How to travel from Colchester to Bournemouth, United Kingdom

The distance between Colchester and Bournemouth is around 263km (164 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 2h 55m.

3 routes found

We've found 3 different ways to get from Colchester to Bournemouth by train, bus and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

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

🚀 Fastest
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train
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train
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Train

Take the train to Stratford (London) and then to Bournemouth.

  • Duration2h 55m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £76($90)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

💰 Cheapest
2
bus
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to London Victoria Coach Station and then to Bournemouth Station off Holdenhurst Rd.

  • Duration5h 20m
  • Departsevery 20 mins
  • Typical cost
    £13($15)
3
car
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Drive

Drive to Bournemouth.

  • Duration3hrs
  • Distance291km (181 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Colchester and Bournemouth

There are several options for getting from Colchester to Bournemouth by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £13 ($15) and will take around 5h 20m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 2h 55m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £76 ($90).

The distance between Colchester and Bournemouth is around 263km (164 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 233km (145 miles)

It takes around 2h 55m to get from Colchester and Bournemouth by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3hrs to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Colchester to Bournemouth is to take the train which takes around 2h 55m and will set you back approx £76 ($90).

The cheapest way to travel between Colchester and Bournemouth, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £13 ($15) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Colchester and Bournemouth. It typically takes around 2h 55m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Colchester to Bournemouth. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Stratford (London) and Waterloo station. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 2h 55m.

Greater Anglia and South Western Railway run train services between Colchester and Bournemouth. Trains depart hourly and will take around 2h 55m, 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 Colchester and Bournemouth. It typically takes around 5h 20m and departs every 20 mins.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Colchester to Bournemouth. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in London Victoria Coach Station. These services run every 20 mins and will take a minimum of 5h 20m.

National Express and Megabus UK run regular bus services between Colchester and Bournemouth. Buses run every 20 mins and take around 5h 20m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Colchester to Bournemouth. We recommend that you take the train to Stratford (London) and then to Bournemouth. instead which will take 2h 55m.

The closest major airport to Bournemouth is Bournemouth Airport (BOH) (BOH) which is approximately 7km (4 miles) from Bournemouth. Southampton Airport (SOU) (SOU) and Bristol Airport (BRS) (BRS) 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 Colchester and Bournemouth. The distance is around 291km (181 miles) by road and it will take around 3hrs in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Colchester to Bournemouth is to take the train which takes, on average, 2h 55m and will usually cost around £76 ($90).

How do I get from Colchester to Bournemouth

Compare travel optionsbetween Colchester and Bournemouth

Transport options from Colchester to Bournemouth
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
2h 55m
£76($90)
hourly263km (164 miles)
Bus
5h 20m
£13($15)
every 20 mins289km (179 miles)
Drive
3hrs
£51($60)
on demand291km (181 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Colchester and Bournemouth

Train operators

Airports near Bournemouth

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

BOH
Bournemouth Airport (BOH)
International Airport
Distance
7km (4 miles) from Bournemouth
SOU
Southampton Airport (SOU)
Domestic Airport
Distance
44km (28 miles) from Bournemouth
BRS
Bristol Airport (BRS)
International Airport
Distance
94km (59 miles) from Bournemouth