How to travel from Preston to Bournemouth, United Kingdom

The distance between Preston and Bournemouth is around 395km (245 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 5m.

5 routes found

We've found 5 different ways to get from Preston to Bournemouth 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 BournemouthPreston if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
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train
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plane
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Train and Plane

Take the train to Manchester Airport then fly from Manchester (MAN) to Southampton (SOU) then take the train to Bournemouth.

  • Duration3h 5m
  • Flight time1hr
  • Typical cost
    £235($280)
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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Train

Take the train to Wolverhampton and then to Bournemouth.

  • Duration4h 50m
  • Departsevery 3 hours
  • Typical cost
    £130($155)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Victoria London Victoria Coach Station Arrivals and then to Bournemouth Station off Holdenhurst Rd.

  • Duration8h 50m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    £30($36)
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car
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Drive

Drive to Bournemouth.

  • Duration4h 30m
  • Distance438km (272 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Preston and Bournemouth

There are several options for getting from Preston to Bournemouth by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £30 ($36) and will take around 8h 50m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 3h 5m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £235 ($280).

The distance between Preston and Bournemouth is around 395km (245 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 343km (213 miles)

It takes around 4h 50m to get from Preston and Bournemouth by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4h 30m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Preston to Bournemouth is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 5m and will set you back approx £235 ($280).

The cheapest way to travel between Preston and Bournemouth, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £30 ($36) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Preston and Bournemouth. It typically takes around 4h 50m and departs every 3 hours.

There are no direct train services that runs from Preston to Bournemouth. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Wolverhampton. These services run every 3 hours and will take a minimum of 4h 50m.

Avanti West Coast and CrossCountry run train services between Preston and Bournemouth. Trains depart every 3 hours and will take around 4h 50m, 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 Preston and Bournemouth. It typically takes around 8h 50m and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Preston to Bournemouth. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Victoria London Victoria Coach Station Arrivals. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 8h 50m.

Megabus UK, FlixBus and National Express run regular bus services between Preston and Bournemouth. Buses run once daily and take around 8h 50m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Preston to Bournemouth. We recommend that you take the train to Manchester Airport then fly from Manchester (MAN) to Southampton (SOU) then take the train to Bournemouth. instead which will take 3h 5m.

The closest major airport to Bournemouth is Bournemouth Airport (BOH) (BOH) which is approximately 7km (4 miles) from Bournemouth. 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 Preston and Bournemouth. The distance is around 438km (272 miles) by road and it will take around 4h 30m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Preston to Bournemouth is to take the train which takes, on average, 4h 50m and will usually cost around £130 ($155).

How do I get from Preston to Bournemouth

Compare travel optionsbetween Preston and Bournemouth

Transport options from Preston to Bournemouth
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane + 1 similar
3h 5m
£235($280)
hourly395km (245 miles)
Train to Manchester Airport, plane4h 30m
£255($300)
hourly473km (294 miles)
Train
4h 50m
£130($155)
every 3 hours444km (276 miles)
Bus
8h 50m
£30($36)
once daily562km (349 miles)
Drive
4h 30m
£76($90)
on demand438km (272 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Preston and Bournemouth

Train operators

Airlines

Airports near Bournemouth

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

BOH
Bournemouth Airport (BOH)
International Airport
Distance
7km (4 miles) from Bournemouth
SOU
Southampton Airport (SOU)
Domestic Airport
Distance
44km (28 miles) from Bournemouth
BRS
Bristol Airport (BRS)
International Airport
Distance
94km (59 miles) from Bournemouth