How to travel from Colchester to Southend-on-Sea, United Kingdom

The distance between Colchester and Southend-on-Sea is around 68km (42 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take a taxi which takes around 47min.

3 routes found

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

👋 Also check out Southend-on-SeaColchester if you're planning a return trip.

💰 Cheapest
1
train
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train
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Train

Take the train to Shenfield and then to Prittlewell.

  • Duration1hr
  • Departsevery 30 mins
  • Typical cost
    £25($29)
Operated by

Greater Anglia

🚀 Fastest
2
taxi
+

Taxi

Take a taxi to Southend-on-Sea.

  • Duration47min
  • Departson demand
  • Typical cost
    £100($120)
Operated by

Five & Five Fours

+ 2 others
3
car
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Drive

Drive to Southend-on-Sea.

  • Duration47min
  • Distance68km (42 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Colchester and Southend-on-Sea

There are several options for getting from Colchester to Southend-on-Sea by train, taxi and car. The cheapest option is to take the train which costs around £25 ($29) and will take around 1hr. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take a taxi and arrive in approximately 47min, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £100 ($120).

The distance between Colchester and Southend-on-Sea is around 68km (42 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 41km (26 miles)

It takes around 1hr to get from Colchester and Southend-on-Sea by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 47min to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Colchester to Southend-on-Sea is to take a taxi which takes around 47min and will set you back approx £100 ($120).

The cheapest way to travel between Colchester and Southend-on-Sea, if you exclude driving, is to take the train which will typically cost around £25 ($29) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Colchester and Southend-on-Sea. It typically takes around 1hr and departs every 30 mins.

There are no direct train services that runs from Colchester to Southend-on-Sea. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Shenfield. These services run every 30 mins and will take a minimum of 1hr.

Greater Anglia run train services between Colchester and Southend-on-Sea. Trains depart every 30 mins and will take around 1hr, 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 Colchester and Southend-on-Sea. We recommend that you take a taxi to Southend-on-Sea. instead which will take 47min.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Colchester to Southend-on-Sea. We recommend that you take the train to Shenfield and then to Prittlewell. instead which will take 1hr.

The closest major airport to Southend-on-Sea is London City Airport (LCY) (LCY) which is approximately 46km (29 miles) from Southend-on-Sea. London Stansted Airport (STN) (STN) and Gatwick Airport (LGW) (LGW) 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 Southend-on-Sea. The distance is around 68km (42 miles) by road and it will take around 47min in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Colchester to Southend-on-Sea is to take the train which takes, on average, 1hr and will usually cost around £25 ($29).

How do I get from Colchester to Southend-on-Sea

Compare travel optionsbetween Colchester and Southend-on-Sea

Transport options from Colchester to Southend-on-Sea
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
1hr
£25($29)
every 30 mins84km (52 miles)
Taxi
47min
£100($120)
on demand68km (42 miles)
Drive
47min
£12($14)
on demand68km (42 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Colchester and Southend-on-Sea

Train operators

Airports near Southend-on-Sea

The following major airports near Southend-on-Sea offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United Kingdom and internationally.

LCY
London City Airport (LCY)
International Airport
Distance
46km (29 miles) from Southend-on-Sea
STN
London Stansted Airport (STN)
International Airport
Distance
50km (31 miles) from Southend-on-Sea
LGW
Gatwick Airport (LGW)
International Airport
Distance
75km (47 miles) from Southend-on-Sea