How to travel from Preston to Cardiff, United Kingdom

The distance between Preston and Cardiff is around 304km (189 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 3h 15m.

5 routes found

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

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+
train
+

Train

Take the train to Crewe and then to Cardiff Central.

  • Duration3h 15m
  • Departsevery 2 hours
  • Typical cost
    £100($120)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

2
train
+
plane
+
train
+

Train and Plane

Take the train to Warrington Bank Quay then fly from Liverpool (LPL) to Bristol (BRS) then take the train to Cardiff Central.

  • Duration4h 15m
  • Flight time1h 55m
  • Typical cost
    £195($235)
Operated by

Multiple operators

1 similiar route

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

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
+
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Birmingham Navigation Street and then to Cardiff Kingsway GQ.

  • Duration6h 35m
  • Departstwice daily
  • Typical cost
    £33($39)
4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Cardiff.

  • Duration3h 30m
  • Distance335km (208 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Preston and Cardiff

There are several options for getting from Preston to Cardiff by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £33 ($39) and will take around 6h 35m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 3h 15m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £100 ($120).

The distance between Preston and Cardiff is around 304km (189 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 255km (159 miles)

It takes around 3h 15m to get from Preston and Cardiff by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3h 30m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Preston to Cardiff is to take the train which takes around 3h 15m and will set you back approx £100 ($120).

The cheapest way to travel between Preston and Cardiff, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £33 ($39) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Preston and Cardiff. It typically takes around 3h 15m and departs every 2 hours.

There are no direct train services that runs from Preston to Cardiff. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Crewe. These services run every 2 hours and will take a minimum of 3h 15m.

Avanti West Coast and Transport for Wales run train services between Preston and Cardiff. Trains depart every 2 hours and will take around 3h 15m, 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 Cardiff. It typically takes around 6h 35m and departs twice daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Preston to Cardiff. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Birmingham Navigation Street. These services run twice daily and will take a minimum of 6h 35m.

Megabus UK run regular bus services between Preston and Cardiff. Buses run twice daily and take around 6h 35m 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 Cardiff. We recommend that you take the train to Warrington Bank Quay then fly from Liverpool (LPL) to Bristol (BRS) then take the train to Cardiff Central. instead which will take 4h 15m.

The closest major airport to Cardiff is Cardiff Airport (CWL) (CWL) which is approximately 14km (9 miles) from Cardiff. Bristol Airport (BRS) (BRS) and Exeter Airport (EXT) (EXT) 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 Cardiff. The distance is around 335km (208 miles) by road and it will take around 3h 30m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Preston to Cardiff is to take the train which takes, on average, 3h 15m and will usually cost around £100 ($120).

How do I get from Preston to Cardiff

Compare travel optionsbetween Preston and Cardiff

Transport options from Preston to Cardiff
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
3h 15m
£100($120)
every 2 hours304km (189 miles)
Train and Plane + 1 similar
4h 15m
£195($235)
hourly842km (523 miles)
Train to Manchester Airport, plane4h 30m
£295($345)
hourly566km (352 miles)
Bus
6h 35m
£33($39)
twice daily411km (255 miles)
Drive
3h 30m
£58($69)
on demand335km (208 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Preston and Cardiff

Train operators

Airports near Cardiff

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

CWL
Cardiff Airport (CWL)
Domestic Airport
Distance
14km (9 miles) from Cardiff
BRS
Bristol Airport (BRS)
International Airport
Distance
34km (21 miles) from Cardiff
EXT
Exeter Airport (EXT)
International Airport
Distance
85km (53 miles) from Cardiff