How to travel from Holyhead to Swanage, United Kingdom

The distance between Holyhead and Swanage is around 466km (289 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 5h 55m.

7 routes found

We've found 7 different ways to get from Holyhead to Swanage by train, bus, car, plane and ferry. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out SwanageHolyhead if you're planning a return trip.

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Train and Plane

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

  • Duration6h 10m
  • Flight time1hr
  • Typical cost
    £290($345)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2 similiar routes

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

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Train

Take the train to Chester then London Euston and then to Bournemouth.

  • Duration6h 35m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £240($285)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

1 similiar route

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

💰 Cheapest
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Train and Bus

Take the train to Newport (S Wales) and then to Salisbury then take the bus to Bournemouth Westover Road.

  • Duration8h 30m
  • Departsevery 4 hours
  • Typical cost
    £150($180)
Operated by

Multiple operators

🚀 Fastest
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car
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Drive

Drive to Swanage.

  • Duration5h 55m
  • Distance466km (289 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Holyhead and Swanage

There are several options for getting from Holyhead to Swanage by train, bus, car, plane and ferry. The cheapest option is to take the train and then take the bus which costs around £150 ($180) and will take around 8h 30m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 5h 55m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £81 ($95).

The distance between Holyhead and Swanage is around 466km (289 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 352km (219 miles)

It takes around 6h 35m to get from Holyhead and Swanage by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 5h 55m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Holyhead to Swanage is to drive which takes around 5h 55m and will set you back approx £81 ($95).

The cheapest way to travel between Holyhead and Swanage, if you exclude driving, is to take the train and then take the bus which will typically cost around £150 ($180) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Holyhead and Swanage. It typically takes around 6h 35m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Holyhead to Swanage. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Chester, London Euston, Waterloo station and Bournemouth. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 6h 35m.

Transport for Wales, Avanti West Coast, South Western Railway and CrossCountry run train services between Holyhead and Swanage. Trains depart hourly and will take around 6h 35m, 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 Holyhead and Swanage. We recommend that you drive to Swanage. instead which will take 5h 55m.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Holyhead to Swanage. We recommend that you take the train to Chester and then to Manchester Airport then fly from Manchester (MAN) to Southampton (SOU) then take the train to Bournemouth. instead which will take 6h 10m.

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 Holyhead and Swanage. The distance is around 466km (289 miles) by road and it will take around 5h 55m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Holyhead to Swanage is to take the train which takes, on average, 6h 35m and will usually cost around £240 ($285).

How do I get from Holyhead to Swanage

Compare travel optionsbetween Holyhead and Swanage

Transport options from Holyhead to Swanage
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane + 2 similar
6h 10m
£290($345)
hourly567km (352 miles)
Train to Chester, plane7h 30m
£320($380)
hourly645km (401 miles)
Ferry, Plane and Train7hrs
£335($400)
4 times a day634km (394 miles)
Train + 1 similar
6h 35m
£240($285)
hourly640km (398 miles)
Train via Wolverhampton8h 20m
£180($215)
5 times a day573km (356 miles)
Train and Bus
8h 30m
£150($180)
every 4 hours551km (342 miles)
Drive
5h 55m
£81($95)
on demand466km (289 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Holyhead and Swanage

Train operators

Airlines

Ferry 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