The distance between Colchester and Swanage is around 305km (190 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 3h 30m.
We've found 3 different ways to get from Colchester to Swanage 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 Swanage → Colchester if you're planning a return trip.
Take the train to Stratford (London) and then to Bournemouth.
Multiple train operators
Take the bus to London Victoria Coach Station and then to Bournemouth Station off Holdenhurst Rd.
There are several options for getting from Colchester to Swanage by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £17 ($20) and will take around 6h 25m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 3h 30m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £57 ($67).
The distance between Colchester and Swanage is around 305km (190 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 245km (152 miles)
It takes around 3h 30m to get from Colchester and Swanage by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3h 30m to drive there.
The quickest way to get from Colchester to Swanage is to drive which takes around 3h 30m and will set you back approx £57 ($67).
The cheapest way to travel between Colchester and Swanage, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £17 ($20) for a standard one-way ticket.
Yes there is a train service that runs between Colchester and Swanage. It typically takes around 3h 30m and departs hourly.
There are no direct train services that runs from Colchester to Swanage. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Stratford (London), Waterloo station and Bournemouth. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 3h 30m.
Greater Anglia and South Western Railway run train services between Colchester and Swanage. Trains depart hourly and will take around 3h 30m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.
Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Colchester and Swanage. It typically takes around 6h 25m and departs every 20 mins.
There are no direct bus services that runs from Colchester to Swanage. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in London Victoria Coach Station and Bournemouth Station off Holdenhurst Rd. These services run every 20 mins and will take a minimum of 6h 25m.
National Express and Megabus UK run regular bus services between Colchester and Swanage. Buses run every 20 mins and take around 6h 25m on average but will vary depending on you book with.
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Colchester to Swanage. We recommend that you take the train to Stratford (London) and then to Bournemouth. instead which will take 3h 30m.
The closest major airport to Swanage is Bournemouth Airport (BOH) (BOH) which is approximately 21km (13 miles) from Swanage. 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.
Yes it is possible to drive from Colchester and Swanage. The distance is around 325km (202 miles) by road and it will take around 3h 30m in normal traffic conditons.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Colchester to Swanage is to take the train which takes, on average, 3h 30m and will usually cost around £140 ($165).
Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Train | 3h 30m | £140($165) | hourly | 305km (190 miles) |
Bus | 6h 25m | £17($20) | every 20 mins | 312km (194 miles) |
Drive | 3h 30m | £57($67) | on demand | 325km (202 miles) |
Greater Anglia
South Western Railway
The following major airports near Swanage offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United Kingdom and internationally.