How to travel from London to Swanage, United Kingdom

The distance between London and Swanage is around 194km (120 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 2h 20m.

3 routes found

We've found 3 different ways to get from London 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 SwanageLondon if you're planning a return trip.

1
train
+

Train

Take the train to Bournemouth.

  • Duration2h 30m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £115($135)
Operated by

South Western Railway

💰 Cheapest
2
bus
+
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Bournemouth Station off Holdenhurst Rd and then to Swanage Bus Station.

  • Duration3h 35m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £11($13)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

🚀 Fastest
3
car
+

Drive

Drive to Swanage.

  • Duration2h 20m
  • Distance204km (127 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between London and Swanage

There are several options for getting from London to Swanage by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £11 ($13) and will take around 3h 35m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 2h 20m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £35 ($42).

The distance between London and Swanage is around 194km (120 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 162km (101 miles)

It takes around 2h 30m to get from London and Swanage by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 2h 20m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from London to Swanage is to drive which takes around 2h 20m and will set you back approx £35 ($42).

The cheapest way to travel between London and Swanage, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £11 ($13) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between London and Swanage. It typically takes around 2h 30m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from London to Swanage. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Bournemouth. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 2h 30m.

South Western Railway run train services between London and Swanage. Trains depart hourly and will take around 2h 30m, 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 London and Swanage. It typically takes around 3h 35m and departs hourly.

There are no direct bus services that runs from London to Swanage. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Bournemouth Station off Holdenhurst Rd. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 3h 35m.

National Express, Megabus UK and More Bus run regular bus services between London and Swanage. Buses run hourly and take around 3h 35m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from London to Swanage. We recommend that you take the train to Bournemouth. instead which will take 2h 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.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from London and Swanage. The distance is around 204km (127 miles) by road and it will take around 2h 20m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from London to Swanage is to take the train which takes, on average, 2h 30m and will usually cost around £115 ($135).

How do I get from London to Swanage

Compare travel optionsbetween London and Swanage

Transport options from London to Swanage
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
2h 30m
£115($135)
hourly215km (133 miles)
Bus
3h 35m
£11($13)
hourly194km (120 miles)
Drive
2h 20m
£35($42)
on demand204km (127 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between London and Swanage

Bus companies

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