How to travel from Nottingham to Colchester, United Kingdom

The distance between Nottingham and Colchester is around 237km (147 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 2h 35m.

4 routes found

We've found 4 different ways to get from Nottingham to Colchester 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 ColchesterNottingham if you're planning a return trip.

1
train
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train
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Train

Take the train to London St Pancras International and then to Colchester.

  • Duration2h 55m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £65($77)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

1 similiar route

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

💰 Cheapest
2
3 x bus
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Bus

Take the bus to London Golders Green then Stansted Airport London and then to Colchester East Hill/High Street.

  • Duration4h 35m
  • Departs4 times a day
  • Typical cost
    £18($21)
🚀 Fastest
3
car
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Drive

Drive to Colchester.

  • Duration2h 35m
  • Distance237km (147 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Nottingham and Colchester

There are several options for getting from Nottingham to Colchester by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £18 ($21) and will take around 4h 35m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 2h 35m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £41 ($49).

The distance between Nottingham and Colchester is around 237km (147 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 182km (113 miles)

It takes around 2h 55m to get from Nottingham and Colchester by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 2h 35m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Nottingham to Colchester is to drive which takes around 2h 35m and will set you back approx £41 ($49).

The cheapest way to travel between Nottingham and Colchester, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £18 ($21) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Nottingham and Colchester. It typically takes around 2h 55m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Nottingham to Colchester. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in London St Pancras International, King's Cross St. Pancras station and Liverpool Street station. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 2h 55m.

East Midlands Railways and Greater Anglia run train services between Nottingham and Colchester. Trains depart hourly and will take around 2h 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 Nottingham and Colchester. It typically takes around 4h 35m and departs 4 times a day.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Nottingham to Colchester. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in London Golders Green and Stansted Airport London. These services run 4 times a day and will take a minimum of 4h 35m.

National Express run regular bus services between Nottingham and Colchester. Buses run 4 times a day and take around 4h 35m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Nottingham to Colchester. We recommend that you take the train to London St Pancras International and then to Colchester. instead which will take 2h 55m.

The closest major airport to Colchester is London Stansted Airport (STN) (STN) which is approximately 44km (27 miles) from Colchester. Cambridge Airport (CBG) (CBG) and London City Airport (LCY) (LCY) 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 Nottingham and Colchester. The distance is around 237km (147 miles) by road and it will take around 2h 35m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Nottingham to Colchester is to take the train which takes, on average, 2h 55m and will usually cost around £65 ($77).

How do I get from Nottingham to Colchester

Compare travel optionsbetween Nottingham and Colchester

Transport options from Nottingham to Colchester
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train + 1 similar
2h 55m
£65($77)
hourly289km (179 miles)
Train via Peterborough2h 60m
£68($80)
twice daily241km (150 miles)
Bus
4h 35m
£18($21)
4 times a day310km (192 miles)
Drive
2h 35m
£41($49)
on demand237km (147 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Nottingham and Colchester

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Colchester

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

STN
London Stansted Airport (STN)
International Airport
Distance
44km (27 miles) from Colchester
CBG
Cambridge Airport (CBG)
Domestic Airport
Distance
61km (38 miles) from Colchester
LCY
London City Airport (LCY)
International Airport
Distance
73km (45 miles) from Colchester