How to travel from Ipswich to Cardiff, United Kingdom

The distance between Ipswich and Cardiff is around 349km (217 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 3h 15m.

5 routes found

We've found 5 different ways to get from Ipswich to Cardiff 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 CardiffIpswich if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+
train
+

Train

Take the train to London Liverpool Street and then to Cardiff Central.

  • Duration3h 15m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £95($115)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

2
train
+
plane
+

Train to Norwich, Fly

Take the train to Norwich then fly from Norwich (NWI) to Cardiff (CWL).

  • Duration3h 45m
  • Flight time2h 15m
  • Typical cost
    £515($610)
Operated by

Multiple operators

1 similiar route

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

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
+
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to London Victoria Coach Station and then to Cardiff Coach Station Sophia Gardens.

  • Duration7h 30m
  • Departsevery 20 mins
  • Typical cost
    £15($18)
4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Cardiff.

  • Duration4hrs
  • Distance385km (239 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Ipswich and Cardiff

There are several options for getting from Ipswich to Cardiff by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £15 ($18) and will take around 7h 30m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 3h 15m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £95 ($115).

The distance between Ipswich and Cardiff is around 349km (217 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 305km (189 miles)

It takes around 3h 15m to get from Ipswich and Cardiff by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4hrs to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Ipswich to Cardiff is to take the train which takes around 3h 15m and will set you back approx £95 ($115).

The cheapest way to travel between Ipswich and Cardiff, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £15 ($18) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Ipswich and Cardiff. It typically takes around 3h 15m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Ipswich to Cardiff. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in London Liverpool Street, Liverpool Street Station and Paddington station. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 3h 15m.

Greater Anglia and Great Western Railway run train services between Ipswich and Cardiff. Trains depart hourly and will take around 3h 15m, 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 Ipswich and Cardiff. It typically takes around 7h 30m and departs every 20 mins.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Ipswich to Cardiff. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in London Victoria Coach Station. These services run every 20 mins and will take a minimum of 7h 30m.

National Express run regular bus services between Ipswich and Cardiff. Buses run every 20 mins and take around 7h 30m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Ipswich to Cardiff. We recommend that you take the train to Norwich then fly from Norwich (NWI) to Bristol (BRS) then take the train to Cardiff Central. instead which will take 4hrs.

The closest major airport to Cardiff is Cardiff Airport (CWL) (CWL) which is approximately 14km (9 miles) from Cardiff. Bristol Airport (BRS) (BRS) and Exeter Airport (EXT) (EXT) 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 Ipswich and Cardiff. The distance is around 385km (239 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 Ipswich to Cardiff is to take the train which takes, on average, 3h 15m and will usually cost around £95 ($115).

How do I get from Ipswich to Cardiff

Compare travel optionsbetween Ipswich and Cardiff

Transport options from Ipswich to Cardiff
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
3h 15m
£95($115)
hourly349km (217 miles)
Train to Norwich, Fly + 1 similar
3h 45m
£515($610)
hourly907km (564 miles)
Train and Plane4hrs
£610($725)
hourly918km (570 miles)
Bus
7h 30m
£15($18)
every 20 mins391km (243 miles)
Drive
4hrs
£67($79)
on demand385km (239 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Ipswich and Cardiff

Airlines

Train operators

Airports near Cardiff

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

CWL
Cardiff Airport (CWL)
Domestic Airport
Distance
14km (9 miles) from Cardiff
BRS
Bristol Airport (BRS)
International Airport
Distance
34km (21 miles) from Cardiff
EXT
Exeter Airport (EXT)
International Airport
Distance
85km (53 miles) from Cardiff