How to travel from Plymouth to Chelmsford, United Kingdom

The distance between Plymouth and Chelmsford is around 407km (253 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 4hrs.

7 routes found

We've found 7 different ways to get from Plymouth to Chelmsford 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 ChelmsfordPlymouth if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
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Train

Take the train to London Paddington and then to Chelmsford.

  • Duration4hrs
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £100($120)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

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plane
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Bus to Newquay, plane and train

Take the bus to Newquay then fly from Newquay (NQY) to London Gatwick (LGW) then take the train to London Bridge and then to Chelmsford.

  • Duration4h 20m
  • Flight time1h 15m
  • Typical cost
    £180($215)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2 similiar routes

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

💰 Cheapest
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Bus and Train

Take the bus to London Victoria Coach Station then take the train to Chelmsford.

  • Duration6h 55m
  • Departsevery 20 mins
  • Typical cost
    £27($32)
Operated by

Multiple operators

1 similiar route

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

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Drive

Drive to Chelmsford.

  • Duration4h 35m
  • Distance424km (263 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Plymouth and Chelmsford

There are several options for getting from Plymouth to Chelmsford by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus and then take the train which costs around £27 ($32) and will take around 6h 55m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 4hrs, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £100 ($120).

The distance between Plymouth and Chelmsford is around 407km (253 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 356km (221 miles)

It takes around 4hrs to get from Plymouth and Chelmsford by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4h 35m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Plymouth to Chelmsford is to take the train which takes around 4hrs and will set you back approx £100 ($120).

The cheapest way to travel between Plymouth and Chelmsford, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus and then take the train which will typically cost around £27 ($32) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Plymouth and Chelmsford. It typically takes around 4hrs and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Plymouth to Chelmsford. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in London Paddington, Liverpool Street Station and London Liverpool Street. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 4hrs.

Great Western Railway and Greater Anglia run train services between Plymouth and Chelmsford. Trains depart hourly and will take around 4hrs, 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 Plymouth and Chelmsford. We recommend that you take the train to London Paddington and then to Chelmsford. instead which will take 4hrs.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Plymouth to Chelmsford. We recommend that you take the bus to Exeter Sidmouth Road then fly from Exeter (EXT) to London Heathrow (LHR) then take the train to Chelmsford. instead which will take 5h 15m.

The closest major airport to Chelmsford is London Stansted Airport (STN) (STN) which is approximately 22km (14 miles) from Chelmsford. London City Airport (LCY) (LCY) and Cambridge Airport (CBG) (CBG) 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 Plymouth and Chelmsford. The distance is around 424km (263 miles) by road and it will take around 4h 35m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Plymouth to Chelmsford is to take the train which takes, on average, 4hrs and will usually cost around £100 ($120).

How do I get from Plymouth to Chelmsford

Compare travel optionsbetween Plymouth and Chelmsford

Transport options from Plymouth to Chelmsford
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
4hrs
£100($120)
hourly415km (258 miles)
Bus to Newquay, plane and train + 2 similar
4h 20m
£180($215)
twice daily535km (333 miles)
Bus, Plane and Train5h 15m
£660($780)
every 20 mins1,285km (799 miles)
Bus to Exeter Sidmouth Road, plane and train5h 15m
£245($290)
every 20 mins1,011km (628 miles)
Bus and Train + 1 similar
6h 55m
£27($32)
every 20 mins407km (253 miles)
Bus to London Victoria Coach Station, Train7h 35m
£36($43)
once daily452km (281 miles)
Drive
4h 35m
£74($87)
on demand424km (263 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Plymouth and Chelmsford

Airlines

Train operators

Airports near Chelmsford

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

STN
London Stansted Airport (STN)
International Airport
Distance
22km (14 miles) from Chelmsford
LCY
London City Airport (LCY)
International Airport
Distance
39km (24 miles) from Chelmsford
CBG
Cambridge Airport (CBG)
Domestic Airport
Distance
56km (35 miles) from Chelmsford