How to travel from Colchester to Exeter, United Kingdom

The distance between Colchester and Exeter is around 368km (228 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 3h 10m.

4 routes found

We've found 4 different ways to get from Colchester to Exeter 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 ExeterColchester 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 Exeter St Davids.

  • Duration3h 10m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £90($105)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

2
train
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train
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plane
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Train and Plane

Take the train to London Liverpool Street and then to Gatwick Airport then fly from London Gatwick (LGW) to Exeter (EXT).

  • Duration3h 45m
  • Flight time1h 55m
  • Typical cost
    £420($495)
Operated by

Multiple operators

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Heathrow Airport London T23 and then to Exeter Sidwell St.

  • Duration5h 45m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    £15($18)
4
car
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Drive

Drive to Exeter.

  • Duration4h 15m
  • Distance397km (247 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Colchester and Exeter

There are several options for getting from Colchester to Exeter by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £15 ($18) and will take around 5h 45m. 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 £90 ($105).

The distance between Colchester and Exeter is around 368km (228 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 334km (207 miles)

It takes around 3h 10m to get from Colchester and Exeter by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4h 15m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Colchester to Exeter is to take the train which takes around 3h 10m and will set you back approx £90 ($105).

The cheapest way to travel between Colchester and Exeter, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £15 ($18) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

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

There are no direct train services that runs from Colchester to Exeter. 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 3h 10m.

Greater Anglia and Great Western Railway run train services between Colchester and Exeter. 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 Colchester and Exeter. It typically takes around 5h 45m and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Colchester to Exeter. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Heathrow Airport London T23. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 5h 45m.

National Express and FlixBus run regular bus services between Colchester and Exeter. Buses run once daily and take around 5h 45m 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 Exeter. We recommend that you take the train to London Liverpool Street and then to Gatwick Airport then fly from London Gatwick (LGW) to Exeter (EXT). instead which will take 3h 45m.

The closest major airport to Exeter is Exeter Airport (EXT) (EXT) which is approximately 8km (5 miles) from Exeter. Cardiff Airport (CWL) (CWL) 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 Exeter. The distance is around 397km (247 miles) by road and it will take around 4h 15m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Colchester to Exeter is to take the train which takes, on average, 3h 10m and will usually cost around £90 ($105).

How do I get from Colchester to Exeter

Compare travel optionsbetween Colchester and Exeter

Transport options from Colchester to Exeter
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
3h 10m
£90($105)
hourly368km (228 miles)
Train and Plane
3h 45m
£420($495)
5 times a week549km (341 miles)
Bus
5h 45m
£15($18)
once daily416km (259 miles)
Drive
4h 15m
£69($82)
on demand397km (247 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Colchester and Exeter

Train operators

Airlines

Airports near Exeter

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

EXT
Exeter Airport (EXT)
International Airport
Distance
8km (5 miles) from Exeter
CWL
Cardiff Airport (CWL)
Domestic Airport
Distance
76km (47 miles) from Exeter
BRS
Bristol Airport (BRS)
International Airport
Distance
93km (58 miles) from Exeter