (230 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 3h 15m.

8 routes found

We've found 8 different ways to get from Chester to Colchester 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 ColchesterChester if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+
train
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Train

Take the train to London Euston and then to Colchester.

  • Duration3h 15m
  • Departsevery 3 hours
  • Typical cost
    £100($115)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

1 similiar route

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

2
plane
+
bus
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Plane and Bus

Fly from Liverpool (LPL) to London Stansted (STN) then take the bus to Colchester East Hill/High Street.

  • Duration3h 40m
  • Flight time2hrs
  • Typical cost
    £175($210)
Operated by

Multiple operators

3 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 Finchley Road then Stansted Airport London and then to Colchester East Hill/High Street.

  • Duration6h 30m
  • Departstwice daily
  • Typical cost
    £25($30)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Colchester.

  • Duration4hrs
  • Distance370km (230 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Chester and Colchester

There are several options for getting from Chester to Colchester by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £25 ($30) and will take around 6h 30m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 3h 15m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £100 ($115).

The distance between Chester and Colchester is around 370km (230 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 294km (183 miles)

It takes around 3h 15m to get from Chester and Colchester by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4hrs to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Chester to Colchester is to take the train which takes around 3h 15m and will set you back approx £100 ($115).

The cheapest way to travel between Chester and Colchester, if you exclude driving, is to 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 Chester and Colchester. It typically takes around 3h 15m and departs every 3 hours.

There are no direct train services that runs from Chester to Colchester. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in London Euston, Moorgate station and London Liverpool Street. These services run every 3 hours and will take a minimum of 3h 15m.

Avanti West Coast, Greater Anglia, Northern Rail and East Midlands Railways run train services between Chester and Colchester. Trains depart every 3 hours and will take around 3h 15m, 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 Chester and Colchester. It typically takes around 6h 30m and departs twice daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Chester to Colchester. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in London Finchley Road and Stansted Airport London. These services run twice daily and will take a minimum of 6h 30m.

FlixBus and National Express run regular bus services between Chester and Colchester. Buses run twice daily and take around 6h 30m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Chester to Colchester. We recommend that you take the train to Manchester Airport then fly from Manchester (MAN) to London Heathrow (LHR) then take the train to Colchester. instead which will take 4hrs.

The closest major airport to Colchester is London Stansted Airport (STN) (STN) which is approximately 44km (27 miles) from Colchester. Cambridge Airport (CBG) (CBG) and London City Airport (LCY) (LCY) 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 Chester and Colchester. The distance is around 370km (230 miles) by road and it will take around 4hrs in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Chester to Colchester is to take the train which takes, on average, 3h 15m and will usually cost around £100 ($115).

How do I get from Chester to Colchester

Compare travel optionsbetween Chester and Colchester

Transport options from Chester to Colchester
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train + 1 similar
3h 15m
£100($115)
every 3 hours374km (232 miles)
Train via Stockport5h 55m
£90($110)
twice daily426km (265 miles)
Plane and Bus + 3 similar
3h 40m
£175($210)
4 times a day888km (552 miles)
Train and Plane4hrs
£275($325)
hourly438km (272 miles)
Plane and Train4h 45m
£190($220)
every 4 hours937km (582 miles)
Train to Manchester Airport, plane4h 50m
£295($350)
hourly566km (352 miles)
Bus
6h 30m
£25($30)
twice daily429km (267 miles)
Drive
4hrs
£64($76)
on demand370km (230 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Chester and Colchester

Train operators

Airports near Colchester

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

STN
London Stansted Airport (STN)
International Airport
Distance
44km (27 miles) from Colchester
CBG
Cambridge Airport (CBG)
Domestic Airport
Distance
61km (38 miles) from Colchester
LCY
London City Airport (LCY)
International Airport
Distance
73km (45 miles) from Colchester