How to travel from Preston to Chelmsford, United Kingdom

The distance between Preston and Chelmsford is around 388km (241 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 30m.

7 routes found

We've found 7 different ways to get from Preston 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 ChelmsfordPreston if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
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plane
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train
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Train and Plane

Take the train to Manchester Airport then fly from Manchester (MAN) to London Heathrow (LHR) then take the train to Chelmsford.

  • Duration3h 30m
  • Flight time1h 10m
  • Typical cost
    £250($300)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2 similiar routes

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

2
train
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train
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Train

Take the train to London Euston and then to Chelmsford.

  • Duration4hrs
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £110($130)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
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train
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Bus and Train

Take the bus to Finchley Road Station then take the train to Chelmsford.

  • Duration7hrs
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    £36($43)
Operated by

Multiple operators

1 similiar route

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

4
car
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Drive

Drive to Chelmsford.

  • Duration3h 60m
  • Distance391km (243 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Preston and Chelmsford

There are several options for getting from Preston to Chelmsford by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus and then take the train which costs around £36 ($43) and will take around 7hrs. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 3h 30m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £250 ($300).

The distance between Preston and Chelmsford is around 388km (241 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 310km (193 miles)

It takes around 4hrs to get from Preston and Chelmsford by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3h 60m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Preston to Chelmsford is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 30m and will set you back approx £250 ($300).

The cheapest way to travel between Preston and Chelmsford, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus and then take the train which will typically cost around £36 ($43) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

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

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

Avanti West Coast and Greater Anglia run train services between Preston 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 Preston and Chelmsford. We recommend that you take the train to Manchester Airport then fly from Manchester (MAN) to London Heathrow (LHR) then take the train to Chelmsford. instead which will take 3h 30m.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Preston to Chelmsford. We recommend that you take the train to Manchester Airport then fly from Manchester (MAN) to London Heathrow (LHR) then take the train to Chelmsford. instead which will take 3h 30m.

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 Preston and Chelmsford. The distance is around 391km (243 miles) by road and it will take around 3h 60m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Preston to Chelmsford is to take the train which takes, on average, 4hrs and will usually cost around £110 ($130).

How do I get from Preston to Chelmsford

Compare travel optionsbetween Preston and Chelmsford

Transport options from Preston to Chelmsford
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane + 2 similar
3h 30m
£250($300)
hourly388km (241 miles)
Train to Manchester Airport, plane4h 20m
£275($325)
hourly517km (321 miles)
Train to Warrington Bank Quay, plane4h 50m
£125($150)
hourly872km (542 miles)
Train
4hrs
£110($130)
hourly399km (248 miles)
Bus and Train + 1 similar
7hrs
£36($43)
once daily437km (272 miles)
Bus to Victoria, London Victoria Coach Station Arrivals, Train7h 40m
£40($47)
once daily447km (278 miles)
Drive
3h 60m
£68($80)
on demand391km (243 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Preston and Chelmsford

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