How to travel from Edinburgh to Swanage, United Kingdom

The distance between Edinburgh and Swanage is around 658km (409 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly, then take the train and then take the bus which takes around 3h 50m.

9 routes found

We've found 9 different ways to get from Edinburgh to Swanage 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 SwanageEdinburgh if you're planning a return trip.

1
plane
+
train
+
train
+

Plane and Train

Fly from Edinburgh (EDI) to London Luton (LTN) then take the train to West Hampstead Thameslink and then to Bournemouth.

  • Duration5h 45m
  • Flight time1h 20m
  • Typical cost
    £175($210)
Operated by

Multiple operators

5 similiar routes

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

2
train
+
train
+

Train

Take the train to London Kings Cross and then to Bournemouth.

  • Duration6h 55m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £175($210)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
+
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Heathrow Airport London T23 and then to Bournemouth Station off Holdenhurst Rd.

  • Duration11h 45m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    £25($30)
4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Swanage.

  • Duration8hrs
  • Distance709km (441 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Edinburgh and Swanage

There are several options for getting from Edinburgh to Swanage by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £25 ($30) and will take around 11h 45m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly, then take the train and then take the bus and arrive in approximately 3h 50m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £235 ($280).

The distance between Edinburgh and Swanage is around 658km (409 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 600km (373 miles)

It takes around 6h 55m to get from Edinburgh and Swanage by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 8hrs to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Edinburgh to Swanage is to fly, then take the train and then take the bus which takes around 3h 50m and will set you back approx £235 ($280).

The cheapest way to travel between Edinburgh and Swanage, 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 Edinburgh and Swanage. It typically takes around 6h 55m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Edinburgh to Swanage. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in London Kings Cross, Euston station, Waterloo station and Bournemouth. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 6h 55m.

LNER and South Western Railway run train services between Edinburgh and Swanage. Trains depart hourly and will take around 6h 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 Edinburgh and Swanage. It typically takes around 11h 45m and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Edinburgh to Swanage. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Heathrow Airport London T23 and Bournemouth Station off Holdenhurst Rd. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 11h 45m.

National Express and Megabus UK run regular bus services between Edinburgh and Swanage. Buses run once daily and take around 11h 45m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Edinburgh to Swanage. We recommend that you fly from Edinburgh (EDI) to Southampton (SOU) then take the train to Bournemouth then take the bus to Swanage Mowlem Court. instead which will take 3h 50m.

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.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Edinburgh and Swanage. The distance is around 709km (441 miles) by road and it will take around 8hrs in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Edinburgh to Swanage is to take the train which takes, on average, 6h 55m and will usually cost around £175 ($210).

How do I get from Edinburgh to Swanage

Compare travel optionsbetween Edinburgh and Swanage

Transport options from Edinburgh to Swanage
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Plane and Train + 5 similar
5h 45m
£175($210)
hourly753km (468 miles)
Plane, Train and Bus3h 50m
£235($280)
hourly658km (409 miles)
Train, Plane and Bus4h 30m
£240($285)
hourly749km (465 miles)
Fly to London Heathrow (LHR), train and bus5h 20m
£210($245)
hourly729km (453 miles)
Fly to London Gatwick (LGW), train and bus5h 25m
£170($205)
hourly812km (505 miles)
Fly to Bristol (BRS), train and bus5h 30m
£145($170)
hourly725km (451 miles)
Train
6h 55m
£175($210)
hourly847km (526 miles)
Bus
11h 45m
£25($30)
once daily786km (489 miles)
Drive
8hrs
£125($145)
on demand709km (441 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Edinburgh and Swanage

Train operators

Airports near Swanage

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

BOH
Bournemouth Airport (BOH)
International Airport
Distance
21km (13 miles) from Swanage
SOU
Southampton Airport (SOU)
Domestic Airport
Distance
57km (35 miles) from Swanage
BRS
Bristol Airport (BRS)
International Airport
Distance
101km (63 miles) from Swanage