How to travel from Portsmouth to Chelmsford, United Kingdom

The distance between Portsmouth and Chelmsford is around 173km (107 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 2hrs.

4 routes found

We've found 4 different ways to get from Portsmouth to Chelmsford 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 ChelmsfordPortsmouth if you're planning a return trip.

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Train

Take the train to London Waterloo and then to Chelmsford.

  • Duration2h 20m
  • Departsevery 30 mins
  • Typical cost
    £55($65)
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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Bus and Train

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

  • Duration3h 20m
  • Departsevery 4 hours
  • Typical cost
    £24($28)
Operated by

Multiple operators

🚀 Fastest
3
car
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Drive

Drive to Chelmsford.

  • Duration2hrs
  • Distance191km (119 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Portsmouth and Chelmsford

There are several options for getting from Portsmouth to Chelmsford by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus and then take the train which costs around £24 ($28) and will take around 3h 20m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 2hrs, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £34 ($40).

The distance between Portsmouth and Chelmsford is around 173km (107 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 149km (93 miles)

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

The quickest way to get from Portsmouth to Chelmsford is to drive which takes around 2hrs and will set you back approx £34 ($40).

The cheapest way to travel between Portsmouth and Chelmsford, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus and then take the train which will typically cost around £24 ($28) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Portsmouth and Chelmsford. It typically takes around 2h 20m and departs every 30 mins.

There are no direct train services that runs from Portsmouth to Chelmsford. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in London Waterloo and Stratford station. These services run every 30 mins and will take a minimum of 2h 20m.

South Western Railway, Greater Anglia, Southern Service and London Overground run train services between Portsmouth and Chelmsford. Trains depart every 30 mins and will take around 2h 20m, 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 Portsmouth and Chelmsford. We recommend that you drive to Chelmsford. instead which will take 2hrs.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Portsmouth to Chelmsford. We recommend that you take the train to London Waterloo and then to Chelmsford. instead which will take 2h 20m.

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 Portsmouth and Chelmsford. The distance is around 191km (119 miles) by road and it will take around 2hrs in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Portsmouth to Chelmsford is to take the train which takes, on average, 2h 20m and will usually cost around £55 ($65).

How do I get from Portsmouth to Chelmsford

Compare travel optionsbetween Portsmouth and Chelmsford

Transport options from Portsmouth to Chelmsford
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train + 1 similar
2h 20m
£55($65)
every 30 mins173km (107 miles)
Train via Clapham Junction3h 50m
£41($48)
hourly203km (126 miles)
Bus and Train
3h 20m
£24($28)
every 4 hours176km (109 miles)
Drive
2hrs
£34($40)
on demand191km (119 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Portsmouth and Chelmsford

Train operators

Bus companies

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