How to travel from Exeter to Chester, United Kingdom

The distance between Exeter and Chester is around 374km (232 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 3h 45m.

5 routes found

We've found 5 different ways to get from Exeter to Chester 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 ChesterExeter if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
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Train

Take the train to Birmingham New Street and then to Crewe.

  • Duration3h 45m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £130($150)

1 similiar route

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

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Train and Plane

Take the train to Salisbury and then to Southampton Airport Parkway then fly from Southampton (SOU) to Manchester (MAN) then take the train to Chester.

  • Duration5h 5m
  • Flight time1h 10m
  • Typical cost
    £305($365)
Operated by

Multiple operators

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Birmingham Coach Station Digbeth and then to Chester Bus Interchange.

  • Duration6h 30m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    £19($22)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

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car
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Drive

Drive to Chester.

  • Duration4hrs
  • Distance374km (232 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Exeter and Chester

There are several options for getting from Exeter to Chester by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £19 ($22) and will take around 6h 30m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 3h 45m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £130 ($150).

The distance between Exeter and Chester is around 374km (232 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 278km (172 miles)

It takes around 3h 45m to get from Exeter and Chester by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4hrs to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Exeter to Chester is to take the train which takes around 3h 45m and will set you back approx £130 ($150).

The cheapest way to travel between Exeter and Chester, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £19 ($22) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Exeter and Chester. It typically takes around 3h 45m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Exeter to Chester. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Birmingham New Street and Crewe. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 3h 45m.

CrossCountry, Avanti West Coast, London Midland, Transport for Wales and Great Western Railway run train services between Exeter and Chester. Trains depart hourly and will take around 3h 45m, 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 Exeter and Chester. It typically takes around 6h 30m and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Exeter to Chester. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Birmingham Coach Station Digbeth and Birmingham New Street Station. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 6h 30m.

National Express and FlixBus run regular bus services between Exeter and Chester. Buses run once daily and take around 6h 30m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Exeter to Chester. We recommend that you take the train to Salisbury and then to Southampton Airport Parkway then fly from Southampton (SOU) to Manchester (MAN) then take the train to Chester. instead which will take 5h 5m.

The closest major airport to Chester is Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL) (LPL) which is approximately 16km (10 miles) from Chester. Manchester Airport (MAN) (MAN) and Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) (LBA) 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 Exeter and Chester. The distance is around 374km (232 miles) by road and it will take around 4hrs in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Exeter to Chester is to take the train which takes, on average, 3h 45m and will usually cost around £130 ($150).

How do I get from Exeter to Chester

Compare travel optionsbetween Exeter and Chester

Transport options from Exeter to Chester
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train + 1 similar
3h 45m
£130($150)
hourly382km (238 miles)
Train via Cardiff Central5h 35m
£130($155)
every 3 hours421km (262 miles)
Train and Plane
5h 5m
£305($365)
hourly543km (337 miles)
Bus
6h 30m
£19($22)
once daily399km (248 miles)
Drive
4hrs
£43($51)
on demand374km (232 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Exeter and Chester

Train operators

Airlines

Airports near Chester

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

LPL
Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL)
International Airport
Distance
16km (10 miles) from Chester
MAN
Manchester Airport (MAN)
International Airport
Distance
45km (28 miles) from Chester
LBA
Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA)
International Airport
Distance
111km (69 miles) from Chester